President’s Message – January 2023 (Click Here For More Information)

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

We are starting to plan our 2023 Cascade Gem and Mineral Show. We still need a Show Chairperson. The show dates are September 16 & 17, 2023. The venue has been booked, we have a 1st Co-Chairperson, and many major show areas already have volunteers committed to covering them. Now we need a coordinator – that’s the Show Chairperson. I have copious notes on what needs to be coordinated. I am very willing to work closely with the Show Chairperson; to guide them, share my knowledge, and give you my two cents when you ask for it. Please seriously consider volunteering. It is a coordinating job that can be done from home.

2023 is the year our club starts its 75th anniversary. There is so much to celebrate in reaching this milestone. There was a period of about 5 or 6 years after the club left the Boeing property and also had to change its name that the board didn’t think we would survive. Today we are entering 2023 as a financially healthy, growing, and active club. Thank you to everyone that has contributed to our success and the ability to celebrate 75 years!

We have two interesting meetings coming up for January and February. I hope all of you attend the meetings. It is always great to see everyone at our meetings and to get a chance to visit with each other.

Welcome to all our new members. I also appreciate all the members that renewed their membership! When you attend our monthly meeting, please introduce yourself to me, as I look forward to meeting everyone.

Kat Koch, President

Updated: December 31, 2022 — 12:16 pm

Presidents Message

  • From the Top of the Rock Pile …. by Kat Koch Our club election is coming up in December. As I write this article, our membership stands at 145 families. We will most likely reach 150 family memberships by the end of the year. I point this out because we need some of our members to volunteer to run for board positions. Some volunteers have been board members for decades and are getting older. We really need younger members to step up for our club’s continuing success, which will be our younger members taking over the reins of our great

Meeting Announcements

  • Topic: As our field trips for 2023 come to an end, Roger Danneman, our Field Trip Guide, will talk about the field trips of 2023 and show off what was found. It will be interesting to see what can be found around Washington, as Roger has led our group on some great field trips. Show ‘n Tell: What have you found? Did you find something on the beach, on a field trip, in someone’s driveway, in a river, in a parking lot, or in your backyard? Show us your finds.

  • Topic: Our Annual Holiday party, potluck, the election of Officers, and action. Potluck: The club provides turkey and ham. Members fill in with veggies, salad, rolls, butter, dessert, drinks, etc. We generally have around 40 to 45 members attend. Bring your plate and silverware. Setup is at 11:30 am, and dinner is at noon. We usually wrap things up by 4 pm. Election: After dinner, we hold the election of the Board of Directors for 2024. See Pete, the club secretary, if you want to volunteer for a Board position. Club Auction. Our club auctions are a great chance to pick up items at a fraction of their retail cost. You are welcome to donate items to the auction. All proceeds go to the club treasury to cover expenses. Our Young Tumblers can also spend their “Rock Bucks” at the auction that they have saved, just like cash for items they want.

  • Topic: Fossils of Washington state. Do you know what type of fossils you can find in Washington and what they most likely looked like when they lived? This meeting will be a PowerPoint presentation by Kat. You will be surprised by the types of fossils that can be found right here in our home state. We will display several fossils, including a baby Columbian Mammoth tooth found right here in Washington. This tooth is in the club’s permanent collection. Show ‘n Tell: Fossils you have in your collection. 

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