The Bitterroot Conglomerate
Newsletter of the Bitterroot Gem & Mineral Society
Vol. XXVI issue 2
Minutes of the Bitterroot Gem and Mineral Society January 13, 2007
The Bitterroot Gem & Mineral Society (BGMS) meeting began at 2:00 PM with 23 members present, and two guests Marilyn Thomson and Carol Woodring, who signed up as new members.. The first event was a pledge to the USA flag of America. This was followed by a surprise program by BGMS member Don Tibbs. The program started with two multiple choice quizzes on rocks and minerals taken from a rockhound web site. Quiz sheets were handed to each member. Don asked each member to mark the correct choice for each question. Then, he verbally gave the correct answers. Don also stressed the importance of safety issues when rockhounding, such as taking a safety-kit on every field trip, wearing safety glasses when breaking rocks, and using proper footwear. Don asked: what are the first two physical characteristics of minerals one should consider when trying to identify minerals. The answer was metallic luster or non-metallic luster. Wayne Farley stated that there was a third category, sub-metallic luster. Don asked several other questions about rocks and minerals, including what was the rarest color of diamond. The answer was red diamond. The Rock Expert Quiz given by Don is given below for those not at the meeting, and wishing to take the quiz, and the answers given at the end of this memo.
A. Melted rock above ground: 1. lava or 2. magma?
B. Melted rock below ground: 1.lava or 2. magma?
C. Rock formed from magma or lava when it cools: 1. sedimentary, 2. metamorphic, or 3. igneous?
D. Rock formed when sediments are pressed or cemented together: 1. sedimentary, 2. metamorphic, or 3. igneous?
E. Rock formed from existing rock when the temperature or pressure changes: 1. sedimentary, 2. metamorphic, or 3. igneous?
F. Conglomerate: 1. sedimentary, 2. metamorphic, or 3. igneous?
G. Gneiss: 1. sedimentary, 2. metamorphic, or 3. igneous?
H. Granite: 1. sedimentary, 2. metamorphic, or 3. igneous?
I. Gypsum: 1. sedimentary, 2. metamorphic, or 3. igneous?
J. Limestone: 1. sedimentary. 2. metamorphic, or 3. igneous?
K. Obsidian: 1. sedimentary, 2. metamorphic, or 3. igneous?
L. Pumice: 1. sedimentary, 2. metamorphic, or 3. igneous?
M. Sandstone: 1. sedimentary, 2. metamorphic, 3. igneous?
N. Schist: 1. sedimentary, 2. metamorphic, or 3. igneous?
O. Scoria: 1. sedimentary, 2. metamorphic, or 3.igneous?
P. Shale: 1. sedimentary, 2. metamorphic, or 3. igneous?
The program ended about 3:00 PM and everyone gave Don a big hand for his effort.
Following the program, there was a fifteen minute break for snacks and drinks. These were furnished by Margaret Sharp and Myra Peltier.
At 3:00 PM the business meeting was opened by BGMS President Larry Jones. Larry Jones reminded everyone that dues are overdue for 2007 membership, and must be paid soon as the club has to send 2007 club dues of $3.50 to the NFMS and $1.50 to the MT Council for each paid member in the club. Larry said that the NFMS and MT Council takes-up all of our $5.00 per person dues and maybe we should raise the BGMS dues. He got a negative response to that suggestion. Larry asked Betty Hodge when the NFMS and MT Council dues are sent in, as these organizations request payment as soon as possible at the beginning of each year. Betty said that in order to get the payments in early, she used last years membership. Larry said that that should not be done as some members will not renew their membership, and are not entitled to NFMS and MT Council benefits. I, Wayne Farley, talked to Larry about this by telephone on Jan. 22, and he said that he will instruct Betty, after this year, to send in NFMS and MT Council dues at the end of Jan for only paid members at that time. Those who have not paid by the end of Jan. will not receive the NFMS and MT Council newsletters and not be entitled to NFMS or MT Council Benefits. Betty asked what the NFMS and MT Council do for our club, and should we belong to them. Wayne Farley told the BGMS members present about some of the benefits as follows.
NFMS Benefits: (also see article by Bill Luke after these minutes).
- A monthly newsletter with rockhound articles, such as: lapidary, field collecting, mineral identification, government regulation, etc.
- An annual retreat at the Oregon OMSI Camp Hancock facility at the Clarno Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds to teach lapidary skills, such as cabochon making, faceting, etc.
- Field trips, such as the trip to Texas Springs, NV that several of our members attended.
- Free loan of Program Materials, such as videos and DVDs.
- An annual Gem & Mineral Show for club members to display their rocks, minerals, and lapidary work; and to meet other rockhounds; and to buy specimens.
- Stamp collecting for cancer research.
- Scholarships for geosciences students.
MT Council Benefits:
- A quarterly newsletter with rockhound articles, such as: lapidary, field collecting, mineral identification, government regulation, etc.
- An annual state fossil/mineral hunt.
- Support for an annual State Gem & Mineral Show.
- Supply rock clubs with 40 display cases for their shows.
Larry said that he had talked to Bob Riggs (President of the Missoula Rock Club) recently about the annual bus trip to the Spokane Gem & Mineral Show in March that the Hamilton and Missoula clubs attend. This year the show is on Sat. and Sun, March 10 and 11. The two clubs will share the bus with 25 seats allotted to each club, and the trip will be on Sat. March 10. Everyone will get on the bus at the K-Mart parking lot at Reserve and Brooks by 9:00 AM. The travel time to the show at the Spokane Fairgrounds takes about 4 hours. With the time change at the MT-ID border (one hour gain), we get to the show about 12:00 Spokane time. Going over, we have a 15 minute pit stop at the Silver Dollar Bar and Gift Shop. Coming back we leave the show about 4:30 PM Spokane time. We stop at Cour-de-Lane for about one hour for a Dinner break, and arrive back in Missoula about 10:30 Missoula time. The bus fare this year is $25.00 for each person, up from $18.00 last year, due to the increased cost of fuel. The bus cost $1100.00. Our individual BGMS payments are made to our treasurer Betty Hodge, and she makes one payment to Bob Riggs. A sign up sheet for the Spokane Show was passed around at this meeting and fourteen people signed up so far.
Larry stressed the need for more volunteers for the BGMS April 2007 Gem & Mineral Show, and said that there was a sign-up sheet on one of the tables. He also said that he had signed up 3 more people for ads for our show flyer, and asked others to try and get ads. Ads are $25.00 for Business Card size, and $75.00 for a half page. Ads and show helpers sign-up sheet are managed by Margaret Sharp.
Larry said that we now have six nurses in our club and maybe they could suggest a first-aid kit for our field trips. Harvey Sharp said that the BGMS already has a first-aid kit, he is the keeper, he takes it on all field trips he goes on, and it is available for trips he does not go on. Larry will assign one of the nurses to review our first-aid kit.
Alta Gibson resigned as historian of the BGMS and gave all materials to Larry Jones. Larry asked for a volunteer to take over as historian, but did not get any. Larry said that he would talk to individuals outside the meeting to try and get a new historian.
Larry called for volunteers for BGMS committee chairman: i.e, Programs, Field Trips, Hospitality, Sunshine/Coffee, Newsletter, Historian, and email. Wayne Farley and Harvey agreed to do Field Trips again. Ralph Luther agreed to continue with the newsletter. Sharlene Farley will continue with Sunshine/coffee, after she gets off her crouches (from a toe operation) at the end of Feb. For the other positions, contact Larry Jones.
The treasurers report by Betty Hodge.
Larry said that those who buy ads for the show brochure will later be sent a thank-you card with two free tickets to the show.
Larry said that there was a conflict last year between the Hamilton and Missoula clubs, with each choosing the same date for their Christmas party. To prevent that conflict in 2007, Missoula has chosen their date early for Dec. 8 so that we may have time to reserve our meeting room on a different date.
Larry called for a board meeting of BGMS officers and directors at his house at 195 Our Loop, Darby (South of Darby off the West Fork Road) at 2:00 PM on Sun, Jan. 21, 2007. The directions were: Go south of Darby on Hyw 93 to the Conner turn off, as the bridge at the West Fork turnoff bridge is washed out. Turn right (West) on the Conner turn off. Go 1.2 miles west to the West Fork Rd and turn right (North). Go North 1.5 miles on the West Fork Rd, and then turn left (West) on Our Loop. Go 0.33 miles on Our Loop and turn left on the blacktop driveway. Larry has the only blacktop driveway on Our Loop.
Larry asked each member to fill out the Rockhound interest sheet included in the last newsletter and sign it. Margaret Sharp said that with multiple members in a family, and each family only getting one newsletter, more interest sheets were needed. Larry said that they would be provided at the next meeting.
At the end of the meeting drawings were made for the lottery, and for the door prize. Harvey Sharp won the $8.50 lottery, ½ of the $17.00 worth of tickets sold. Ralph Luther won the door prize furnished by Steve Vieth, and thus will have to furnish the door prize for the next meeting.
Answeres to Rockhound Test
A1, B2, C3, D1, E2, F1, G2, H3, I1, J1, K3, L3, M1, N2, O3, P2
End of Minutes
Presidents Column
Hi everybody, well we are two months into the New Year. I have had a real eye opener. I can't begin to tell you how impressed I've been sitting in on the Gem Show Committee. They have really done a lot of work. They are organized and have everything going just right.
Now it's our turn (the membership) to help them. What we need from the club right now is to sell Advertisements for the Gem show brochure. For a half page ad $75 & $25 for business card ad. So far I have asked my barber, banker and auto mechanic and they all said o.k. If you ask people you do business with I'm sure they will come through and buy an ad. Give it a try and help the show. Also remember he who sells the most ads wins $50.
Editors Notes
Those of you that have paid your dues for this year will have an 07 after your name on the label. If it is not there you will not be receiving any more newsletters. If you think you have paid and the 07 is not on the label please contact Betty Hodge to get it sorted out.
The new President, Larry Jones, is calling a number of members to find out how many are willing to accept a position as a committee chairperson and/or a committee member. Another meeting of the Executive Committee is planned to continue going over the Club’s By-Laws and look at correcting or revising them as necessary. If you have any input please let Larry know at the next meeting or by phone.
How many of you have checked out the Club web-site at http://bitterrootgms.org which will be upgraded by Michael Wilder to include other items such as Club By-laws, links to other useful sites and our proposed outings for this year, if these are things you as Club members want. I can see many possibilities for the site. I’m quite sure that we could also be included in other sites which might give us exposure to people looking for a Rock Club in this area. What suggestions do you have? Michael is looking for some guidance from the membership so please write down what you want on the web-site and give it to Michael or to Ralph Luther. In addition to your suggestions please write down any web links you would like to have included in the links on the web-site.
Have any of you received your Newsletter torn or mutilated? If so, let me know.
On Febuary 4th I received a phone call from Jo & Don Farley. They are at Quartzsite and are getting bored because they don’t know the area well enough to get out and do any good rock-hounding. They both have a bad cold at the present time. Jo reported that one of our members, Ellis Houseman, had a heart attack about the middle of January. He was taken to a hospital in Phoenix and a stint was put in. He is recovering nicely.
********************************************************************************
For Sale. An ore car from a mine in Nevada. In good shape. $500.00. Contact Posey at 961-4116
Wanted. A Faceting Machine. Please contact Mildred at 363-5224 or Cathy at 777-2598
Those going to Spokane and getting on the bus in Lolo will find the bus on the East side of Hwy 93 just across from the Hwy 12 intersection. Park on the South side of the Tucker Transportation Bldg. and don’t block any doors. They do have toilets if needed. Meet there at 8 AM, Mar. 10th
Objects and Purposes of NFMS
By Bill Luke, NFMS President, 2001-2002
Here's another response to the age-old question- What is the Federation? What does it do for me? The original Articles of Incorporation, filed on April 10, 1950, contain Article III, the objects and purposes for which this corporation is formed. This Article is still as valid and as informative today as when it was written.
Article III
The object and purposes for which this corporation is formed are as follows:
To affiliate all mineral societies in the northwest, who may want to do so, into a federation to increase the knowledge and popular interest in geology, mineralogy, the lapidary arts and related subjects.
To assist in the formation of Earth Science Societies in localities where public interest justifies their formation.
To provide informational programs for the use of its member clubs.
To provide educational materials such as slide programs and displays for use by the clubs.
To distribute educational materials to the general public.
To sponsor a periodic journal which contains articles relating to gems and minerals and suggestions for the care, collection and handling of these materials.
To furnish information on field trips for the observation of geological phenomena and the collection of rocks and minerals.
To conduct an annual gem and mineral show, which is open to the general public, for the purpose of conducting educational programs in the form of displays, demonstrations, seminars and lectures.
To cooperate or affiliate with similar federations.
To establish and maintain a Federation which shall be non-political and non-commercial.
To conduct its affairs without profit and to refrain from using its assets for pecuniary benefit of any individual, organization or group.
This corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, educational and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code 1954 (or corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
In the event of dissolution of the Federation, all of its assets, properties and funds shall be turned over to one or more non-profit organizations created for like or similar purposes who are qualified for tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Copies of the Articles of Incorporation, along with By-Laws, OP's and other information about and for the Federation and its member clubs are included in every issue of your NFMS Membership Directory. All of the words in these documents- original, amended, changed- were proposed by an individual, presented to his club, and then the club presented it to the Federation Directors for their approval at an Annual Meeting. We should all be familiar with all of these documents. Read them! The answers to many questions are contained therein.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING 01/21/2007
A BGMS staff meeting was held at Larry Jones’s house at 195 Our Loop, off the West Fork Rd south of Darby, on Jan. 21 at 2:00 PM. Members present at the meeting were President Larry Jones, Secretary Wayne Farley, Treasurer Betty Hodge, 2006 President Don Contraman, 2006 Vice President Bill Hodge. A quorum of two BGMS officers plus one was present to conduct BGMS business. The business at this meeting was to review the BGMS By-Laws and suggest updates and/or changes for approval by the BGMS members. Ralph Luther had given the BGMS staff copies of the By-Laws at the club meeting on Jan 13, 2007, with his recommended changes. Ralph’s recommendations were reviewed at the Jan 21 meeting, and some were agreed to and others not agreed to. Other changes were also recommended at the Jan. 21 meeting. We got through about ¾ of the By-Law. The rest of the review of the BY-Laws will be conducted at another time, soon. During the review the question was asked: What are the duties of the club’s Federation Director (Wayne Farley) to the Northwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies (NFMS)? These duties are listed in the NFMS By-Laws posted in each annual NFMD directory, which each NFMS club receives, and are as stated below:
OP BOARD -7, FEDERATION DIRECTOR
Subject: Duties of Officers & Directors-FEDERATION DIRECTOR
Each Federation Director shall:
*Attend or send an Alternate, if possible, to act as one of the delegates for his/her Society at the Annual Meeting.
*Furnish the Credentials Committee with the names of the Director and Delegate who will be representing their club at the Annual Meeting.
*See that the Director and Delegate have proper signed Credentials forms to be presented to the Credentials Committee at the Annual Meeting.
*Send to the NFMS Executive Secretary by the 1st of February, prior to the Annual Meeting, all proposed Amendments to the Federation By-Laws and proposed resolutions from his/her Society.
*Send names and address of the newly elected Officers of His/her Society, and the name and address of the Director who will act for his/her Society for the coming year.
*Attend and give a report of the Mid-Year Meeting in his/her area.
*Pick up the Federation Directories and Show Packets and/or other Federation Supplies as may have been ordered by the Member Society, at the Mid-Year Meetings.
*Present to his/her Society for their instruction, all business to be considered or transacted at the Annual Meeting.
*Give a report to his/her Society on the Annual Meeting and the Minutes of the Annual Meeting.
*Perform any and all such other duties as may be necessary between his/her Society and the Executive Board.
********************************************************
A fool and his money are soon elected.
Will Rogers
America is becoming so educated that ignorance will be a novelty. I will belong to the select few.
Will Rogers
BITTERROOT GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY is a member of the Montana State Council, Northwest Federation and American Federation. We support State and Federation projects and goals. We are guided by the AFMS code of ethics:
I will respect private property. No rockhounding without permission.
I will use no firearms or blasting material in rockhounding areas.
I will take all garbage home, or dispose of it in proper receptacles.
I will leave gates as found.
I will cause no willful damage to materials or take more than I can use.
I will build fires in designated or safe places only.
I will not contaminate wells, creeks or other water supplies.
I will appreciate and protect our heritage or natural resources and wildlife. I will always use good outdoor manners.
SAVE USED POSTAGE STAMPS FOR CANCER RESEARCH!
GIVE A HOOT - DON"T POLLUTE! KEEP MONTANA GREEN
