FAQ's
Hosting and Facilitating a Club
Program Series and Logistics
Participating in a Club
Promoting the Program
Club Fee & Ordering Information
Getting Started
Questions?
What is the role of the Club facilitator?
The facilitator:
- Brings the participants’ materials and distributes them at the first session;
- Plays the DVD at the appropriate times; and, if needed,
- Starts the group’s discussions.
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Do I need any special experience to facilitate a Club?
No previous experience or training is required. It is recommended that you play the DVD before the first session to become familiar with the format (i.e, when to start and stop the DVD as indicated in the video).
In addition, the participant workbooks include a “DVD icon” so that everyone knows when the DVD will begin. Time estimates for activities and discussions also are included to help keep everyone on track.
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Who can host the Club?
Virtually any group or organization can host the Club, such as:
- Churches
- Civic/community groups
- Groups of co-workers or employers
- Business or professional associations
- Any group of adults that would like to take steps to improve their financial health
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How long is each session?
Approximately 60-75 minutes, based on whether or not the optional faith reflection activities are included and depending on how much participant discussion.
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What should be kept in mind when choosing a location for the Club?
- You will need a TV/monitor and DVD player.
- Be sure to choose an area large enough to comfortably seat the number of participants in your Club and to provide enough space for participants to break out into smaller groups for discussion.
- It will be helpful for participants to have a table or desks at which they can sit to allow them to easily make notes in their workbooks.
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Is the Club a “stand-alone” series or can it be incorporated into an existing program?
Yes—to both! The Thrivent Financial Fitness Club program is comprehensive enough to stand alone, yet flexible enough to incorporate into an existing program. For example, the series may be a perfect complement to an existing:
- Congregational workshop series for newly engaged couples.
- Young professionals program.
- Mothers of Preschoolers club.
- Family finances workshop series.
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What are the “faith reflection” components of the program?
Participants may wish to reflect on different passages from the Bible to help guide them in the process of making decisions about their financial health and becoming better stewards of their resources. We have included suggestions for faith reflection activities, should you wish to incorporate this aspect into your Club experience.
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Do you have to be a Lutheran or a member of Thrivent Financial to host or participate in a Club?
Anyone is welcome to facilitate or join a Club. Keep in mind, however, that if financial professionals wish to facilitate the program, they must agree that they will not promote their practice or sell financial products or services in the program setting.
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What age groups can benefit from the program?
Any adult who deals with personal finances can benefit from the Club. The program includes information and discussion opportunities that will provide valuable insights and tips to help participants—from young adults to pre- retirees—take small steps to make positive changes in their financial lives.
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Does the program include a "sales pitch" to buy products or promote Thrivent Financial representatives?
No. We believe it is up to each participant to seek licensed financial help as it makes sense for their personal situation.
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Will participants be asked to share personal information during the Club?
No. What participants choose to share and/or not to share is totally up to them. The Club respects the privacy and confidentiality of each participant.
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How many participants should be in each Club?/What is the "standard" size of a Club?
Clubs with 6 to 15 participants are an ideal size to allow for adequate group discussion and ample opportunities to share insights.
- If there are fewer than 6 participants, don’t let that discourage you from hosting a Club. As long as there are enough individuals to hold an informative discussion, the program can still be very effective.
- If there are fewer than 6 individuals, you may want to continue promoting the Club or try again at a later date, as some individuals’ schedules may not be as busy at a later time.
- The package includes 15 participant workbooks, which is enough for two groups of 6 -8 participants or one larger group.
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How do I determine the level of interest in participating in the Club?
During our pilot programs, we found that many individuals were interested in developing stronger money management skills. But people can’t sign up for a program if they don’t know it’s available. That’s why we developed the following:
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How do I use the promotional materials?
We have provided the following promotional materials in an easy-to-use, customizable and printable format:
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Is there a way to recoup our $375 investment?
The $375 program fee is often viewed as a sound and economical investment (i.e., $25 per participant) that groups/organization make in their members’ best interests. We have found that many individuals are more committed to attending the Club and making personal changes when they have paid a fee.
Some examples of ways groups/organizations offset the fee, include:
- Charging individuals a nominal fee to participate.
- Charging individuals for the participant workbook. (Some couples may prefer to share one workbook.)
- Asking for goodwill donations to help defray the program fee.
- Using funds from a benefactor(s) to offset the cost of the program.
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How do I order additional workbooks if more than one Club will be hosted?
Participant workbooks are not sold separately. Simply order another program package.
Also, keep in mind:
- Couples can be encouraged to share materials.
- Materials may not be reproduced.
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How long does it take to receive materials once Thrivent Financial receives the license agreement and check for the program fee?
After we have received your completed license agreement(PDF, 30K) (two copies) and check, please allow two weeks for delivery. Your copy of the license agreement will be mailed separately to you.
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I want to host a Club. How do I begin?
It’s easy to get started! Simply print out and complete the license agreement(PDF, 30K), make two copies and make a $375 check payable to: Thrivent Financial Lifelong Resources, Inc. Mail the copies of the license agreement and the check to:
Thrivent Financial Lifelong Resources
Attn: Laurie Harris
4321 N. Ballard Rd
Appleton, WI 54919-0001.
As soon as you receive the program materials, you’ll be ready to begin!
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What if I have questions?
If you have questions, please call, write or send us an e-mail.
Mail:
Thrivent Financial Lifelong Resources
Attn: Laurie Harris
4321N. Ballard Rd
Appleton, WI 54919-0001
Phone:
(800) 596-4225
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (CST)
Monday - Friday
E-mail:
financialfitness@thrivent.com
We do our very best to reply within 24 hours, but it occasionally may take a few days.
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