ACTION Requested: Strongly encourage service teams to provide receipts to donors at activities
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CHAPTER LEADERS
Providing receipts now lessens chance of donors asking chapter for receipts early next year
Actions Strongly Encouraged: This past January, a Chapter News article included important information about tax-deduction legislation that impacts your chapter. Please:
Review the article in its entirety [click here to see article] and share it with chapter leaders who do not have Internet access. You may want to include this topic on your next meeting agenda.
Advise chapter service teams, Thrivent Builds chapter specialists and Thrivent Builds congregational champions to provide written acknowledgements/receipts for monetary donations made to the chapter and/or to Thrivent Builds at all chapter and Thrivent Builds activities:
Donors should always be provided with a completed Acknowledgement of Donation Received form (PDF, 205K) for all donations of $25 or more. This form is located on the Forms page of thrivent.com (Members/Chapters > Volunteer Resources > Forms).
For donations of less than $25, donors should be asked if they would like an Acknowledgement of Donations Received.
Consider having your chapter financial director and Thrivent Builds chapter specialist make copies of each check included in a deposit or keep a written record of all donors, date of donation and amount of donation. This will be helpful to verify a "request for receipt" from a donor if he/she asks for a receipt after the donation was made.
Why are these actions important to your chapter?
Beginning this year, all monetary donations require some sort of verification to be tax deductible. This means more donors will need written acknowledgements/receipts for donations made at your chapter and/or Thrivent Builds activities.
We're asking you to be proactive in providing these receipts because many donors may not be aware of the new legislation until tax time next year; at which time, they may come back to the chapter to ask for a written receipt. Being proactive now will reduce the likelihood of extra work for you later.
Action Requested:Review CHIP for complete details
Carefully read the Tax-deductible contributions section in CHIP, your online chapter reference guide, for complete details and examples about guidelines, disclosures, receipts and more regarding tax-deductible contributions, including:
What qualifies as tax-deductible contributions?
When should a written acknowledgement (receipt) be provided to the donor?
Contributions where something of value is received in return
Contributions of $250 and more — special online reporting and recordkeeping required
Questions?
Please review the January article and CHIP for complete details. If you still have questions, contact the Fraternal Service Center at 800-236-3736 or fraternal@thrivent.com.
Avoid unpleasant surprises when entering 2008 chapter leaders on the system
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CHAPTER LEADERS
Remember term-limit requirement as you plan for your 2008 chapter leadership board
As you begin looking ahead to the makeup of your 2008 chapter leadership board, please remember the four-consecutive-year term-limit requirement that is in place. Being aware of the requirement and how it impacts your leadership board will help prevent potential issues at election time or when entering the 2008 leaders on the system.
The term-limit requirement states that members may serve in elected leadership board positions for a maximum of four consecutive terms.
If they serve four consecutive terms, they then can't serve in an elected leadership position for two years.
To find out which consecutive term each member on your leadership board is currently serving, go to: thrivent.com > Members/Chapters > For Chapter Leaders > Chapter Leadership Administration Menu. Scroll down to the Reports/Listings category and choose the Leader Terms report.
Clarification on questions you may have about the term-limit requirement:
The requirement applies to the 10 elected leadership board positions: president, vice president, records director, congregational service team director, financial director, community service team director, communications director, assistant financial director, events director and youth director.
The requirement does not apply to nonvoting board positions or other volunteer leader positions: advisory board positions (i.e., Internet advisor, past president advisor, etc.), congregational coordinators, Thrivent Builds chapter specialists and Thrivent Builds congregational champions.
Although a member who serves four consecutive terms must take a two-year absence from an elected chapter leadership position, that person may be appointed to an advisory position on the leadership board or to any of the other volunteer leader positions mentioned in the bullet point above.
A term runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of each calendar year.
A partial-year term counts as one full term toward the term-limit guideline (e.g., if a member is appointed to an elected chapter leadership position anytime during a calendar year).
Serving in an advisory board position for a year does not count toward the four-consecutive-year term-limit requirement.
If a chapter leader is elected to a fifth consecutive term, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will remove that leader from office and notify the region's Manager of Lutheran Community Services that there is a vacant position on the board. If the position is one of the five required elected leadership positions and it is still vacant by Dec. 31, the chapter will not receive the January 2008 deposit of chapter operating funds.
Now you can 'show' what volunteering with us is all about
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CHAPTER LEADERS
Volunteer DVD available for use at chapter meetings, activities, events and more
A new DVD about volunteering with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans soon will be available for chapters to order, at no charge.
Multiplying the Good We Do, Together: Thrivent Financial and Our Members is an uplifting 3- to 4-minute video that helps show what it's like to volunteer with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and the impact our members and volunteers have in their congregations and communities.
It can be a great tool to:
Recruit others for chapter leader and congregational coordinator roles.
Show at chapter events, your annual election meeting, service team activities, or congregation presentations.
Motivate others to get involved with us.
Chapter leaders will be able to order the video from their Order Chapter Supplies page online (thrivent.com > Members/Chapters > For Chapter Leaders > Chapter Leadership Administration Menu). We expect the video to be available on the Supplies page by June 8.
Questions?
If you have questions, please contact the Fraternal Service Center at 800-236-3736 or fraternal@thrivent.com.
You can tell others who we are — with just a couple clicks of the mouse
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CHAPTER LEADERS
Place presentation on chapter Web site to tell others about Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
When chapter members and others ask "Who is Thrivent Financial for Lutherans?," you now can point them to your chapter Web site.
Effective immediately, your chapter can post the "Who is Thrivent Financial for Lutherans?" PowerPoint presentation to your chapter Web site using a content feed.
What is a content feed?
Content feeds are pre-made postings that you can add to your site. If the content changes, the posting is updated automatically on your site (e.g., the Thrivent Financial News content feed always displays links to the five most recent news releases posted on thrivent.com). All you need to do is post the content feed to your site; then never worry about the content becoming outdated. In this case, if the PowerPoint content changes, it will automatically be updated on your Web site. No extra steps for you.
About the presentation
This brief, straightforward "Who is Thrivent Financial for Lutherans?" PowerPoint is the same one that is available for chapters to print from their Order Chapter Supplies page (under Publicity). It:
Explains the unique nature of our organization.
Describes our heritage and how we've grown into a not-for-profit Fortune 500 financial services and membership organization still serving Lutherans and their families.
Tells about the many ways that Thrivent Financial for Lutherans helps Lutherans meet their financial goals and mobilizes member volunteer activities and giving.
Note: Your chapter is encouraged to use this presentation whenever you have an opportunity to educate others about our organization (e.g., chapter events, annual election meeting). Each slide of the presentation includes notes with a script for giving the presentation. To see these notes, you need to save the PowerPoint presentation to your computer by following these special instructions.
ACTION Ask chapter Web site administrator to set up the content feed
It takes just a few minutes and a few clicks for a chapter Web site administrator to add the content feed to your chapter Web site. Instructions for setting up the feed are located in the Online Help area of Lutherans Online (www.lutheransonline.com). See an example of this content feed on the Southeast Outagamie County Chapter Web site.
Questions?
If you have questions about:
Setting up or using content feeds, contact the Lutherans Online Help Desk at 866-201-1522.
The "Who is Thrivent Financial for Lutherans?" PowerPoint, send an e-mail to fraternal@thrivent.com or call the Fraternal Service Center at 800-236-3736.
Operating funds deposit being made in July
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CHAPTER LEADERS
Financial director will receive e-mail when deposit is made
In early July, the second and final operating funds deposit for 2007 will be made into the checking accounts of chapters who have:
All five required 2007 elected chapter leaders (president, vice president, financial director, records director and congregational service team director) on record.
Signed and submitted the authorization page from their 2006 year-end Chapter Summary Report. (Thank you to the 99 percent of chapters that have done this.)
An e-mail message will be sent to the 2007 financial director when the deposit is made into the chapter checking account. The minimum amount of the July deposit is $1,000, and the maximum is $5,000.
Important Reminder: All operating funds expenses must be reported on the " Manage Chapter Operating Funds" screens in your Chapter Leadership Administration area online.
ACTION: Answer this month's Quick Poll about possible use of operating funds This month's Quick Poll on your For Chapter Leaders page online asks if your chapter is willing to use operating funds to purchase a display for use at chapter/ congregation events, meetings and service team activities, and if so, how much? Please take a couple seconds to respond with your chapter's choice.
More information / Questions?
For details about chapter operating funds, their appropriate uses, and how to report them, see:
The Managing and Reporting Chapter Operating Funds quick-reference guide (PDF, 302K) on the Tutorials/Quick References page in the For Chapter Leaders section of the Members/Chapters area.
The Managing Operating Funds tutorial on the Tutorials/Quick References page.
Tracking feature added to Chapter Leader Expense Reimbursement Request form
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CHAPTER LEADERS
Enhancement based on excellent feedback from those leaders who reimburse funds
Effective immediately, the upper right corner of the Chapter Leader Expense Reimbursement Request form (PDF, 268K) now includes a box for the leader who is reimbursing expenses to record:
The check number and date they reimbursed the expenses.
Their initials.
To access the form, go to the Tutorials/Quick References page in your For Chapter Leaders section of the Members/Chapters area online. The form is located under the Financial Resources category. Beginning June 8, you also can access the updated form from your Order Chapter Supplies page.
If you have questions, send an e-mail to fraternal@thrivent.com or call the Fraternal Service Center at 800-236-3736.
The following articles also were posted for congregational coordinators.
It's easier to request our logo — the Logo Request Form
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CHAPTER LEADERS AND CONGREGATIONAL COORDINATORS
New online form now available on Forms page of thrivent.com
A new, easier tool to request a Thrivent Financial for Lutherans logo now is available — the online Logo Request Form.
Beginning immediately, chapters and chapter service teams complete this form to submit all logo requests. You no longer need to write and send an e-mail to request the logo.
What are the benefits of the online form, and how can I access it?
The new form, which is simple to complete, asks for the information that Thrivent Financial needs to evaluate the request and quickly respond to it, generally within 24 hours. Benefits include:
The requestor doesn't have to remember an e-mail address for requesting the logo.
The requestor no longer has to guess what information he/she needs to provide.
Because the form asks for all required information, follow-up time to request more information should be reduced or eliminated — resulting in a faster turn-around time to fulfill requests.
The form serves as a point of reference in case the requestor or Thrivent Financial has any questions.
Links to the form are available on the following places online:
The Forms page on thrivent.com (www.thrivent.com > Members/Chapters > Volunteer Resources > Forms). This page also includes a link to logo guidelines in CHIP.
How does the review process work?
When you submit a request, it will be reviewed, and if appropriate, approved. The logo will be sent with permission to use it on your specific item. We will make sure that the vendor or organization you are working with gets the logo in the proper format, and we will review any artwork before it is applied.
Remember, corporate permission must be requested and granted for each use of the logo. When our name and logo are used consistently, correctly and according to brand standards, awareness and recognition of our brand increases (e.g., McDonalds, Nike, Coca-Cola). Because of the value a brand represents to an organization, strict control of the name and logo is standard practice for most organizations.
See CHIP, your online reference guide, for complete guidelines about using our logo, and other helpful tips for accessing items with our Thrivent Financial for Lutherans logo.
Questions?
If you have questions about using our logo or corporate identity, please contact Thrivent Financial Corporate Identity, 800-847-4836, and select option 3. You then may dial ext. 34180.
Visibility Toolkit now easier to access, read and print
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CHAPTER LEADERS AND CONGREGATIONAL COORDINATORS
Format is better designed for online use; printer-friendly option added
Earlier this year, the Visibility Toolkit content was updated, improved and made available as pdf copies on www.thrivent.com. The look now has been reformatted for even easier use online:
The online address to access the toolkit is shorter, easier to remember and takes you directly to a new Visibility Toolkit home page: www.thrivent.com/visibility (previously, you had to link to the toolkit by typing www.thrivent.com/fraternal/visibility, then clicking on another link to access the pdf version).
From the Visibility Toolkit home page, you can link to the specific information you need in one quick click (no more clicking on pdf copies; then searching for the right page).
Content is divided into small topical sections, making it easier to find and quicker to read online.
Each page has a printer-friendly format that prints the toolkit content only—not the surrounding information you see on the Web page (saving you paper and ink).
When corresponding with members and service teams, you can copy the specific information you want to share and paste it into an e-mail.
You now can link directly to related information and documents. For example, in the "Inviting Elected Officials" section, you can link directly to a sample invitation letter, and copy/paste wording for your letter.
From the Visibility Toolkit home page, you still can print the entire 25-page pdf copy if you wish.
We encourage you to glance at the updated format of the Visibility Toolkit and promote it to your chapter service teams and volunteers as they look for ways to bring visibility to their chapter activities.
Many pages in the Members/Chapters area and Fraternal Programs area have links to the Visibility Toolkit home page.
Questions?
If you have questions about or tips for improving the Visibility Toolkit, please send an e-mail to fraternal@thrivent.com and the comments will be forwarded to the appropriate area.
Inform members, elected officials and others about the impact we make
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CHAPTER LEADERS AND CONGREGATIONAL COORDINATORS
2006 Fraternal Highlights available
Fraternal Highlights now are updated with 2006 information to describe the impact Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and our members make in communities and congregations. The 2006 Fraternal Highlights:
Are available to Thrivent Financial members and the public on the Fraternal Programs area of www.thrivent.com (Fraternal Programs > Fraternal Highlights)
Are available in chapter, region and state versions, as well as nationally
Are presented in a new, easier-to-understand format
Include statistics for chapter activities (e.g., funds raised, hours worked and number of activities), GivingPlus contributions, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity and — in a separate section — grants awarded by the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation.
Because of the new format and programming required, the introduction of the 2006 Fraternal Highlights was delayed this year. However, the 2007 version is scheduled to be available much earlier next year.
ACTIONShare the Fraternal Highlights with others
You are encouraged to share the Fraternal Highlights with members, elected officials and others to show the tremendous difference Thrivent Financial and members like you make. The Fraternal Highlights help illustrate the unique and special nature of our membership and organization to carry out the mission and vision of caring for others.
You may want to share the information at chapter events and the fall chapter elections, through your chapter newsletter, and maybe in your congregation's newsletter if permission is granted.
Questions?
If you have questions about Fraternal Highlights, please contact the Fraternal Service Center at 800-236-3736 or fraternal@thrivent.com.
Get discounts for most items at OfficeMax®
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CHAPTER LEADERS AND CONGREGATIONAL COORDINATORS
OfficeMax® Discount Card available for chapter or personal use
Via an agreement between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and OfficeMax®, a discount card that can be used at any OfficeMax® retail store throughout the nation is available for chapter leaders and congregational coordinators to order at no charge. (This offer also is available to Thrivent Financial representatives, employees and LCS Team staff.)
The majority of items for sale at the OfficeMax® retail locations are discounted under the contractual agreement between Thrivent Financial and OfficeMax®; however, some items such as office furniture, computer parts and peripherals are generally not included. The card entitles you to receive the discount (contracted price). If the store is running any specials that result in lower prices than the contract price, the lower price will be honored.
The savings are instant at the register and displayed on the receipt. If you would like to know what the discount will be prior to purchase, you can take your items to the cashier and ask for that information.
You may use the card to purchase items for use at chapter activities as well as for your own personal use.
Note: If you already ordered a card, you may continue to use that card as there is no expiration date.
How to order
Chapter leaders can order the card from the Order Chapter Supplies page in their Chapter Leadership Administration Menu. The item is located under the Chapter Supplies category.
Congregational coordinators can order the card from the Order Congregation Supplies page in their Congregational Coordinator Administration Menu. The item is located under the General Supplies category.
Order your card to take advantage of this no-cost discount program and start enjoying your savings!
Questions?
Questions about the benefits available via the discount card should be directed to OfficeMax® at 800-472-6473. Questions about ordering the discount card should be directed to the Fraternal Service Center at 800-236-3736 or at fraternal@thrivent.com.
