February 2013

MEMBERSHIP MEETING January 24, 2012President - Linda F.

Called the meeting to order at 7:45 and introduced the new executive.

Secretary - Marilyn S.Received Dec. & Jan. Rock and Gem and also Dec. Jan./Feb. Lapidary JournalMinutes M/S/CThe Rockhounder is now $4.00

Treasurer - Sue M. Report adopted as read

Committee Reports

WorkshopSiggi R.The 12 inch saw needs cleaning and volunteers needed for Sat. 26th at noon. Sante, Bich,Bonnie, and Lei volunteered. Volunteers receive 15 square inches of sawing each for their time

and effort.Again Siggi stressed it is only Instructors that use the large saw. If a student thinks He or She is capable their techniques and methods must be observed first by an Instructor.

Dave F.On Jan.12th we started a project making swivel rings. 16 members in the class and it was a new

learning experience and a huge success. Some were wearing their rings to the meeting. An upcoming project will be filigree jewellry, possibly starting Feb. 2nd.

Show - Chair Dan C. and Linda F.Dan reported all Facilities and Security have been arranged. It looks like all tables are booked –

30 tables for vendors and 15 for members. Showcases were discussed and organized. Volunteers will be needed for everything from set-up to take down. There was a reminder that the theme this year is “A Touch O’Green”.

Publicity - Linda F.Flyers are ready and everyone was asked to take some and deliver them to their neighbours and

local Libraries, Stores, bulletin boards and other community Centres.

Rep to Centre - Nick TThere will be an Open House at the Centre April 13th and all groups are asked to partake.As we will be holding classes that day we will be open to the public. Michael Edward volunteered to be our “Greeter”. There are plans for a barbeque later in the year.As a member of the Board Michael E. read a letter from the Parks Board to the Community

Centre saying there would be no changes during the winter and spring sessions.

Next meeting is Thurs. Feb. 28 , 2013

Library - Manda and Crystal C.Everything was fine in the library.

Newsletter – Marilyn O. and Marilyn M.The Rocket was done and sent but those on Shaw and Telus were not received. The pictures were too large. Those on Google and others were. The Marilyns were to meet with

Arlene M. and see if there is a way around this – maybe on the website.

Showcase – Bonnie G.There were compliments from Centre staff and others passed onto Bonnie for her displays. She

had a discussion paper handed out for thoughts and ideas on future displays. To be followed up next meeting. Anyone that did not get their rocks from previous displays - Bonnie has them at home.

Social – Brigitte R.Thanked everyone for the “goodies” for the evening and asked for volunteers for the next meeting. They are Manda, Michael and Vivian. The lists of refreshments for the Show were

passed around. Brigitte stressed that everything had to be fresh that day and wrapped. There were to be no nuts.

Membership – Arlene M.39 members present. Memberships are due.

Sunshine – Debbie C.Norma Gill has had surgery. Karl Freedman had a hip replacement. We wish them both a

speedy recovery. Vern said he had seen Frank Tierney and that he was looking forward to seeing everyone at the show. Debbie is taking the plaque in to have James Laird’s name added.

Historian – Vera S.Vera asked for any and all old or new pictures.

Rep to Society - Siggi R., Brigitte R. Elizabth ONo meeting.

Summer Camp – VernThe contact for Cayoosh Campground is Wayne Robinson, Director of Recreation wrobinson@lillooet.ca, main phone 250-256-7527, 250-256-7422 ext. 249 or fax. 250 256-

4037. Vern has also arranged for a supplier for the groceries we will need.

Old BusinessDave has 3 calendars paid for but not picked up. Please claim.

New BusinessDiscussion of prices of domains and sites. M/S/C/ Arlene pick the most practical for the club’s

web site and arrange it.Those that want 2014 calendars to phone Linda as she has to let them know.

Photo by Dave Capstick

Field Trips- For more information, check the BC Lapidary website

Meeting adjourned @ 8:50 Marilyn Sztankovics Recording Secretary

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With Instructor

Monday & Thursday 6:30pm – 9:30pm

Wednesday 10:00am – 1:00pm Saturday 1:00pm – 4:00pm ===================================================

With Instructor Saturday 9:15- 12:15pm

Membership

Runs from January to DecemberSingle $20 Family $25

Membership with Hastings Community Centre is required for club membership.

Club Contact Person: Michael Edwards-604-987-1471

Anyone can post a notice to this group's wall by sending an email to:hastings.rockhounds@groups.facebook.comhttp://www.facebook.com/groups/hastings.rockhounds/ Arlene Macaulay , one of our new members set up a web page for our club. http://playedwithfire.com/hastingscentrerockhounds/

About Our Organization

The Hastings Club has been active for over 50 years. It was founded in January 1959. Interests of members, range from all aspects of lapidary arts - to rock, mineral and fossil collecting. We have a well equipped workshop where we cut & polish cabochons & stones. Siversmithing classes are every Saturday with instruction.We also organize regular field trips to various hunting areas.We meet on the fourth Thursday of each month (except July, August and December) at 7:30pm at the Community Hall at the Hastings Community Centre.

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A Reminder from Bonnie-re SHOWCASE

Thanks to everyone who has been bringing in rocks for the display cabinet. You make it really interesting!

Please think ahead to the new displays that are coming up.

Saturday, February 16 green rocks, advertising for our show "A Touch of Green"Thursday, March 28 yellow, blue, purple, pink, red rocks, "Colours of spring flowers"Thursday, April 25 fossils, "Ancient life caught in rock"Thursday, May 23 Ocean picture rock, "Scenes of the sea"Thursday, June 27 rockhound tools, rock finds from your adventures, "Gone rockhounding"

You can make your own tags with the name of the rock and some interesting information about it or you can use the name tag material from the lapidary cupboard.

Thanks,

Bonnie and Dave Gosse604-980-0741

Courtenay Gem and Mineral Club

And

Parksville and District Rock & Gem Club

present

The Courtenay Gem and Mineral SHOW                The Courtenay Gem and Mineral Club and Parksville & District Rock &  Gem Club are presenting the Annual Gem and Mineral Show on the first weekend of May 2013. The dates this year are Saturday and Sunday, May 4th & 5th 2013.

The Location will be the Royal Canadian Legion, at  367 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay.

We will take over the upstairs hall, accessible from the back parking lot.

We will be open to the Public from 10am to 6pm on Saturday, and from 10am to 5pm on Sunday.

Our show theme this year will be “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”

We would be pleased to have you attend and be a part of our show, whether as an exhibitor/dealer, as a skills demonstrator, or bringing along a showcase to exhibit.

If you wish to accept this invitation, please fill out the accompanying form and send it to the Show Chair.

Thank you,

Russell Ball (Showchair)

Courtenay Gem and Mineral Club

2616 Mabley Rd.

Courtenay B.C. V9N 9K2

e-mail;  dj_fossil@hotmail.com

phone;                           1-250-703-0100            

Moroccan Adventure-Part 2We spent the last half of our Moroccan trip in Midelt at the Taddart Hotel for the Mindat.org Conference. There were numerous presentations by several members of our group-minerologists, museum curators from around the world, etc. Jolyon Ralph, the creator of Mindat.org and Tom Praszkier, the organizer of the Conference both gave interestingpresentations. Check out Tom’s website-spiriferminerals.com –he gives a description and photos of the planning stages of our trip.

We spent a very enjoyable afternoon and evening in the nearby village of Mibladen where lunch and dinner were served in a luxurious Berber tent complete with waiters in uniform and white gloves. Many dealers had been brought to the site for group-it was a shopping day!!!

Every night we had a buffet dinner, entertainment and free vodka, beer and wine. Tom and the owner of the Taddart Hotel organized a surprise dinner banquet in a secret location which turned out to be an old mine site. After many hours moving rubble, laying Berber carpets, setting up tables and chairs, bringing in caterers and Berber musicians, the evening was an unforgettable experience. The last 3 days of the Conference were to be collecting days. The first day we visited 3 different sites. At the first site those who were brave enough were able to descend down a ladder in a very narrow shaft to explore and collect in tunnels with a local miner. We chose to collect vanadinite and barite in dumps above ground. At the second locality we viewed ancient dinosaur footprints. The third stop was at an easily accessible mine where we had an opportunity to collect cerussite and wulfenite.

Due to sickness and stormy weather our next 2 days of collecting were cancelled. Tom arranged for a number of dealers to come to our hotel –another buying opportunity. Nov. 13 we left Midelt via taxi to Fez-about a 4 hour drive through the snow covered Atlas Mountains-spectacular scenery!

Morocco is a country of many contrasts. We experienced all kinds of weather in our 16 days of travels -torrential rain upon our arrival in Casablanca and Marrakesh, sun and heat in the desert areas, snow in the mountain passes. We travelled in a second class, leaky, derelict train as well a comfortable first class train; rode in petit taxies and on camels on the dunes; in our comfy van listening to Moroccan music on the radio passing by many modes of transportation –horses and carriages, donkeys and carts, bicycles, scooters and many people on foot.

What a great experience!!!