CRACK ‘N CAB Gem & Mineral Society of Syracuse, Inc. P.O. Box 801 , Syracuse, NY 13201 DON’T GET UPTIGHT IT’S JUST WORKNIGHT!
Volume XL Issue 6 June 2010 Inside this issue: Pres’s Message -> 2 Gloria Royer -> 2 Meeting Minutes [Gen & Board] -> 3 Field Trips/Meeting Programs -> 4 Picnic News -> 4 Show Prep NewsNews->5 Webmaster News -> 5 Finding Interest -> 5 Junior Rockhounds Activities -> 6 Bulletin Exchange -> 7 AFMS News -> 8 EFMLS News -> 9 Visit a Show -> 9
The time is right to have ’WORKNIGHT’! What a whirlwind year we’ve had, and here it is again: ’Worknight 2010’. Come one, come all and have a ball, there’s work to be done by the big and the small. We have a lot to do once again this year to prepare for our ’GEMWORLD 44’. Stuffing straws, preparing sluice material, checking display signs, and generally looking over all the last minute tasks that need to be done. Don’t forget the ICE CREAM after the work is done to help cool off and ’chill out’. Hope to see you there! THE PROGRAM FOR JUNE 21ST IS:
WORKNIGHT 2010 THE WORK IS GOOD, BUT THE ICE CREAM’S GREAT! Our worknight meeting is here! We hope to have a really good turnout to help with the various tasks that need doing. Every year we need to pitch in to prepare for the show and all of its features. There will be ICE CREAM following the work that we complete. Please come and support your club, your show, and all those people whose dedication and contribution produce the best show every year! So come ready to work and equally ready to have a chilly, sweet treat after you’re done.
The tasks at hand are very grand, but ice cream later is even greater!
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President’s Message Hi fellow members. One month until our 44th Annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil show. All the pieces are falling into place and I can’t wait for it to come! This month on work night we will be firming up our teams. If you’re not on one please let us know. As you may already know our club is supported all year on the revenue we make from the show. Members who work the show at least (4) hours get a discounted ticket for the bus trip to the Springfield Gem and Mineral Show and it includes the admission. The exciting lineup for the seminars at the show will include: Steve Chamberlain, Jay Tinker, Keith Gilmer, Barbara Hathaway, Allan Lang, Dave Arcaro, Georgia Cunningham, and Tom Huff. The topics will be from fossils to the metaphysical. We’re going to have a great time at our show with these additional choices to pick from. We’ll also have our class area where we’ll have gem trees to beading. Dave Millis, Colleen Wood, Carlotta Brown, Shellie Carder, and a host of folks too numerous to mention will be teaching. And then there’s the demonstrator area where we’ll have cabbing, flint knapping, glass bead demonstrations, and soap stone carving just to name a few. Come and enjoy what we have to offer. Please let your friends and family know that we will be having these special classes and we want to let everyone know with the show flyers so that they can plan to come and enjoy the teachers. This summer at our picnic we’re going to have a swap meet in the parking lot between 2-3pm. Bring what ever you would want to swap. Rocks, jewelry, fossils, books, tools, plants, whatever! I’m looking forward to having a lot of fun with all the games with Dave Millis’s class and all the wonderful, bountiful food we will have. I so much appreciate each one of you. See you at the next meeting.
Club member Gloria Royer with with her library display, display, one one of the many personal assets to our organization. photo from Judy Cook
Club Auction News from from Keith Gilmer The 1st semi-annual auction was held at the May meeting. It was very well received. Gene Ridall and Dave Millis were the auctioneers. In addition to the selling of items, Dave Millis gave a selection of mineral specimens away for those who offered higher bids for selected items. There were some interesting items and some interesting stories from the auctioneers [mostly Gene] that kept things going. Even Dave’s supposedly lost reading glasses didn’t slow things down, (Gene had them and didn’t know it). Look for the next auction to be held in October and don’t miss it. I know there will again be many fine things for sale and many more interesting stories.
Carlotta Brown, Brown, Club President Gene Ridall practicing his talents in some fine auctioneering skills, [give those glasses back now!]
Club Member Profile from Judy Cook Gloria Royer - long time club member, she is a vibrant 87 years old. Gloria is standing next to the display she had created for the spring showing at the Lafayette Public Library. Not only are the fossil specimens she collected on display, but she also included some of her watercolor paintings depicting those fossils and the surrounding scenery from whence they came. Gloria is still teaching painting classes every Monday in Syracuse.
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Dave Millis ‘The Rock Doc’ masterfully auctioning off the many items and sharing a humorous moment.
photos by Janelle Gilmer
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General Club Meeting Minutes GMSS Club Meeting Minutes - 5/17/2010: This meeting was the semi-annual auction. Huge attendance! Over 60 members attended. Gene Ridall and Dave Millis were the auctioneers at the first of the semi-annual club auctions, and what a terrific job they did! The three runners were: John Sweeney, Sweeney Mark Grasmeyer and Bill Viel. Viel There were 57 items auctioned and 24 of those were donated to the club. Dave also provided bonus prizes for buyers over $10.00. Thanks to all! Other items: John Sweeney is going to do the ice cream for next month's meeting. This will be the work meeting for the show so please plan to attend. The nominating committee reported Dick Lyons for president and Ray Highbrown for vice-president. The voting will take place at next month's meeting. Keith Gilmer reported an error in the mailing of the news letter. Members received two copies. The first one received was missing the last page. Sorry for the inconvenience. Keith has purchased a camera for the club so pictures can be taken at all events. Please send Keith your E-mail address if he doesn't already have it. Many new emails will be sent out and you may miss something. Also the web has been updated so people can request information about the GMSS. Judy Cook reported a great line-up of classes and speakers for the Learning Center at the show. On May 8th, several members went to the Penfield Quarry. Several collected items were on display. In October the group will be going to the Walworth Mine. They will be blasting just days before our trip so that should be interesting. If you haven't signed up for trips that you are interested in please do so. Trips will be canceled if there is no interest. Howe Caverns 8/7 and Springfield Show Bus trip on 8/17. Several nice door prizes were handed out. Please get fliers and hand them out wherever you can. This is a major form of advertising for the show.
Respectfully submitted, Connie Johnson, Club Secretary
Executive Board Board Meeting Minutes GMSS Executive Board Meeting Minutes - [6/1/10]: Another great meeting. Thirteen members were in attendance. The Chamber of Commerce has printed name tags for us. They are the same as last year's. We have 14 wholesale and 44 retail dealers for the show. Lou is working with the Ramada Inn to arrange for the National Convention. The signs will be brought from the shed to work night so we can change the dates and get them ready for this year. He and his team are also working to get the display cases ready. The sluice will be enhanced this year with some new collectibles donated by the group. Other sluice details are
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being worked out. Dick Lyons needs at least 24 people to sell tickets. The volunteers will work in two hour slots. Sign up with Dick at next meeting. Dick is also looking into buying portable PA systems for the demonstrators to use. The club also needs them for future use. We will be getting shirts for workers that haven't received them in the past. Workers should wear them to the show to identify themselves. Bob Livingston will be getting green table covering for the display case tables. Cathy Patterson gave an update on what's happening for the 2011 National Convention. Bob Livingston has been invaluable planning for this event. Pat Egolf has volunteered to be assistant treasurer and will work with Lou to understand what this job consists of. The picnic will be August 1st, from 10:00 - 3:00 at the Erie Canal Park in Camillus. Mildred Waddell's Waddell's brother offered to pilot a boat to give us free rides on the Old Erie Canal. There will also be a Swap meet from 2:00 - 3:00. Bring stuff to swap so there will be some interesting findings for all. Dick Lyons handed out the trip schedule for June October. He has a great line-up for this year. Very few have signed up, so please check with Dick at next meeting. The new website is up and active. Check it out! If you have information for the site, give it to Dana Schwartz. Schwartz She is maintaining the new web site. Thanks Dana!
Respectfully submitted, Connie Johnson, Club Secretary
Important Notes of Club Interest from from Bob Livingston Thanks to the Kolodzie Estate: Last month on the 25-cents table there were a lot of rocks and minerals and jewelry boxes that were donated to the club by Marie Kolodzie's kids. We very much appreciate it John and Janet. Janet Most likely there will be still more in the future that has not been hauled in and put out yet. We Need Your Gem Show Road Signs: One of the things we do at June worknight is put new dates on the GemWorld road signs, so we need any you still have at home brought to that meeting. Before we leave that night, we will want those of you who can, to take a sign or two and put it up in a "good spot" in your little corner of the world. Towns are getting stricter each year. A “good spot” is probably where the political signs go up where it is likely not to be confiscated by the town or some disgruntled person. Think before you place them. Also a screwdriver pounded in to "punch holes" the ground helps get the sign frame in far enough to not blow over.
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Field Trips and Program Events GMSS 2010 2010 Field Trips & Shows Wish List (For any additional information contact Dick Lyons) (Work # 488488-6444, Home #672#672-5328) Crystal Grove Herkimer Diamond Hunt – June 25th-27th at 161 Co. Hwy. 114 St. Johnsville, NY, those interested can join the Wayne County Club there to look also [contact Bill Lesniak -315-483-8061-]. This is an E.F.T.A. sponsored trip. [approx. 1¾ hrs. / 89 miles from the church] Roxbury, CT Garnet Trip led by Dave Millis – June 27th. Meet Dave at the Exit 2 Welcome Center off I-84 @10:00am. This is a 4½ hour trip from Syracuse. Herkimer Diamond Mine - Day Trip *(Ace of Diamonds)* Open from April 15th – October 31st. [approx. 1 ½ hrs. / 77 miles from the church] Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) – Museum of the Earth, located at 1259 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca, NY. We have a ‘corporate’ membership to this institution which allows our members free admission. [Car Pool] (Tentative date: July 24th) Howe Caverns Day Trip - Open all year - Traditional Tour (Daytime): approx 80 minutes. [approx 2+ hrs. / 114 miles from the church] adults - $18.00; seniors/children $15.00; (Lantern Tour): 2 hrs - $27.00; [Nov - Mar] starts 5:30pm; [Apr - Oct] starts 6:30pm. *Need quorum of (15) to obtain group discount.* Trip date not yet determined. Alden, NY: Pyritized Fossils (July-August) [approx. 2 ¼ hrs. / 133 miles from the church] Trip date not yet determined. GMSS Picnic at Camillus Erie Canal Park (August 1st) Open House [Walworth Dolomite Mine] (October 9th/10th) at 1200 Atlantic Ave. Walworth, NY; [approx. 1 ½ hrs. / 79 miles from the church]. Sign in at 6:45am. Similar requirements as for Penfield Mine trip, [talk to Dick Lyons].
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Ice cream will be served for those who attend, and the nice thing is you won’t have to scream! July: GMSS ANNUAL SHOW AND SALE THE SHOW WE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR: GEMWORLD ‘44 COMING JULY 10TH & 11TH TO THE NYS FAIRGROUNDS CENTER OF PROGRESS BUILDING. COME ONE AND ALL TO HAVE A BALL!! August: Our annual Club Picnic will be held this year at the Erie Canal Park in Camillus. Driving directions will appear in this and the July/August edition to assist in finding the location. This year promises to be very special as we will have a swap-meet in the parking lot later in the afternoon. Don’t miss the summer fun and good food.
Picnic Fun with Plenty of Sun! from from Keith Gilmer DIRECTIONS TO THE ERIE CANAL PARK IN CAMILLUS: FROM THE EAST EAST TAKE RT 690 W TO EXIT 6 [NY-695 S] TOWARD AUBURN NY-5; TAKE EXIT TO [NY-5 W AUBURN]; TAKE THE EXIT TOWARD CAMILLUS-WARNERS; TURN RIGHT AT CO RD 36/NEWPORT RD; TAKE THE 1ST RIGHT ONTO DEVOE RD [PARK WILL BE ON THE RIGHT] FROM THE WEST WEST [BALDWINSVILLE AREA] TAKE RT 690 S TO RT 690 E [AFTER THRUWAY EXIT 39]; TAKE EXIT 6 [NY695 S] TOWARD AUBURN NY-5; FOLLOW DIRECTIONS FROM THE EAST AT THIS POINT FROM THE NORTH NORTH TAKE RT 81 S TO THE CAROUSEL CENTER/HIAWATHA BLVD/BEAR ST RAMP AND FOLLOW SIGNS TO BEAR ST; TAKE BEAR ST OUT UNTIL IT BECOMES RT 690 W; FOLLOW DIRECTIONS FROM THE EAST AT THIS POINT FROM THE SOUTH SOUTH TAKE RT 81 N TO RT 690 W; FOLLOW DIRECTION FROM THE EAST AT THIS POINT
Picnic Events Information from from Keith Gilmer
East Coast Show at West Springfield – [Bus [Bus Trip] Trip] August August 14th [Leave from Shoppingtown Mall at 6am return at approx 10:30pm] 10:30pm] St. Lawrence Club Show at Madrid, Madrid, NY – August 20th/21st [Field trips to Powers and Bush farms] **make your reservations now if you intend to stay overnight** GMSS 2010 Meeting Programs June: WorkNight has come all too quickly! Come one and all to prepare for ‘GEMWORLD 44’! We need all hands on deck to fill straws, make sluice bags, and finalize team activities (all all team captains should attend this meeting). meeting
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The Club Picnic this year will be a special event indeed. We will have our class from Dave Millis, Millis some very good food: hamburgers, hot dogs, coneys, and Italian Sausage in addition to salads, munchies, desserts and assorted beverages. There’ll be great company with other club members and their families, and a swap-meet will take place in the parking area where you will look over various containers of minerals, rocks, tools, and what have you to swap and exchange in trade. If you haven’t anything to trade, a modest price will be offered instead. Don’t miss the picnic this year; [by the way I think the editor is doing the grilling again this year]! I found out that this year we may have gas grills to use! WHOO-HOO! Now I’m cooking with gas. (Ha-Ha).
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GMSS Teams for Show Preparation
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Poetic Notes
from Keith Gilmer IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU FIND OUT IF YOU ARE ON A TEAM AND WHAT THAT TEAM IS! REMEMBER, YOU GET IN THE SHOW FREE IF YOU WORK ON A TEAM! IF YOU ARE UNCERTAIN WHAT TEAM YOU MAY BE ON OR YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN A TEAM SEE CARLOTTA BROWN AT THE MEETING. HERE ARE YOUR TEAM CAPTAINS: ADVERTISINGCARLOTTA CARLOTTA BROWN458 BROWN 458458-4636 CLUB BOOTHSHARON SHARON VIEL VIEL488488-6356 CONVENTION PREPARATIONCATHY CATHY PATTERSON PATTERSON638638-8817 DEALERS & TABLE SET-UPGENE GENE RIDALL RIDALL427427-7766 LOU BUDELL BUDELL673673-1891 DEMONSTRATORS/ LEARNING CENTERJUDY JUDY COOK COOK452452-1359 DISPLAY & EXHIBITSKEITH KEITH GILMER GILMER307307-1283 FLOOR & DOOR MONITORSBILL BILL VIEL VIEL488488-6356 HOSPITALITYLINDA LINDA CLARK CLARK668668-8470 FLORENCE RIBAS RIBAS468468-3202 TICKET SALESDICK DICK LYONS LYONS672672-5328 YOUTH AREAJUDY JUDY COOK COOK452452-1359 THE WORKNIGHT MEETING WILL BE THE FINAL CHANCE FOR YOU TO SELECT A TEAM TO WORK ON! IF YOU CHOOSE TO WORK AT THE SHOW AND YOU AREN’T ASSIGNED TO A TEAM YOU WILL BE PLACED WHERE THE GREATEST NEED EXISTS.
Show and Worknight Worknight Information from Keith Gilmer It takes an extreme amount of planning and effort to put forth and present our gem show. I, as both a club member and as the club editor feel that we as members can always find a way to contribute something of great value and even greater appreciation, our time. During the June worknight meeting we will be firming up the final team members and quite probably discuss some of the necessary duties they will perform. As an added incentive to offering some time [and a little effort] any member that works (4) hours on one of the teams during the show will pay no admission and receive a discount rate for the West Springfield Gem show bus trip! We will have special t-shirts for the working club members to wear so they will stand out to both the public and other members and dealers. Please come to the worknight meeting or contact Carlotta Brown [458-4636] to confirm your size and quantity (for families). You can choose to work at the show on arrival to either setup day or one [or both] of the show days too. Let’s work together to make the show as great as it can be!
by Keith Gilmer WORKNIGHT IS FOR PREPARATION, TO PREVENT MUCH CONSTERNATION, DON’T PROCEED WITH TREPIDATION, THINK AHEAD TO PRESENTATION. WHEN IT’S TIME TO HAVE THE SHOW, WE’LL ALL BE CALM AND READY TO GO (hmmm), IT WILL BE SO GREAT IT WILL ALMOST GLOW, AND ONE NICE THING, THERE WON’T BE SNOW!
Finding Interest in Club Activities from Keith Gilmer The Club Vice-President is traditionally in charge of coordinating the field trips and program speakers for general club meetings. Dick Lyons has done a superb job in this capacity and deserves our gratitude and thanks. There is a discouraging note to this however; very few members ever take the opportunities to engage in these activities. Many members seem very interested in the various places we have planned to visit and some have even suggested some future locations and destinations. Some of these excursions have even been featured in the Crack ‘n Cab just as recently as last month. Did you know that we have a corporate partnership with ‘The Museum of the Earth’ [Paleontological Research Institute] in Ithaca, NY! This allows any active club member to attend the museum for free!! The only personal cost would be transportation. Howe Caverns offers an 80 minute tour for a fairly modest price, [and if we have at least 15 people attend we get a group discount]! West Springfield’s gem show is coming in August (14th) and the show is truly amazing! If we are interested in trips and shows that the club could attend we should show our support by taking a sponsored trip or attending a sponsored show once in a while. You never know what you might find at that show, on that trip; maybe something you’ll treasure for a long time to come.
Webmaster News from Keith Gilmer The NEW website is coming along very nicely. Dana Schwartz is to be commended for her assumption of the webmaster role. She and I both rely on information provided by members and suggestions from members to make the website serve both the club and the public. Check out
and see some of the new changes. Once again many thanks Dana ‘The Web Diva’ for all you are doing.
GOING GREEN… ROCKS!
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Junior Rockhound Activities from Judy Cook The Junior Rockhounds started building a very special collection at the May 15th meeting at the Parish Hall. Yvonne Liblanc gave the children some very unique specimens including fossilized shark teeth, fragments from the tusk of a wooly mammoth, apache tears(obsidian), tektites, a fossilized turtle shell and also fish tumors. Definitely not your everyday variety of fossils and minerals, these were awe inspiring. Many thanks go to Yvonne for assembling such a memorable collection for each of the children. Work diligently continued on the geological time line which will be on display at the July show. The afternoon featured one of the group's favorite activities - a rock hunt for selenite out in Fayetteville. The selenite specimens were outstanding and plentiful. Whenever the sun peeked out from the clouds, the hills would start to glitter and sparkle sending children and adults alike off to investigate. The next meeting for the Junior Rockhounds is Saturday, June 19th at 10am - the main activity will be getting many preparations underway for the fast approaching July show.
Jordan Egolf and Alyssa Domanski on a selenite rock hunt in Fayetteville.
Work continues on the geologic time line. From front to back: back: Gillian Fischer, Jordan Egolf, Alyssa Domanski, Jacobi Basko, Kaitlyn Egolf, and Crystal Smith. Yvonne Liblanc having the children start a collection with some very unique specimens.
The kids put a lot of time and effort into doing the time line.
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Mary Mary Schloss, Steve Liblanc, Liblanc, and Bill Schloss heading back with their selenite specimens. all photos from Judy Cook
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Bulletin Exchang Exchange White Buffalo Turquoise [Author unknown, via The Voice, December 2008]: When discovered in the Dry Creek Mine on the Shoshone Indian Reservation near Battle Mountain, Nevada, in 1993, they were not sure what it was. Because of its hardness, it was decided to send it to have it assayed and their suspicions proved correct; it was in fact white turquoise. It was not until 1996, however, that it was finally made into jewelry. Turquoise gets its color from the heavy metals in the ground where it forms. Blue turquoise forms where there is copper present, which is the case with most Arizona turquoises. Green turquoise forms where iron is present; the case with most Nevada turquoises. White turquoise forms where there are no heavy metals present which turns out to be a very rare occurrence. To date, no other vein of white turquoise has been discovered anywhere else and when this current vein runs out, that will be the last of it. Because white turquoise is as rare as a white buffalo, the Indians call it “White Buffalo” turquoise. NOTE: There is another source for White Buffalo - Tonopah, NV. The Otteson’s have a large turquoise mine there and have discovered several small veins of White Buffalo. But it is still a rare find. For more info see the website: [Gem Cutters News – May 2010]
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in a metal coffee can with a tight fitting lid... Now go do something else for 6 to 8 months. And don’t even think about removing the lid to check the stones out until the appropriate time has past. After the passage of time, the Opal will have absorbed the necessary amount of water and will be properly seasoned for cutting. One major caveat: The seasoning process won’t guarantee no fracture-cleaving at the time you cut them. Opal is mined using age-old and modern methods including explosives. WYSIWYG. Need I say more? I painstakingly mark and remark a piece of Opal with a latticework of lines indicating potential faults. Some are surface, but many unruly ones dig deeper, even to the core of a potentially clean-eye zone. It can be very frustrating! Then I use my trim saw to isolate the largest pieces for cutting. Everything but the dust can be turned into a thing of beauty. And just about any angle will do! With Ethiopian Opal, it’s the spectrum of colors and surface refraction that we’re looking for. A flat base with a faceted crown is just as beautiful as a fully faceted crown with pavilion, once it is in a setting. And incidentally, yes, just like the quartz family, and glass, Opal polishes beautifully on a Lightening Lap with Cerium. [Gem Cutters News – May 2010]
photographer unknown taken from ‘The RockCollector’ April 2010 edition
Seasoning Ethiopian Opal from a discussion on the Rockhounds List Ethiopian Opal must be seasoned properly, or it will not be stable. But this material is notorious for hiding microfractures which are not found until you’re cutting. Opticon might aid a little toward locating fractures, though I hate using the horrid stuff! Seasoning of Opal is a simple one, but NOT a 5-minute process. Wrap your Opal in paper towels or cloth rags, preferably each stone wrapped singly. Soak in water. Place
photographer unknown taken from ‘The RockCollector’ April 2010 edition
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AFMS News Conservation & Legislation by John Martin, Conservation & Legislation Chair As the AFMS Conservation and Legislative Committee Chair, I want to recognize the work that John Wright is doing in the Southeast Federation. His is keeping the members aware of the changes and actions that are taking place in the Southeast Federation. I encourage all of the Regional Federation Members of the AFMS Conservation and Legislation Committee to submit reports to their Regional Federation Newsletters and to also submit articles and reports to the AFMS Conservation and Legislation Committee for publication in the AFMS Newsletters. It is very important to keep our members informed of the changes that are taking place in all of the Regional Federations and also at the National level. These changes will have an impact on our ability to collect rocks, minerals and fossils on public lands. Stay informed and check with the responsible Land Management Office before collecting on public lands to be on the safe side. Thank you for your effort and support. Here is John's report to the SFMS Board of Directors. [May 1, 2010] At present National Forest Service area managers and supervisory personnel are still working to revise policies regarding recreational activities in National forests with many aspects being reviewed and modified. Expanded, more detailed policies are expected to be published and placed into effect in a few areas later this year, but in many areas it may require several years. According to published accounts by the Forest Service, “In the interim, the current rockhounding policy will remain in place”, i.e.: .: (1) Recreational Rockhounding may take place at areas where minerals are loose and free on the surface, and the activity is not restricted by permit or in an area designated as closed for this activity. activity. Mineral collection must be with nonnon-mechanical equipment and result in no significant ground or stream disturbance. (2) Recreational Gold Panning is allowed where minerals are in federal ownership, using nonnon-mechanized mechanized equipment, where no ground disturbance takes place, and where streams are not designated as closed to this activity. (3) Metal detectors may only be used with clearance from the area forest manager. NOTE: Arrow heads, stone tools, and chips left from making them are considered “antiques” and covered under sub-paragraphs (g) & (h), 36 C, Code of Federal Regulations - Title 36: Parks, Forests, and Public Property (December, 2005), Chapter II - Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Part 261 - Prohibitions, Subpart a - General Prohibitions, and the Antiquities Act of 1906. The Paleontological Resources Preservation Act is now law and while it only protects and prevents the collecting of “vertebrate fossils” on federal lands, be aware that most
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Forest Service law enforcement officers do not know or care about the difference in fossils. You should also be aware that in many areas of the country vertebrate fossils are protected by state laws and collecting them even on private property is prohibited. In most areas Forest Service managers leave the issuing of citations up to the discretion of law enforcement officers and let the courts determine innocence or guilt. (PS: Federal judges find in favor of the federal law enforcement officer 95% of the time.) from the June edition of the AFMS Newsletter
Silver Bullets by Beth Myers, CFMS Membership Committee Chair Long Range Planning Successful organizations always plan for the future. If your society is like many others, it’s difficult to think creatively and plan for the future at Board meetings and General Membership meetings - there just isn’t enough time! One solution is to establish a Long Range Planning Committee which takes very little effort but can yield impressive results. One society conducts their Long Range Planning meetings once each quarter. Although chaired by a single society member and attended by several regulars, all members are invited to attend and participate. Here is just one success story that resulted from such a meeting: This society has an Education Program which provides outreach opportunities for teaching elementary school children, The Scouts, etc. about many aspects of geology and earth sciences. Until recently, members of the society had to load the containers of rocks/minerals/fossils/etc. into their own vehicles, drive to the schools, unload the containers, provide the instruction, re-load the containers into their vehicles, then unload them at their home. The Long Range Planning committee researched the cost of purchasing a new 5’ X 8’ enclosed trailer including the cost of insurance. With some fund-raisers, donations and two grant requests, the society now owns a fully self-contained “Education Trailer” complete with loading ramp and storage areas which is towed to-and-from each school. What a difference it has made! If your society doesn’t already have a Long Range Planning committee, now may be the perfect time to add this silver bullet to your society’s arsenal! from CFMS Newsletter, April and May 2010
IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN, THEN YOU PLAN TO FAIL!
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June 2010
Safety First - And Last
EFMLS News Visit a Show
by Jim Doran, EFMLS Safety from Matt Charsky
July: 1010-11: GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY OF SYRACUSE 44TH ANNUAL ‘GEMWORLD’ SHOW AND SALE; NEW YORK STATE FAIRGROUNDS CENTER OF PROGRESS BUILDING ************GOING GREEN, ROCKS!************ 1717-18: 41st Annual Gem & Mineral Show sponsored by the Gem City Rock Club. JMC Ice Arena, Erie, PA 1717-18: Annual Gem & Mineral Show sponsored by the Saco Valley Gem & Mineral Club. North Conway Community Center, North Conway, NH 2424-25: 31st Annual Champlain Valley Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show sponsored by the Burlington Gem & Mineral Club. Tuttle Middle School; So. Burlington, VT
How many of us go collecting without letting someone know where we’ll be? Not bringing a cell phone for emergencies? Collecting alone? If we are guilty of even one of the items above, there is a high probability that this collecting trip may end very badly. Why risk serious injury or even worse? How difficult is it to let someone know where you’ll be in case something serious does happen? Today, there’s no excuse for not bringing a cell phone with you when you go collecting. It may end up being the difference between a good trip and a very bad trip for you or your collecting partner. How would rescue people get to you if you can’t contact them or someone who could contact them for you? You should never collect alone. Yes, I realize that many of us have done so. If nothing happened, then we should consider ourselves very lucky. What if the odds finally catch up to you and you get hurt or injured? Not a pleasant scenario to consider is it? Nor would it be pleasant for family or loved ones? Let’s make sure that all our collecting trips are successful and safe.
August: July 3131-August 1: 29th Annual Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show sponsored by the Long Island Mineral & Geology Society. NEW LOCATION: Cutchogue East Elementary School, Cutchogue, NY 7-8: 40th Annual Mid-State Gem & Mineral Show sponsored by the Water-Oak Gem & Mineral Society. Mt. Merici School, Waterville, ME 7-8: 60th Annual Gem & Mineral Show sponsored by the Gem, Lapidary & Mineral Society of Washington, DC. Stone Ridge School, 9101 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD. 2121-22: 44th Annual Rock & Mineral Show sponsored by the St. Lawrence Co. Rock & Mineral Club. Madrid, NY (NEW LOCATION), near Canton, NY 2121-22: Gemboree 2010 sponsored by the Blue Grass Gem & Mineral Society. Lexington Convention Center, Lexington, KY
September: 4-5: 21st Annual Rockhounder’s Gem & Mineral Show sponsored by the Kennebec Rock & Minerals Club. National Guard Armory, Augusta, ME
Maine Mineral Collecting Opportunity by Woody Thompson The Maine Geological Survey in conjunction with the Maine Mineral Symposium Association is sponsoring a series of collecting trips to many of the famed Maine collecting areas. Because of the popularity of these trips and the limited number of participants who can attend, those wishing to attend one or more of the trips will need to register quickly. Following closure of the registration period, lottery drawings will be held to determine who the lucky trip participants will be. For 2010, trips being planned are as follows: Saturday, July 17: Palermo Mine, No. Groton, NH Saturday, August 21: Ryerson Hill Quarry, Paris, ME Saturday, September 4: Newry Mines, Newry, ME Saturday, Saturday, October 23: Newry Mines, Newry, ME For more information on the trips, applications, guidelines, and requirements; visit . from from the June/July edition of the EFMLS Newsletter
1818-19: 41st Annual Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show and Sale sponsored by the Mid-Hudson Valley Gem & Mineral Society. Dutchess Co. Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY 1818-19: Central Pennsylvania Rock & Mineral Show sponsored by the Central PA Rock & Mineral Club. Zembo Shrine, Harrisburg, PA from the April, April, May, May, & June editions of the EFMLS Newsletter
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P.O. Box 801 Syracuse, New York 13201
First Class Mail June 2010 2010 Time Dated Material
Crack ‘N Cab The newsletter of the Gem and Mineral Society of Syracuse, Inc. Eight persons organized the Gem and Mineral Society of Syracuse in 1951. Since that time it has grown in membership to include adults, families, and young folk. The Society was incorporated in 1969 under the name. The objectives of the Society are to stimulate interest in mineralogy, paleontology, and the lapidary arts. Individual interests include collecting, identification, and display of minerals and fossils, and many aspects of jewelry design and fabrication. The monthly meetings stimulate the social and educational factors. Frequent field trips provide collectors with opportunities to find specimens as well as to enjoy the benefits of outdoor exercise and potential friendships. The Society meets on the third Monday of every month at 7:30 PM in the Parish House of the First Presbyterian Church, 620 West Genesee Street, Syracuse, New York. (Except in July, August, & December). Visitors are always welcome. Annual membership dues: Single Adult - $6 Junior - $3 Family - $9 Honorary Life Membership - $3 For more information write to the Gem & Mineral Society of Syracuse, P.O. Box 801,
Syracuse, New York 13201.
Officers 2009 200909-201 2010 President Carlotta Brown 458458-4636 ViceDick Lyons 488Vice-President 488-6444/6726444/672-5328 Treasurer Lou Budell 673673-1891 Secretary Connie Johnson 672672-5520 SergeantJudy Cook 452Sergeant-atat-Arms 452-1359 Show Chairman Carlotta Brown [ph # above] -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Librarian Steve Albro 607-756-2298 Sunshine Cathy Patterson 638-8817 Refreshments Joan Livingston 446-4505 Editor Keith Gilmer 307-1283 5682 Williamson Pkwy. Cicero, NY 13039 E-mail: [email protected] Visit us online at: http://www.gmss.us http://www.gmss.us Permission is hereby granted to reprint material contained in the Crack ‘N Cab if proper credit is given to the author, if known, and this bulletin.
