Muriel belonged to the St. Paul Zonta Club for 20 years. She recently indicated in an Infomercial that, "She always enjoyed the friends she made in Zonta and the good things that Zonta does." She actually saw first hand the water wells in Sri Lanka that Zonta was responsible for getting fresh water to the women who previously had walked for miles carrying water jugs on their heads.

Zonta is an international service organization with clubs in 70 countries of the world. Every two years there is an International Convention held in either the U.S. or another country where Zonta Clubs are located. Muriel was selected as the International Parliamentarian for the St. Louis Convention in the mid-1990's. At the opening ceremonies, the officers, followed by costumed delegates from the 70 countries carrying their flags walk in and are seated in the front rows. I remember seeing Muriel walking down the aisle of this large auditorium filled with women. She wore a gold and brown caftan which was appropriate for this setting. With a great deal of dignity Muriel took her seat on the stage near President Solake` Folake` an African woman who was head of her clan and held a position equivalent to an attorney general.

Prior to the convention Muriel met with the President for a day or two going over all agenda items and clarifying procedures that would insure smooth running meetings.

But occasionally, an issue would come up that had not been anticipated and the President would confer with Muriel to determine the best way to resolve the point. The St. Paul Zonta members at the convention were indeed proud of Muriel.

Muriel had the opportunity in her lifetime of meeting and being entertained in the homes of Jihn Sadat, Mrs. Marabarek, Indira Gjandi, Mother Theresa, The Ambassador to Nepal, the Ambassador to Korea and she visited the Zonta Club in Taipei, Taiwan.

Many years ago Muriel, who loved drama and acting, was a part of an American Association of University Women who put on children's plays. Later the group put on a program, "Five Women of Courage Who Made a Difference." Muriel portrayed Amelia Earhart, who was a Zontian.

The last meeting of St. Paul Zonta that Muriel attended was the December meeting. She was all dressed in red down to her fingernails. Despite being very fragile and evidently in poor health she was there and seemed to enjoy herself. I believe that Muriel's nails were her signature and as one of the Zontians said might have represented different facets of her life.

Muriel was small, but oh my you were aware of her presence. We miss Muriel and will as time goes by, for she had big shoes to fill.