Ha pp y B ir th da y

Members are to call Dorothy if they are unable to attend no later than the scheduled date provided in the current newsletter, or the Friday before the monthly meeting date. If you do not call, it will be assumed that you are attending and you will be billed for that meeting.

If you are unable to attend due to last minute circumstances, you will be billed for that meeting.

Our February meeting will be a joint meeting with Minneapolis Zonta. It will be held Thursday, February 28, 2008, and start with Cocktails @ 5:30 - Meeting/Program @ 6:00. The meeting location is Park Place Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park, 1500 Park Place Boulevard (Park Place/Xenia Avenue exit from Hwy. 394). The program is to be determined. Please let Dorothy know if you plan on attending by February 21st so that she can contact Zonta Minneapolis with our reservations. Dorothy’s number is 612-724-3799

Three of us met at Evelyn’s home in early December to put together 20 holiday bags for MVNA. We were able to get a lot of wonderful items for the bags at the Dollar Tree store, and coupled with the donated items from you, our members, the bags were filled to overflowing. The items included cookies, bags of a variety of candies, soap, warm scarves, toiletry items and bags, juice, Swiss Miss cocoa mix, games, gloves and other assorted items. The bags were delivered to MVNA that afternoon, much to the delight of Michelle L. We also donated the 11 tied fleece blankets to them that day. Michelle told us that she had just given out the last blanket they had on hand and was so thrilled to get a new supply. Thanks to all of you who helped with this project… know that someone received our generosity with much appreciation.

Future Service Project – We will be making the fleece blankets again in March and are still trying to connect with the Jeremiah Project in St. Paul for an activity in April. If you have any suggestions, please let Judy or me know.

Former Zontian – Dr. Eva-Jane Larson (Ostergren), 93 of Rochester, MN formerly of Shoreview, died Saturday, December 22, 2007, at Charter House where she had lived since 1985. Eva-Jane Ostergren was born in St. Paul, July 22, 1914, to Dr. Edward W. and Eva E. Ostergren.

She attended Johnson High School in St. Paul and the University of Minnesota where she earned the MD degree in 1939. She married Dr. Bert R. Larson, June 25, 1941. Dr. Larson joined her father in family practice on St. Paul's East Side where she practiced for 42 years. She was active in her community and had a special interest in the American Field Service exchange student program. She is still "Mom" to exchange students who lived in the Larson home. She was a member of Kappa

Delta Sorority, Alpha Epsilon Iota Women's Medical Fraternity, Chapter BO of PEO, and Zonta Club of St. Paul where she served as president from 1964-1966. In 1964 Dr. Larson was the first woman Chief of Staff of Mounds Park Hospital, and she served many years as Health Officer for the Village of Shoreview. She held various volunteer positions including membership on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Medical Foundation from 1976 to 1984 and as a Board Member of the Ramsey County Lung Association. In 1974 she was elected to the Johnson High School Hall of Fame, and in 1981 the Alumni Association of the University of Minnesota Medical School awarded her the Harold Diehl Award for outstanding service. Dr. Larson is survived by a daughter, Dr. Jane L. (Herbert) Reiman of Rochester; a son, Dr. Bert W. (Mary) Larson of Shoreview; five granddaughters; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1995 and by her parents and her sister, Dr. Lenore O. Nimlos. The funeral was held at 11AM Friday at the EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. JOHN IN THE WILDERNESS, White Bear Lake. Memorials are preferred to the Minnesota Medical Foundation, PO Box 64001, St. Paul, MN 55164-0001 or to the donor's charity of choice.

She is getting the quarterly district newsletter ready, but due to the death of a very close family friend that came just before Christmas and involved a lot of support for my mother—the woman who died was her constant companion since Carol’s dad died five years ago has put a delay in that preparation. Please keep Carol and her mother in your thoughts and prayers.

Patrice Mullins, Zonta St. Charles treasurer, is dealing with a grave situation with her father. He had a massive stroke on New Year's Eve at approx 6:30 pm. He is in ICU in St. Charles. Please keep him (Bruce Billings) and Patrice too in your prayers. If anyone wants to send a card to cheer her up, her address is: 6 Jonathan Ct, Defiance MO 63341. The doctor called this evening to say that the blood clot is now bleeding into the brain and they are taking him off all medicines and blood thinners so additional clots are possible. The docs are warning her that her father may not recover from this situation.

Patrice had surgery today (Jan 2) on BOTH feet and is off work for the next 4-6 weeks. Please send positive energy to her in your thoughts and prayers.

Also, let us remember our own chapter members who are struggling with health issues for themselves and their families, for those who are dealing with family crisis, for those who might be traveling this winter season for a safe journey, and for those who are dealing with the loss of a loved one, either physically, emotionally, or spiritually. As Zontians, we need to lift up our fellow Zonta sisters as well as others.

If you have anything that you would like included in the newsletter, please let Peggy know. I know we would all be glad to hear what is going on with you!

The next meeting for the St. Paul Business & Professional Women will be on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 5:30 p.m. at George’s on Plato, St. Paul. It will be a dinner meeting with the guest speaker Valerie Hill, Hirschfield’s Colorist “The Waitress of Color” – Sounds intriguing! If anyone can attend, please contact Connie Hill at 651-270- 9144, or email connie@llewellyn.com