September 2018 Meeting Minutes

• Mike Herrick (sphere making)
• Dean Hostetter (fluorescent minerals)
• Leonard Lantz (rock zoo)
• Charlie Rhoads (cab making & flat lap)
• Marcia Morris (fossils)
• Michelle Jascot (jewelry making)
• Michael Pabst (micros)
• John Isak (kiddie treasure hunt)
• Display cases by several members

• 700 flyers
• 95 notepads
• 500 visits to our website
• 20,000 + views on Facebook Event ad
• 1000 + clicked “interested”
• 50 + new “likes” on our regular Facebook page

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New Business:
Be sure to share this website with everyone to spread the word about the show:

http://tinyurl.com/SVGMS-Show-2018

Also, remember to volunteer at some point during the show as well as bring some food to share on Friday evening for the vendor meal. For those selling tickets, there are instructions to read and follow so everyone follows the same procedure.

Program Report:
Jack Glenn gave us an inspiring talk on how to do a case for the show. He reminded us that this is a “show”, not a “sell” so we should focus on educating the public on how much fun mineral collecting, polishing, and cabbing can be.

He showed some photos from our club’s previous displays as well as some from other club shows.

We have cases with 2 depths and most will need plexiglass inserted to replace the fragile glass plates.

The interior can be decorated or painted (black or white works well) or lined with cloth.

Lighting is probably a good idea, with some type of props to heighten the specimens.

Themes are as varied as there are people involved – colors, minerals from various places, uses of minerals, what’s a “fake” mineral, fossils, polished vs. natural, geodes, agates, minerals from ores, etc.

The second part of the program was presented by Scott Steele on club field trips.

He had samples to show from some of the field trips the club has done, and some from places that are no longer accessible to visit, such as Amelia Morefield Mine and the US Silica Quarry in Hanover County.

He had specimens from the Faber lead mine in Nelson Co, Boxley Piney River Quarry in Amherst, Vesuvius, Kyanite mine in Buckingham Co, Contrary Creek in Louisa Co., Vulcan Quarry in Manassas and several others.

Some of his samples came from the National Limestone Quarry in PA as well as some from the trip to Walker Ck and Kings Mt in KY.

He also had a “matching game” for members and gave a prize to those who correctly identified the most.

Most mines/quarries do not allow individuals to collect, so going with the club as a sponsored trip is a great way to collect samples.


Field Trip Info:
Please refer to “SVGMS Field Trips News” documents you receive from the club secretary for a description of the current status of field trips and details about upcoming trips.

If you are a club member with paid-up dues and you do not receive the “Field Trip News” document when they are emailed, please contact the secretary at loverocksandminerals@gmail.com or at a monthly meeting to correct this issue.

This will be the principle way information about field trips are distributed to members, so we want to insure everyone is correctly addressed.

I previously sent an email about the field trip to Willis Mt. which will be Sept 29th. You must have carefully read the instructions, safety notes, and should have contacted Scott Steele if you are going. DO NOT contact the Lynchburg club directly. The participants must have one designated field trip coordinator. If you no longer have the email, please contact me & I will resend.

Looking ahead:
November meeting - topic to be announced
December meeting - annual Christmas Dinner

Remember that the lapidary shop is open the Saturday following a regular meeting and on the second Saturday after that. Leo, Charlie & Jack can assist you. Open from 9 am to noon.

There are several slab saws and trim saws. Keep in mind that safety is a priority, and wear closed toe shoes, safety glasses, with no loose hair or long sleeves. Children must be supervised and closely monitored to insure they are safely using the equipment. Check this page to see what you can learn to do!

If you’d like to present a program, please talk to an officer at a meeting or sign up at this link:
http://www.shenandoahvalleyrockclub.org/next_neeting_program/sign_up_to_present_program.php

Anyone can sign up to bring snacks for a monthly meeting by clicking this link:
http://www.shenandoahvalleyrockclub.org/next_meeting_info/sign_up_to_bring_refreshments.php

Be sure to keep up with our website www.shenandoahvalleyrockclub.org and our Facebook page Shenandoah Valley Gem and Mineral Society for updates and information.

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Volunteers for Refreshments, 2018:
February: TBD <<--NEED A VOLUNTEER!!
March: TBD <<--NEED A VOLUNTEER!!
April: TBD <<--NEED A VOLUNTEER!!
May: TBD <<--NEED A VOLUNTEER!!
June: TBD <<--NEED A VOLUNTEER!!
July: N/A - Club Picnic
August: TBD <<--NEED A VOLUNTEER!!
September: TBD <<--NEED A VOLUNTEER!!
October: TBD <<--NEED A VOLUNTEER!!
November: TBD <<--NEED A VOLUNTEER!!
December: N/A - Club Christmas Dinner

Deborah Grimm, Secretary

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Club Officers and Staff 2016-2018
President – Michael Pabst
Vice President – Leo Cloutier
Show Co-Chairs – Dean Hostetter/Scott Gregory
Educational Outreach -- Deborah Grimm
Secretary/Newsletter -- Deborah Grimm
Field Trip Coordinators - Wayne Petersen/Scott Duresky
Treasurer – Scott Gregory
Web Site Coordinator – Jack Glenn

Club web site: www.shenandoahvalleyrockclub.org
Club Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ShenandoahValleyGemMineralSociety
Club email: svgem-min-club@live.com

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