Advisor
See Leadership Board
advisors.
Appeal/collection
An appeal/collection is an organized collection of funds to address a
specifically identified need. It is very similar to the "pass the
hat" concept.
Assistant financial director
An optional elected chapter leadership position that assists
the financial director in maintaining financial records for the chapter. —DETAILS
Associate member
A person who is at least age 16, has been accepted for membership in accordance
with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' membership eligibility rules and has been
issued a certificate of membership. Generally, associate associate members are
those members that only have mutual funds, products issued by Lutheran Brotherhood
Variable Insurance Products Company, products issued by other Thrivent Financial
for Lutherans subsidiaries, or who joined by paying a membership fee.
Attendance
Number of people who attend an activity.
—DETAILS
Benefit member
A person who is at least age 16, has been accepted for membership in accordance
with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' membership eligibility rules and is an
applicant member on a Thrivent Financial for Lutherans insurance or annuity product
or received a settlement agreement from such insurance.
In the vast majority of cases, a benefit member is the insured or annuitant
on an insurance or annuity contract issued by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
or premerger Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) or Lutheran Brotherhood (LB).
In some cases, third-party owners of premerger AAL or Thrivent Financial contracts
or beneficiaries of settlement agreements may be benefit members.
Care Abounds in Communities®
The Care Abounds in Communities® program supports charitable, educational and member social activities conducted by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members and other volunteers to help individuals, families, local communities and not-for-profit organizations.
—DETAILS
Care in Regions®
Care in Regions® brings Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members, financial representatives and other volunteers together to make a significant difference for a cause that is meaningful in their region.
—DETAILS
Chapter
A chapter is a chartered local unit of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans that brings
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members together for charitable, social and educational
activities. All Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members belong to chapters, which
enable them to aid themselves and others through voluntary action.
Chapter Care programs
The two programs through which members may receive funding for fundraising, hands-on service, educational and member social activities:
Care Abounds in Communities® and Care in Regions® —DETAILS
Chapter leadership board
The chapter leadership board consists of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
members, elected by members in the chapter, who provide leadership to the chapter.
The chapter leadership board is comprised of five required elected positions,
five optional elected positions and a number of advisory people who are appointed
by the elected leaders. It provides strategic direction, leadership planning
and administration to support service teams.
All elected leadership board members have equal voting rights—the advisors do not vote in chapter leadership board matters.
Chapter leaders are required to meet quarterly* (in person or aided by technology)
and are responsible for allocating dollars to community service teams for helping
individuals, families and qualified
not-for-profit organizations. In addition, they manage the process for the
local chapter leadership elections.
* Chapter leadership boards are encouraged to meet as often as necessary
to remain a viable, active chapter—quarterly at a minimum. Most will want
to meet monthly to review activity requests in a timely manner.
—DETAILS
Chapter Mailing Service
Through the Chapter Mailing Service, chapters can send mailings to chapter members. Chapters provide the content, and the operations office places it on postcards or newsletters, addresses it and mails it.
—DETAILS
Chapter Summary Report
The Chapter Summary Report, which is updated monthly, compiles the information the chapter leadership board enters online so the information can be used for year-end IRS reporting requirements.
—DETAILS
Cohosted activities
Activities that chapters and/or chapter service teams host in collaboration with
other organizations to meet a mutual goal.
—DETAILS
Collection
See Appeal/collection.
Communications director
An optional elected chapter leadership position that supports communication
efforts for the chapter and service teams. —DETAILS
Community service team
A community service team is a group
of Thrivent Financial members (benefit, associate and/or
youth members), and others who come together to conduct
an eligible chapter activity.
Community service teams request activity
and funding approval from their chapter leadership board through the Care Abounds
in Communities® program. To qualify for funding:
- Activity is initiated by a Thrivent member. Nonmembers may and are encouraged to participate in the activity too.
- The team must promote the activity as a Thrivent Financial for Lutherans chapter-hosted activity (e.g., hosted by members of the ABC Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, hosted by the ABC Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans).
After an activity is approved by the chapter leadership board, the service team plans, organizes and conducts the activity, then reports the results to the chapter leadership board.
Community service team contact person
A community service team contact person is a Thrivent Financial for Lutherans member who the chapter leadership board and volunteers should contact with any questions about a particular activity through the Care Abounds in Communities® program.
—DETAILS
Community service team director
An optional elected chapter leadership position that encourages member involvement
through the formation of community service teams.—DETAILS
Congregational advocate
A congregational advocate is a Thrivent Financial for Lutherans member who serves as an advocate for their congregation, their community and Thrivent Financial.
Director of Congregational Advocates
A required elected chapter leadership position that encourages member involvement
through formation of service teams in congregational settings, and trains
and supports congregational service teams.
EIN
See Employer Identification
Number.
Educational activity
Instruction/training to improve capabilities or knowledge about useful topics that benefit, are of interest to and will attract Thrivent Financial members and others.
Employer Identification Number
An IRS identification number obtained for each chapter by Thrivent Financial
for Lutherans. This is not a sales-tax exemption number.
Events director
An optional elected chapter leadership position that works with the Community Engagement Team (CET) to
plan volunteer recognition and related events.—DETAILS
Financial director
A required elected chapter leadership position that oversees and maintains
the chapter's financial records.—DETAILS
Fraternal benefit society
A not-for-profit organization that provides insurance to its members and
operates for social, intellectual, educational, charitable, benevolent,
moral, fraternal, patriotic or religious purposes for the benefit of its
members and the public. Fraternal benefit societies operate under the "lodge
system," meaning that
each member of a fraternal benefit society is a member of a local chapter
of the society. Fraternal benefit societies have a representative form
of government and the members of a fraternal society share a common religious,
ethnic, vocational or other "common bond."—DETAILS
Fraternalism
Nurturing and preserving the helping spirit through community benefits, member
benefits and actions of members and employees.
Fundraising activity
An activity to generate funds for an individual, family
or qualified not-for-profit organization. Examples of fundraising activities
include a silent auction, a benefit dinner, etc.
Funded activities
Funded activities are eligible activities hosted by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans chapter service teams that use funds from any one of the chapter Care programs.
—DETAILS
Hands-on service activity
A hands-on service activity involves volunteer labor to assemble, develop or improve something for an identified recipient. Through its chapter Care programs, Thrivent Financial provides financial assistance to purchase necessary materials used in an activity in which chapter service team members provide the volunteer support (labor) to help an individual, family, congregation or qualified not-for-profit organization.
—DETAILS
JOIN HANDS DAY
A national volunteer day sponsored by America’s fraternal benefit societies, including Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. This annual event generates awareness about what grassroots volunteerism can do in communities across the nation, while also bringing youth and adults together to build lasting friendships across generations. —DETAILS
Leadership board advisors
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members, appointed by the chapter leadership
board, to provide advice to the leadership board on specific topics. Advisory
leadership board members may include Internet advisor, program advisor,
financial associate advisor, past president advisor and special advisor. —DETAILS
Locally supported chapter activities
Locally supported activities are fundraising, administrative, educational, member social and charitable activities (e.g., chapter meetings and elections, etc.) hosted by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans service teams that do not use funds from any of the chapter Care programs.
—DETAILS
Community Engagement Team
A team of full-and part-time paid staff and volunteers who report to the
region's Manager of Lutheran Engagement and interact with
chapters, congregations, institutions, volunteers and Thrivent Financial
representatives.
Lutherans Online (www.lutheransonline.com)
The Lutherans Online website is an online community of Lutherans that provides
a place to go and find like-minded Christian people to network with in various
ways such as message boards and chat rooms. You also can find e-greeting cards.
Chapter websites also are located on Lutherans Online. A website template is available for each chapter, and easy-to-use tools are available to help chapter leaders enhance their Web site to effectively communicate with chapter members.
Mailing service
See Chapter Mailing Service.