Congregational Advocate News

Choice Dollars is rolling out beginning this week – FOR CHAPTER LEADERS AND CONGREGATIONAL ADVOCATES

Choice Dollars is rolling out to eligible members via a seven-week campaign

The launch of Thrivent Choice^SM continues this month with the introduction of Choice Dollars^SM. Choice Dollars lets eligible benefit members¹ personally help direct² a portion of Thrivent Financial's charitable funds to thousands of Lutheran organizations and congregations.

Over a seven-week period starting this week, eligible benefit members will receive a letter with information on their designated Choice Dollars for 2010, details on how to participate and the Terms and Conditions for directing Choice Dollars.

Staggering the launch letters over seven weeks will allow us to monitor call volumes in our service center and provide members with the prompt service they expect.

When will the letters be mailed to your area? Here's the mailing schedule by state, which could vary slightly when implemented based on call volumes.

Actions Requested

• Promote: Thrivent Choice is a joint program of Thrivent Financial and its chapters, so we hope you will promote Choice Dollars among Thrivent members at local chapter events and in congregations. There are tools to help you do this on the Thrivent Choice Tools and Resources page, including presentations, bulletin insert templates, newsletter text and flyer templates.
• Participate: If you are a benefit member, look for your Choice Dollars letter and participate in the program! Benefit members serving in qualifying Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership roles are eligible to help direct a minimum of $25 in Choice Dollars. For an overview of program details, read the July Thrivent Choice Update scheduled to be emailed this week.

Questions?

Contact us at 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) and say "Thrivent Choice" or send an email to mail@thrivent.com.

¹Benefit members (age 16 or older) will be eligible to direct Choice Dollars if they meet one or more of the following:

• Have $800 or more in annual premiums of qualifying insurance products.
• Have $20,000 or more in contract value on qualifying products.
• Hold a qualifying Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership position.

²Directing Choice Dollars is subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Thrivent Choice Program.

Thrivent magazine offers free calendar; order by Sept. 30 – FOR CHAPTER LEADERS AND CONGREGATIONAL ADVOCATES

We are offering members a special smaller version of the annual Thrivent Financial wall calendar that you may have seen in your congregation or Lutheran school or received from a Thrivent Financial representative. The complimentary 9-by-12-inch calendar is a free offer of Thrivent magazine as part of the strategy to offer members value beyond the printed page. The 2011 theme is "Connecting With the Cross."

The traditional 13-by-12-inch calendar will continue to be distributed to churches, schools and Lutheran institutions at no cost.

To order a free copy (limit one per member), simply go to Thrivent.com/calendar or return the reply card in the Summer issue of Thrivent magazine.

Orders must be placed by September 30, and calendars will be mailed before the end of December.

Not a Traditional Member Benefit

This is a free offer of Thrivent Magazine and not a traditional member benefit. Therefore, FRs, LETs or Chapter Leaders can’t order five items as they can with member benefits. As a member yourself, you may order one free calendar following the order process above. There is not a process for FRs, LET or Chapter Leaders to order additional copies.

Questions?

Email questions to thriventmagazine@thrivent.com.

The Choice Dollars part of Thrivent Choice launches later this summer – FOR CHAPTER LEADERS AND CONGREGATIONAL ADVOCATES

The launch of Thrivent Choice^SM continues later this summer with the introduction of Choice Dollars^SM.

Over a seven-week period scheduled to start later this summer, eligible benefit members¹ will receive a letter with information on their designated Choice Dollars for 2010 and details on how they can help direct² Choice Dollar funds to thousands of Lutheran organizations and congregations.

Staggering the launch letters over seven weeks will allow us to monitor call volumes in our service center and provide members with the prompt service they expect.

When will the letters be mailed to your area? Stay tuned for a special edition of Chapter Leader News and Congregational Advocate News that will include the mailing schedule by state.

Actions Requested

• Promote: Thrivent Choice is a joint program of Thrivent Financial and its chapters, so we hope you will promote Choice Dollars among Thrivent members at local chapter events and in congregations.
  • There are tools to help you do this on the Thrivent Choice Tools and Resources page – and more will be added at program launch, including bulletin insert templates, newsletter text and flyer templates.
  • More member participation at a local level means more funding to benefit the ministries of Lutheran organizations and congregations in your community.
  • Congregational advocates: A new Thrivent Choice presentation was created especially for you to share in your congregations.
• Participate: If you are a benefit member, look for your Choice Dollars letter and participate in the program! Benefit members serving in qualifying Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership roles are eligible to help direct a minimum of $25 in Choice Dollars.

Questions?

Contact us at 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) and say 'Thrivent Choice' or send an email to mail@thrivent.com.

¹Benefit members (age 16 or older) will be eligible to direct Choice Dollars if they meet one or more of the following:

• Have $800 or more in annual premiums of qualifying insurance products.
• Have $20,000 or more in contract value on qualifying products.
• Hold a qualifying Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership position.

²Directing Choice Dollars is subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Thrivent Choice Program.

From Me to We workshop helps engaged or newly married couples get on the same page about finances – FOR CHAPTER LEADERS AND CONGREGATIONAL ADVOCATES

Tips for making the workshop even more meaningful for members

Many studies indicate that money is the No. 1 reason couples argue.¹ Yet a recent report found that more than 70% of couples talk about money on a weekly basis. So what’s the problem? Most couples don’t know how to constructively discuss their finances.

The From Me to We workshop, created to help our members have those discussions, takes a unique stewardship approach to helping couples work together to create their financial future. Here's how your chapter or congregation can make this workshop into a meaningful event for engaged and newly married members.

1. Talk to your FR advisor about hosting From Me to We. This 50-minute workshop will help couples:
   • Identify values and attitudes about money.
   • Set goals together and use a budget to achieve them.
   • Start a values-based financial strategy for their future.
2. Congregational advocates:  Work with your pastors to send invitations to all couples getting married in 2010 at your church.
3. Host a reception for the couples you're inviting. As they're planning their new home and life together, encourage them to bring extra items for donation to a local thrift store. For example, if they've registered for a new coffee pot, they could donate the old one to charity.
4. Ask your financial representative to list the event on the new Find a Workshop page of thrivent.com, so you'll reach as many members as possible. Then share the link in your event promotions:  Thrivent.com/findaworkshop
   
   Bonus: The From Me to We workshop will be featured in the summer issue of Thrivent magazine and will direct members to go to the Find a Workshop page. Take advantage of the free publicity!

¹ Source: SmartMoney.com, "The Six Financial Mistakes Couples Make," Updated June 11, 2008. Based on a 2004 study commissioned by SmartMoney magazine and Redbook.

From Me to We is intended only to educate participants about financial decisions. It is broad in scope and does not consider participants' individual personal financial situations, which are unique. The information and advice may not be appropriate in all cases. No products will be offered for sale.

Securities and investment advisory services are offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., 625 Fourth Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55415, 800-847-4836, a FINRA and SIPC member and a wholly owned subsidiary of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Thrivent Financial representatives are registered representatives of Thrivent Investment Management Inc.  They are also licensed insurance agents of Thrivent Financial.

For additional important disclosure information, please visit Thrivent.com/disclosures.

201002146

Congregational Advocates: Find the tools and resources you need on Thrivent.com – FOR CHAPTER LEADERS AND CONGREGATIONAL ADVOCATES

Wondering how you could help raise funds for an individual in need within your congregation? How about where to find the list of financial education workshops available for FRs to host in your congregation? Or training videos and guides to help you understand your role?

Help is just a few clicks away. You can access most of the tools and resources you need right from the Volunteer Leader Resources > For Congregational Advocates page on Thrivent.com. From here you can:

• Find out more about how you can use the Care Abounds in Communities® program to benefit individuals or organizations your congregation cares about. You can also get quick access to program guidelines and forms you'll need to complete if you plan an activity.
• Get tools and resources to help you promote the Thrivent Choice^SM program to your congregation.
• View training webinars and reference guides specific to your congregational advocate role.
• Access the latest issue and archives of Congregational Advocate News for helpful tips and information.
• Use the CHapter Information Place (CHIP) search tool to look up policies and procedures, a list of available financial education workshops, information about confirmation crosses and baptismal medallions, as well as ideas for educational and volunteer activities you can coordinate for your congregation.

Keep this Congregational Advocate – Online Resources Guide (PDF, 126K) handy for future reference.