Understanding the role of Congregational Coordinator Teams 2005 update and review

Objectives n Better understand the role of congregational coordinators. n Understand the benefits of working as a team. n Know what resources are available. n Understand the importance of promoting programs. n Understand other chapter care programs.

Congregational Coordinator Role n Plans with other two congregational coordinators and establishes regular meeting schedule. n Provides leadership to volunteer efforts in the congregation. n Involves Thrivent Financial members in identifying, planning and conducting activities. n Requests funding from the Operations Center. n Involves church leadership in activities. n Internet and required for one of the three.

Specific team responsibilities 1. Involve at least 6 member households. 2. Provide leadership. 3. Request funds before activity is conducted. 4. Report activities to receive activity funds. 5. Communicate with chapter leaders. 6. Assure funding is used as intended. 7. Order congregational resources and arrange for delivery.

Chapter Structure Each Thrivent Financial for Lutherans member is assigned to a chapter. Across the country there are more than 1,300 chapters. The chapter system enables Thrivent Financial members to make a difference through voluntary action. Local Thrivent Leadership Board Congregational Service Teams Care in Congregations ® Community Service Teams Care Abounds in Communities™ Care in Regions™

Chapter assignments In most cases, members are assigned to chapters based on the county in which they live. Counties with large member populations are subdivided. Counties with small member concentrations are combined. Each year members elect the chapter leadership board. Members can find out what chapter they belong to by logging onto Members Only, Chapter Locator.

Chapter Care Programs n Care in Congregations® n Care Abounds in Communities  n Care in Regions 

Care in Congregations® n One of the required, elected positions on the chapter leadership board is a congregational service team director. n This position serves as the liaison between the chapter and the congregational coordinators.

Purpose of Care in Congregations® n Care in Congregations® is an annual program. n Provides a way for members to support their congregation or associated Lutheran institutions (e.g. schools.) n How? Through fund-raising and hands-on service activities.

Who does the work? n The work is done by congregational service teams that form for the purpose of planning, organizing and conducting an activity. n Congregational service teams: u Must include at least one member from six different Thrivent Financial households. u May include congregational coordinators.

What’s my role? 1. Involve church leaders and Thrivent Financial members to identify possible activities. n We recommend holding a congregational planning meeting early in the year, to help identify activities within the congregation that may qualify for funding. 2. Request Thrivent Financial funding prior to the activity. 3. Make church treasurers aware of the program and funding distribution process. 4. Report results. 5. Submit new report form #23575 and receipts to chapter leadership board.

Congregational Service Team Director n One of 5 required roles on chapter leadership board. n Serves as liaison between congregational coordinator teams and chapter board. n Provides training and support. n Encourages congregational coordinator teams. n Monitors activities, funding requests and reporting.

Chapter Member Administration

How to plan, conduct and report activities in 7 simple steps 1. Plan ahead. 2. Identify 6 person service team 3. Find a need and identify an activity. 4. Request funds and approval. 5. Plan the activity. 6. Conduct the activity. 7. Report the activity results and receive the funds.

Step 1&2: Plan Ahead & Identify Service Team n Get a user ID and password. n Don’t give this information to anyone else. n Identify the 6 Thrivent Member Household Service Team.

Step 2: Find a need and identify an activity. Congregational service team: u Identifies a need and an activity. u Gathers support from the congregation. u Confers with congregational coordinators to gather their support.

Step 3: Request Activity Approval n Congregational coordinator requests activity approval online, or calls , option 1.  “Activity successfully requested. Please report the activity when completed.” n Once the activity is completed and reported, funds can be sent.

Step 4: Plan the Activity n Congregational Coordinator informs team that funds are available and emphasizes the importance of leveraging those funds. n Congregational coordinator encourages team to involve church leadership in the activity. n Congregational Coordinator informs team about importance of publicizing and promoting activity. u Refer them to new Visibility Toolkit (#22062.)

Step 5: Conduct the Activity n Track the following: u Volunteer hours u Attendance (total, members, member households) u Expenses incurred u Funds raised u Contributed goods

Step 6: Report Activity Results n Congregational service team reports activity results to the congregational coordinator. n Congregational coordinator enters activity results online, or calls , option 1. n Funds are sent directly to the congregation from the operations center. n Congregational coordinator sends “Receipts Report form (#23575) to the congregational service team director.

Electronic Transfer n For electronic transfer, contact Fraternal Service Center with: u Bank routing number u Bank account number u Type of account

Chapter Care Programs n Care in Congregations® n Care Abounds in Communities  n Care in Regions 

Care Abounds in Communities™ funding flow Community service team requests funds from the chapter leadership board.  If approved, the chapter leadership board submits the request to Thrivent Financial.

Care Abounds in Communities  n Members can help: u Individuals u Families u Local communities and u Qualified non-profit organizations

How to plan, conduct and report activities in 7 simple steps 1. Plan ahead. 2. Identify 6 person service team 3. Find a need and identify an activity. 4. Request funds and approval from the Chapter Leadership Board. 5. Plan the activity. 6. Conduct the activity. 7. Report the activity results to the Chapter Leadership Board and receive the funds. n Send the “Report for Funded Activity Results” form and “Receipts Report” w/receipts.

Chapter Care Programs n Care in Congregations® n Care Abounds in Communities  n Care in Regions 

Care in Regions  n Members can be involved at the regional level as well. n Manager of Lutheran Community Services (MLCS) leads this effort. n Highlights from 2004.

Locally supported activities are important n Do not involve care program funding. n Demonstrates commitment to help others. n Important to be reported. n Important to be promoted. n Ultimately they extend our ability to help. n Report under thrivent.com>members only>Congregational Coordinator Admin.>Report Locally Supported Activites. u Select “Meeting – Other” as the “Activity Type.”

Locally Supported Activity Ideas n Coordinator planning meetings n Thrivent sponsored coffee hours n Election meeting n Seminars presented by your Thrivent FR’s n Coordinator training n Disaster response program n Local hands-on-service activity n Local fundraiser n Social

Other Fraternal Opportunities Church and Community Programs Baptismal Medallions Confirmation Recognition Simply Giving® GivingPlus™ Program Grant Programs Disaster Response Habitat for Humanity Healthy Communities* Healthy Youth More information about these programs can be found at or by contacting the MLCS or LCS Team.

Activity Ideas n Planning Meeting for 2005 u see sample congregational planning meeting documents n “Luther” now available on home video u $5 benefit offer for members n Money Smart Kids for ages 6-12 n New Values Books for Young Children: u Understand and Care u Share and Take Turns u Be Polite and Kind

Let Financial Representatives know what’s happening n Invite them to church anniversaries, picnics and fund raising activities. u They won’t be able to attend everything. n Invite them to make check presentations. n Refer other Lutherans to them. n Host a coffee hour for financial representatives. n Invite them to present baptismal medallions and confirmation crosses.

Resources just for you n Online at Members/Chapters: u CHIP u Quick reference guides u Tutorials n Regional Website n Fraternal Service Center u , option 1 n Lutheran Community Services Team

Resources just for you n Online at Members/Chapters : u CHIP u Quick reference guides u Tutorials n Regional Website  Flowcharts on the Care Programs are available on the Regional Website under “coordinator resources.” Congregational Coordinator Presentations & Handouts (from today)  n Fraternal Service Center u , option 1

Available Resources (cont’d) Lutheran Community Services Team F Phil Edlund – Washington (toll free) F Naomi Baker – Oregon, Alaska, SW Washington (toll free)