NLNOV2009
The Cochise County Rock
Monthly Newsletter of the Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club
www.cochisecountyrock.org
“Finding and Grinding Rocks in Cochise County, Arizona since 1967”
November 2009
This issue edited by Don Hammer
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The next General Meeting of the Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club is on Monday November 9 at 7 pm at the Sunsites Community Center. Our program will be Eric Easton on finding meteorites with strong magnets. He is self employed, currently living in Vail but they have bought property and plan to build in Sunsites. Jim Brower has suggested a contest for the best specimen collected on the last field trip. So bring your best garnet to the meeting and see if you win the prize.
October 12, 2009 General Meeting Minutes
President Paul McKnight called the meeting to order at 7:08
ITEM 1: Call to approve minutes from last meeting as published in the Newsletter. Motion to approve was seconded and unanimously carried.
ITEM 2: Treasurer's report. Walter Sigel reported that the current balance in the general fund was $2004.84. The CD balance was $3,236.78 until maturity on January 28, 2010 when interest will be paid.
ITEM 3: The Board has recommended that annual dues be raised to $15 for a single member to $25 per family. The reason for raising dues is because of costs that would be incurred in moving the Lapidary and Silver Smithing operation to Richland as well as increased mailing and duplication costs for sending out the Newsletter. After discussion the motion was made to accept the Board recommendation. Motion was seconded and approved. There was one dissenting vote.
ITEM 4: Move to Richland. Paul Mcknight reported to the Club that after further investigation it was estimated that improvement cost to the new facility and moving cost would be under $1,000. The Board is recommending to the membership that it proceed with planning and in negotiations with the Fire Department. The motion was made and seconded to continue and was approved. A final vote will be called for by the members to make the move once planning has been completed
and a contract with the Fire Department has been signed.
ITEM 5: Field trip. Place - Three Sisters Mountain to look for garnets. Time - Saturday, October 17 at 8:30. Meet at corner of Birch and Kansas Settlement Roads. Bring light tools, water, etc.
Future field trips. Bob and Barbara Fenner are looking into the possibility of visiting a site to find geodes and in the works will be an outing to look for meteorites.
ITEM 6: Bake Sale. October 24th at the Sunsites Farmers' Market. Diane Dunn put out sign up sheets for volunteers to bring baked goods and/or collectible rocks and gems for sale and for volunteering to man the booth. Baked goods should be brought to the Market site by 8:00 AM or to Diane's house the night before.
ITEM 7: As president, Paul Mcknight has selected Don Hammer and Diane Dunn as the Nominating Committee for selection of new Club officers to be voted on in November. Paul asked that those contacted by the Nominating Committee give careful consideration as to how they might
become involved in the leadership of the Club.
Before adjourning for intermission, Paul introduced new members and visitors.
Barbara Fenner and Paul McKnight brought refreshments for intermission.
Meeting adjourned at 8:47.
Following intermission we had the raffle and then watched a video from the series, NATURE OF EARTH entitled "Groundwater" by Professor John J. Renton of the University of West Virginia.
October Field Trip
At 8:30 on Saturday October 17 20 members collected at the parking area near Birch and Kansas Settlement roads departing at 8:45 for Henri’s pyloned parking site along Kansas Settlement Road below the Three Sisters buttes. After crossing the fence we proceeded up the slope and almost immediately started finding garnets. A few of us went further up the slope leaving the smaller pebble zone and encountering large rocks and no garnets. After an hour or so everyone had a collection of garnets or garnet-like stones. Quality varied widely with many only partially formed, incorrect color and incomplete shape but some members found fully formed, black, shiny excellent specimens. Two members climbed over the hills through the saddle and found a nice piece of jasper. We then loaded up and drove around to the west side of the Three Sisters and most climbed up to the cave to see the grinding holes, etc. Some searched the lower slope finding a few chert peices and another set of grinding holes. A beautiful clear, calm day enhanced the views from up on the hill but by noon it was getting warm in the sun and we all left to find air conditioning. We thank Henri van den Bos for organizing a great field trip once again.
Bake Sale
The Bake Sale was a success netting $71 for the Club treasury. Attendees bought baked goods and pretty rocks and a number expressed an interest in the Club. We thank Diane Dunn for organizing and Paul McKnight, Ann Wildauer and Robyn Gibbons for helping man the booth and everyone that donated baked goods and rocks.
November Field Trip
We’re going to Arivaca (NW of Nogales) for plentiful geodes with nice crystals inside. Meet at the south parking lot of Gas City, exit 302, in Benson at 8:30 am on Saturday November 14. Arivaca is 120 miles from Benson so have plenty of gas and car pool as much as possible. The last 20 miles is a good dirt road but a wash will be impassable if we get rain and the trip will be postponed. High clearance is required but not 4WD. The collecting area is a ¼ mile easy walk from parking. You can pick geodes from the wash and with light digging. Or chisel them from the host rhyollite with rock breaking tools. Bring digging tools, light rock breaking tools, water, lunch, sun protection, bags or pails, lawn chairs and wear appropriate clothing and shoes.
Lapidary and Silversmith Classes
We are ready to resume our various classes. Call Larry Strout at 826-3991 if you would like to attend lapidary or wire wrapping. Larry is also teaching silver soldering, a prerequisite to silver smithing. Keith McRobert will resume teaching silver smithing. Call Don Hammer at 384-3105. Join the fun of lapidary, silversmith, and wire wrapping.
Dues
Dues are due. The Board proposed and the members approved an increase to $15 individual and $25 family. Bring your dues to the next meeting or mail your check to Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club, PO Box 87, Pearce, Arizona 85625.
Club Calendar:
November
9 General meeting
14 Field Trip
December
3 Board Meeting
14 Christmas Party
30 Board Meeting
January 2010
11 General Meeting
23 Field Trip
28 Board Meeting
February
8 General Meeting
13 Field Trip
25 Board Meeting
March
8 General Meeting
13 Field Trip
April
1 Board Meeting
12 General Meeting
17 Field Trip
29 Board Meeting
May
10 General Meeting
15 Field Trip
27 Board Meeting
June
5 Club Picnic
Upcoming Regional Events
November
14-15 Lake Havasu Show - minerals, jewelry, findings, tools, gemstones. Free admission & parking. C. Russell 928-846-0927
14-15 30th Ann. New Mexico Symp. Socorro. Dr.Virgil Lueth vivlueth@mtu.edu
January
8-10
Phoenix - 38th Flagg Gem and Mineral Show. Jewelry, gems, beads, fossils, minerals and lapidary supplies. 9 am to 5 pm. Mesa Community College, west parking lot. www.flaggshow.info.
Club Officers for 2009
President: Paul McKnight 520-824-4054
V.President:Henri van den Bos 520 384-0288
Secretary: Jim Brower 520 826-4672
Treasurer: Walter Sigel 520-826-1009
Delegate at Large: Larry Strout520-826-3991
Hospitality Coord: Zoe Schnabel 520-826-0100
Past President: Don Hammer 520 384-3105
FIELD TRIP PROTOCAL
Sunsites Gem and Mineral Club
revised by the Board of Directors on 3 December 2006
PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES
1. All participants must abide by the rules designated in the Field Trip Protocal document prepared by the Board of Directors and distributed to all field trip participants, as well as by any additional rules and guidelines established by the Field Trip Leader(s) on the day of the trip.
2. Any participants (members or guests) who are deemed by the Field Trip Leader(s) to not be following any of the guidelines governing field trip participation may be asked to leave at any point during the trip.
3. All participants must arrive for the field trip properly outfitted in terms of water and clothing, according to the safety guidelines outlined below. Any participant not properly outfitted may be prevented from joining the field trip and asked to leave by the Field Trip Leader.
4. All participants, including members, guests and children, must sign a field trip liability waiver, to be placed on file with the Club. Those who do not sign a waiver will not be permitted to participate in the field trip.
5. Members bringing guests will be responsible for paying the $1 per guest temporary membership fee for each guest, including any children.
6. Members bringing guests are responsible for informing guests of the necessity of signing a field trip waiver BEFORE the guest(s) arrive at the near-site meeting place. Guests unwilling to sign a waiver will not be permitted to participate in the field trip, regardless of how far they have driven to get to the site.
7. Parents or guardians are responsible for the safety and behavior of accompanying children. Children must be within visual sight of their parents or guardians at all times.
8. Participants are to leave gates in the position in which they were found upon arrival at the site.
9. Under no circumstances are participants to leave trash or other debris at a collecting site. Aside from collected material, leave the site in the condition in which you found it.
10. CONVOYS: While in convoy with other participants, the vehicle ahead is responsible for keeping the vehicle behind in sight at all times. If the vehicle behind stops for any reason, the vehicle ahead must stop to give aid if necessary. The lead and rear vehicles will keep in contact as necessary by cell phone.
11. The field trip leader will declare the official end of the trip. At that point all participants will proceed to the nearest public highway. No one shall go back to the site if the trip location was on private property. Anyone can return on their own if the field trip was on public property. Participants agree that they are on their own from the point when they reach the public highway and will not hold the club liable for anything that happens to them thereafter.
All participants must follow the safety guidelines set below:
Safety Guidelines
1. Snakes, spiders, scorpions, bears, mountain lions, and other potentially dangerous wildlife are out and about at any collecting site. DO NOT put your hands and/or feet where you cannot see them! There is currently a serious shortage of anti-venom, and all collecting sites are at least two hours from a medical treatment facility.
2. Bring sufficient water (at least 1 gal./ person) and food for yourself and any guests.
3. Wear appropriate clothing: long trousers, boots, comfortable shirts, and a hat.
4. Bring appropriate collecting tools.
5. Do not wander off alone – stay with the group.
6. Be alert to open mine pits, dangerous overhangs, and loose talus on waste dumps and quarry walls.
7. Be considerate of your fellow collector. Do not work above them or toss unwanted waste where it could cause injury to others.
8. If you must leave before the other participants, you must inform the trip leader.
9. DO NOT TRESPASS on posted land or patented mine claims.
10. You must respect and abide by the instructions of the field trip leader.
Use good judgement, common sense and have a good time!
PROTOCOLS FOR FIELD TRIP LEADERS
revised by the Board of Directors on 3 December 2006
Procedures
Pre-trip responsibilities
1.Obtain permission for collecting on the property, whether it be federal, state, or privately-owned. Make contact with the appropriate officials in charge of the district or property from which the Club will be collecting. Familiarize yourself with the regulations governing collecting on each site from which the Club will be collecting. [General guidelines: A permit is required to collect on Arizona State Trust land. Vertebrate fossils and artifacts are considered protected and may not be collected. On BLM and USDA-Forest Service lands, you may collect enough for your hobby.] Regardless of the general guidelines, double check the rules with the appropriate officials before each trip.
2. Prepare directions and any other necessary instructions for participants and have them available for Club members at the meeting just prior to each field trip.
3. Designate a near-site meeting place for all participants, and account for all participating members and guests there.
4. Check to see that the Field Trip Leader Kit is adequately provisioned for the upcoming field trip. Replace any supplies (including field trip waivers) as necessary (see the Club treasurer for funds).
5. If a trip is cancelled on the day of the trip due to weather or any other circumstance, inform the Club president (if unavailable, inform another Club officer) of the cancellation.
During-trip responsibilities
1. Account for all participants at the near-site meeting place before embarking at the site, and before leaving the site after the field trip.
2. Upon arrival at the near-site meeting place, collect temporary membership fees from all guests. Have each guest sign a trip waiver, including one for each child signed by the parent or guardian. Make sure that each guest provides an address and phone number on the waiver.
3. Check to be sure that all participants have signed a field trip waiver, including members (who should have one on file with the Club).
4. Make the Field Trip Ethics document available to all participants, and acquaint participants with its rules for field trip participation.
5. Inform participants of the regulations governing collecting on the particular property from which collecting will be done that day.
6. Remind members of and acquaint guests with the parameters of the Club’s insurance policy regarding field trips.
7. Before embarking for the collecting site, check each participant’s attire, equipment and water supply. Warn anyone not properly equipped of potential hazards.
8. Field trip leaders are responsible for carrying and knowing how to use the Club’s Field Trip Leader Kit, including the first aid kit.
Post-trip responsibilities
1. Upon return from each field trip, inform the Club president of any problems which occurred on the trip.
2. Hand in the completed field trip waivers to the Club secretary for the Club’s files.
3. Hand in any temporary membership fees from guests to the Club treasurer.
Field Trip Leader Kit
1. First Aid Kit
2. Field Trip Waivers
3. Field Trip Protocal document
4. Cell Phones