New! Postcard and other features coming soon to Chapter Mailing Service
—·FOR
CHAPTER LEADERS
Postcard ideal for making chapter announcements to members
The following five features, including a new postcard that chapter leaders have requested, soon will be available on the Chapter Mailing Service:
General Postcard provides more flexibility
Effective March 4, a General Postcard template will be available for you to complete and send to members. [example of postcard – front & back]
Based on chapter leader feedback, this postcard has an open field for you to enter up to 14 lines of text in the way you’d like it to appear.
It’s ideal for chapter-related announcements or sharing chapter-related information that does not require activity details such as date, time and location.
It is mailed first-class, which means members should receive it within two weeks after you submit it.
The current activity postcard (contains required fields such as date, time and location) and the Thrivent Builds postcard templates continue to be available.
‘For members, by members’ paragraph being added to newsletter templates Chapter leaders inform us that members many times think the newsletters are coming from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans rather than their local chapter.
To help reduce that perception and provide more visibility to your chapter, a “For members, by members” paragraph will automatically be added to the 2- and 4-page newsletter templates to alert members this is a personalized, locally prepared newsletter, not a corporate nationwide communication. [See paragraph]
TIP: When creating a mailing, click the Print Preview button to see where the “For members, by members” paragraph will be located on the printed copy.
Helping you track the number of mailings for the year Beginning March 4, the Chapter Mailing Service will include a note that states: "You have submitted x of 10 mailings for 2008." It will accurately reflect the number of mailings your chapter has sent since Jan. 1, 2008, to help you track how close you are to reaching the maximum limit of 10 mailings.
Using operating funds to send more than the 10-mailing limit If your leadership board wants to send more than 10 mailings, you must use chapter operating funds to pay the postage for the additional mailings—provided your chapter has enough operating funds to cover the cost. [Read how the chargeback process works]
New, more professional look
By mid-March, all the newsletters and postcards will have a new look that is consistent with Thrivent Financial's brand. [preview of new look]
Need help or have questions? For helpful information about the mailing service, how to use it, and guidelines for what can and cannot be included, go to these resources:
CHIP, your online chapter reference guide. Type “mailing service” in the “Search For:” box and click Go.
Guidelines/Examples/Suggestions, which you can access directly from CHIP or the Chapter Mailing Service pages. Please review this for important information about the mailing service.
Step-by-Step Guide, which you can access directly from CHIP or the Chapter Mailing Service pages. This walks you through how to create a mailing.
Chapters can nominate candidates for 2008 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 2008 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, 2008. Nominations made at meetings held outside of this period will not be accepted.
The following materials will help you with the nomination process. Links to the last two items below will be added to this article in late March.
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, 2008. 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 16, 2008. 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.
$1,000 of JOIN HANDS DAY seed money will be deposited soon
—·FOR
CHAPTER LEADERS
Packet of materials in the mail; all tools, promotional materials and forms online
To help your chapter and service teams successfully plan, promote, conduct and report your 2008 JOIN HANDS DAY activities, we’re supporting you in several ways.
Actions Requested: Please link to last month’s article about your chapter’s role for JOIN HANDS DAY, and review the following updates about the support we’re providing to help you:
The $1,000 of JOIN HANDS DAY seed money is scheduled to be deposited into your chapter checking account the first week of March.
This seed money can be used to purchase supplies for an activity, or to purchase refreshments or promotional items such as T-shirts.
Unused funds will be removed from your chapter checking account on Aug. 11.
An envelope that includes some tools, promotional materials and forms was sent this week to all chapter presidents, vice presidents, congregational service team directors, community service team directors, communication directors and youth directors.
Action Requested: Please share the materials with congregational coordinators and those who are interested in conducting a JOIN HANDS DAY activity.
Go to thrivent.com to access all tools, promotional materials, forms and templates (step-by-step guide, tips for promoting, key dates, reporting instructions and form, poster, bulletin inserts and much more). A fact sheet, media advisory and news release templates will be posted soon.
Chapter leaders can go to the Join Hands Day page in the For Chapter Leaders section.
Questions?
If you have questions about JOIN HANDS DAY, please don't hesitate to contact the Fraternal Service Center at 800-236-3736 or fraternal@thrivent.com.
Use chapter Web site to reach out to members
—·FOR
CHAPTER LEADERS
Update your site with 2008 information; chapter leader information now posted on each site
As your chapter leadership board thinks of ways to get more members involved through fund-raising, service, educational and social activities/events, consider publicizing and using your chapter Web site as a tool to:
Provide information about and invite members to activities
Share the results of activities and include pictures
Recognize those who have gone the extra mile
Inform members about the Care programs, funding request process
Much more
Actions Requested:Update your site with 2008 information
We encourage you to take a few moments early in the year to update your site with 2008 information. Here are some tips as well as an update about including up-to-date chapter leader information on each site:
“Meet our Chapter Leaders” section is up-to-date on each site
As communicated in the December 2007 Chapter News (link to article), we were in the process of automatically updating chapter leader information (name, phone number and e-mail address) in the "Meet Our Chapter Leaders" section of those sites that didn't have up-to-date information . This process now is complete.
We realize there are situations where chapter leaders may be uncomfortable including all of their contact information online, such as e-mail address. In these cases, your chapter may choose to override the automatic posting and update the "Meet Our Chapter Leaders" section itself:
The entire automatic posting (content feed), which includes all chapter leader information, has to be deleted by the chapter Web site administrator (it is not possible to delete only a portion of the posting such as one chapter leader's e-mail address).
The chapter Web site administrator must manually post the up-to-date chapter leader contact information the chapter wants (e.g., phone numbers but no e-mails) on the site.
However, it is not acceptable to have an empty or out-of-date "Meet Our Chapter Leaders" section on your chapter Web site. Please read the December article for complete details.
Recruit Internet Advisor
If you haven’t done so yet, consider appointing an Internet Advisor to your chapter leadership board to work on your chapter Web site. This might be a great opportunity to introduce a young person who loves working with computers to a volunteer leadership role. A description of the Internet Advisor role is in CHIP.
Select a primary administrator/update current list of administrators
One chapter leader should be responsible for adding content and updating the site on an ongoing basis. If your chapter has an Internet advisor, he/she may be the logical choice for administrator (authorized to make changes to the site). If not, decide as a group who on the chapter leadership board can take on this responsibility.
Over the past few years, your chapter may have provided administrative access (ability to make changes to the site) to chapter leaders who no longer are on the chapter leadership board. This is a good time for the primary administrator to review and update that list.
Select a contact person
The records director automatically is the default contact person for the site. This means he/she will receive e-mail messages from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans notifying the chapter of changes made to the site and other site-related communications. The contact person can be changed at any time. Again, your chapter may decide that your Internet Advisor (if your chapter has one) is the logical contact person. Any chapter leader can change the contact person by following the steps provided in "Adding/removing administrative privileges" in CHIP.
Promote your site
Do members know about your site? If not, consider promoting the site in your next chapter newsletter mailing and suggest they bookmark the site as a “favorite” in their Web browser. There are two ways members can access your chapter Web site, which are documented in CHIP.
Need technical help?
The Lutherans Online Help Desk staff has received excellent reviews from chapter leaders who have called them for help in working with the chapter Web sites. Please use the Help Desk as a resource if you experience difficulties working on your site.
1-866-201-1522 (toll free)
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time
Or send an e-mail to LOHELP@thrivent.com
Complete details about chapter Web sites are documented in CHIP (CHapter Information Place), your online chapter resource guide. [Link to chapter Web site details]
What does 'admitting new members into membership' mean?
—·FOR
CHAPTER LEADERS
Chapter leadership boards are required to fulfill this requirement
ACTION Required: A responsibility of each chapter leadership board is to "review and admit into membership those persons who have applied, and are eligible, for membership in Thrivent Financial for Lutherans whose residence falls within their chapter boundaries." But why does this need to be done and how should it be done?
The Why
As membership organizations, fraternal benefit societies are required to have their lodges or chapters fulfill this responsibility.
However, it's important to note that chapter leaders are not obligated to determine whether or not applicants are eligible for membership—Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is responsible for administering membership applications on behalf of chapters.
The How
The best way to fulfill this requirement is to make sure your chapter leadership board adds "admission of new members" to each of your chapter meeting agendas.
To admit new members:
Access the "Newly Assigned Chapter Members" list online
Chapter leaders can view and print a list of new members from the Reports/Listings area of the Chapter Leadership Administration Menu.
To do this:
Click Chapter Leadership Administration Menu and log in (if this is the first time you are logging into the Administration Menu, you will need to complete a short one-time registration)
In the right column, scroll down to the area called Reports/Listings:
Make sure the date is 2008
Click on the down arrow for the box that has "(Press arrow for list)" and select Newly Assigned Chapter Members
Click Go
You now will see the report. If you only want to see the list of new members since the last time your chapter admitted new members, type in the date by "Members assigned to this chapter as of (mm/dd/yyyy)" and click Find.
The report includes all members who are eligible to be admitted to your chapter:
Those who are new to the Society and are to be admitted into membership are the persons on your report with a 'yes' indicated in the "New Thrivent Financial Member" column.
The list also includes existing members who are transferring into your chapter. The leadership board does not need to admit the transferring members into the Society because they are simply being transferred to your chapter and are not new members. However, the leadership board does need to acknowledge their transfer into the chapter, along with admitting the new members.
At a chapter meeting, read the following script A motion is made that the persons on this list are admitted to membership as members of the (insert chapter name) Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. All in favor say ‘aye’.
Record in the meeting minutes that new members were admitted to membership
It is not required to read or enter each individual member's name, unless desired.
Questions?
For complete details about admitting new members, see CHIP, your online chapter reference guide.
Price change: Personalized Name Badges now are $9 each
—·FOR
CHAPTER LEADERS
Order forms available from Order Chapter Supplies page
Effective immediately, the price for personalized name badges that chapters can purchase with chapter operating funds has increased to $9 (including shipping and handling). The order forms are available from the Order Chapter Supplies area in your Chapter Leadership Administration area online.
Are gold plastic with black letters and measure approximately 1½ inches by 3 inches.
Are available in clip back, pin back, or magnetic back styles. Be sure to select the type of name badge you wish to order on the Request Form.
Cost $9 each (including shipping and handling).
Steps to order and purchase name badges
To order, click on the Order Chapter Supplies link on your Chapter Leadership Administration Menu page (thrivent.com > Members/Chapters > For Chapter Leaders > Chapter Leadership Administration Menu)
Click on Chapter Personal Imprint
Scroll down, then click on Personal Imprint: Name Badge Request Form (for chapter leaders and congregational coordinators) or Personal Imprint: Thrivent Builds Name Badge Request Form (for chapter specialists or congregational champions)
Click on Download to open the form (Note: The form still shows the $8 cost. This will be updated soon.)
Complete the form online and print it.
Attach your check to the order form and proofread the form very carefully, making sure the mailing address and spelling are correct, and that the position title is checked (chapter leader, congregational coordinator, chapter specialist, congregational champion). Remember, chapter operating funds may be used to purchase the name badges.
Be sure to indicate your preference of a clip back, pin back or magnetic back.
IMPORTANT: Orders will not be processed if the check is not attached, and orders will not be proofread before printing.
Questions?
If you have questions, refer to the order form or contact the Fraternal Service Center at 800-236-3736 or at fraternal@thrivent.com.
The following articles also are posted for congregational coordinators.
Take the lead … and a trip … to change lives
—·FOR
CHAPTER LEADERS AND CONGREGATIONAL COORDINATORS
Help families in need by leading a Thrivent Builds Worldwide trip!
Are you ready to…
Take a trip?
Join Thrivent Financial members, other Lutherans and volunteers to help a partner family build a home?
Take the lead in doing something life changing?
Millions of families live in poverty housing. You can help change that through one of these Thrivent Builds Worldwide programs:
Thrivent Builds Worldwide Communities: Help build an entire community in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast. Africa and Latin America trips coming soon.
Thrivent Builds Worldwide Destination of Choice: Build a home where your heart leads you – anywhere there is an existing Habitat for Humanity host program!
Take the lead!
Your congregation, Lutheran group or Thrivent chapter can help build a home with a partner family in need of simple, decent, affordable housing. And you can take the lead!
Members of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans receive a discount on trip costs, and a donation is made to the Habitat host program on our members’ behalf. See the world and feel the power of your membership!
Tips for recognizing and thanking members
—·FOR
CHAPTER LEADERS AND CONGREGATIONAL COORDINATORS
National Volunteer Week is a great time to do this
With National Volunteer Week coming up April 27 to May 3, your chapter may be looking for creative ways to recognize members and others in your chapter and congregations for the many good things they do through Thrivent Financial to help others. Here are some tools to provide you with ideas:
Chapters may purchase thank-you cards with chapter operating funds.
Chapter leaders and congregational coordinators may order Thrivent Financial thank-you cards at no cost from the Order Chapter Supplies page or Order Congregation Supplies page (Gen Chptr Ldr/Congr Coord folder) in the Chapter Leadership Administration Menu or Congregational Coordinator Administration Menu online.
Chapters can include a recognition article in a chapter newsletter—list the accomplishments and impact made during the past year.
Give out personalizable Volunteer Certificates of Appreciation, available to chapter leaders and congregational coordinators in PDF format via the Order Chapter Supplies page or Order Congregation Supplies page (Gen Chptr Ldr/Congr Coord folder) in your Chapter Leadership Administration Menu or Congregational Coordinator Administration Menu online. Simply type the volunteer's name and print the certificate.
Chapters can add a "Hats Off to Volunteers" section to their chapter Web site.
Hold a volunteer appreciation dinner and hand out special recognition items. See The Store on www.thrivent.com for great Thrivent Financial promotional merchandise items.
Need help using our site to conduct congregational coordinator business?
—·FOR
CONGREGATIONAL COORDINATORS
Fraternal Service Center offers 1-on-1 online training with congregational coordinators
The Fraternal Service Center at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans offers personalized 1-on-1 online training for congregational coordinators who want to learn more about using our Web site – specifically the Congregational Coordinator Administration area:
Training lasts between 30 minutes and one hour.
Training sessions are available between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday.
Important: To do the training, coordinators must be able to be on their computer at the same time they are on the phone.
Topics covered include (handouts will be sent before the training):
Requesting dollars (handouts: "Care in Congregations Hands-On Service Activity Checklist" and "Care in Congregations Fund-Raiser Activity Checklist").
Manage My Profile (handout: Members/Chapters screen showing where Manage My Profile is located).
Resources handout, which lists options of going to the LCS Team, tutorials/quick references, CHIP, Fraternal Service Center.
This training covers online navigation only. It does not cover the Care in Congregations® program concept or replace any other training.
How to register
The congregational coordinator contacts the Fraternal Service Center at 1-800-236-3736 or at fraternal@thrivent.com and provides:
His/her name
The congregation represented
His/her e-mail address (if available)
A Fraternal Service Center staff member will contact the coordinator to set up an appointment for training.
Before the training, we'll send the coordinator a packet with colored handouts that she/he can refer to during the training.
If the coordinator prefers training on the weekend or a weeknight, the coordinator should submit her/his name to fraternal@thrivent.com. If we get enough interest, we may offer training at optional times in the future.
Questions?
If you have questions about this training opportunity, please contact the Fraternal Service Center at fraternal@thrivent.com or 800-236-3736.
