1. Many people in our congregations are unaware of what Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is and/or what we do. How can we as Congregational Advocates help to change that?
• Flyers around the church and in the bulletins.
• Ask a financial representative to come to our church and make a presentation.
• Include an item in the bulletin as a thank you to the Thrivent Financial members who contributed dollars to the church from Thrivent Choice.
• Temple Talks by our advocates to explain the program.
• Make use of the financial representatives and have an education program on identity theft and include posters. Advocates can talk to the participants at the event.
• Ask our county chapter to send out a “Gifts of Grace” letter and donation to the congregations for quilting supplies, crosses, medallions.

2. How can we as Congregational Advocates partner with our Thrivent Financial Representatives to meet our goals?
• Know who your financial representative is.
• Invite the financial associate to your congregation.
• Have workshops and temple talks for awareness.
• For any event at the church, make sure the financial associates are invited.
• Ask them to come and explain about the Choice Dollars, along with passing out county board information.
• Have the county board send out a newsletter and include the list of seminars.

3. What available Thrivent Financial resources will be the most helpful in my role as a Congregational Advocate?
• Internet or phone
• Thrivent Choice card handout on distributing Choice dollars.
• Advocates should be active with the distribution of baptismal medallions and confirmation crosses.
• An idea --- one church does the distribution of all of the baptismal and crosses in a calendar year on one selected Sunday.
• Baptismal medallions could be engraved with the church name and date of baptism.
• Use the form that is available for church membership changes to the Thrivent database. Plus pre-fill the name of the church.

4. What are a couple new action steps that you as a Congregational Advocate will implement within the next few weeks?
• Include bulletin inserts on Thrivent Choice.
• Request the Chapter send a postcard as a reminder to all members asking them if they have designated their Thrivent Choice dollars this year.
• Attend a board meeting.
• Set up computerized access at church for folks to be able to designate their Choice dollars
• Have the church treasurer list the Thrivent Choice dollars as a budget item.
• Have a discussion with the church leadership board about Thrivent Financial at the beginning of the year.
• Educate congregational members on what a fraternal organization is.
• Order a Thrivent Financial membership list for their congregation.
• Get a church directory and send it in to the FR or home office.