Your input can help improve online navigation and tools —·FOR CHAPTER LEADERS

Chapter leader feedback group being formed; indicate your interest by April 27

As chapter leaders, a large part of your roles involve being online. Therefore, it’s important we provide you, as well as our other volunteers, with intuitive, easy to navigate online pages and tools.To help us do that better, we’re forming a feedback group made up of those who use the online pages—our chapter leaders.

The primary purpose of this group is to provide input about what currently works well, what’s confusing or complex, what needs or doesn’t need to be online, and where you expect to find specific information and tools.  In addition, the group may be asked to test new online screens or offerings.

If you have constructive feedback to share about using our online pages and tools, and if participating in the group sounds interesting to you, we invite you to consider joining. Here is some more information about the group to help you decide:

• The topics will focus on online navigation, including some discussions about online tools and processes. Participants also will have an opportunity to choose topics related to online navigation.
  
  
• At this time, we’re looking for those who currently serve in one of the 10 elected chapter leadership positions.
  
  
• Participants must have access to both e-mail and Internet because all topics discussed will have an online element involved.
  
  
• The time commitment is expected to be less than 1 hour per month – although you may participate more if desired.
  
  
• A private online Web site — a “clubhouse” if you will — will be the main feedback tool for the group. The site will include message boards, live chats, quick polls, links to surveys, etc. Depending on the topic, we may also have a teleconference or two.
  
  
• The group will begin in May and run through 2007. The logistics of how the group works will mainly be determined by the participants themselves. We want you to feel like this is your group and your forum.

How to join
If you are interested in being part of this group, please send an e-mail to clfeedback@thrivent.com by April 27, including:

• Your name
• Your e-mail address
• Your chapter leader position
• Chapter name
• City and state

Thank you for considering this opportunity. If you have questions, please send an e-mail to clfeedback@thrivent.com.

Chapters can nominate candidates for 2007 national board of directors election —·FOR CHAPTER LEADERS

May 31 deadline to submit nominations

This year, three benefit members will be elected to the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Board of Directors to serve four-year terms. Between April 1 and May 31, chapters have the opportunity to nominate candidates for the 2007 national election of the board of directors.

Nomination guidelines

• Chapters wishing to nominate candidates must do so at chapter meetings held between April 1 and May 31, 2007. Nominations made at meetings held outside of this period will not be accepted.
  
  
• Please review the following attached information carefully as you consider nominating candidates for this year's election:
  
  
  • Letter from Kurt M. Senske, Vice Chairman of the Board (PDF, 38K)
  • Call for Nominations form (PDF, 35K)
  • Desired Qualifications for Nominees and Biographical Information Affidavit (PDF, 54K)
  • Conflict of Interest Resolution (PDF, 39K)
  
  
• If your chapter chooses to submit a nomination, please get permission from the nominee. Then complete the Call for Nominations form in full and submit it via U.S. Mail postmarked no later than May 31, 2007. Nominations submitted in any other manner will not be accepted. Send the form to:
  
  
  Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
  Attn: Teresa J. Rasmussen, Corporate Secretary
  625 Fourth Avenue South
  Minneapolis, MN 55415

  Remember, the nomination(s) must occur at a chapter meeting.

• Please have the nominee complete the Biographical Information form and submit it to the same address as above no later than June 15, 2007. All nominees must submit this biographical information.

Questions
If you have questions about the nomination process, please contact Cindy Nigbur at cindy.nigbur@thrivent.com or 800-THRIVENT, ext. 38322.

Chapter members get up-to-date chapter information … and current weather report —·FOR CHAPTER LEADERS

Johnson-Sheridan County Chapter receives Web Site of the Month honors

Congratulations to the leaders of the Johnson-Sheridan County Chapter (Wyoming), especially to Lois Bell, chapter communications director and Web site administrator, whose site has been named Chapter Web Site of the Month for April.

Lois has developed a very welcoming site, pleasant to the eye and written well, with a good mix of pictures, captions and text. The site is full of good information about the chapter itself and about past and upcoming activities—including Care Abounds in Communities® and Care in Congregations®. And, as an extra fun treat for visiting the site, visitors can check the weather forecast.

The Web site provides the Johnson-Sheridan County Chapter an opportunity to provide many valuable services. Just ask Lois: "Our chapter uses the site to provide information to chapter members and congregational coordinators, communicate among the board, communicate with our regional representative, publish updates on the Thrivent Builds program in our community, communicate with other Lutheran chapters, promote Thrivent Financial, provide a link to our area Thrivent Financial representative, provide links to area Lutheran churches and recognize the Care Abounds in Communities and Care in Congregations volunteer activities for the year."

Read more excellent comments from Lois about working with the site as well a list of the many features that make this site a winner for members to visit. You can visit the site at www.lutheransonline.com/johnsonsheridancountychapter. Nice job, Lois!

New tools available to promote your JOIN HANDS DAY activities —·FOR CHAPTER LEADERS AND CONGREGATIONAL COORDINATORS

Media advisory, news release and fact sheet now available online

The following three tools now are available for you and your members to promote JOIN HANDS DAY activities, volunteerism and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans before, during and after the events:

• Fact Sheet — A handout to provide to the media, elected officials and others who would like to know more about Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, JOIN HANDS DAY and fraternal benefit societies. (Word, 40K)
  
  
• Media Advisory template — Use this to announce your activity to the media. All you need to do is add the details about your activity. Simply fill in the underlined portions electronically with the requested information. (Word, 39K)    
  
  
• News Release template — A tool to inform the media and your community about the impacts made through your activity. Simply fill in the underlined portions electronically with the requested information. (Word, 38K)    

These tools can be accessed from the following areas on thrivent.com:

• Chapter leaders: Join Hands Day page in the For Chapters Leaders section.
• Congregational coordinators: Join Hands Day page in the For Congregational Coordinators section.
• Members and service teams: www.thrivent.com/jhd

Still looking for activity ideas?
If you or your members haven't chosen an activity yet, below are some ideas taken from joinhandsday.org, as well as a couple of ideas generated during the national teleconference. These ideas also are located on the Join Hands Day pages on thrivent.com.

• JOIN HANDS DAY Activity Ideas

To qualify as Thrivent chapter JOIN HANDS DAY activities, remember that activities must meet regular chapter activity guidelines and the JOIN HANDS DAY activity guidelines documented in the Key Dates and Reminders (PDF, 56K) document.

Note to chapter leaders:  Instruction form for reporting JOIN HANDS DAY activities is live
Step-by-step instructions (PDF, 73K) for reporting JOIN HANDS DAY activities have been posted online on the Join Hands Day page in your For Chapter Leaders section online (www.thrivent.com > Members/Chapters > For Chapter Leaders).

Please refer to these instructions before reporting JOIN HANDS DAY activities.

If you have any questions about reporting, please contact the Fraternal Service Center at 800-236-3736 or fraternal@thrivent.com. before entering anything online.

Important reporting tip: When your chapter reports JOIN HANDS DAY activities, report only the expenses that were paid out of the $1,000 of JOIN HANDS DAY seed money. Do not report expenses that were paid by someone else.

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

Care program content more easily accessible online —·FOR CHAPTER LEADERS AND CONGREGATIONAL COORDINATORS

Content from guidebooks now available online in easier-to-read format

The information currently in the Care Abounds in Communities® and Care in Congregations® guidebooks now is available to you, members and others on thrivent.com in an easy-to-read online format.

Previously, pdfs of the entire guides were available—these did not appeal to those looking for specific information quickly, did not allow you to copy and paste specific information to send to others, were large documents to open, and used much ink if you printed it.

Features and benefits of new format

• The content for each program is split into small topical sections (e.g., eligible activities, program requirements, step-by-step process of how the program works):
  
  
  • Because of the small amount of content in each section, it's easy to read quickly online.
  • You can easily find the information you are looking for about the program.
  • When corresponding with members who have questions about the programs, you now can copy the specific information you want to share, and paste into a reply e-mail.
    
    
• The new online format allows you to immediately link to another topic or area. For example, in the step-by-step section, you can link directly to the forms mentioned.
  
  
• The content is customized depending on who is viewing it. For example, Care Abounds in Communities information that is important for chapter leaders but not service teams or members is only included in the For Chapter Leaders section. The version that service teams or members see only includes information relevant to them.

Encourage your members to go online to learn more about the Care programs and how to use them to help with their volunteer efforts.

How to access
Currently, the chapter Care program information can be accessed from several areas on thrivent.com:

• General information for service teams and members can be found:
  • Directly from the Fraternal Programs area
  • On the Volunteer Resources section in the Members/Chapters area
  • On the Information About My Chapter section in the Members/Chapters area
    
    
• More detailed information for chapter leaders is found in the For Chapter Leaders section in the Members/Chapters area
  
  
• More detailed information for congregational coordinators is found in the For Congregational Coordinators section in the Members/Chapters area

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

Form can help improve accuracy of church information on member lists —·FOR CHAPTER LEADERS AND CONGREGATIONAL COORDINATORS

Provide Church Membership Update form to members at chapter events and activities

Church membership is a helpful piece of member information for chapter leaders, congregational coordinators and service teams. Unfortunately, the data on the member lists you can order is many times inaccurate.

Possible action to take:  Late last year, we developed a Church Membership Update form (PDF, 15K) that you can print and have on hand at various chapter events and activities. Members can provide their information on this form and send it to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

We hope this will be a helpful tool to improve the accuracy of church membership lists we have on file, which also will result in more accurate member lists that you use.

The form is available from the:

• Order Chapter Supplies page for chapter leaders (under the "Chapter Supplies - printable format" category)
• Order Congregation Supplies page for congregational coordinators (under the "General Supplies - printable format" category)
• Church membership information — guidelines for submitting section in CHIP, your online chapter reference guide at www.thrivent.com/members/chip.

Other ways for Thrivent Financial to get updated information

• The "Church membership information — guidelines for submitting" section in CHIP also lists the process and guidelines for sending a church membership directory/roster to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans so we can update our church membership data.
• Members can call the Fraternal Service Center at 800-236-3736 to update their information.

Questions?
If you have questions about the form or submitting church membership lists, please contact the Fraternal Service Center at 800-236-3736 of fraternal@thrivent.com.

Many Americans want to volunteer but don't —·FOR CHAPTER LEADERS AND CONGREGATIONAL COORDINATORS

How can your chapter help narrow the gap?

The good news? Nearly two in three American adults performed some type of volunteer service in 2006. The bad news? Many more wanted to volunteer but didn’t.

A new survey of 1,000 American adults by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans revealed 64 percent of American adults said they had performed some type of volunteer activity in 2006, but 86 percent said they would be willing to volunteer — a gap of 22 percent.

As chapter leaders and congregational coordinators, you know there are plenty of needs that provide ample opportunities for people to "make good" on their intentions to volunteer. But what obstacles are hindering people from taking action, and is there anything we can do as an organization and as chapters to help take away those obstacles? These may be interesting questions to discuss at a chapter leadership board meeting or among congregational coordinator teams.

• For example, the survey indicates that 48 percent of the respondents said they would be willing to build affordable, decent housing for those in need, but only 5 percent have done so. Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity can be a tool to help bridge that gap.
  
  
• One obstacle provided by some is "I can only make a short-term commitment because of my schedule." Chapter Care program activities and Thrivent Builds activities are designed to provide our members and others with excellent short-term volunteer opportunities.
  
  "Americans genuinely want to help others but often have trouble fulfilling their volunteer intentions," says Brad Hewitt, senior vice president, Fraternal Operations at Thrivent Financial. "Short-term volunteer opportunities that address real needs but are easy to access can help people move from good intent to action."
  
  
• Other obstacles include "I don't know where to volunteer," and "I don't know what opportunities are available." This shows that an important element in bridging the gap is getting the word out about volunteer opportunities. As chapter leaders and congregational coordinators, you have access to tools that you can use or provide to service teams to accomplish that goal. Chapter newsletters, chapter postcards, bulletin insert templates, poster templates, banners, news release templates, the chapter Web site, and much more are available, as well as helpful hints and tips in the Visibility Toolkit (PDF, 298K).

The needs are many, and according to the survey, the number of people who say they want to help are many. Just think of the impact that can be made if those good intentions are turned into action. Through the chapter system, we might be able to bridge that gap and involve more members.

To see a complete summary of the survey, see the March 8 Thrivent Financial for Lutherans news release that you can access from the www.thrivent.com home page under "Thrivent News."