As communicated in last month's Chapter News, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and our members are taking action to help those affected by the Midwest floods.

Action Requested:  Notify members about this effort and how they can help
While stories about the flooding aren't as prevalent on the news anymore, the needs will remain for a long time. Please use your chapter Web site and chapter mailings to notify members about the National Chapter Response and encourage them to form service teams to raise funds for those affected by the floods. (Important: Please be aware that chapter postcards cannot be used to solicit donations.)

News release template now available to announce activities
A news release template (Word, 37K) to announce fund-raisers for 2008 Midwest Flooding Response now is available for chapter service teams. Simply fill in the specific activity information and submit to your local media.

The release is available on the following pages on thrivent.com, which also include bulletin insert templates to announce the activities:

• Forms page (thrivent.com > Members/Chapters > Volunteer Resources > Forms)
• For Chapter Leaders page
• For Congregational Coordinators page
• Conducting a National Chapter Response fund-raiser page, which can be accessed from the 2008 Midwest Flooding Response page at www.thrivent.com/2008midwestflooding.

Questions?
If you have questions about this response effort, please contact the Fraternal Service Center at 800-236-3736 or fraternal@thrivent.com.

Thrivent chapters can support specific seminars or workshops, led by Thrivent Financial representatives (FRs), that educate participants about financial topics in the context of their values.  (See list of eligible seminars/workshops and details on how chapters can support them)

Appeal to more members; increase presence in congregations: The benefits of educational seminars/workshops to chapters Supporting an educational seminar/workshop provides an opportunity to appeal to a different group of members than those who volunteer. It’s also another way to have a presence in congregations and meet the needs of members in a way that directly connects with Thrivent Financial’s area of expertise. Chapter leadership boards may want to consider offering a seminar/workshop in conjunction with their annual election meeting where a large group of members come together.

Two new 50-minute educational workshops now are available that your chapter can support:

1. Parents, Teens and Money Matters is designed for parents and young teens ages 11 to 14. The workshop uses dialog, activities and a game format to spark an open discussion about money, influences and choices.
   
   
2. Parents, Kids and Money Matters provides a unique stewardship approach to money management for kids ages 6 to 10. It consists of a parent workshop and a kids’ lesson, which are designed to fit within a Sunday morning education hour. The adult session is facilitated by a Thrivent Financial representative and the kids’ lesson is facilitated by a congregational volunteer at the same time as the parent workshop.

If you want to find out more about these new workshops or the opportunity for your chapter to support an FR-led seminar/workshop, contact your regional Manager of Lutheran Community Services (MLCS) or a member of the LCS Team.

Your MLCS or LCSS can connect you with a Thrivent Financial representative who would like to partner with you to offer one of these values-based educational seminars/workshops to chapter members.

Questions?
Read the Thrivent Financial educational seminars/workshops page in CHIP for details about how your chapter can support FR-led educational seminars/workshops. For additional information, contact your regional LCS Team or the Fraternal Service Center at 800-236-3736 or fraternal@thrivent.com.

New “Please Join Us” poster templates to announce chapter service team activities now are available for you and your chapter service teams. They are located on the Forms page under the “Forms to use BEFORE activity” category (thrivent.com > Members/Chapters > Volunteer Resources > Forms). Simply fill in your information and print.

Professional look and easy-to-use features

1. These fillable Word templates include plenty of space for you to enter your activity information. Tips are available on the template to help you remember important information to include.
   
2. Space is provided to enter your chapter name.
3. The versions with a picture allow you to replace the picture with a new picture. Instructions are provided on the template.

Eight versions available
Eight versions are available to best meet your needs and printer capabilities:

1. 8.5” x 11” color poster (25377P)   Word, 55K
2. 8.5” x 11” black-and-white poster (25377PA)  Word, 62K 
3. 8.5” x 11” color poster with picture (25377PB)  Word, 1.7MB
4. 8.5” x 11” black-and-white poster with picture (25377PC)  Word, 1.2MB
5. 11” x 17” color poster (25377PD)  Word, 77K
6. 11” x 17” black-and-white poster (25377PF)  Word, 68K
7. 11” x 17” color poster with picture (25377PG)  Word, 1.7MB
8. 11” x 17” black-and-white poster with picture (25377PH)  Word, 1.3MB

New signs and posters to welcome attendees at Thrivent chapter activities and events now are available for chapter leaders and congregational coordinators to order, free of charge:

• 33147 - 18" x 24" Directional Sign (right arrow)
• 33147A - 18" x 24" Directional Sign (left arrow)
• 33147P - 18" x 24" Member Event Poster
• 33147PA - 9" x 12" Member Event Tabletop Sign
• 33147PB - 9" x 12" Chapter Activity Tabletop Sign
• 33147PC - 18" x 24" Chapter Activity Poster

These new signs and posters replace those previously available.

[How to order]

In the spotlight: The Chapter Activity Tabletop Sign and Poster photo feature Thrivent Financial members Sandy Ellersick (chapter president of the Pend Oreille County Chapter in Washington), Mary Louise Comins and Faola Grant at a volunteer event hosted by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Questions?
Contact the Fraternal Service Center at fraternal@thrivent.com or 800-236-3736.