In old business the chapter has renewed its domain name with monies left in the treasury for a five year extension under RMMS.org. The next officer elction will be in Nov. and members are encouraged to think about taking an office or nominating someone for office. Discussion about the Space Exploration Alliance (representing approximately one million people in thirteen organizations, including the Mars Society) forming to pressure Congress into firm and increased spending for the Moon-Mars programs needs our ongoing support and advocacy to our representatives to commit these dollars, especially on the outgoing Sen. Campbell as a member of the influential Appropriations Committee. More information and activities will be a large topic(s) at the Mars Society convention in Chicago this summer, to which Brian E. is driving and has more room for passengers-- contact him if interested.

The possibility of having booths at the People's Fair in Denver was discussed but further research showed that registration was already closed by the time it could be investigated. However Steve Lee from the Denver Museum has offered to let us borrow some spacesuits from their Mars exhibit to wander around the crowd in, distributing flyers if anyone is interested.

Our guest speaker, author of Venus Revealed and Lonely Planets, and noted scientist from SWRI spoke to us about our sister planet, Venus, and the similarities amd differences to Earth and Mars and what we might learn from her regarding our home planet and nearby brother. The latest theories based on most recent research were discussed as well as how Venus came to be the planet it is today, including tectonics, vulcanism, meteorology, climatology, planetary evolution, and evn the possibility of life on Venus. An active question and answer period followed and a good and informative time was had by all. For those interested in more info, the above-mentioned books would be good resources. Next meeting to June 21st at the usual place.

-- Jim Weber