President's Notes:

Congratulations! What a wonderful event we hosted last month! Although our attendance was a little less than we hoped for and less than last year, in light of the current economy and recent political events, I think we had a good response to our invitations.

You each did a great job in gathering silent auction items and selling tickets. Each of the committees came together nicely. The room looked lovely. The food was great! And, we netted about $5,400 from the event. Again, a little less than last year, but still a very successful event.

This month at our meeting we will hear from representatives of both the Women and Children's Recovery Community and the Hmong Women's Action Team. They will each give us a report on their activities this year.

We will also have a report from the Service Committee on our responses to the survey taken last month and how that fits with our exploration of possible Service projects, both for funding and for hands-on service.

Don't forget to sell your poinsettias. And, see Erma's request for help for the sale at the Bank in December.

Remember to bring fruits to our December meeting for our gift to the Women and Children's Recovery Community.

Since December is not a business meeting, please remember that this is an opportunity to bring guests to dinner, your spouses, and prospective members are particularly welcome. I think we will have a great time with our entertainment/speaker for the evening.

I attended the Minneapolis Zonta event this month. It was a lovely event again this year. Their speaker was comedian, Susan Vass. They changed the date to a Sunday this year and are considering keeping it on a Sunday. If that made a difference in your ability to attend the event, you might want to let Lynette Smith of the Minneapolis Club know about that. Her phone number is (763)420-0989 and her e-mail is lynettelsmith@aol.com.

I've had some follow-up conversation with Lynette about a couple of things. First, we will be changing our joint meeting with Minneapolis to February instead of January this year. I haven't heard a date for certain, but I'm guessing that that means our February meeting will move to February 28th, a Thursday. And, the Minneapolis Club has decided that they won't be joining us in our fund-raiser event at the District Meeting.

I haven't gotten a confirmation on my invitation for our speaker for that event, yet. Hopefully I will know something by the time we meet next week. But, right after the first of the year we will need to begin to plan the District 2002 meeting. So, think about how you would like to help with that event.

Have a great Thanksgiving. Hope you've been enjoying our summer-like weather (we were actually out on our neighbor's boat this week). And, see you on November 27th.

OUR DECEMBER SPEAKER

Our holiday dinner on December 18th will include comedian, Mary Hirsch . Mary has taught humor writing and newsletter writing at The Loft Literary Center for seven years. She has spoken to various groups about humor and how to use it in their personal life, professional life, and writing. She is a stand-up comedian who has performed in public and private venues for over three years.

She has written for Garrison Keillor's nationally syndicated show A Prairie Home Companion, is a columnist with the Minnesota Women's Press, and in 1998 won the Vivian Castleberry Award from the Association of Women Journalists for her writing. She was a humor columnist for the Southwest Journal from 1989 to 1999 and in 1995 won first place from the Neighborhood and Community Press Awards for best on-going column. She has written two books A Treasury of Office Humor published in 1995 by Lincoln Herndon Press and I Wake-Up Beautiful And Other Fantasies published in 2000 by Swell Gal. She has been published in Minnesota Parent, Career Woman, Law and Politics, Twin Cities Business, Minnesota Monthly, Minneapolis Star and Tribune, Critters, Entrepreneurial Woman, and Mpls.St.Paul Magazine.

I think we will have great fun, so plan bring your spouses and prospective members to our December party.