An Open Letter from the
Lutheran Pioneer Development Committee
Dear Lutheran Pioneer Leaders both Past and Present,
This past April the Lutheran Pioneers, Inc. held their biennial convention in Fond du Lac, WI. As usual it was an inspiring and meaningful day. Everything from the opening Service to the closing Prayer served to inspire all who attended. I can say that without a doubt, I received a boost that was an unbelievable help to me as I went home and continued my ministry of Lutheran Pioneers. If anything served as a slap in the face it was the business meeting. Only a small part of that meeting, but it served as a wake up call. That part was the Lutheran Pioneer Foundation Report. It showed a rapid depletion of those funds. I am afraid that my report, Development Committee, did not do much to change that mood. One of the things brought up was the lack of communication concerning those funds. It was stated that the minutes were sent out to all leaders, so there should be no excuse for not knowing what is going on. Well, I went back and looked at the minutes and realized that the information given was not all that complete. As secretary of the National Council all I can do is apologize for the vagueness of those minutes. My only defense is that complete reports are on file with those minutes. That does not correct the problem. This letter is an attempt to correct that situation.
First, I think that it is important that we understand the financial situation of the Lutheran Pioneers, Inc. The current budget of Lutheran Pioneers is $101,000. On the expense side of the budget $69,000 foes for staffing expenses, wages, benefits, insurance and staff travel expenses. $10,800 is applied to utilities, telephone, maintenance and property insurance. $10,000 goes for postage, office supplies, UPS charges, etc. Training and Development Expenses account for an additional $5,275 and the other $2,439 is for various expenses.
On the income side $45,000 comes from membership fees. $21,000 comes from profit on sales. Quick math says that is $66,000. That leaves $35,000 to come from two line items, Foundation Fund Gifts and Current Gifts and Other Income. Currently those budget figures are $11,000 from Foundation Funds and $24,000 from Current Gifts and Other Income. Current Gifts are the donations sent in by you, the leaders, parents and an annual grant we receive from the Schwan Foundation. If the figures are not met from Current Gifts, the money comes from Foundation Funds.
The actual figures for the year ending 7-31-99 was $14,587 for Current Gifts and from the Foundation $21,038. The net work of the Foundation as of 12-31-98 was $95,483.82. Part of that net worth was a loan to Lutheran Pioneers, Inc. for $7,950. That loan was excused by action of the Convention Delegates at the urging of the National Council. As of the September National Council meeting, the net worth of the Foundation was $57,000. Keep in mind that almost $8,000 went to excuse the loan to LP Inc. That means that $30,500 went to meet budget expenses. If this trend continues the Foundation Funds will be depleted in less than Two Years. There I have just painted a very bleak picture again. I don’t mean to. It’s just the facts.
Let me assure you that the Lord has truly blessed Lutheran Pioneers. Let me tell you yow. We applied to AAL for a grant from the Innovations Program. We received that grant.
We applied that money to a Strategic Planning Session. We brought in all of the National Council, the ANC’s and the Regional Directors. The Session was facilitated by George Martin, a Pioneer leader from Falls Church, Virginia. George happens to conduct these sessions as part of what he does for a living. By the end of that session we all had a set of goals to achieve and the enthusiasm to achieve them. The various committees are working on those goals now.
Dale Lorfeld and Judy Hansen went to President Gurgel and applied for part of the AAL block Grant from synod. We were awarded that grant also. With that Grant we were able to bring all the District Counselors from LGP and all of the Lutheran Pioneer National Train Advisors, along with both of the National Councils and National officers from both LP and LGP into a training session held at Chula Vista in the Wisconsin Dells. Also, part of that Grant was designated for a new joint introductory video for LP and LGP.
I believe that we have had placed before us nothing more than a challenge. As usual the Lord has given us a solution. The past summer Dale was meeting with Dr. Ron Schmeling of the Schmeling Consulting Group. The meeting was about the Wisconsin Child and Family service. After that meeting Dr. Schmeling offered his assistance to help us in our financial situation. This past month the Development committee met with Rev. Charles Werth of that consulting group. Pastor Werth led us through a discussion on how to raise the necessary funds we need for our ministry. The Lord provides.
After the Convention business meeting I was approached by several extremely concerned delegates asking “What can I do to help?” My response was “I am not sure but I will let you know when we figure it out.” I think that I can answer some of those questions now.
FIRST, we need your help compiling a list of all leaders past and present who have helped with Lutheran Pioneers. Also include all those people who have helped with Lutheran Pioneers without being a formal leader. You can also include former Lutheran Pioneers. This list is going to be added to the “Friends” list and used for various mailings such as this. With the 50th Anniversary coming up the larger the data base that we have the better.
SECOND, please consider the Lutheran Pioneer Trading Post for your purchases of camping equipment and other supplies. The profit from these sales is a very important part of our budget.
THIRD, make sure your Trains bills are paid in a timely manner. The more money that is in the accounts receivable file, the less we have available to pay bills. This is just good business.
FOURTH, please prayerfully consider sending in a donation of $20.00, $30.00, $50.00 or more. The Development Committee has come to realize that we need to be more direct in asking for your help. We realize that asking to give to the Foundation can be like putting your money into a dark and mysterious hole. The donor can not see what the donation is going for. We are not going to ignore the Foundation, but rather put the emphasis on the day to day expenses we incur in running the Lutheran Pioneer ministry. If we can meet all of the expenses with current gifts, then we do not have to tap the Foundation. The “WISH LIST” in the “FRIENDS LETTER” is important to us because it helps us to obtain necessary equipment. But it doesn’t help in paying the bills.
FIFTH, keep watch for more information concerning the 50th anniversary. There is talk about a Capital Fund project to refurbish and expand the National Office. This will also be a good time to rebuild the Foundation Funds.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, pray.
Lutheran Pioneers is not just a program or camping club. If it were we would not have been blessed with almost 50 years of growth. Lutheran Pioneers is a MINISTRY! Our boys are our future. Without them we have no reason to exist. We believe that Lutheran Pioneers is truly a God pleasing ministry and when God is for us who can be against us.
If you have any further comments or questions, please feel free to contact me or any of the Development Committee members. Committee members are Ron Wolff, Tom Deibert, exofficio members, Fred Banaszak and Dale Lorfeld.
We appreciate your support
Thank you for your consideration.
Serving our Youth on that Godly road to Christian Adulthood.
Jim Wirsbinski, chairman
Development Committee
Gifts From Our “Friends”
During the past quarter we have been blessed with many gifts from our “Friends.” Our thanks to you for your support of our Christ-centered youth program.
Gifts received from:
Mr. & Mrs. Don Schoenfeld
Train #338 – Chicago, IL
Peter Thomas
Mr. & Mrs. John Bonow
Mr. & Mrs. James Doletzky
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Palubecki
Pastor & Mrs. Karl Gurgel
Mr. & Mrs. Duane Vanselow
St. Peter’s Ladies Aid, West Bend, WI
Aztalan District
Mr. & Mrs. George Martin
Mr. & Mrs. Forest Hoganson
Mr. & Mrs. Norman Stogbauer
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Wirsbinski
Train #73 – Stillwater, MN
Mr. & Mrs. Merlin Meitner
Train #15 – Landing, MI
Mr. & Mrs. Leroy Meyer
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Peterman
St. John’s – LGP
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Lodle
Mr. & Mrs. Gary Stensberg
Mr. & Mrs. David Sima
Mr. & Mrs. Gary Vanderheyden
Blackhawk District
Mr. & Mrs. David Zimmerman
Betty Bauman
R. H. Lemmermann
Train #156 – Appleto, WI
Iroquois District
In Memory of Mildred Lorfeld
Mr. & Mrs. Clarence Breukschen
Train #284 – Oconomowoc, WI
Eileen Weeks
Dr. & Mrs. Paul Wagner
Mr. & Mrs. Frank Voss
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Palubecki
In Memory of Doris Deibert
Mr. & Mrs. Dale Lorfeld
Mr. & Mrs. Jack Frank
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Palubecki
In Memory of Diane Mumm
Pastor James Mumm
In Memory of Mike Jarcik
Mr. & Mrs. Dale Lorfeld
For Purchase of a Trailer
Mr. & Mrs. Gary Vanderheyden
Lutheran Pioneer Wish List
We appreciate the support we receive from our Friends, parents and leaders. During the past year we have received calls from some of you asking if there is some special gift they can
purchase for us. Through this we have received a Digital Camera, color printer, trailer to carry our Trading Post and a new web page (check it out at lutheranpioneers.org.) There continue to be occasions when people ask how they can help. Here are some of the items on our wish list.
Top on the list is to pay off our new copier. We were able to p8urchase a copier with duplexing,
collating and stapling capabilities for $2800, about half the normal price. We were then able to sell our old copier for $500 leaving us with a net cost of $2300. This machine will help to make us more productive and save time and money in the long run. If you would like to contribute to this fund and help pay off the copier, you can send a check to the National Office and note that it is too be used for the copier.
Another project that some of you may be interested in helping us with is the building of portable cabinets for the Lutheran Pioneer Trading Post. We will need four cabinets that will be used with the new trailer we received. This will allow us to store and yet easily move our merchandise when we travel to Pinecar Derbies, Campouts, Training Clinics and District functions. Approximate cost for each cabinet would be $100 for materials. We are also looking for a few good woodworkers who might be willing to build these for us.
And now a wish from Lutheran Pioneers to you. We pray that during this Lenten season the Holy Spirit will be with you as you once again hear of our Lord’s suffering and death for our sake and look forward to His triumphant resurrection on Easter morn.