Getting You Involved — Ask the Expert
Questions for Debbie Schroeder, vice president, Chapter and Member Engagement

Q: I see a need in my community that I’d like to tackle. How can Thrivent Financial for Lutherans help me meet that need?

A: The Thrivent chapter system offers the flexibility, infrastructure and funding to help. As a Thrivent Financial member, you simply need to find five other members from separate households who want to help. Then, develop an activity plan and present it to your chapter leadership board for funding consideration. After the request is approved, your service team can execute the plan with as many additional people as you need. Resources are available at www.thrivent.com in the Members/Chapters area.

Q: I want to help, but I don’t know how to organize an activity. Can you help me plan?

A: We have a tool for you! It’s called ABC 1·2·3, and it’s located at www.thrivent.com/abc. It’s an easy-to-use planning and execution blueprint. There are three main sections: Getting Things Started, Making a Plan, and Do It and Celebrate! For each of these sections, we give you a step-by-step guide.

Q: I love volunteering with members of my congregation. Wouldn't volunteering with Thrivent Financial compete for my time?

A: Not at all. Thrivent Financial members from a congregation are a great foundation for forming a service team. If you see a need in your church or community that can be met through a service activity or fund-raiser, express your interest to your Thrivent Financial congregational coordinator—each congregation has three—or talk to your chapter leader. We encourage our members to volunteer with other members of their congregation. Not only is it great fellowship, it’s a great way to meet a variety of needs.

You can also volunteer to become a congregational coordinator. Three are needed in each congregation to access the Care in Congregations® program, which provides funding for Thrivent Financial members to conduct fund-raising activities and/or hands-on service activities to benefit a congregation or its related Lutheran institutions. Or, approach a congregational coordinator and express your interest in being part of a service or fund-raising activity to help your congregation. You also can join other Thrivent Financial members in your congregation to form a community service team to conduct an activity to help an individual or cause in your community.

Q: How can I find out which chapter I’m in or who my chapter leaders are?

A: For the name of your chapter, look at the label on the back of this magazine. You also can call the Fraternal Service Center at 800-236-3736 or visit www.thrivent.com. Log on to the Members/Chapters area and click on Information About My Chapter to see who your chapter leaders and congregational coordinators are, and to see activities occurring in your chapter.

Q: With all the volunteer opportunities out there, why would I choose to volunteer with Thrivent Financial?

A: Volunteering with Thrivent Financial is an opportunity to work with others and with an organization that shares your values and Lutheran heritage. In addition, the impact you make is multiplied. Through member-driven grassroots activities that are supplemented with funding from Thrivent Financial, you can “multiply the good” in a way that could never happen if we just gave the dollars away.

Q: How do I find out about volunteer activities in my area?

A: It’s easy. Many chapters send quarterly or semiannual newsletters to members that list upcoming activities and key contact people. Post this list on your refrigerator. Many chapters also have Web sites that list information about activities in the works. To view activities that are being planned in your chapter and to find your chapter’s Web site, log into www.thrivent.com/members—first-time users will need to register—click on Information About My Chapter and then View Leadership/Activities/Chapter Web site. If an activity piques your interest, contact the service team contact person listed or one of your chapter leaders.

Q: Because of my busy schedule, I can volunteer for only short periods of time and on short notice. Does the Thrivent chapter system offer these types of volunteer opportunities?

A: A goal of our chapter system is to have as many members as possible volunteer via Thrivent Financial. To do this, the system was designed so that members can volunteer in ways that best fit their schedules. We realize members lead busy lives, so we appreciate any time you can volunteer with us, no matter how many or how few hours you can give. If you’d like to help out with an activity, be sure to communicate your time availability and volunteer interests to the service team contact person.

Q: It’s difficult for me to say “no.” Once I start volunteering with Thrivent Financial, will I start receiving more and more requests for my time?

A: You might—because you’re a great volunteer! But the fear of overcommitting shouldn’t prevent you from engaging in activities you have time for and truly enjoy. Don’t feel guilty saying “no” to additional requests. Just be honest about what you can and cannot do.

Q: My neighbor was involved in a serious car accident and could use help with medical bills, but he’s not Lutheran. Will Thrivent Financial still help?

A: Absolutely. The Thrivent chapter system—its programs, volunteer leaders and members across the nation—are ready to serve people with needs community by community. That’s the beauty of a grassroots fraternal system. And members are encouraged to invite non-members to participate in activities. When we help people—members and others—it’s a great way to mobilize a neighborhood or an entire community.

Q: I’d love to get my children involved in volunteering. What kinds of opportunities are there for us to serve together?

A: Consider Join Hands Day. This is a national day of service for America’s fraternal benefit societies. On Saturday, May 7, 2005, Join Hands Day will mark its sixth year. The goal of the day is for members of fraternal benefits societies to create youth-adult partnerships to do meaningful community service activities. The intergenerational effort is as important as the service activities themselves. Parents get to role model the value of volunteering and community service to their children and also make an impact through a short-term project.

There are many more ways you can serve together, too. Get a community service team organized with other Thrivent Financial families who want to volunteer. Consider these ideas: collect and donate used toys to a homeless shelter, put together activity kits for a children’s hospital, clean up a local park or nature center, or conduct a neighborhood food drive for the local food pantry. These ideas could be done once or repeated several times each year. They are easy activities to organize and get families involved.