Marcus Whitman Gem and Mineral Society Newsletter

The Rock Licker January 2014

President’s Message-Jim Brain New Year’s Resolutions It is that time of the year again. We all make them but how many do we keep. For several years each January 1st I have resolved to loose weight, contact long lost friends whom I have let drift into oblivion, clean out the garage, get on top of the clutter on my desk, etc. only to look back at the list the next year to find that I have not stuck to any of them. Why? Are we that busy or is it that other things seem more important or fun. Maybe it is because we are not honest with ourselves and make resolutions that are not really committed to. In 2014, I am sure I will again make the same New Year’s Resolutions I usually make, loose weight, clean out the garage, etc that I probably will not keep. This year however I have added one that I will try hard to honor….As the

president of the Marcus Whitman Gem and Mineral Society I resolve to work to keep the club a vibrant organization serving the interests of all its members. Some simple resolutions that you can make that will help me accomplish this goal as we move into the new year include: 1. Call someone you haven’t seen at meetings lately. 2. Volunteer to present a program. 3. Send your editor some news. 4. Come to each meeting and bring a guest, and/or a member who cannot drive. 5. Come to the meeting ready to help others learn and allow others to listen. The above list is from the editor of the Golden Spikes Newsletter 12/2013.

Important Announcements  Your 2014 membership dues were due December 31.  Start thinking about the kinds of monthly programs you would

like the club to present throughout the year.  Begin thinking of field trips and other activities you would like

to see the club organize for the coming year.

Volume 55, Issue 1

The next rock club meeting will be on January 14 at the Lions Club clubhouse in College Place. ——————This Month’s Refreshments If your last name begins with the letters A-M please bring cookies or veggies and dip for the refreshment break

Inside this issue: Important Announcements

1

Club Leadership

2

Club News

3-5

Rockhound Code of Ethics

6

Meeting Minutes

7

Page 2

The Rock Licker

Board of Directors: President: Jim Brain

509-522-2261

[email protected]

Vice-President: Jack Edwards

509-529-3673

[email protected]

Secretary: Kathleen Weston

509-540-6174

[email protected]

Treasurer: Sandy Kinsfather

509-529-1455

[email protected]

Federation Director: Olan Long

509-525-4640

[email protected]

Federation Delegate: Norma Long

509-525-4640

[email protected]

Junior Activity Director: Beth Huntley

509-525-0200

[email protected]

At Large Member #1-Vern Young

509-200-6939

[email protected]

At Large Member #2-Rick Magnaghi

509-522-2772

[email protected]

At Large Member #3-Lisa Stearns

509-337-6823

[email protected]

At Large Member #4-Lauren Page

509-529-3245

[email protected]

Immediate Past President: Keith Bacus

509-529-1248

[email protected]

Committee Chairpersons: Education/classes: Warren Rood (509) 522-2330 Field Coordinator: Janel Lacey (541) 427-5394 Lapidary Shop Foreman: Vern Young Membership: Vacant Programs: Ralph Trethewey Refreshments: Rudy Domazlicky and Lauren Page Gem and Mineral Show: Lisa Stearns

Other Supporting Positions Historian: Larry Bennett

Lifetime Member

Librarian: Leslie Hammer Newsletter Editor: Jim Brain (509) 522-2261 Photographers: David Walk and Russell Kinsfather Publicity: Linda and Bill Stonecipher Show and Tell: Lauren Page Stamps: Norma Long Sunshine: Marilyn McCann (509) 525-1776

Bill Stonecipher Linda Stonecipher Jack Edwards Charlene Edwards Jerry Nielsen Janice Nielsen Richard McCann Marilyn McCann

Web Master: David Walk Youth Activities Support Raffle: Bill Stonecipher

Affiliations: American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS) http://www.amfed/org Northwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies (NFMS) http://www.amfed.org.nfms American Lands Access Association (ALAA) http://www.amlands.org

Volume 55, Issue 1

Page 3

Lapidary Shop News

New Members Attention long time members. During the past year we have had over 40 new members join or club. Please take a minute at the next meeting and introduce yourself and continue to make them welcome.

Mark Your 2014 Calendars The two major NFMS events for 2014 include the Multi-Federation Field Trip: Terry, Montana July 31, August 1, 2, 3, 2014 and the NFMS Annual Meeting Hermiston, Oregon August 15-17, 2014

Membership Dues were Due December 31 As of the middle of December only 40% of the member households have renewed their Rock Club memberships for 2014. A big thanks to those who have done so. If you have not done it yet, please complete the membership renewal form that was in the November Rock Licker and either bring it to the next club meeting or mail it along with your dues to the address on the form. If you can not find the form, they will be available from Sandy Kinsfather at the January meeting. The cutoff date for receiving monthly newsletters and other membership benefits is February 28.

Welcome to the New Year! Our Club's Lapidary Shop is available for the dates listed below. This is a great opportunity for members to work and create things of beauty during these long winter months. Come join us at the Automotive Building at Walla Walla Community College. A shop foreman will be always be available to help you with your project. 6 9 pm Thursdays on the days noted. Any questions call Vern Young 200-6939

Jan 2 Vern Young Jan 9 Rick Magnaghi Jan 16 Jack Edwards Jan 23 Kathleen Weston Jan 30 Carol Knobel Feb 6 Vern Young Feb 13 Jack Edward Feb 20 Carol Knobel Feb 27 Tom Hargrave March 6 Rick Magnaghi March 13 Jack Edwards March 20 Kathleen Weston March 27 Tom Hargrave

January Show and Tell Happy New Year to the Club and members as I hope you had a lovely holiday season. I’m sitting here looking out my window and am marveling at the sunny and unseasonable warm weather we are having right now as it isn’t even winter yet. It of course starts me thinking of spring and being outdoors gardening and rock hounding hoping that this year will be the one I find a buried treasure. If it were up to you what would YOU PICK to bring to Show and Tell?

Save Your Canceled Postage Stamps The holiday season is a good time to start. Members are encouraged to save canceled postage stamps and give them to Norma Long, our Federation Director, who will forward them to the Federation which in tern sells them to a stamp broker. Proceeds from the stamp sale are donated to organizations that support cancer research. The most desirable stamps are the commemorative stamps, not the American Flag or Liberty Bell forever stamps, so try to use commemorative stamps whenever possible

Page 4

The Rock Licker

What Does It Take To Run Our Club? Contrary to popular belief, our club does not run by itself, it takes people to make things happen. The elected officers make up the Board of Directors who are responsible for ensuring that the goals and objectives of the club, as outlined in the Articles of Incorporation are net, as well as overseeing the financial operations of the club. Several committees have been identified to help the “Board” accomplish their responsibilities. In recent years committee participation has dwindled to where some committees are a “committee of one” with that person often being a board member wearing multiple hats. This is a recipe for burn out as individuals run out of ideas or time to fulfill the responsibilities. It is urgent that we refill the vacant committee positions so we can continue to have a vibrant organization that serves the needs and interests of our membership. As a minimum we need individuals to fill out the program planning, field trip, membership, and refreshment committees. (Each committee should have at least 4 members to be effective.) 

Program Planning Committee: Locates and works out details for program speakers to the be the featured part of the monthly club meeting. There are only 8 or 9 programs per year. Currently Ralph Tretheway is that committee. He could use two or three more people to help him.



Field Trip Committee: This group polls club members for their field trip desires and preferences and develops field trip options for the club. In addition they identify individual trip leaders, schedule dates and communicate trip details to club members at monthly meetings or through the club newsletter. Currently Janel Lacey is this committee. She could use two or three more people to help her as her summers are usually committed to her regular job.



Membership Committee: This group welcomes members at each meeting and keep a record as to who attends. They serve as hosts to new members and guests who may be attending meetings for the first time. They follow-up with individuals who have not been attending the monthly meetings to find out what could be done to bring them back. Currently this committee has no members. We need three or four people to fill out this committee.



Refreshment Committee: This group is responsible for coordinating and presenting the member provided refreshments available at each general club meeting. In addition they are involved in the planning and coordination of the Summer Picnic, the November Anniversary Party, and the Christmas Potluck. Rudy Domazlicky , Lauren Page and Suzanne Young have been filling out this committee but they could use two or three more people to help.

In addition there are opportunities to help with the education, lapidary shop, Gem and Mineral Show committees as well as the newsletter. Please give serious consideration to serving on one of these committees. It doesn’t require a lot of time as much of the work can be done over the telephone or internet. If we all participate it will be easier for everyone. Thank You, The Board of Directors

Ask not what the club can do for you but what you can do for the club.

Volume 55, Issue 1

Page 5

January Birthstone—Garnet Garnet, the birthstone for January, signifies eternal friendship and trust and is the perfect gift for a friend. Garnet, derived from the word granatum, means seed, and is called so because of the gemstone's resemblance to a pomegranate seed. References to the gemstone dates back to 3100 B.C., when the Egyptians used garnets as inlay jewelry. Garnet is the name of a group of minerals that comes in a rainbow of colors, from the deep red of the pyrope garnet to the vibrant green of tsavorites. Today, the most important sources for garnet are Africa, Sri Lanka, and India.

From the American Gem Society’s web site — http://www.americangemsociety.org/birthstones) One of only two places in the world where you can find Star Garnets is on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Some of the garnets found there are called "star garnets" because of a unique property that causes them to display a reflection like a four or six pointed star. Several club members have sifted for garnets at the Forest Service Emerald Creek Garnet Site near Clarkia, ID.

Walla Walla Community College Lapidary Classes Warren Rood will be teaching an advanced class in lapidary again this Winter quarter at Walla Walla Community College. He will primarily concentrate on advanced cabs and advanced free forms. However he will be more than willing to include subjects his students show a great interest in. For the last two times he taught this class he also spent time teaching doublets and triplets and how to work with precious opal. The class will start on January 6, 2014 and go till the middle of March. It will meet on Monday nights 6-8 pm. To register contact the Extended Learning department of the college at 527-4561, or contact Warren for more information at [email protected].

THE TOP TEN WISH LIST OF ROCKHOUNDS 10. More space for storage 9. More time to collect and work stones 8. More areas to collect from 7. Cheaper gas 6. Good weather to collect in 5. Bad weather when inside working on stones 4. Anti-gravity carrier for heavy rocks 3. Not so steep hills and gullies 2. Hammer-proof thumbs 1. More friends to go rockhounding with From Golden Spikes Newsletter 12/2013

Club Rock Saw Recently Whitman College donated a 14” rock saw to the club. As announced in last months Rock Licker, the board was looking for someone to act as “custodian” of the saw. After additional discussion the board decided that a formal agreement needed to be drafted outlining responsibilities of both the club as well as the identified custodian relative to the saw use before a decision could be made as to the custodian of the saw. The final decision has been deferred to a later date.

Page 6

The Rock Licker

“Rockhounds, both as individuals and collectively as members of clubs, pride themselves on good manners in the field. They know that maintaining their good reputation is important in order to keep the welcome mat out at collecting sites. This code of ethics is in general use throughout the rockhounding community and is posted here for your information.“ (The above is copied from the Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests web site.)

Rockhound's Code of Ethics (As revised on July 7, 1999 at the AFMS Annual Meeting) 

I will respect both private and public property and will do no rockhounding on privately owned land without the owner's permission.



I will keep informed on all laws, regulations or rules governing collecting on public lands and will observe them.



I will, to the best of my ability, ascertain the boundary lines of property on which I plan to collect.



I will use no firearms or blasting material in rockhounding areas.



I will cause no willful damage to property of any kind such as fences, signs, building, etc.



I will leave all gates as found.



I will build fires in designated or safe places only and will be certain they are completely extinguished before leaving the area.



I will discard no burning material -- matches, cigarettes, etc.



I will fill all excavation holes which may be dangerous to people or livestock.



I will not contaminate wells, creeks, or other water supplies.



I will cause no willful damage to collecting material and will take home only what I can reasonably use.



I will practice conservation and undertake to utilize fully and well the materials I have collected and will recycle my surpluses for the pleasure and benefit of all.



I will support the rockhound project H.E.L.P. (Help Eliminate Litter Please) and will leave all collecting areas devoid of litter regardless of how found.



I will cooperate with field trip leaders and those in designated authority in all collection areas.



I will report to my club or federation officers, Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service or other proper authorities, any deposit of petrified wood or other material on public lands which should be protected for the enjoyment of future generations for public educational and scientific purposes.



I will appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources.



I will observe the "Golden Rule”, will use "Good Outdoor Manners", and will at all times conduct myself in a manner which will add to the stature and "public image" of rockhounds everywhere.

Volume 55, Issue 1

Page 7

Highlights of the November 3rd, 2013 board meeting. Present: Keith Bacus, Jack Edwards, Lisa Davis, Rick Magnaghi, Olan Long, Norma Long, Vern Young, Suzanne Young, and Sandy Kinsfather. Absent Lisa Stearns. Visitors Jim Brain and Don Wagner Secretary’s Report: The October Board and General club meeting minutes as published in the Rock Licker were corrected to reflect the correct net income figures for the Club’s rock auction. Announcements:  Harley Unruh is in the hospital recovering from a recent stroke. We wish he and Sharon the best.  There is no news on the proposed move of the lapidary shop from the college. Lap shop attendance will need to perk up or we may have to look at revamping hours. The Lapidary shop turned in $24.00 for shop use last month. 

President Elect, Jim Brain stated he plans to advocate for more members to become active in the club.



The board talked of bringing the NFMS practice of awarding a “Rockhound of the Year” to our club.



Our April 2014 program will feature Nick Zentner speaking on Ellensburg blue agate. We are still looking for someone to step forward and take over some of the Rock Licker work. If you are interested, please contact Jim or a board member. There were a number of tools left over after the auction that were not bid on due to their condition. The club will get them from Vern and the board will need to make a decision on what happens to them. Jack advised Sandy to begin thinking of January’s audit so they can plan a time to review the books.

  

Old Business: Three individuals have expressed interest in being the custodian of the rock saw donated to the club. The board discussed the possibilities and decided, to be fair to everyone, that needs to be formal agreement drafted outlining the club’s expectations of the custodian of the saw as well as the club’s responsibilities before a decision can be made. The board will look at the Quartzite Rock Club for developing ideas and wording of our agreement. New Business:  None Other Items:  Worked out details for the club Christmas party to be held on the 8 th of December.

Minutes of the 12/8/13 General Meeting Prior to the meeting our annual potluck supper was enjoyed by all. About 75 members and guests attended. There was plenty of food for all. After dinner President Keith Bacus conducted the installation of the new officers: Jim Brain as president and Kathleen Weston as secretary as well as two at-large representatives and the Federation delegate positions. Keith also recognized the current and outgoing board members with a small gift for their service to the club.

After the business was concluded and as members gathered to prepare for the gift exchange, young and old were delighted by a visit from Saint Nick! As Santa took requests and handed out candy canes, giggles and smiles were in abundance. Thank you to all of our members in attendance for making this club function a special time this holiday season. Thank you to all of the board members who do much of the behind the scenes work to make our club the fantastic organization that it is. Merry Christmas everyone!

The Rock Licker Editor Jim Brain 509-522-2261 E-Mail: [email protected]

We are on the WEB https://sites.google.com/site/mwgemandmineral/

The Marcus Whitman Gem and Mineral Society is affiliated with the: American Federation of Mineralogical Societies Northwest Federation Mineralogical Societies American Lands Access Association

THE ROCK LICKER is the official monthly publication of the Marcus Whitman Gem and Mineral Society, Inc. (NFMS Club # 719), PO Box 338, Walla Walla, WA 99362. The objective of the Society is to encourage the study of earth science through suitable programs, field trips, exhibits and other educational activities. People of all ages are welcome to join us. There are junior club activities for youth aged 18 and under. Regular club meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month (except July and December) at the Lions Club Field House on the corner of SE 8th St and SE Larch Ave. in College Place, WA. Both the Juniors club activities and general club meeting start at 6:30 pm. Note: July is reserved for a club picnic and December is reserved for the Christmas party and potluck.

Marcus Whitman Gem and Mineral Society PO Box 338 Walla Walla, WA 99362 Return Service Requested Remember to save your stamps

The Rock Licker Volume 55 Issue 1

To: (Place mailing label here)