Members Present: Robyn Bielawski, HiDee Ekstrom, Nancy Purdy, Rebecca Wright

Correspondence: HiDee shared one advertisement that she received. Mark Laughlin sent Lynn an email letting her know that he posted a meeting reminder on Smile Politely.

Old Business:

• Website: Robyn is planning on creating a PowerPoint presentation or similar slide show to post on the website. Please send any photos, memories, or comments that you would like to share to create an introduction to the Prairie Hearts.
• Newsletter: HiDee reported that she was nearly finished with the newsletter and planned on mailing it the following week. Upcoming newsletter articles are due from: Lynn C., April; Nancy, April, Rebecca, July; and Robyn, October. Additional articles are always welcome. Members also discussed the possibility of publishing 1 to 2 member biographies per newsletter, beginning with the July/August/September issue (coinciding with the chapter’s 20th anniversary).
• Market information: Members discussed the closing of local bookstore Pages for all Ages as well as Borders filing for bankruptcy and the end of the Waldenbooks chain. Also discussed were thoughts on e-books and e-book readers versus traditional print books, and the rising price of hardcovers.
• Graphic design for T-shirts, tote bags, and mugs: The Prairie Hearts logo is now finished, and can be used to create custom merchandise at Café Press. Robyn is working on setting up at special Prairie Hearts store at Café Press to make it easier for members to order items.
• Advertisement: Rebecca mentioned placing flyers in the Undergrad library. The Smile Politely article was discussed.

New Business:

• March Writers’ Retreat: This year’s retreat is being held in a different room at Parkland. HiDee will provide everyone with a map to find the room. We are meeting from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Please bring any beverages you want and as well as other snacks/munchies. Box lunch orders will be taken before the retreat via the Prairie Hearts Yahoo! Group. Robyn brought a Jimmy John’s catering menu (www.jimmyjohns.com), and other options were discussed.
• 20th Anniversary plans: August 22 is the tentative date for the anniversary luncheon. Members discussed possible locations, including Silver Creek. Roby suggested The Cake Artist’s Studio (www.thecakeartistsstudio.com) as a possible source for the cake.
• Writing updates: HiDee has been focused on creating a scrapbook for her parents’ wedding anniversary, but hopes to have time to write once it’s completed. Rebecca is working on a new writer’s journal, and hopes to find out what her character needs to do and where she needs to go. Nancy reported little progress with her attempt at doing 100 words in 100 days. Robyn is rewriting her Just Desserts entry and making good progress with it.

 Next Meeting: Writer’s Retreat (open to PH members only) March 14, 2009