President’s Message – January 2021

Past Presidents Message
From the top of the rock pile . . . . . . . . . .
2020 sure has been a weird year in many aspect in every area of our lives. As we approach 2021 I have high hopes for a much better year.
The coronavirus has upended our way of life – but it’s also having a dramatic impact on animals across the globe too. From Africa to Columbia to India poachers have been taking advantage of the quiet nature reserves and there has been a huge increase in the poaching wild cats.
In zoos across the world the social animals – including gorillas, otters and meerkats – are missing the attention of humans. Some zoo animals are making the most of their privacy. At Ocean Park, Hong Kong, it is thought that Ying Ying, one of the resident pandas, may be pregnant after 10 years of attempts at natural mating. Millions of baby turtles are hatching on India’s empty beaches. In Florida, the Loggerhead Marinelife Center reported an increase in leatherback turtles this year. The tigers at the New York Bronx Zoo have been diagnosed with the coronavirus and emboldened wild goats are seen on the streets of Wales.
Bison roaming South Hill, Spokane for the 2nd time this year.
It has definitely been a weird year for humans and animals a like! It seems like our entire planet has felt the impact of the coronavirus one way or another.
Although we are not able to hold our monthly meetings our club is still alive and still kicking. We are still here producing our monthly news bulletin, maintaining our website and leading field trips when the weather is good.
If you are working on a lapidary project (or tumbling) and need help, we are all still here to help each other. If you have a question or need help just reach out to someone on the Board or another member. If you need grit, the club has some for our CMS members at a good price. Contact Bob Pattie and he will arrange for you to get some.
Dues for 2021 is only to $15 per family or individual. Even though we are not presently holding meetings, our club still has to cover our annual dues to NFMS, AFMS, ALAA, WA State Mineral Council, website hosting and the cost of liability insurance for 2021. I am sure by spring we will be back to holding our meetings again. When this does happen we will once again have the cost of the monthly rental for the meeting room.
So please go to our website and renew your membership now! https://www.cascademineralogicalsociety.org/membership-signup/#join
Now cozy up and enjoy the best these slower-paced days have to offer. Nothing says winter like a cup of hot chocolate, a pile of blankets and a soft pillow, a classic or Hallmark season movie or maybe binge watch your favorite streaming series.
Wear a mask, stay home, be safe and healthy as we all want to see each other next year.
Kat Koch, President
Updated: January 9, 2022 — 3:35 pm

Presidents Message

  • Digging It!  September is here, and it looks like a wonderful month so far for getting together and getting out in the field. First, thank you to everyone who helped make our August picnic and club auction such a success. The delicious food, generous donations, volunteer help and spirited bidding made it a great afternoon, and the auction raised $750 for the club. We return to our regular meeting schedule on Thursday, September 10, at 7:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Kent. Our program is all about YOU: Show, Tell & Transform, where you get to briefly present …

Meeting Announcements

  • This program is all about YOU. Bring a rock, mineral, fossil, or other field find that you would like to turn into something. It might become a cabochon, carving, display specimen, jewelry piece, slab, polished piece, or something entirely different. Bring your item and share: Where and how you found or acquired it What interests you about the material What you’re considering making from it Any questions or challenges you would like help thinking through Then we’ll open the conversation to our knowledgeable and curious club members. Together, we can discuss the material, possible designs, cutting or finishing approaches, and other ideas that might help you take the piece from field find to finished project. You do not need to have a complete plan or any special expertise. That’s part of the fun. Bring the piece itself if possible, along with any sketches, inspiration photos, or examples that might help explain your idea.

  • Noelle Barnes will present Using Gaia for Rockhounding, an overview of the features and tricks associated with the app Gaia and how you can use it for GPS, saving waypoints, navigation, photo tagging, trail recording and more. Show and Tell: Bring the rock(s) that have the best “story” – and tell everyone how you found them and where!

  • Club board member Paul Ahnberg will talk to us about the impact of wildfires on our lives – from protecting your home to staying safe while out rockhounding – and what we can do today to help mitigate our risk. Paul will combine his knowledge gained from learning at both the WSU Green School (Master Gardener) and WSU Climate Steward programs. Show and Tell: Bring something you found, from a place that you know has since been impacted by floods or wildfires – or was impacted shortly before you arrived. Tell your story!

  • December’s date and time is coming soon. We will update this page as soon as we know more.

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