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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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