The Bitterroot Conglomerate
Newsletter of the Bitterroot Gem & Mineral Society
Vol. XXIX issue 10
Presidents Colum
A big thank you for all the members that helped with Apple Day on October 2nd. It was very well attended. The wheel was a big hit for all ages. But we went through almost all the polished stones by the end of the day. So if you’ve got tumblers working please save some rocks for our show in May of 2011.
I’ve been told that on October 10th at 6 p.m. our time. National Geographic will be airing the Crystal Caves special. These are caves that were discovered not too long ago that have crystal formations still growing. If you get a chance watch it!
I have set up Saturday December 4th for the Christmas pot luck. The time should be from noon until 4 p.m., but I have to follow up on that time again and I’ll get back to everyone.
We are starting to gear up for the Gem and Mineral show in May of 2011. If you would like to be on a committee or just work the show for a few hours your help would be greatly appreciated. The dates are May 14th and 15th with show set up on Friday the 13th. We have the show in the Events Center on the Ravalli County Fairgrounds.
Well, I promised Ralph that I would have this out on Monday morning so I better close. Wishing everyone good health and happiness hope to see you at the next club meeting. Mike McConnell, Pres.
Editors Notes
The weather has held out very well for any additional field trips that could have been planned but I haven’t heard of any in the works. If some of you have gone on extra field trips please let me know so I can write them up for the newsletter.
According to the By-laws the President will appoint a nominating committee of three members one month before the first October meeting.
This year the Board of Directors are up for election in addition to our Club officers. The MT Council and NFMS delegates are also to be elected.
It would be good for each one of you, that have been a member of the Club for at least one year, to consider which office you can serve in.
I will need reports from the Chairperson of the various Committees during the last week of each month so they can be included in the newsletter.
The Editor is not responsible for the accuracy of articles accepted, items for sale, nor are the opinions expressed therein necessarily those of the Club Officers, members and/or the Club Editor.
Ralph
BGMS Minutes Sept. 14, 2010
The meeting was called to order by President, Mike Mc Connell. Following the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag, Mike started the meeting. We had 17 Members and 3 Guests (Kim Buckman, Marilyn and Fred Peterson)-all who also joined the Club tonite.
The Minutes were approved as read. Wayne Farley, our Treasurer gave his report. A motion and second was made to accept the Treasurers Report.
Committee Reports:
CLUB PICNIC: Dianne reported we had 29 members and 1 guest attend. A good time was had with an “Easter Egg” (in the Form of ROCKS) Hunt followed delicious dinner-pot luck with the Club furnishing yummy Brats and Hot Dogs. It was held on Saturday, the 28th. Our President, Mike led the Auction which netted the Club a nice sum of $154.00
CLUB’s BLUE GROUSE MINE: Ralph Luther brought us up to date on our required work. Our permit is only good for 2 years but can be renewed. He has gone ahead and applied for the New Permit.
DISPLAY CASES: Harvey Sharp has the materials and Jenet Mc Connell brought in samples tonite for all to see.
FIELD TRIPS: The Field Trip on Labor Day (in conjunction with the Montana State Council Fossil Dig) was on September 2, 3 & 4th week-end. The 4th will be the Dinosaur Dig with Cory. ALL who are going have until the Picnic to sign up. Wayne corrected the amount and clarified the fact that the $60 originally discussed is for Each Day, not all 3. They MUST have a minimum of 20 people. The Montana State Council will pay $1,000 toward those fees. The balance will be divided up among those going. For those attending it was Great and several people brought in some of their samples.
One reminder is that the Missoula Club has scheduled their State Of Montana Show for Sat. and Sun. September 25 and 26. They were so good to come to ours, lets try extra hard to make it to theirs.
OLD BUSINESS:
SHOW FISH TANK: Harvey brought some of the stones to see. It was decided to bring the Tank to Apple Days and see how we do.
Mildred Soll (one of the last of our Original Club Members) passed away and her Son and Daughter will be having a Rock Garage Sale this week-end. She also had a Genie Rock Cabbing Machine that is for sale. Steve Veith made a motion, seconded and passed to purchase this like new machine for the Club for $750.00. Our old one is in very bad shape. Ron Livsey said he was interested in purchasing the old one. It was motioned, seconded and passed to sell it to Ron for $20.00.
Wayne Farley will be attending the BLM Meeting in Dillon and will represent the Club. He also mentioned that the NW Federation Meeting will be over in Oregon. Since he will not be able to be there he asked Shirley Lesson and Dee Holland to represent our Club at the meeting. Motion, seconded and passed to accept them as our representatives. News came back to Wayne that the Tickets we purchased at the American Federation were successful and WE WON the Grand Price. A Magnificent Cathedral Amethyst. Wayne had it on the table for all to view. He also said they had valued it at $120.00 and he would like to purchase it from the Club for that amount. Motion, seconded and passed to allow him to buy it.
There was a suggestion to have some “Hands On Training” for Members both old and new in some of our various phases of interests. It will be looked into.
A motion to adjourn and seconded passed and we ended the meeting to enjoy the refreshments.
The 50/50 drawing was won by Gene Ayres in the amount of $12.00. The other $12.00 went into the Club Treasury. Kim Buckman was the lucky winner of the Door Prize. And will bring a special something to our meeting on September 28th. The member selected to win Mike’s Special Drawing was Bobbie and Marty Bewley of Missoula who were not present.
No formal Program was planned, but Wayne did a show and tell on the goodies from the Dinosaur Field Trip to Bynum. There were 11 on the trip plus the 3 museum employees and a young girl from Canada. The first was hunting on the Ranch which was private ground. It is slow and very precise work. When a find is found (usually in the limestone or sandstone) it is dug – wrapped in burlap - then a plaster of Paris cast put around it. This is repeated until you can work it free.
The second trip was to Egg Mountain. This is where many of the Dinosaur Nests have been found. This is on BLM Land and you cannot keep things you find there. David of the Two Medicine Dinosaur Center is trying to get his place qualified as the museum to they can keep what they find on the BLM lands.
Trip #3 was digging on 5 sites. Our group got to help dig and actually keep some of the little things found on the roads. Tracie and Ron Livsey found some Marine Fossils that they got to keep.
The Bynum Rock Shop has a close for winter special the last 2 weeks in October where they reduce things to 30%.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dianne Ayres
Secretary
BGMS Minutes Sept. 28, 2010
The meeting was called to order by President, Mike Mc Connell. Following the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag, Mike started the meeting. We had 21Members and 0 Guests.
The Minutes were approved as corrected. Wayne Farley, our Treasurer gave his report, showing an ending balance of $8,166.00. There were 2 special Memorial Donations in Mildred Soll’s name-one was her Oregon Cousin in a $100 check and a $50 check from the Missoula Hellgate Club. Thank You’s will be sent to both. A motion and second was made to accept the Treasurers Report.
Committee Reports:
CLUB’s BLUE GROUSE MINE: Ralph Luther brought us up to date on our required work, it is all completed. He is also taking care of our permits.
BRGM SHOW: Steve Vieth stated the dates again for Our Show will be May 13th for the Friday Nite Pot-Luck. Saturday, May 14th and Sunday, May 15th. There will be a Show Committee meeting at Pete and Pam Myers home in Florence on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 7pm. Dick Coppage paid the Club a Big Compliment – he attended the Missoula Show and said he felt Ours was MUCH nicer and better. Wayne and Dan did enter 2 cases and took home 2 ribbons for First and Second places. They had the Garnet and Black Light/Florescent Cases. A special judge from the Federation was there as well as the Public Vote.
FIELD TRIPS: The Field Trip on Labor Day (in conjunction with the Montana State Council Fossil Dig) was on September 2, 3 & 4th week-end and Wayne told the Members all about it. It was a great success and Steve was asked to again try to get the 2011 one planned.
This was the State Show and the Montana Council meeting. Sadly, a very few showed up. The same Officers will serve again.
OLD BUSINESS:
SHOW FISH TANK: A sign-up sheet was passed around for all to help man the two booths we will be having at Apple Days. Still time to help if you are interested..
No further talk about the “Hands On Training” for Members both old and new in some of our various phases of interests; so it will continue to be looked into.
Harvey and Margaret Sharp have fixed up our small Club Case and taken up to Stevensville’s Library for the Public to view. Thank You to you both.
NEW BUSINESS:
Steve Veith was asked to set up an AMBER Party for our Meeting night of October 12th. We will start at 6:30 pm. Bill Hutchenson will be the instructor and bring the amber (which may be purchased by all who want to participate in the class). We will not have a formal meeting that night.
Jo Farley’s Daughter as broken her hip, so Jo will be helping her for a while. Myra Peltier mentioned there will be a very interesting broadcast on Satellite TV about the Big Crystal Caves to be sometime in the first part of October (you will need to check out the advertising) but it should be very good.
Mike Mc Connell has several teachers of Wire Wrapping who will be happy to come show and train us, but the time would be better to be on a Saturday instead of our Tuesday meeting. He will look into it, but the best times seem to be November 6th or the 20th. It was brought up that they need to highlight the very BASICS…types of wires, sizes, what the differences are, etc... We will hear more on this at the next meeting.
Good to have Nola Edgar back, she also brought a beautiful specimen of Copper for all to see. There being no further business, Margaret made the motion to adjourn and Harvey seconded. Passed and we all got to go over and eat the treats Sharlene had prepared.
The 50/50 Drawing was won by Mike Mc Connell in the amount of $14.50 with the same going to the treasury. Dianne Ayres won the Door Prize. It was a selection of leaf fossils from the John Day area in Oregon. For Mike’s Special Drawing for Members ONLY – and needing to be present to win…the name tonight was MaryAnn Scanland (who was NOT here).
PROGRAM:
The program tonight was Dan Farley demonstrating Cabbing on our new CLUB Cabbing Machine just purchased from the Mildred Soll Estate. He explained the various size belts, how the water was sent to the machine and where to start. That is after you have found the rock, cut a slab, chosen your pattern to make, and rough cut that shape on a trim saw. Most people dop up their rocks for Cabbing, Dan used his hands. He had a variety of different stages that he showed all as he proceeded through the various degrees of getting it to polish.
Many of the members had not had this opportunity to see up close and find out just what to do. Thank You, Dan for a very interesting and good incite into the world of Cabbing.
Respectfully Submitted
Dianne Ayres,
Secretary
Field Trip Report
No additional trips have been reported on since the fossil dig trip.
Mining Committee Report
The reclamation work at the Blue Grouse Claim was completed on September 25th. We are now waiting for the BLM to approve the work.
I have submitted the paperwork to the BLM for a new sampling permit for the Blue Grouse Opal claim and it is being held until next spring for final approval. It will be good for 2 years
MT Council Report
None
N.W. Federation Report
Wayne, and members,
Thanks for letting us represent you at the NFMS meeting in Portland.
Here's a summary of the meeting:
In case members of Bitterroot want to see what will be discussed at the meetings of NFMS, it will be up on the NFMS website about a week before the meeting.
The budget had "technical" problems and wasn't available to actually see, but the executive committee said the budget would be approximately the same as last year. We, Dee & I, had reservations, but we voted in order for them to conduct business till the meeting next year. We will watch the budget closely.
There is finally a new Junior Chair. Rick Bower. He's a younger fella who has lots of enthusiasm. He's asking for someone from each of the states to come forward to help him. Anybody interested from Bitterroot?
There was an election of officers, President, Fritz Mack of Everett, WA; 1st VP and President-Elect, Judi Allison of Herminston, OR; 2nd Vice President, Kathy Moedl of Idaho Falls, ID. Sec Joan Day and Treas. Lyle Vogelpohl were re-elected.
NFMS shows for the next two years were voted on: 2011 will be put on by the NFMS, show chair Chuck Sonner, NFMS PP. July 29 - 31, 2011 at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds, Chehalis, WA. csonner2011@gmail.com
2012 will be hosted by Lakeside Gem & Mineral Club, at the Benton County Fairgrounds, Kennewick, WA May 18 - 20, 2012. contact: www.lakesidegemandmineralclub.com or dac@bioguardtech.com
Hermina Kolski of Great Falls, Montana is still collecting stamps. BUT, only commemorative stamps. The buyer won't take anything except commemorative stamps.
There were only four NFMS competitive exhibits this year, compared with 38 last year. Let's hope there will be more than four in 2011.
Certificates were given out for the ROCKHOUND OF THE YEAR, I don't know too many members in Bitterroot, but of those we know, any one of them could be awarded Rockhound of the year. There's a website AFMS award, and Bitterroot should look into this.
This year instead of an awards banquet, there was an Awards Breakfast. It worked out well. We attended and supported the winners.
If you need any additional information on anything else that took place, email us at: beauholland@centurytel.net
Shirley Leeson & Dee Holland
Sunshine Committee
No report.
Programs
Looking for more volunteers. Nola has said she will put on a program about Michigan copper, etc.
An Amber party is being considered for the future but it is suggested that it should be held on a Saturday instead of a Tuesday evening. In the past the Amber parties have been well received by all.
A silver smithing session is desired by many of the members. This would have to be done in small groups and in a place where we can use a propane torch. I believe this can take place if we are willing to work with Jo Farley to get her shop set up with tables and all of the equipment we will need.
Show Report
None this month.
For Sale. An ore car from the Betty O’Neil Mine near Battle Mountain, Nevada. In good shape. $500.00. Contact Posey at 961-4116
For Sale. Jim Rayner in Hamilton has a Fram Tom Tock Grinder Set-up with 2 diamond wheels, and a 10” trim saw with new blade, new motor on a steel stand for $800. 375-0663
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