National Convention Information:
2025 Omaha Convention
GIFTS FROM THE HEART
IS GOING GREEN!
The LWML Gospel Outreach Committee is announcing an update and change to the way that we collect Gifts from the Heart (GFTH) for LWML conventions. We are advancing into the online age, using Amazon Wish Lists to shop for physical items for our three recipients, instead of packing boxes and hauling them across the country. We want to work a little smarter and not quite so hard during the days of convention.
Gifts from the Heart is Getting a Makeover for Omaha!
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? Change. Yes, change. Positive and necessary change.
The days of packing and hauling
boxes across the country are over!
Attached to this email via a downloadable link is our GFTH Makeover Flyer. Please share this with all of the zones and groups in your district. It is our hope that this flyer will be shared at LWML Zone Gatherings this fall and at any winter retreats that might happen in your districts.
Please help us get Lutheran Women in Mission excited about this “new way” to think about Gifts from the Heart ingatherings, not only for our LWML Convention, but also, at your district events. We know how creative you are; we saw the “What’s Your 80?” responses. Let’s make this GFTH makeover just as much fun! Maybe youth groups can help link more mature LWML women with the shopping website? Maybe a tech savvy YWR can set up a “Let’s Shop for GFTH” day? Maybe a congregation can take a special offering for the Omaha Gifts from the Heart ingathering and use that money for their shopping day?
What is this GFTH Makeover?
- Each recipient has selected their top nine physical item needs and put them on an Amazon Wish List. The 10th item for each recipient is Visa gift cards — any dollar amount.
- GFTH Shopping will open on February 1, 2025, and remain open through the convention.
- No more packing huge boxes and hauling them across the country.
- We lessen the burden on volunteers at convention and for our GFTH recipients.
WHAT WILL WE DO INSTEAD?
Utilize Amazon Wish Lists
- Shop online and ship directly to our recipients in the months before the convention.
- Select items from an Amazon Wish List of each recipient’s top needs.
- Use the online link provided.
- Shop individually, or make it a group event.
Will we still accept physical items at the convention?
The answer is yes — we will still have a GFTH drop-off room. We will still have volunteers ready to assist with physical items that are brought to convention. Our hope is that we can cut the number of physical items by about half for Omaha.
Why the change?
Over the last decade, GFTH gifts have continued to increase overwhelmingly. We praise God for all of the generous Lutheran Women in Mission. But the physical burden for the Gospel Outreach Committee, other volunteer helpers, and the recipients themselves has become a burden. Recipients are thankful and blessed by the truck loads of items. But dealing with transportation to their facility, along with unpacking and storing so many items received at one time can be difficult. This new GFTH system will provide them with their top needs over the course of several months during 2025 and not all in one weekend.
The Gospel Outreach Committee thanks you for helping to be the message proclaimers for the GFTH Makeover.
Serving in Joy,
Lynn Batchelder
Dianna Just
Dr. Melissa Salomón
Anne Hartman, Chairman
2025 Omaha Convention
DISTRICT CHARTER MOTORCOACHES
Greetings,
We look forward to welcoming you to Omaha June 26–29, 2025. If your district is planning to charter a motorcoach to bring attendees to the convention, or join a surrounding district motorcoach, this information is very important for you.
As LWML Convention Transportation and Tours Manager, I, along with LWML Convention Housing Manager Ruth Weckwerth, look forward to working with your Charter Motorcoach Chairman and District President. I will be in contact with you concerning scheduling the motorcoach arrivals and departures, and Ruth will be coordinating your hotel stay and room reservations. We want to help make your arrival in Omaha as easy and enjoyable as possible.
There are many reasons to consider chartering a motorcoach(es) to convention in addition to providing a reliable, lower cost way to travel to/from Omaha.
- Door to door transportation from your hotel to the CHI Health Center every day.
- Sightseeing, camaraderie, and fun along the way.
- Special group rates at hotels located approximately 10–15 minutes from CHI Health Center.
- Hotel reservations made simple and hassle free.
As you begin to plan your motorcoach journey, please be aware that if you plan to stop at Mission Central in Iowa, you must have a reservation. Mission Central has very limited parking and can accommodate only a few motorcoaches at a time. The LWML Convention will be offering tours to this location as well. I will be happy to provide you with additional information if you plan a visit to Mission Central.
Please complete the requested information linked here and send your email response before October 31, 2024.
Thank you for your assistance as we continue with plans for the 2025 Omaha convention “Growing in God’s Grace.” Just a reminder there are documents already posted in the secure area for District Presidents for your use.
For any questions, please contact:
Kim Burdett, LWML Convention Transportation and Tours Manager
tmgr@lwml.org 913-485-0966 (cell)
Ruth Weckwerth, Convention Housing Manager
hmgr@lwml.org 608-630-6363 (cell)
The mite box collections have resulted in 472 grants being awarded for $28 million in 83 Countries. The little boxes have a huge impact across the world!
The Lutheran Women in Mission have Faith Resources available for you. They are available on the website to share at this link - Ready to Share. You can also signup for the Mustard Seed daily devotions that are sent every day to your inbox or you can go to this link to read them each day - Mustard Seed
The Leadership Development program is getting a refresher. One of the purposes of the Leader Development Committee is to offer resources to women to discover, develop, and strengthen their unique God-given gifts and therefore participate in a meaningful and encouraging way as a servant leader. The website has information on training tools, how to mentor, and event planning.
Meet Your District President!
Carol A. Miksad (nee Briscoe) was born in Yonkers, New York. She was confirmed and married at Holy Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Yonkers, New York by Rev. Thomas Soltis.
Carol has been married to her childhood sweetheart, Rev. Phil Miksad for 50 years. They have two married daughters, Jennifer Bess (Dave) and Dorothy Willerton (Jeremy), and 3 grandchildren, Sawyer (18), Charlotte (14) and Elliott (13). They all live in the metropolitan St. Louis area.
The Miksads are members of St. Lucas Ev. Lutheran Church, St. Louis. They are both retired and hold various leadership roles at St. Lucas, where they have made many dear friends, since their teens in the SELC District Luther League, while at Concordia Seminary, and now in retirement.
While Phil was serving in the pastoral ministry, Carol embarked on a career in the Property and Casualty Insurance industry. Starting out as a mail clerk, Carol worked 20 years for a variety of carriers in New York, Missouri, Minnesota and New Jersey. In 1989, Carol began working for the State of New Jersey’s Department of Banking and Insurance and Real Estate Commission. After 26 years of public service, Carol retired from her position at the State of New Jersey as Executive Director and as a New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners board member, appointed by Governor Chris Christie.
Carol enjoys singing as a soloist, choir member and Praise Team member. She currently serves as the St. Lucas Stewardship Director, Manager of Financial Services and has been an “LWML-er” since 1984.
As the LWML SELC District’s President, brings Carol new challenges. Carol looks forward to using all her God given talents, skills, experience, and knowledge to continue in the footsteps of previous presidents, like Ann Bajus and Milly Kwiatkowski, both dear SELC sisters and friends. Carol is very excited and encouraged by our District’s devotion and energy of all our members as we “Serve the Lord with Gladness!”
Carol A. Miksad
District LWML-SELC President Carol Miksad email's address is camiksad@aol.com
and phone number, (609) 412-4168.
Mailing address:
Carol A. Miksad
307 Seton Hall Court
Valley Park, MO 63088-2318
District Officers
President: Carol Miksad, St. Lucas, St. Louis, MO
Vice-President - Betty Olah, Christ the King, Lodi, OH
Secretary: Allyn Starry, St. John, Hazleton, PA
Treasurer: Stephanie Bailey, St. Matthew, Norton, OH
Mite donations to the LWML SELC DISTRICT are to be sent to:
Stephanie Bailey
737 Redwood Drive
Canal Fulton, Ohio 44614
Committee Chairmen
Bylaws – Carol Miksad St. Lucas, St. Louis, MOMission Grants - Karen Ann Kowalczyk, St. John's, Hazleton, PA
Nominations – Carol Miksad, St. Lucas, St. Louis, MO
Christian Growth – Pam Reece, Christ the King, Lodi, OH
Public Relations – Betty Olah, Christ the King, Lodi, OH
LWML SELC District Pastoral Counselor – Rev. Gordon Naumann, St. John's Lutheran Church, Hazleton, PA
Archival Photos
PHOTOS from 2022 Assembly of Leaders and 2023 Zone Rallys and National Convention
(Click on each picture to see its caption)
