Feb - Fredericksburg Rockhounds
Transcription
Feb - Fredericksburg Rockhounds
WHAT PROGRAMS CAN YOU EXPECT IN 2016 and 2017? As most of you raised your hands when asked by John Farmer several months ago if we wanted to learn more about rocks and minerals, he told us about this wonderful DVD set that he had purchased and asked me if I might want to include them in my programs. That same night at the Executive Committee meeting, John Roup announced that he had the identical set to sell and the Committee voted to buy it for the club. It is called “The Nature of Earth: An Introduction to Geology” by Professor John J. Renton from West Virginia University. There are numerous 30-minute lectures which starts out with the Origin of the Universe, and progresses to the Formation of Minerals; Classification of Minerals; Kinds of Rocks; Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks; and progresses to the Formation of Mountains; Geologic Structures, etc. In addition to these programs, I also have some speakers lined up, so I hope you will enjoy what I'll bring you in 2016 and 2017!! Thank you for supporting me during my first term— I've had a blast!!! Now, I'm looking forward to my second term, and, if you would like to give a program, please contact me and I'll sign you up!! For the February program, I'll begin the DVD with the first lecture, “Origin of the Universe”. Hope to see you there, Karen Anderson Fredericksburg Rockhounds News! The Prez Sez Well, the show is over and all of us are probably resting up. I know I am. Thanks to all the club members who helped make this year's show a great success. I also want to thank the weather man for providing some nice weather... it could have been a little bit warmer in the mornings... but all-in-all, the weather was a lot nicer than it could have been. The dinner on Friday was another great event... just like it always is. The Bar-B-Q was a big hit, and all of the side dishes and desserts made for a meal fit for a President... I know this for a fact, because I was there. My personal thanks to all of those who brought goodies to eat. I think that Jeff Smith worked some magic on the PA System... announcements were clear and loud enough to be heard over the noise of the show. We should make sure he keeps this job. The Raffle Prizes attracted lots of attention... as did the Silent Auction... both added to the quality of the show that the general public was able to enjoy. Walking around at our annual show is like walking around in a museum... only these museum quality items are for sale. As this is being written the final count of attendees and of raffle tickets that were purchased has not been determined. Details will be provided at the February meeting. February 2016! Page 1 of 10 IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CLUB MEMBERS: There was Bar-B-Q left over from the Friday dinner and Karen and I will bring it to the February meeting. No one needs to bring a meat dish. There may be enough for the March meeting too. So, until next time… all the best to all of you. Andy Anderson The 47th Annual Gem & Mineral Show in now history Our show would be impossible if it were not for the generosity and hard work of our Club members. Once again, I would thank all those who gave of their time and talent to make the show a success. There are a handful of very special people who yearly devote the better part of four days to pull the show together. They graciously do whatever needs to be done. These generous few, make the whole thing work. Thank you !! Special Contributors Our dealer dinner was once again a great way to kick off the show. Susan Olson did a wonderful job of pulling it together, and Andy’s idea of the club supplying the meat dishes was a welcomed addition. As always, the dinner was a big hit with the vendors. Our Silent Auction was again very successful. Bill Morganstern is largely responsible for assembling, cataloging, organizing, and running the auction. Our Raffle is always an important part of the show. John Farmer has been responsible for acquiring, cataloging, displaying, and delivering the prizes to the winners for several years. I will go over the “numbers” at the meeting, but I believe the most important message is this… we should be proud of our efforts of putting on a successful show for the enjoyment of our guests. Thanks guys and girls… we did good once again !!! We’ll discuss some new ideas of improving next years show at the meeting. —Jim Gedeon MOST OF ALL, THANK YOU, JIM for taking charge of this overwhelming task! Jim procured the venue, contacted and organized the dealers, designed the flyer, did the floor plan, made sure Buzzy’s BBQ would be there (yum!), recruited and supervised the volunteers, and was on site from start to finish to keep things running smoothly. New addition to the show The new display case, filled with personal treasures of ten Club members, were the hit of the show. I was blown away by the quality of the displays presented. Our dealers, visitors, and club members were really impressed by these displays. It was a home run !!! I asked Glenn Thompson to pick three other members to judge the displays .Glenn and his team developed criteria for evaluating the displays and then selected winners in various categories. Glen will review their decision process at the February meeting. Awards will also be presented to the winners at the meeting. Fredericksburg Rockhounds News! February 2016! Page 2 of 10 A few show pics We’ll show the winning display cases in the March newsletter. In the meantime, you can see all of them, and other show pics, on our website. It was cold and windy Saturday, but Sunday was pleasant outside. Fredericksburg Rockhounds News! February 2016! Page 3 of 10 Some of the raffle prizes: <—The entire outside portion of this amethyst “cathedral” geode is highly polished! Individuals $8, families $15, juniors (under 19 years) $3 At the February meeting you will be greeted by our membership committee, under the leadership of Brenda Smith, which will be accepting your membership dues and asking you to verify or correct your contact information and supply your birthday and mobile phone numbers for the directory. If you are mailing your dues, will you please send your current contact information, including names of all family members and their birthdays, mailing address, home phone #, and mobile # , and email Fredericksburg Rockhounds News! address (if you have them). Please provide complete birth dates, including year, for all junior members. Mail them, with a check made out to Fredericksburg Rockhounds, to Brenda Smith, at 208 Castle Pines Drive, Kerrville TX 78028 Dues need to be paid as soon as possible. MEMBERS WHO DO NOT PAY DUES BY THE FEBRUARY MEETING WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE ROSTER, and will no longer receive newsletters or other club news. February 2016! Page 4 of 10 Fredericksburg Rockhounds Minutes Jan 2016 by Shelly Verstuyft This meeting was the first of the new year and also the first of our new President, Andy Anderson. Andy called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm and asked for new members and guests to be introduced. Brenda Smith introduced the following: Jimmy and Tracy Rutledge and their grandson Jimmy Williams, Jimmy and Elijah Mitchell. (I hope I got everyone's names correct, if not feel free to let me know so I can correct in the next newsletter) Frank Rowell handed out flyers for the Prospectors event in Llano on Feb 27. Then John Farmer asked for donations for the annual show and showed some samples of items that were donated. He also mentioned thanks to members, Lynn and Lola Post, Kevin VanRenterghem, Patrice Gregory, Patti and Frank and John and Carolyn Roup. Thank you to all who donate! The meeting was then adjourned. Jim Gedeon then talked about the show. Display cases are full except for one. Set up for the show will begin on Thursday with vendors setting up on Friday. He stated that the Dietrich gals will be doing the raffle, with Christine flying in from California to help again. Andy brought up the club paying for the meat dish for the vendors dinner on Friday night and the club approved. (brisket and turkey) Virginia Adian mentioned the meeting for the Rolling Rock club would take place on Sunday before the show opened and that the treasure chest could use some nice donations from the club. John Roup gave the year end report on the club’s finances: Expenses $ 462.48 Income $ 138.00 Checking $ 9,486.22 Cds $8,047.30 Cash on Hand $ 37.00 Total $ 17,570.52 Update on Tomʼs Heart Surgery After several postponements, our First VP Tom Carswell had his surgery on January 18. On January 25, his wife Judy said “He is still in ICU. Waiting for his heart to get stronger and for kidney function to improve. Hope to get out this week.” —via Glenn Thompson January Meeting Door Prizes Compiled by Shelly Verstuyft Item!.................................................Donated by !.....................Won by Turitella.......................................................? ................................................Claudette Hollis I dig rocks pin .............................................? ................................................Frank Rowell Petrified Fern ..............................................The Posts ...................................Karen Anderson Petrified Wood ............................................Virginia Klenzing ......................John Farmer Petrified Palm .............................................Virginia Klenzing ......................John Roup Chrysacolla .................................................The Posts ...................................Nedra Ferguson Buckle .........................................................Virginia Klenzing ......................Lynn Post Geode ..........................................................John Crone ................................Kenneth Verstuyft Petrified Wood ............................................The Posts ...................................Lynn Brady Palm Wood .................................................The Posts ...................................Gayle Smith Cab ..............................................................The Posts ...................................Jim Chude (thanks!) 3 misc agates ...............................................Don McDonald..........................Wayne Price Magazines/Lapidary Journals .....................The Posts ...................................won by Ken DeVos, Wendell Smith, .................................................................... ..................................................Elijah Mitchell, Lamar Watts Fredericksburg Rockhounds News! February 2016! Page 5 of 10 An article about the AFMS Future Rockhounds of America by Jim-Brace Thompson, AFMS Junior Activities Chair Celebrating a Milestone: 10,000+ FRA Badges Awarded! I’m pleased as punch to announce that we’ve crossed a significant milestone with our AFMS Future Rockhounds of America Badge Program. On October 27, 2015, we surpassed 10,000 badges awarded to kids! To be exact: 10,042 activity badges handed out along with 3,497 Membership patches over the years. I continue to encourage all clubs with kids to spread the word and utilize this program. You don’t need to have a full group of kids with monthly sessions. If you have even one child in your club, that child can earn badges in a sort of “home-school” fashion so long as a responsible adult club member signs off to certify completion of each badge unit. One mother of a club in Southern California recently emailed me to ask about enrolling her 7-year-old son in just such a fashion. The ironic part about this particular inci- Fredericksburg Rockhounds News! dent is that she says she stumbled across the program while searching the web for activities since her son is “rock crazy.” She had no idea the program even existed when, in fact, her own club was already enrolled in FRA! They had gone inactive these past few years and, apparently, no one has bothered to tell new members with children about the program. Here’s enlisting your help making sure all clubs are doing their part to spread the word to encourage the next generation of rockhounds by awarding them with badges as they learn and have fun! From AFMS Newsletter 12/15 For more info, use these links: FRA home page: www.amfed.org/kids.htm Badge program: www.amfed.org/fra/fra_badge.htm February 2016! Page 6 of 10 Lost (and Found?) New members Tracie Rutledge and Jimmy Williams report a lost white plastic bag containing a sand dollar and pendant along with other items at the show on January 16. If anyone found it, please contact us <[email protected]> so we can arrange its return. —Brenda Smith WIRE WRAPPING CLASS FOR ROCKHOUNDS I have set aside a couple of dates, February 6 and February 27 for classes on wire wrapping cabochons to make pendants. These classes are FREE FOR MEMBERS ONLY WHO HAVE NOT ALREADY TAKEN A CLASS FROM ME, but you will need to pay for your stone and wire. Silver-filled wire + 30 x 22 mm stone = $6-8, depending upon what stone you choose. I have sets of tools for up to 5 people/class, plus a few extra pliers. If there are more than 5 for a class, we will need to share tools or some will need to bring their own tools. Classes start about 9 am and end about 2 or 3 pm, taking a break for lunch provided by all of us. Classes will be at my house in Boerne, unless there is someone who will host in Fredericksburg or Kerrville area. If you are interested in taking a class, I will be setting up classes at the February 1 meeting. You can also let me know in advance by email which date you would like to attend. —Virginia Adian [email protected] BenchTips by Brad Smith shared a Facebook photo From César Aleandri with Earnest Gems and Julia Lorenzi. The “El-Dorado Topaz” is the largest faceted topaz and the largest faceted gemstone in the world, weighing a whopping 31,000 carats equivalent 6.2 kg. It exceeds the weight of the faceted “American Golden Topaz” by about 8,100 carats. Like the “American Golden Topaz,” the “El-Dorado Topaz” also originated in the mineral-rich southeastern state of Brazil, Minas Gerais, the premier source of enormous topaz crystals in the world. The El-Dorado Topaz was discovered in 1984. Fredericksburg Rockhounds News! February 2016! Page 7 of 10 Jan 1–Feb 14, 2016—QUARTZSITE, AZ: Huge gem, mineral & fossil swap meet, and other activities: for details, including camping info, visit www.desertusa.com/cities/az/quartzsite.html Jan. 30–Feb. 14, 2016—TUCSON, AZ: Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase. Join the World's Biggest Treasure Hunt: international gem and mineral trading, buying, bargains and bragging rights. The Showcase happens all across town at more than 40 sites; almost all shows are free and open to the public. For locations, schedules and other details go to www.visittucson.org/events/gem-show/ Feb 20-21—PLAINVIEW, TX: Annual show; Hi Plains Gem & Mineral Society, Ollie Liner Center; Buisness I27 South; Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5; Adults $3, Student/Children $1; contact Charles Mooney, (806)-292-8359; e-mail: [email protected] Feb 20-21, 2016—GEORGETOWN, TX: Annual show; Williamson County Gem and Mineral Society, Community Center- San Gabriel Park; 445 East Morrow Street; contact Bill Medford, Georgetown, TX 78628, (512) 9302768; Web site: wcgms.org Feb 27—LLANO, TX: Show: Friends of the Llano Red Top Jail; Llano County Community Center; 2249 Ranch Road 152; Sat. 8-6; Free Admission; This fun, educational and free public event is for Prospectors, Rockhounds, Treasure Hunters, and Metal Detecting enthusiasts to get together, to share ideas and experiences. Gold panning, metal detector and rockhound demo’s and lessons.; contact Frank Rowell, 805 Berry St., Llano , TX 78643, 325-248-1067; email: [email protected] Mar 5-6—ROBSTOWN, TX: 54th Gem, Mineral Jewelry & Fossil Show; Gulf Coast GMS; Richard M Borchard Regional Fairgrounds, Bldg A, 1213 Terry Shamsie Blvd; adults $5, good for both days; wwwgcgms.org Mar 11-13—LLANO, TX: Llano Earth Art Fest (LEAF); Grenwelge Park Natural Area; amazing earth art; live music; theme camps; arts & crafts vendors; workshops; rock cimbing wall; kids activities; great food; Rock Stacking World Championship; and more; www.LlanoEarthArtFest.org Mar 12-13—SAN ANTONIO , TX: 55th Annual Fiesta of Gems; Southwest GMS, San Antonio Event Center; 8111 Meadow Leaf Dr.; Seniors $3, Students $2, Children under 6 free; 28 dealers with minerals, fossils, gems, jewelry, club exhibits, silent auction, children's games, hourly and grand prize.; contact Robert Bowie, 1324 kings point drive, canyon lake, TX 78133, (210)-860 2830; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: www.swgemandmineral.org Apr 9—AUSTIN, TX: Austin GMS 2016 Rock Swap, in conjunction with Texas Topaz Days by Texas Faceters' Guild; 6719 Burnet Lane; 9am–3pm; plenty of rocks, minerals, gems, jewelry, and lapidary equipment; includes raffles, potluck lunch and kids' activities; www.AustinGemAndMineral.org Apr 15-17—ALPINE, TEXAS: Show and sale; Chihuahuan Desert Gem and Mineral Club, Alpine Civic Center; 801 W. Holland (Hwy. 90); Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-6; Free Admission; contact Paul Graybeal, PO Box 1111, Alpine, TX 79831, (432)-729-4526; e-mail: [email protected] Apr 30-May 1—WACO, TEXAS: Annual show; Waco Gem and Mineral Club, Extraco Events Center; 4601 Bosque Blvd.; Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-5; $5 Admission, Children $1; Scouts in Uniform get in Free. Tickets are good for both Show days. ; contact Jennifer Bennett, TX; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: www.wacogemandmineral.org For more shows at later dates, or outside Texas, visit www.rockngem.com/ Fredericksburg Rockhounds News! February 2016! Page 8 of 10 Charles White, Feb 5 Mark Jacobi, Feb 7 Lynn Post, Feb 9 Joe De Hoyos, Feb 12 Blake Smith, Feb 13 Elaine Stephens, Feb 18 Judith Little, Feb 19 Wendell Smith, Feb 24 David Galmiche, Feb 26 Rita Moyes, Feb 27 Glen Price, Feb (?) The February birthstone is Amethyst; the flower is Violet or Primrose If you’re among the 20± members who have been receiving paper copies of our newsletters, but no emails providing a link to the online version, then we don’t know your email address— and you’re missing a lot! The online version is in color, and has live links to the websites and email addresses it mentions: just click on the links and go directly to them. Also, you’re missing important announcements, such as field trip updates, event date changes, new training classes, and other late-arriving news which can’t wait until the next newsletter. If you have good internet access, PLEASE give us your email address. Our newsletter emails won’t clutter or slow down your email software: they don’t have the newsletter attached, just a link to the online copy. If you still need paper copies mailed to you, let us know when you send us your email address. Bill & Cheryl Wildfong, [email protected] Your hobby-related ad here: $25 for 12 months Mail a business card, with a check made out to Fredericksburg Rockhounds, to the editors: Bill & Cheryl Wildfong 342 W Water St Kerrville TX 78028-4281 CLICK CLICK Fredericksburg Rockhounds News! February 2016! Page 9 of 10 Purpose of the Fredericksburg Rockhounds: To share knowledge and appreciation of gems, minerals, fossils, and other natural wonders, and the art of jewelry making. We do this through educational monthly meetings, field trips, an annual gem, mineral, & fossil show, and donations to schools. We’re affiliated with the American Federation of Mineral Societies, and the South Central Federation of Mineral Societies. Membership and Meetings: We meet at 7:00 P.M. on the first Monday of each month at the Golden Hub Senior Center, 1009 N Lincoln, Fredericksburg, Texas (except in June, when we have our annual picnic). See map, below. Annual dues are $3 for juniors (under 19 years), $8 for individuals, and $15 for families; due in January. Newsletter correspondence and newsletter advertising: Bill & Cheryl Wildfong, 342 West Water St, Kerrville, TX 78028; phone: 830-896-8940, email: [email protected] All other correspondence: Fredericksburg Rockhounds, 110 N. Milam PMB 197, Fredericksburg TX 78624 Visit our website at fredericksburgrockhounds.org for more club info, field trip news, club photos, and lots of interesting hobby-related website links. Club Officers for 2016: President: Andy Anderson, 830-792-3560 1st Vice President: Tom Carswell, 830-792-2160 2nd Vice President: Karen Anderson, 830-792-3560 Past President: Frank Rowell, 325-247-1987 Treasurer: John Roup, 830-896-4955 Secretary: Shelly Verstuyft, 830-998-7350 Committee Chairs: Programs: Karen Anderson, 830-792-3560 Field Trips: Patti Felts, 325-247-1987 and Sam Rodgers, 210-240-7721 Hospitality: Susan Olson, 830-997-8516 Membership: Brenda Smith, 830-895-9630 Historian: (vacant) Media Equipment: John Crone, 830-669-2639 Annual Show: Jim Gedeon, 830-685-3342 Newsletter: Bill & Cheryl Wildfong (see above) Newsletter Articles and Club Info Articles for next month’s newsletter must be received by the 20th of this month. Send them to Bill & Cheryl Wildfong at [email protected] A copy of the Club MEMBERSHIP LIST is available via email or paper mail. Contact Virginia Adian at [email protected] or 830-755-6105 The Club CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS are posted on our website: fredericksburgrockhounds.org USPS-mailed copies printed by COPIES & MORE, Kerrville, TX, copiesandmore.biz Fredericksburg Rockhounds News! February 2016! Page 10 of 10