Hi Kirk,
move your where condition into join clause, so your query looks like this:

SELECT dbo.costatus.statusid,dbo.coStatus.statusdesc,
dbo.coPatStatus.statustime
FROM dbo.coStatus LEFT OUTER JOIN
dbo.coPatStatus ON dbo.coStatus.statusid = dbo.coPatStatus.statusid
and coPatStatus.meetingnumber=1

It loks like SQL engine executes where clause over the results and join condition over the source tables.

My firm is specialized in VFP and SQL tecnology. We are Microsoft Certified Partners with more than 5+ MCP/MCSD in VFP/SQL.,
We develop database applications mainly with Visual FoxPro 6.0/7.0 - front-end & web and SQL Server 7.0/2000 back-end applications. Visual Bsic we use to create ActiveX controls, which are not available in VFP. Visual C++ we use to create drivers with printers, bar-code readers, scales, etc. We have developed Visual FoxPro technology - the same VFP6.0/7.0 front-end to work either with DBF's or with SQL Server7.0/2000 back-end.
If you need more help or if we can subcontract you welcome.