President’s Message – February 2023 (Click Here For More Info)

Presidents Message

From the Top of the Rock Pile …. by Kat Koch

We have a Show Coordinator! Chris Vitellaro. If she should ask you to volunteer for some aspect of the show, please show your support by saying “Yes!” It takes a lot of hands to put our show together.

Chris is going to need a volunteer for the following areas:

1. The directional signs need to be reviewed to ensure they are in good shape. Then, if required, order additional signs. Then place them around the area the week before the show and pick them up after the show.

2 . Keep track of the members that volunteer to help out at the show. Then make up the volunteer schedule for the various club tables for the duration of the setup and actual show.

We had good attendance at our January meeting on thunder eggs. Forty members attended and showed us their thunder eggs and a few outstanding geodes. I felt it was a fantastic meeting. It’s always lovely when we visit one another and engage in some “rock talk.”

Our three Young Tumblers, Mason, Bentley, and Jude, showed us their thunder eggs. In addition, Jude showed me his beautiful collection of sliced colorful rocks. Seeing our Young Tumblers participate in our meetings is really enjoyable! I hope we continue to see them at all our meetings.

Remember, our February meeting is on Fluorescent Rocks! The club will have a selection of fluorescent rocks, but I am also asking everyone to bring in some rocks or minerals of their own so we can see what colors they fluoresce.

We planned the February meeting on Fluorescent Rocks when our Young Tumblers are out of school so they can attend. Looking at fluorescent rocks is always a fun meeting for everyone.

Everyone is welcome to bring guests to any of our meetings.

I encourage you to attend our meetings as our club is more than just the field trips. We always try to have an educational topic, and it’s also an excellent opportunity to visit with each other and get your questions answered if you are having a problem cutting or polishing or need a rock or mineral identified.

So mark your calendars now – our meetings are always the 2nd Thursday of the month except for August and December.

We continue to get new members weekly by registering online. We have also had new members join at our meetings. We welcome each of you to our great rock and gem club. When you attend our monthly meeting, please introduce yourself to me, as I look forward to meeting everyone.

I also appreciate all the members that renewed their membership!

I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the February meeting.

Kat Koch, President

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Updated: February 9, 2023 — 2:40 pm

Presidents Message

  • Digging It!  Our big rock, gem and jewelry show is at the end of this month. We have so many opportunities for you to come and be a part of it – from helping our wonderful vendors load in their gear, to setting up tables, greeting guests, helping with kid’s activities, and so much more. All of our volunteers always go home with free rocks – and free shop hours! I’ll be spending those three days (Friday, June 26 – our set up day – through Sunday, June 28) at the Silent Auction table, working on raising money for our …

Meeting Announcements

  • Club president Noelle Barnes will present “Rockhounding on the Road – How to Find Rocks Wherever You Are” – tools you can use to find a rockhounding location when you’re on the road, and in places you haven’t been before. Show and Tell: bring a rock or fossil you found outside of Washington (if available) or something that’s just too good not to share.

  • Our own Mike Blanton will bring his expertise to this club meeting program – he will share the tools, tips and tricks he has developed to drill holes in stones and minerals so you can do more with the rocks you find. Show and Tell: bring a rock you’d like to make into something else.

  • Club Wagonmaster and rock shop creator Roger Danneman will present an overview of the new club shop – including equipment, scheduling, stewards, and what you can expect from this exciting new resource.  Show and Tell: bring a rock you want to polish or make into a cabochon (or something you’ve already polished or made)

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