NLFeb2013

The Cochise County Rock

Monthly Newsletter of the Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club

http://sites.google.com/site/cochisecountyrock/

http://picasaweb.google.com/cochisecountyrock/

“Finding and Grinding Rocks in Cochise County, Arizona since 1965”

February 2013

This issue edited by Cherie Robb

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The next General Meeting of the Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club is on Monday February 11th, 2013 at 7:00pm at the Sunsites Community Center. The program will be an overview of first aid by the Sunsites Fire Dept.

AGENDA

SUNSITES GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY

Monday, February 11, 2013

Call to Order

Introduce and Welcome Guests

Approve Minutes

Announcements

Thanks for Refreshments

No Politics

Old Business

AZ Archeological Society

Treasurer Report

First Aid Kit - Zoe

Field trip Report

New Business

None

BREAK

Raffle

Program

Good of the order

Adjourn

Club Dues

Club Dues are due for 2013. Dues are $15 for individuals and $25 for a family. Walter Sigel will be collecting them at the February meeting or you can mail your check to Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club, PO Box 87, Pearce, AZ 85625.

Field Trips:

February Field Trip

For our February field trip we will go to the ghost town of Shakespeare - about 2.5 miles south of Lordsburg, NM. Plan to meet at the rest area at exit 20 off I-10 in Lordsburg at 9 am to leave at 9:15 onSunday February 10 which will put us at Shakespeare about 9:30 for the guided tour at 10. The tour lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for children. This is before our normal monthly meeting on February 11 because the ghost town is only open on February 9 and 10. Lordsburg is about 70 miles from Willcox. Bring water, lunch, lawn chairs, camera and sun protection. Lordsburg has all the normal tourist facilities and a rock shop for those interested. More info at http://www.shakespeareghostown.com/index.html

If anyone has ideas for future trips, please contact Henri Van den Bos.

Club Website

The address of the Club Website is on the masthead of this newsletter. The Website has past newsletters, photos from almost all of our field trips and other Club information.

Lapidary Lab

Our lapidary (cutting and polishing rocks for jewelry), silver soldering and wire wrapping classes are available. For lapidary call Don Hammer on 520-384-3105. For silver soldering and wire wrapping call Larry Strout at 520-826-3991.

The Club Library

The Club has an impressive collection of rock and mineral books including field identification guides, guides to collecting areas, lapidary manuals and related topics. If you are interested in checking out any of the books, please call Don Hammer at (520) 384-3105.

Club Calendar:

February

10 Field Trip to Shakespeare, NM

11 General Membership Meeting

28 Board Meeting

March

11 General Membership Meeting

Upcoming Regional Events

February 2013 Tucson, AZ

Tucson Gem & Mineral Society annual show.

If you have not been to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, think about taking a day for the adventure. Vendors from all over the world come every year to Tucson with rocks and minerals more beautiful than imagination. It takes at least a day to see only a part of the show.

Click here: 2013 Tucson Gem and Mineral Shows, Fossil, Meteorite, Arizona

February 2013 Quartzsite Gem Show

Quartzsitebusinesschamber.com

April 13-14, 2013 Rock + Gem Show in Kingman

by the Mohave County Gemstoners

www.gemstoners.org

Officers for 2013

President: Jack Light - 520-824-4774

Vice-President: Jim Robb - 805-660-0074

Secretary: Zoe Schnabel - 520-826-0100

Treasurer: Walter Sigel - 520-826-1009

Delegate-at-Large: Carl Schnabel - 520-826-0100

Hospitality Coordinator: Cherie Robb 805-231-2143

Assoc Hospitality Cdr: Gail Renell - 520-507-1896

Field Trip Cdr: Henri Van den Bos -520-384-0288

Speaker Coordinator: Don Hammer 520-384-3105

For Approval:

SUNSITES GEM & MINERAL CLUB

GENERAL MEETING MINUTES, JAN. 14, 2013

President Jack Light called the meeting to order at 7PM and opened by welcoming members and guests.

PROGRAM: Jack introduced Dr. John Ware, archeologist and anthropologist, from the Amerind Foundation. Dr Ware presented a program entitled “Does Deep History Matter?” In his lecture he told us that deep history does matter and that the survival of our species (and many of our co-inhabitants) may depend on our re-learning some of the ancient lessons. In all, his program was most informing and enlightening, and was enjoyed by all.

INTERMISSION: Jack Light thanked Renate LeDuck and Bette Green for providing enticing refreshments. A refreshment sign-up sheet was passed around for the months ahead.

At 8:35 the General Meeting began with:

1) Acceptance of Novembers General Meeting Minutes being moved and seconded. The minutes were published in the January newsletter which all members received via e-mail or traditional mail.

2) The annual audit of the Treasurer's Books was conducted prior to the meeting by Gail and Glen Rennel and was to be found to be “in order and perfect.”

TREASURER'S REPORT: Walter Sigel stated,

1) that as of December 31, 2012 the balance was $6395.36. Since then he has deposited $65.00 into the account and has also paid out $126.13 for lapidary expenses leaving a balance of $6334.23 as of today Jan. 14, 2013. 2) The 2013 Budget has been approved by the Board of Directors and Walter went on to read the report. With proposed expenses and proposed income, a profit of approximately $120.00 should be expected. A motion to approve was made and seconded.

President Light reported on the Arizona State Archeology Society and found out that the closest chapter is in Queen Creek. He will further investigate as to the possibility of a speaker and field trips.

RAFFLE : Several exciting pieces were offered and everyone had their eyes on a piece of wulfenite.

FIELD TRIP: Henri Van den Bos said that November's trip to the Commonwealth was successful for all who went. Everyone went home with beautiful pieces of amethyst and lacey agate.

On January 19th we will be going to the Black Hills, N. of Safford in search of the elusive fire agate. Several pieces were on display on the back table. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Manor House by following 191 N and making a right onto Rte 70. Bring a bucket, small rake, etc. High clearance vehicles are necessary. Future trips will be announced and may include Shakespeare, a ghost town S. of Lordsburg, NM and the Asarco Mine, S. of Tucson on Rte 19.

Henri also polled the attending membership about Sunday field trips since some of our members work on Saturdays. There was no objection.

OPEN DISCUSSION: 1) Don Hammer announced that the lapidary shop is in full operational order and that all of the equipment has been cleaned along with a new blade on the large slab saw. If anyone is interested in working on a stone that they have found, please get in touch with him. 2) Larry Strout is available to teach you how to solder. If there is interest, please get in touch with him. He is also teaching how to wire wrap stones at the Community Center.

As there was no further business or comments, President Jack Light entertained a motion to adjourn which was moved and seconded.

Respectfully submitted,

Zoe Schnabel

Zoe Schnabel, Secretary January 19, 2013