It was good to see a couple of prospective members at our January meeting. I know that there are others out there who are interested but have been unable to attend a meeting. Thank you for welcoming them. It would really be great to have some new members join us.

This month we will be meeting with the Minneapolis Club in our annual joint meeting. I hope that many of you will make the trip across the river to meet with our Zonta sisters. See the note below for contact information to make your reservations.

I have spoken to Romelle, and she has registered for the International Convention as our delegate. She has also begun conversations with the Great American History Theater about next years Global Event. It just so happens that the doctor Connie went to for her surgery has his offices in the building next door to the History Theater, formerly science museum. They have a large lobby area which has been suggested as an alternative location for the dinner and auction prior to the play. It's connected by skyway to the History Theater building, so it would be very convenient. We're going to check into that possiblity since we were so full in the space we had last year.

Included with this newsletter are copies of the Service Application forms. They need to be returned to Judy by March 15^th, so if you know of groups that would benefit from our support, please get these forms to those groups so they can be returned by the deadline.

As mentioned at our last meeting, it is time to start thinking about nominations for officers for fiscal year 2005. I have served for president for an additional year because we were unable to find someone willing to serve as President-Elect when Connie Nyman would assume the presidency. When I step down as president and Connie succeeds me, we will also need to find someone to do the newsletter. and to chair the membership committee. Please think about your future roles with Zonta Club of St. Paul.

Our International Travel Fund doesn't have a lot of money in it and it was our intention to assist our delegate with registration and travel expenses. In order to build that fund, we had asked members to do some individual fund-raisers. Some of you have done that and many of you have participated in the Linders' gift certificates program to fund this line item. It's time to renew this effort so that we have money for our delegate. I think there are some ideas out there to help build the fund.

On Thursday, February 26^th we will be meeting with our Minneapolis Zonta sisters at the the Doubletree Hotel, 1500 Park Place Blvd., St. Louis Park for a joint meeting. Our speaker will be and Amelia Earhart scholarship recipient. There meetings begin with social time at 5:30 PM, dinner at 6:00 PM. The cost of the dinner is $26.00. Reservations must be confirmed with Joyce Vincent by Monday, February 23^rd. Joyces phone number is. Her e-mail address is. I hope that many of you will be joining us.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. The brag bag and tambourine were passed around.

Minutes from the December meeting were approved with changes made to clarify District Conference, Area Meeting and International Convention.

Marj let us know how Kathy and Mary Pulse are doing and she distributed a number of letters she received over the holidays from former Zonta Members.

Usher reviewed the income and expense report, noting that our International Fund in not sufficient to cover the costs of travel for our delegate to the convention.

It was voted to select Romelle Vanek Helfmann as our delegate to the convention.

By consensus we agreed that we were interested in hosting the 2004 Global Event in conjunction with a performance at the Great American History Theater again. Usher will relay this information to Romelle who will be in contact with the History Theater. Usher also noted that the building across the street and connected by skyway to the History Theater has a large lobby space which may be suitable for the dinner and auction.

Usher reminded the members that it will soon be time to set up a nominating committee for the selection of officers. She will NOT be continuing as president for another year, so we will need to find someone to serve as president -elect. We will also need to find someone to do the newsletter and to chair the membership committee. The board will be discussing these issues at their next meeting.

Our speaker was Kia Moua from Neighborhood House.

Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.