EXHIBIT 16

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned Director of each of Columbia Growth Fund, Inc., Columbia
International Stock Fund, Inc., Columbia Short Term Bond Fund, Inc., Columbia
Special Fund, Inc. and Columbia Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (each a "Company"),
hereby severally constitute and appoint Jeff Curtis and Mark Wentzien, and each
of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each
of them, to sign for me, and in my name and in the capacities indicated below,
the Registration Statements on Form N-14 of each Company and any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to said Registration Statements
and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
my said attorneys, and each of them acting alone, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in
the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, and hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys or any of them may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

WITNESS my hand on the date set forth below.


/s/ J. JERRY INSKEEP, JR.
--------------------------------------------
J. Jerry Inskeep, Jr., Chairman and Director


Dated: June 24, 2002





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned Director of each of Columbia Growth Fund, Inc., Columbia
International Stock Fund, Inc., Columbia Short Term Bond Fund, Inc., Columbia
Special Fund, Inc. and Columbia Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (each a "Company"),
hereby severally constitute and appoint Jeff Curtis and Mark Wentzien, and each
of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each
of them, to sign for me, and in my name and in the capacities indicated below,
the Registration Statements on Form N-14 of each Company and any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to said Registration Statements
and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
my said attorneys, and each of them acting alone, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in
the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, and hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys or any of them may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

WITNESS my hand on the date set forth below.


/s/ JAMES C. GEORGE
--------------------------------------------
James C. George, Director


Dated: June 24, 2002






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned Director of each of Columbia Growth Fund, Inc., Columbia
International Stock Fund, Inc., Columbia Short Term Bond Fund, Inc., Columbia
Special Fund, Inc. and Columbia Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (each a "Company"),
hereby severally constitute and appoint Jeff Curtis and Mark Wentzien, and each
of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each
of them, to sign for me, and in my name and in the capacities indicated below,
the Registration Statements on Form N-14 of each Company and any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to said Registration Statements
and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
my said attorneys, and each of them acting alone, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in
the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, and hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys or any of them may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

WITNESS my hand on the date set forth below.


/s/ PATRICK J. SIMPSON
--------------------------------------------
Patrick J. Simpson, Director


Dated: June 25, 2002






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned Director of each of Columbia Growth Fund, Inc., Columbia
International Stock Fund, Inc., Columbia Short Term Bond Fund, Inc., Columbia
Special Fund, Inc. and Columbia Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (each a "Company"),
hereby severally constitute and appoint Jeff Curtis and Mark Wentzien, and each
of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each
of them, to sign for me, and in my name and in the capacities indicated below,
the Registration Statements on Form N-14 of each Company and any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to said Registration Statements
and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
my said attorneys, and each of them acting alone, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in
the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, and hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys or any of them may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

WITNESS my hand on the date set forth below.


/s/ RICHARD L. WOOLWORTH
------------------------------------
Richard L. Woolworth, Director


Dated: June 24, 2002