Congregational Advocate News

Thrivent Choice® celebrates first full year; find out what's new in 2012

Thrivent Choice had a great year! About 36% of eligible members participated in 2011, with approximately $60 million of Thrivent Choice grant funds distributed to more than 20,000 organizations.

Based on what we have learned over the past year, we are making several modifications to the program for 2012; the one you are most likely to hear about is recurring direction (the "set it and forget it" option for directing Thrivent Choice Dollars^SM).

We are phasing out this option beginning in 2012 for several reasons:

• We want to give members the opportunity to review the Thrivent Choice catalog, which is updated with new organizations weekly.
• We want to give organizations recently added to the Thrivent Choice catalog the chance to be considered for Choice Dollars directions, as well as giving existing organizations a chance to generate new support.
• We want to reinforce Thrivent Financial's relationship with our members and the assistance Thrivent Financial provides to strengthening our members' communities.
• We want to avoid depleting the program’s budget so quickly that we would have to reduce the Choice Dollars designation rates dramatically to accommodate it.

In 2012 – a transitional year – members will be able to choose an organization and direct designated Choice Dollars to that organization on an ongoing basis for the year. In 2013, members will need to select an organization each time they want to direct Choice Dollars.

In late January and early February, Thrivent Financial is sending members with recurring direction a letter explaining the 2012 program changes, including information that the recurring direction option is being removed. The communication will include a reply card, which members can use to renew their recurring direction (only for the 2012 calendar year) to the organization they had selected in 2011. If members would like to direct Choice Dollars to a different organization, they can view the Thrivent Choice online catalog or call 800-847-4836 (and say "Thrivent Choice" at the prompt) to find out about organizations enrolled in the program.

Other changes to Thrivent Choice include:

• An increase in overall program budget of 35% to $40 million. (Note: This amount is based on the planned 2011 allocation of approximately $30 million, rather than the actual amount spent. The program succeeded in 2011 beyond our expectations, causing us to spend more than the originally allocated amount.)
• The 2012 Choice Dollars designation rates:
  • $2.30 per $100 of premium paid on qualifying insurance products.
  • $1.15 per $1,000 of contract value on qualifying life insurance and annuity products (calculated on a quarterly basis).
  • $25 Choice Dollars for benefit members who hold a qualifying Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership position.

As a reminder, these rates can change each year since they are based on variable factors like member participation and the total Choice Dollars outreach budget.

In addition, based on the results of the Thrivent Choice Advisory Vote, Thrivent Financial in the upcoming months will be evaluating its current process to determine what types of changes would be needed to allow individual members (through their local chapters) to select the organizations eligible for Thrivent Choice.

These changes build on what we have learned during the program's first 18 months. We're thrilled with the program's success and look forward to continuing to give members the opportunity to support organizations they care about.

Questions

Contact us at 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) and say "Thrivent Choice" at the prompt, or email fraternal@thrivent.com.

Have fun promoting the Do One Thing Differently campaign

April is Financial Literacy month. It's a great time to inspire others to be wise with money and live generously. That's why we developed a campaign that encourages others to identify and commit to making one simple financial change.

We're promoting the Do One Thing Differently campaign starting early to mid-March with ads in Lutheran publications, a special tab on the Thrivent Financial Facebook page and online through Thrivent.com/onething where you'll find:

• Daily financial tips.
• A listing of local financial workshops.
• An easy quiz to help identify areas of opportunity in your financial wellness.
• A calculator to measure the savings of your one change.

As you work with your Thrivent Financial Lutheran engagement team to plan your yearly activities and workshops with your financial representative, discuss how you can incorporate the campaign and inspire those in your chapter and congregations to Do One Thing Differently!

Thrivent Builds planning is in full swing

As a member and active supporter of Thrivent Financial, we want to provide you with many choices to help engage your chapters and congregations in social, educational and volunteer activities.

One volunteering option is a program called Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity. It is a powerful opportunity for Thrivent members and their communities to express their faith through a hands-on volunteer experience; offering their time, talents and financial contributions that will support building simple decent homes in partnership with families.

If you feel this program would meet the needs of your chapter or congregation, you can learn more by talking with your Thrivent Financial Lutheran engagement team member. You can also visit Thriventbuilds.com, where you’ll find a listing of both local and worldwide builds. To learn more about a worldwide build, view this El Salvador video.

It's your chance to vote for the Chapter Leader Election contest winners

Thrivent chapters across the country have shared, through photos and stories, the unique themes, great food, educational workshops and charitable activities that made up their Chapter Leader Election events last fall.

We need you – and all Thrivent members – to help select the three election events you think were the most creative and engaging. Please encourage the members in your chapter and congregations to vote by March 4. It's easy!

1. Log in to MyThrivent with your user ID and password.
2. Select Read More in the Member Connection box on the bottom right of the page.
3. Review the photos and short stories. Select your top three choices in the poll at the right and submit.

The three winning chapters will receive additional operating dollars to be used toward their 2012 Chapter Leader Election event. Winners will be announced in the May Chapter Leader News and in the Spring issue of Thrivent magazine. All contest submissions will be featured online in May. Watch for the link and get ideas for your chapter.

New! Thrivent magazine's writing and drawing contest for kids

Helping people be wise with money is one reason Thrivent Financial exists. That's why Thrivent magazine is offering a writing and drawing contest, and we need your help in getting the word out!

Please consider including the below information in your church bulletin and on your chapter website:

"Thrivent magazine wants to know what the phrase "being wise with money" means to kids. Now through April 15, we're encouraging children in preschool through high school to write an essay (100 to 300 words) or draw a picture (no larger than 8½ x 11) that answers the question: What does the phrase "being wise with money" mean to you?

The contest is open to all Thrivent members and children of members. Children of Thrivent Financial employees and financial representatives are not eligible to participate. Contest criteria and guidelines, as well as the official rules, can be found at Thrivent.com/magazine/contest.

Submissions will be judged on creativity and the ability to capture the theme in an inspiring way. Cash prizes of $100 will be awarded to the best three essays and the best three drawings in each of these five categories:

• Category 1: PreK and Kindergarten
• Category 2: Grades 1-3
• Category 3: Grades 4-6
• Category 4: Grades 7-9
• Category 5: Grades 10-12

This means, a total of six winners (three essays and three drawings) from each category will each receive a $100 award. Winning entries may be included in the Summer issue of Thrivent magazine."

Watch your mail for an updated Congregational Advocate Resource Guide

All congregational advocates and directors of congregational advocates will receive an updated resource guide (#25923KIT) in late-February. There is no need for you to place an order.

When you receive your updated guide (which includes a R1-12 revision date on the outside binder spine), please destroy your outdated version.

You can view the contents of this updated guide online at Thrivent.com or by searching Congregational Advocate Resource Guide.