Two Weeks of Fun at Wildacres!! by Steve Weinberger, Wildacres Workshop Committee Chair

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1 Volume 49, Number 2 December, 2011 Information for members of the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical & Lapidary Societies Two Weeks of Fun at Wildacres!! by Steve Weinberger, Wildacres Workshop Committee Chair We ve got some exciting news to share about the 2012 EFMLS Wildacres sessions. It s hard to believe that 2012 will mark the 40th year that we ve been holding workshops at the Wildacres facility. To recognize our 40th, we re offering two scholarships to adults who have never been to Wildacres. One will be awarded for the spring session and one for the fall. The application form can be found on page 20 of this issue. Please share the information with your club members. It would be a shame if your members did not know about this opportunity to attend - possibly without paying for their room and board. Once again there will be two wonderful sessions for The first, April will be a bit different in that it will be one day shorter than usual. We ve done this so that most of our attendees will not have to travel on Easter in order to participate. Tuition has been reduced accordingly - to $350 per person. This fee covers lodging, 3 meals per day and a gratuity to the Wildacres staff. The speaker-in-residence for spring, and making a return visit, is none other than world renowned, award winning photograph Jeff Scovil. You ve seen his fabulous work in all the mineral and gem magazines, books and calendars. Jeff s bound to enhance his talks with really wonderful photographs! The fall session will be held from September 3-9 and will feature Julian Gray from Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, GA as speakerin-residence. This will be Julian s first visit to Wildacres and we re excited to have him. Like Jeff in the spring, Julian will be giving 6 talks during the week. Tuition for the fall session will be $370 per person. A list with descriptions of all the classes being offered during the spring and fall sessions can be found beginning on page 3. And, even more exciting news is the launching of our new and redesigned Wildacres website. Thanks to Bruce Gaber we now have a more modern look with lots of pictures and other information about our program. A copy of the Wildacres video is there too in case you want to view it or share it with your members. On The Inside From the Top... 2 Wildacres Classes... 3 Junior Activities... 5 Scholarship News... 6 Eastern Foundation Fund... 6 All American Award... 6 Safety Matters... 7 An Open Letter... 7 AFMS Judges Training... 8 Editor s Contest News... 9 Club Rockhound of Year AFMS Endowment Each One Teach One Editor s Contest Forms Wildacres Registration Wildacres Scholarship EFMLS Committees EFMLS Club Shows H a ppy Ho l idays! Just go to the EFMLS website <www. amfed.org/efmls> and click on the Wildacres tab. Please spread the word to your club members about Wildacres and perhaps bring a few with you when you come this year. EFMLS Wildacres - what a wonderful experience! We hope to see you there this year.

2 EFMLS Officers R. J. Harris 1 st VICE PRESIDENT <roqfreq@rjharris.com> Cheryl Neary 2 nd VICE PRESIDENT <ciervo.neary@gmail.com> Hazel Remaley 2 nd VICE PRESIDENT <northridge5@verizon.net> Gerry Cox SECRETARY <gerryannec@verizon.net> Lou Budell TREASURER <labudell@windstream.net> Michael Patterson ASSISTANT TREASURER <Michael.Patterson@pgparks.com> Carolyn Weinberger EDITOR PO Box 302 Glyndon, MD <cscrystals2@verizon.net> Deadline is the first of each month prior to publication date (i.e. Feb. 1 for March issue). No issue is normally published during July or August. From the Top! by R. J. Harris, EFMLS President In my last message I spoke about taking some time to address our hobby s youth issue this month. By youth issue, I mean the hard time that we have attracting more youth to a hobby that often begins as a pre-teen. For a moment I put myself in the position of the carneys that guess ages at the fair to come up with what I thought was a reasonable average age for my club. I think the answer is 57. The truth is that many of the leaders who get things done are even older. This wealth of experience leads to greatness, but offers a challenge as well. We still live in a newsletter world, while kids live in an app world. Oh, I know we now newsletters, but that is so yesterday for most kids. Please do not get me wrong, I love newsletters. It is still my favorite time of the month and I look forward to reading your club s bulletin. But as we continue to ask how to attract more kids to the fold, we cannot ignore the truth: what we have here is failure to communicate. Over the years there have been many creative youth ideas shared in this newsletter, as well as great resources like the AFMS/FRA Badge Program. We need to turn those that lend themselves into a website for kids. Earth Science is usually taught in elementary and middle-school. If a site is going to hit the mark, it has to look like a Nickelodeon or Disney website, filled with the things that kids want the most. We could include basic geology fun fact sheets, lots of dinosaurs, geology games, lots of videos, and even a teacher s resource page. Wouldn t it be great if we became the resource for teachers and home schoolers across the U.S.A.? I know this is a tall undertaking, but it may be the very way to get the young adults in our clubs more involved, this technology is their world! Some among us are already posting interesting videos on YouTube on collecting and many other facets of our hobby. And with the likes of Darryl Diamond Dan Powell and Jim Brace-Thompson already doing great things, we just need to apply them to a mode that kids use every day. I want to close by saying that this message is meant to stimulate thought. Please do not take this as a knock at what we do. I have nothing but the utmost respect for our editors and leaders, but year after year we ask the same question about appealing to more youth. Perhaps it is time to think the way they do. Happy Holidays! R. J. Non-commercial reprint permission granted unless otherwise reserved. 2 EFMLS News --December, 2011 Communication and Involvement Are the Keys to Our Success!

3 Wildacres Spring Classes April 10 15, Speaker in Residence - Jeff Scovil Class & Instructor Cabochons Basic Bernie Emery Cabochons - Intermediate Bernie Emery Copper Etching Pat Baker Enameling - Beginning Mia Schulman Faceting Steve Weinberger Glass Engraving & Etching B. Jay Bowman Lampwork Beads OR Loop n Loop Pat Baker Silversmithing - Basic Richard Meszler Silversmithing Intermediate Richard Meszler Wirewrapped Jewelry Basic Jan Stephens Wirewrapped Jewelry Basic Plus Jan Stephens Wildacres Wild Virginia Meador Only one of these classes will be taught. Whichever one receives the highest enrollment will be held and the other dropped. Roadside Geology and Photography Virginia Meador Description Learn to transform a piece of rock into a shiny, well-formed cabochon. You will learn the use of the trim saw as well as basics of grinding, sanding and polishing. Slabs are provided or students may use their own with approval of the instructor. Please bring an apron and safety glasses. 2-day class offered 1st semester. No prior experience necessary. Learn to cut different shapes and the techniques needed to do so. Please bring an apron and safety glasses. Slabs are provided or students may use their own with approval of the instructor. Please bring an apron and safety glasses. Prerequisite: Students must have prior experience with cabbing and use of the trim saw. 2-day class offered 2nd semester. Students will learn to texture copper by etching, using several methods as a resist. This process can result in a very precise design on the metal. We will use riveting and soldering to make 2 or more finished pieces, which can include a ring, pendant, bracelet or necklace. No experience required although those with soldering experience can make more advanced projects. 2-day class offered 1st semester. Learn how to apply powdered glass to copper and fine silver to create lovely earrings, pendants and pins. Find out about the many types of enamel and how to use them. Several techniques will be taught including: sifting, using stencils, wet packing, Sgraffito and Cloisonne. 4-day class. No prior experience necessary. Students will learn to cut and polish a 57-facet round brilliant gemstone. In addition, they will learn how to identify well-cut stones, select rough material and see whether or not they enjoy this fascinating aspect of the hobby. Students are asked to bring an Optivisor (#7 or #9) and an apron. 4-day class. No prior experience necessary. Students will learn the difference between engraving and etching. They will learn how to engrave using both hand and power tools. They will learn to etch using acid and sand techniques with both commercial and self-made patterns. 2-day class offered both semesters. No prior experience necessary. Lampwork Beads: An introduction to glass bead making, this class will focus on basic bead-making techniques including shapes, surface decoration (dots, latticino, frit, metal leaf), pulling stringers and making latticino. 2-day class offered 2nd Semester. No prior experience needed Loop n Loop: Students will learn the ancient technique of fusing fine silver jump rings and weaving them together into a chain. We will explore 2 different patters and students will finish at least one fine silver bracelet. (These beautiful designs are quite different from chainmaille). 2-day class offered 2nd Semester. No prior experience is needed. Have fun learning the basics of working silver sheet and wire to fabricate jewelry. The projects will introduce you to annealing and bending/shaping/texturing metal, soldering, piercing and polishing. 2-day class offered 1st semester. No prior experience necessary. Continue your education working with metals by doing a more complex project. You will learn to make a bezel and bail in which you will set a cabochon to make a pendant. Prerequisite: Basic silversmithing experience including soldering. 2-day class offered 2nd semester. Students will learn the fundamentals of wire art jewelry. Students will create bracelets, rings and pendants of wire and incorporate natural stones, beads and/or faceted gems into various simple, yet elegant designs. 2-day class offered 1st semester. No prior experience necessary. Students will progress to somewhat more advanced, but still fairly easy to master wire jewelry techniques with additional rings, pendants and bracelets. Prerequisite: Basic wirewrapping skills. 2-day class offered 2nd semester. Students will explore the beauty of the Wildacres area including its flora and some of its hidden secrets. Good walking shoes or boots with ankle support and rain gear are recommended. This is not a class for those having difficulty walking woodland trails and hills. 2-day class offered 1st semester. No prior experience necessary. Bring your camera and join us for a roadside tour of nearby features to study the geologic history of the Blue Ridge region with an added bonus of photo ops and tips. 2-day class offered 2nd semester. Communication and Involvement Are the Keys to Our Success! EFMLS News --December,

4 Wildacres Fall Classes September 3 9, 2012 Speaker in Residence - Julian Gray Class & Instructor Beading - Bezeled Cabochons & More Cheryl Brown Beading Embroidery Plus Cheryl Brown Cabochons - Basic Al DeMilo Cabochons - Opal Cutting Al DeMilo Faceting Reivan Zeleznik Fused Glass - Advanced Becky Edmundson Fused Glass - Basic Becky Edmundson Gem Trees - Basic Suzie Milligan Gem Trees - Advanced Suzie Milligan Micromounting - Carolyn Weinberger Pewter Fabrication Bruce Gaber Silversmithing - Session 1 Pat Baker Silversmithing - Session 2 Pat Baker Soapstone Carving Sandy Cline Description Learn to bezel a cabochon and create a necklace using a simple spiral stitch with seed beads. If time allows we ll also learn to make earrings. Please bring an Optivisor if you have one. No prior experience is needed. 2-day class offered 1st semester. Learn to bezel a cabochon (or reinforce skills learned in the 1st semester) and create a bead embroidery cuff bracelet using seed beads. If time allows we ll also move on to creating earrings. Please bring an Optivisor if you have one. No prior experience necessary. 2-day class offered 2nd semester. Hands-on instruction will be given to show how to transform a rough piece into a shiny, well-formed cabochon. The use of a trim saw as well as techniques to grind, sand and polish the stone into a standard size and shape will be covered. Slabs will be provided, but you may use your own with instructor s approval. Students should bring safety glasses and an apron. No prior experience necessary. 2-day class offered 1st semester. To unlock the mysteries of opal cutting, students will be taught how to select rough, develop a strategy for trimming away the unusable areas, grind to a pleasing jewelry-suitable shape and then release the beauty and display of colors by the sanding and final polishing steps. How to maintain the balance between the optimum color and yield will be discussed. Students may use their own rough, approved by the instructor, or may purchase it directly from the instructor. Please bring a plastic apron, safety goggles or personal eye glasses and an Optivisor if you own one. Prerequisite: Students must have completed a basic cabochon course. 2-day class offered 2nd semester. Students will learn to cut and polish a 57-facet round brilliant gemstone. In addition, they will learn how to identify well-cut stones, select rough material and see whether or not they enjoy this fascinating aspect of the hobby. Students are asked to bring an optivisor if they have one. Jeweler s loupe needed and will be available from the instructor for purchase. No prior experience is necessary. 4-day class. Students will learn to use a wet saw to cut shapes, a grinder to smooth the glass, and a jeweler s bit to cut a channel in the piece before it is fire polished in a kiln. You should expect to complete a minimum of 2 pieces. Students are asked to bring safety glasses and, if you own them, a glass cutter and breaking pliers. No prior experience is necessary. 2-day class offered 1st semester. Fused glass is the art of cutting and layering pieces of glass and then firing them in a kiln. Dichroic coated glass gives a 3-D look. Students will learn the basics of cutting and firing the glass and will complete at least 2 pieces of jewelry. Students are asked to bring safety glasses and, if you own them, a glass cutter and breaking pliers. No prior experience is necessary. 2-day class offered 2nd semester. Gem trees are a replica of a tree that is made from wire using gemstones for leaves, etc. The formed tree will be placed on a stone base. The student will learn to measure and cut the wire for their tree, how to twist the wires, how to place the tree on a selected base, and then add polished gemstones. No experience is needed. 2-day class offered 1st semester. The student will learn to form different types of trees. These may include maple, willow or pine. We will make a treeing using beads (no gluing required). Prerequisite: Basic Gem Trees. 2-day class offered 2nd semester. Micromounting is the art of preparing small mineral specimens so they can be best viewed under a microscope. You will learn the process of making mounts and learn to appreciate the beauty of these tiny, often perfect specimens. Students are asked to bring a stereo microscope and illumination for same if they have one. No prior experience necessary. 2-day class offered 1st semester. Learn to make functional and decorative objects from a wonderfully versatile metal. Pewter is easy to work and easy to solder. This allows us to make a variety of forms in a much shorter time than working in silver. Pewter finishes can range from a glossy high luster to a deep rich matte. It can be embellished by embossing and by the addition of an etch or patina. Join us as we explore this most ancient and traditional material. Modern pewter contains no lead. No prior experience needed. 4-day class. Students will learn to make a textured, sterling silver ring (band) and a textured, sterling silver pendant with a pearl in the center. No prior experience needed. 2-day class offered 1st semester. Students will learn to make a forged, twisted bar and loop sterling silver chain and have the option of a ring, pendant or brooch with a set stone as their second project. No experience required although those with soldering experience can make more advanced projects. 2-day class offered 2nd semester. This class will provide a general introduction to the carving of soapstone. You will develop a working knowledge of the material, the tools, safe handling issues and the methods used to complete a carving. You will produce a simple piece and progress to making a more advanced sculpture of your choice. The development of your own personal style will be encouraged. No prior experience is needed. 2-day class offered both semesters. Communication and Involvement Are the Keys to Our Success! EFMLS News --December,

5 The Three Must Do s for Every Mineral Collector A lot of mineral collectors love to dig and save their best specimens. They also like to go to mineral shows and buy specimens. Sometimes, they find or buy very nice and very expensive specimens. Some of us collect nice, inexpensive specimens that simply make us happy. No matter what kind of mineral collection you have, there are 3 things you MUST do. If you do these things, you will take better care of your specimens, you will have a higher quality collection overall, and you will simply have a more rewarding collecting experience. Here are the three Must Do s for all mineral collectors. 1. Number your specimens and keep a list. When you buy, find or trade for a new specimen, immediately put a number on it. Some people write or print numbers on paper and glue them on the underside of the specimen. Some people paint a small dot of white paint on the specimen where it can t be seen and write the number on it with a permanent marker. Then, in a notebook, on your computer or both, make a list. Your list should include the number, the name of the mineral, and where it was found. For example: 1. Calcite -- Ilion, New York 2. Fluorite Cave-in-Rock, Illinois 3. Quartz Hot Springs, Arkansas Now, when you or someone else picks up a specimen and doesn t know what it is, you can find the number, go to the list and learn this basic information. 2. Keep a detailed record of each specimen. One goal of a serious, careful mineral collector is to keep as much information about each specimen as possible. On your computer, cre- ate for yourself a Specimen Record sheet. On this sheet include all of the following information: Mineral name; locality (that is, where it was found) was it a gift, purchased, traded or self-discovered; if a gift, who gave it to you?; if purchased, record the price and who you bought it from; if traded, what did you trade for it?; who actually dug or mined the specimen?; the date the specimen was found; list any previous owners and with this the number each owner gave to the specimen; mineral color: crystal form; any other special information you may want to include, especially historical information. 3. Store your specimens in a safe place. Please don t just dump your nice specimens on a shelf, table top, or in a drawer. Treat them carelessly and you will damage them. If you like to look at them, place them carefully on a desk top or shelf. Always keep each specimen two or three inches away from the other specimens. The goal here is that the specimens don t get damaged. A damaged specimen is less beautiful to look at and is also less valuable than an undamaged specimen. Some collectors like to put their specimens away safely in a box or a piece of furniture with drawers. This is what collectors call a cabinet. If you would like a cabinet for your specimens, go to yard sales and buy a piece of furniture that has many drawers in it. You can paint it any color you like. You can even paint mineral pictures or glue mineral pictures to the outside of the cabinet. Then, line the drawers with a layer of by Darryl Powell, Jr. Activities Chair foam, then a layer of soft pillow filling, and then cover it all with a nice piece of soft fabric. Then, place your specimens in the drawer on top of the fabric. It is like they are sitting on a safe pillow. Always remember not to put the specimens too close to one another or they will bump into each other and they will get damaged. Place your specimens at least two inches apart from each other. When you open the drawers to see or show off your collection, open them slowly and carefully. If you follow these three steps, you will find that building a mineral collection is very, very rewarding. In the process you will be building an important and valuable collection. It will be valuable meaning it will be worth more money. It will also be more valuable because it will be able to teach you, and others, much more about the mineral kingdom and mineral collecting. And you will find much more enjoyment in the mineral hobby, too. Until December, blessings and best wishes to you all. Sir Barkley Bigfoot Caesar the GoFer Carolyn & Steve Communication and Involvement Are the Keys to Our Success! EFMLS News --December,

6 Scholarship Foundation News by Bob Livingston, 2011 EFMLS Coordinator This completes my 9th year as coordinator for the AFMS Scholarship Foundation. I have enjoyed doing it and serving our federation, but now is the right time for me to hang it up and turn over the reins to someone else. To all the individuals and clubs who have donated in the range of $40,000 over that period to this most worthwhile cause, I salute you and offer a Huge THANKS! To the rest of you, I ask one final time that you consider trying it -- it is catching in a good way and offers great promise for the future of our hobby. Every dollar helps those $$-struggling students of the earth sciences. My term is over, so here is recognition of those donors gifts processed since my last report in the September EFMLS News: All American Contest News Memorial Gifts: Reivan Zeleznik remembering Adele Mancuso Stamford Mineralogical Society remembering Adele Mancuso-Zullo new participation level 2300% Gem & Mineral Society of Syracuse remembering Bill Norris For Valuable Help: Micromineralogists of the National Capital Area honoring Steve & Carolyn Weinberger for their untiring efforts in managing the Atlantic Micromounters Conference new participation level 2300% Knoxville Gem & Mineral Society honoring Mike Kokinos (this is a correction to September listing) Ordinary Gifts: Gem & Mineral Society of Syracuse new participation level 5300% Folks, again many, many thanks for all your AFMS financial support during my nine years. As of right now, all donations should be directed to: Reivan Zeleznik, 39 Pepper Ridge Pl., Stamford, CT by Betsy Oberheim, Chair Last month the application form for the All American contest was printed in the EFMLS News. I d like to encourage your club to enter as it s a wonderful way for you to really take a good look at the things you ve done this year. You should be able to find at least one person in your club who loves to put together scrapbook or history books. Your book should contain information about your club, its members and the programs that you offer. If your club is active, you can gain many points by including pictures of what all your members do. EFF News by Fran Sick, Eastern Foundation Fund Chair It was with regret that I learned of the recent passing of Manfred Kraemer, a member of the Island Rock Hounds Club. Thank you to the club for their donation in memory of Manfred and condolences to the family and club of this valuable member. With the exception of the above mentioned donation the past few weeks have been pretty slow ones for the Eastern Foundation Fund. This is understandable since our summer months are generally reserved for our rockhounding and other outdoor adventures. However, your generous donations to the EFF are very important in making it possible for the EFF to continue its mission of supporting various special projects and supplementing operating expenses of the EFMLS. So now that the collecting season is coming to an end for another year in much of our area it is time to move back inside and turn our attention to other business. Several of our Eastern Foundation clubs and individual members generously include the EFF in their regular budgets. For those of you who do not I urge you to consider adding a little something to your budget to support this worthwhile fund. No matter how modest a donation is it is welcomed and appreciated. Please send all donations to me at PO Box 5, Dushore, PA As you have seen by the information posted; its like an open-book test in high school, you have all the answers, if you take the time to put them down, and illustrate what ever you can, you, too, can be an All American club! 6 EFMLS News --December, 2011 Communication and Involvement Are the Keys to Our Success!

7 Safety Ideas Nothing spells excitement like planning for next year s digs and field trips. And, nothing beats that excitement as much as insuring our club field trips are safe ones. Well, on second thought, perhaps concerns of safety are not all that exciting and that lack of excitement is the subject of this installment of Safety Matters. How does one make the subject of safety an exciting topic? How does a club safety committee chairperson talk about safety matters in ways club members will take to heart? When speaking to members, it is certainly beneficial to have a solid background in matters of safety. Fortunately, numerous sources offer information regarding safety about field trips, silversmithing, faceting, lapidary, running a show and everything in between. Another strong method of covering safety matters with members is to lead by example. Children especially are prone to using the folks around them as models for behavior, so strong displays of positive behavior can accomplish a great public message. Matters of rockhound safety are important. Some ideas that hvave crossed my desk (without sliding right off and into the circular file) include the following for talking about and getting the word out about safety: 1. Mind club member actions and praise good safety practices 2. Consider offering small rewards for new safety tips and ideas. by Ellery Borow, EFMLS Safety Chair 3. Offer brief, but interesting / pertinent safety talks at frequent intervals. 4. Encourage writers in the club to write brief bulletin articles about how they implement good safety techniques. 5. Prepare informative safety demonstrations for club meetings. 6. Have information available to address member questions or try and anticipate member questions. 7. Select pertinent safety topics for discussion at club meetings, but also keep in mind the wide variety of member interests. 8. Break safety discussions into manageable size. Attention spans sometimes run short for non-exciting subjects. 9. Set up small safety drama plays at club meetings with member participation. 10. Offer safety hand outs for specific activities in which members have an interest. 11. Most folks know the guidelines of good safety practice, but even so, frequent reminders may be needed to reinforce the messages. 12. Be persistant and creative in ones safety messages. Your member s safety matters. An Open Letter to Club Presidents and Bulletin Editors by Reivan Zeleznik Let me introduce myself as the new EFMLS Coordinator to the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies Scholarship Foundation (the Foundation). I volunteered and was recently appointed to this position by EFMLS President R.J. Harris succeeding a 9-year stint by Bob Livingston. I assume this responsibility with pride. The Foundation was authorized in an amendment to the AFMS bylaws in 1958 and was subsequently incorporated (as a separate entity) in Although an independent entity, it has its own officers and board of directors, all of whom are AFMS personnel that direct its affairs. Six of the seven regional federations is represented on the board. Contributions to the fund accumulate and are invested. Then, only the interest from these investments are used to award scholarships to graduate students in the earth sciences. In 1965 the scholarships were $300 per student per year for two years; now, because of growth, the grant is $4,000 per student for one year. At the beginning of the summer of 2011 the fund s assets had grown to more than $1 million dollars with the vast majority coming from your club members individual contributions over the past 46 years. And that is where you come in. Please raise the consciousness level of your members. Reprint this article in your bulletin. Mention this at your general meeting. Include a club contribution in your 2012 budget plan. And mail a check, made out to the AFMS Scholarship Foundation to me: Reivan Zeleznik, EFMLS Coord. AFMS Scholarship Foundation, 39 Pepper Ridge Place, Stamford, CT Communication and Involvement Are the Keys to Our Success! EFMLS News --December,

8 AFMS JUDGES TRAINING SEMINAR Thursday May 10 Sunday, May 13, 2012 Sparks (Reno) Nevada, Holiday Inn 55 E. Nugget Ave, DEADLINE: APRIL 16, 2012 from Dee Holland, AFMS Judges Training Chair This program/seminar is for judges and exhibitors, sponsored by the AFMS. This is the first of three authorized seminars to be held in the next three years in different regions each year, and set up in conjunction with a local club and their show. Please fill out the application below and return to: Dee Holland, AFMS Judges Training Chair P.O. Box 23, Tendoy, ID PLEASE PRINT NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP REGIONAL FEDERATION CLUB/SOCIETY DIVISION YOU ARE INTERESTED IN OPEN MINERAL LAPIDARY JEWELRY EDUCATION FOSSIL PETRIFIED WOOD SCRIMSHAW BEADING UV YOU MUST HAVE AN AFMS RULES BOOK, updated to 2012 CLASS SCHEDULE Thursday evening, 7pm, Holiday Inn Orientation Session Friday & Saturday 9 5 CLASSES (Lunch on Premises) Sunday Morning 9am Reno Events Center, 1350 N. Wells Ave Evaluation of exhibits -- Evaluation of the program immediately following. There is a $20. charge for the class for everyone, this includes lunch Friday & Saturday Make check out to: Dee Holland and this must accompany the application If you are staying at the hotel, YOU MUST MAKE YOUR OWN RESERVATION Two Queen or One King room, $75. including tax, etc per night Tell hotel it is the AFMS Judges Training Seminar. DO YOU PLAN TO STAY AT HOTEL? Camping at Reno Livestock Events Center? Dry Camping: Contact direct: I m bringing an exhibit for evaluation 8 EFMLS News --December, 2011 Communication and Involvement Are the Keys to Our Success!

9 2012 Bulletin Editors Contest News by RJ Harris, EFMLS Chair Dear Editor, I am pleased to announce the 2012 Bulletin Editors Contest and am eagerly awaiting your club entries. All the entry forms are on the EFMLS website. They are in a PDF format and are fillable forms so all you need do is type the asked for information on the form before you print it out. You can even save a copy to your own computer if you wish. Since the forms are available individually, you only need to download the editors guidelines and the specific forms that you will be using. Please note, that even though the forms are available on the Web, you must mail your entries in order to be considered. Any entries that are ed will not be considered for judging. It is also important that you first read all the rules and checklist carefully. All entries should be received by January 5, 2012 and sent to the address below. I would like to specifically bring the following to your attention: 1. Two entries by the same author per category may be submitted, a total of three (3) entries per author in all categories. 2. The Features category is divided into two categories, Drawn Features and Written Features. 3. If an author is a member of more than one club and writes for other newsletters, please check to make sure your bulletin was the first to publish that article, poem, etc. If not, the entry will be disqualified. 4. Be sure to include the applicable forms, completely filled out, attached to the entries. As a time saver, please feel free to print out labels with the following information and affix to each entry form in the space calling for this information: bulletin name, club name, editor s name, address and . Feel free to duplicate any additional forms you may need. 5. Check that all information provided on the entry forms is correct. This information is used to produce the wording on trophies, certificates and in the Editors Breakfast program. If the information provided is wrong, it will be wrong on the trophies and certificates and in the program. A reminder concerning copyrighted bulletins and original articles, poems, drawings, etc.: copyrighted bulletins, original publications, articles or poems are eligible with the understanding that permission is granted for another club to print it without obtaining permission-giving credit to your newsletter and the author. It is also understood that all entries sent on for AFMS competition may also be reproduced in booklet form for distribution to interested club newsletter editors without obtaining further permission. Remember, if you have copied an article from other than a club bulletin, you must have received permission from the publication and the author to reprint it. If you printed an article, poem, etc., from another bulletin, be sure that you have included the name of the bulletin and the date in which it was published. Note that material that has come from the internet is assumed to be copyrighted and you need permission to reproduce it unless stated otherwise on the site. In any event, it needs to be noted as to source. Important Note: The 2012 BEAC Contest Rules and Forms will NOT be mailed, but will be available on the EFLMS website and published in this issue of the EFMLS News. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, concerns or comments. Am looking forward to receiving your entries. R.J. Harris Bulletin Editors Advisory Committee C/O Central PA Rock & Mineral Club P.O. Box 6271 Harrisburg, PA Looking for Judges from R. J. Harris, BEAC Chair Want to spend a couple of interesting hours evaluating club bulletins, articles, drawings or poems? The Bulletin Editor s Contest affords you an opportunity to do that without leaving the comfort of your own home. We re in need of a few folks who are willing to read the bulletins or articles and then assign a score to the various categories being scrutinized. Being a judge might just help your own club since you ll be exposed to a variety of other club publications. Interested? Please contact me at <roqfreq@rjharris.com> and volunteer. Communication and Involvement Are the Keys to Our Success! EFMLS News --December,

10 AFMS Endowment by Carolyn Weinberger We re back and the news for 2012 is more exciting than ever! I m delighted to once again represent the EFMLS as the sales associate for tickets for the AFMS Endowment Fund Drawing. Last year, four of the winning tickets drawn were sold by yours truly!!! Tickets for this worthwhile endeavor -- all proceeds are invested in the AFMS Endowment Fund with the interest from these investments used to further AFMS programs. Tickets once again will be $5 each or 5 for $20. For 2012 the drawing will have an added feature --- the first 4 prizes available are pieces of lapidary equipment donated by the Hi-Tech Diamond Company. Full descriptions and photos of the equipment were in the November AFMS Newsletter (download from < In addition, we plan to have many other prizes -- minerals, gems, fossils, jewelry etc. in the pool this year. As the prizes are received, they will be featured in the AFMS Newsletters and on the AFMS website. The Plan Many folks prepare and plan well in advance for the year ahead. Some even have their new year s resolutions primed and ready for January 1 st. We here on the American Federation Club Rockhound of the Year Committee would like to ask your club to consider who in your club would make a good member to select as your club s Rockhound of the Year for the upcoming year. The purpose of the ACROY committee is to encourage clubs to select one of their outstanding members and make them the club s official Rockhound of the Year. There are so very many really great supporters/volunteers/workers in every club I have visited. I feel certain your club has a cadre of worthy candidates as well. Truly, our most outstanding members deserve recognition for their continuing effort. The recognition we offer at the ACROY is to publicaly announce that recognition with a paragraph or two describing their good by Ellery Borow, Club Rockhound of the Year work. Indeed, if space were available, our most dedicated club members deserve a whole article mentioning all their accomplishments. Please consider, as one of your club s new years resolutions, the selection and honoring of one of your club s outstanding members to be its ACROY honoree. Our outstanding members deserve to be recognized and, what better way to do so than my making them your club s Rockhound of the Year. All we need to so honor your outstanding member is to give us the name (or names if a couple is selected) and the name of your Junior member with mention of your club name and a brief, 70 works or less write-up of their accomplishments, and send the information to me. My contact information is on page 21 of this issue. Thank you If you re interested in perhaps holding a winning ticket for one of the pieces of equipment, you ll need to put the number of the item you wish to own on the front of the ticket (or just tell me when you place your order). If you re not interested in the lapidary equipment, your ticket will be entered in the random drawing for the remaining prizes. Interested? Send your ticket request to me (see page 2 for info). Checks should be made payable to the AFMS Endowment Fund. More prizes are being added so watch the AFMS Newsletters each month for more information. The Majority of the Word Can t is Can by Hazel Remaley, Each One Teach One Chair How many times have you heard the phrase Oh, I can t do that. I don t have time. I don t know enough about the subject. I don t have good enough specimens for display. I m afraid to speak before a group. One excuse after the other. My answer to all these statements is YES, YOU CAN. There have to be folks in your club who DO all these things. Then it is up to you to nominate them for the award. YES, YOU CAN. They may be meek and mild, thinking that what they do is not worthy of a reward. But, it is. I read many club newsletters, and I can tell you that there are folks out there who have never been nominated for the award, but I feel they should be. Another point - If a person or couple has been nominated through the years and has not received the Trophy Award, please consider renominating them. If you have questions I will be happy to answer them. Also, I would like to change the deadline for all nominations to June 15, Have a safe and Happy Holiday. 10 EFMLS News --December, 2011 Communication and Involvement Are the Keys to Our Success!

11 Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies, Inc. Affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies Form A 2012 Bulletin Editors Contest (for 2011 Publications) 2012 EFMLS BEAC Bulletin Face Sheet (All Classes) Editors: Attach this to the front of your bulletin entries. Mark the class of competition below. Attach Form B behind Form A. Use this form for Classes M, S, L & N (All Classes) Final Score Bulletin: Club: Editor: Address: Club or Editor Address: Class: Mini (M) Small (S) Large (L) New Editor (N) Dates of Issues Submitted: Issue #1 Issue #2 Special Publication: Judge s Comments: Judge s Signature

12 Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies, Inc. Affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies 2012 Bulletin Editors Contest (for 2012 publications) 2012 EFMLS Bulletin Score Sheet (All Classes) Form B Editors: Attach this form behind form A. Use this form for Classes M, S, L & N

13 Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies, Inc. Affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies 2012 Bulletin Editors Contest (for 2012 publications) 2012 Drawn Features Score Sheet Form FD TITLE: AUTHOR: BULLETIN: CLUB: EDITOR S NAME & ADDRESS: E- MAIL: JUDGE S SIGNATURE COMMENTS:

14 Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies, Inc. Affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies 2012 Bulletin Editors Contest (for 2012 publications) 2012 Written Features Score Sheet Form FW TITLE: AUTHOR: BULLETIN: CLUB: EDITOR S NAME & ADDRESS: E- MAIL: JUDGE S SIGNATURE COMMENTS:

15 Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies, Inc. Affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies 2012 Bulletin Editors Contest (for 2012 publications) 2012 Junior Articles Score Sheet Form J TITLE: AUTHOR: AGE: BULLETIN: DATE: 2012 CLUB: EDITOR S NAME & ADDRESS: E- MAIL: JUDGE S SIGNATURE COMMENTS:

16 Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies, Inc. Affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies 2012 Bulletin Editors Contest (for 2012 publications) 2012 Educational Articles Score Sheet Form OE TITLE OF ARTICLE: AUTHOR S NAME: ADVANCED (If so, give reason) BULLETIN NAME: DATE: 2011 CLUB: EDITOR S NAME & ADDRESS: E- MAIL: JUDGE S SIGNATURE COMMENTS:

17 Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies, Inc. Affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies 2012 Bulletin Editors Contest (for 2012 publications) 2012 Non- Technical Articles Score Sheet Form ON TITLE OF ARTICLE: AUTHOR S NAME: BULLETIN NAME: DATE: 2011 CLUB: EDITOR S NAME & ADDRESS: E- MAIL: JUDGE S SIGNATURE COMMENTS:

18 Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies, Inc. Affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies 2012 Bulletin Editors Contest (for 2012 publications) 2012 EFMLS Poetry Score Sheet Form P TITLE OF POEM: TOPIC: SERIOUS HUMOROUS AUTHOR: JUNIOR (AGE) BULLETIN: DATE: 2011 CLUB: EDITOR S NAME & ADDRESS: E- MAIL: JUDGE S SIGNATURE COMMENTS ON BACK

19 2012 EFMLS Wildacres Registration PLEASE, ONLY one person per form per session CHECK ONE: April 10-15: September 3-9: Please fill out a separate registration form for each person attending and return to PAMM BRYANT, Registrar at 2645 Davis Mill Rd, Goochland, VA No registration will be accepted prior to January 1, (To make it easier for the registrar and others, please do not change or revise this form. You may photocopy it as needed.) Please write legibly! For Office Use Only ID # Date Rec'd" Amt. Paid: Ck #: Amt. Paid: Ck #: Paid in Full: Name (as you wish it to appear on your name badge): Street: City: State: Zip: Telephone number with area code: Club/Society Affiliation: Fee for the spring session is $ per person. Deposit is $185 per person, payable with registration. Fee for the fall session is $ per person. Deposit is $185 per person, payable with registration. Make checks payable to EFMLS. Balance of fee is due 30 days prior to start of session. No postdated checks will be accepted. Cancellation policy: If unable to attend, fees paid will be refunded if notification is given prior to one month before the session begins. No refund will be made after that date. Circle appropriate responses: Have you been to Wildacres before? Yes No Is your Club paying your tuition? Yes No Name of roommate: (If none, one will be assigned). Are you: Male Female (No single rooms are available). Are you a smoker? Yes No Do you have any physical handicaps and / or special dietary needs? Yes No If YES, please explain on reverse side. Do you have material for exhibiting that you would be willing to display at Wildacres? Yes No Do you have a skill to demonstrate or a program to share (up to 40 minutes)? Yes No Class Pre-registration. See EFMLS Newsletter or Website for class offerings. < You will either be able to take one 4-day class or two 2-day classes. All participants must take classes. Which of the classes being offered would you like to take? We will be preregistering you for classes you indicate. When a class is full NO others will be assigned to that class, and you will be assigned your next class choice(s). No class placement is guaranteed. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th (No registrations accepted prior to January 1, 2012) Mail to: Pamm Bryant, Wildacres Registrar; 2645 Davis Mill Rd; Goochland, VA If you have any questions, please contact either Pamm Bryant, Registrar at <pjbryant6@juno.com> or or Fran Sick, Director at <ednfran@epix.net> or

20 2012 EFMLS Wildacres Scholarship Application Adults who are members of an EFMLS club and have never been to an EFMLS Wildacres Workshop are eligible to apply. Tuition will be paid for one person for the spring and one for the fall session. Please print your answers/responses legibly. Spring dates: April 10-15, Fall dates: September 3-9, 2012 Name of Applicant: Address: City: State: Zip: Telephone: Which session are you applying for?: Club Affiliation(s): How long have you been a member? Positions you have held in your club: What aspect(s) of the hobby are you interested in? In a short essay, explain why you would like to be the recipient of the EFMLS Wildacres Scholarship and attend the workshop (attach additional paper as needed). How do you plan to help promote the EFMLS Wildacres Workshop to your club after you return home (attach additional paper as needed)? Send your completed application to: Steve Weinberger EFMLS Wildacres Committee Chair PO Box 302 Glyndon, MD EFMLS News --December, 2011 Communication and Involvement Are the Keys to Our Success!

21 Regional Vice Presidents Region I K@hleen Collins 138 Hubbard St Glastonbury, CT <k@hleenc55@cox.net> Region III Hazel Remaley 3298 Centerville Rd Gillett, PA <northridge5@verizon.net> Region V Judy Budnik 2948 Rontina Dr Goshen, OH <wisoh@msn.com> Region VII Kim Cochran 2695 Van Ct Snellville, GA Region II Michael Kessler 4 Longfellow Dr E. Stroudsburg, PA <quartz7228@aol.com> Region IV Carl Miller 6345 Greenback Dr Mechanicsville, VA <kobold1@erols.com> Region VI Barbara Fenstermacher 118 Ashwood Dr Aiken, SC <bfenster2@bellsouth.net> Region VIII Michelle Renné 6550 S Congress Ave Lake Worth, FL <pgrm4@aol.com> EFMLS Committee Chairs AFMS Endowment Fund * Carolyn Weinberger (See Editor, page 2) AFMS Scholarship Foundation * RJ Harris (see page 2) AFMS Ways & Means * - To be appointed All American Award * Betsy Oberheim 7953 Appalachian Trail E Harrisburg, PA <Aoberheim3@comcast.net> Auction Cheryl Neary (see page 2) Audit Donald Pitkin 12 Von Zech Way Mohrsville, PA <pitkind@earthlink.net> Boundaries * Carl Miller 8300 Old Cavalry Dr Mechanicsville, VA <kobold1@erols.com> Budget & Finance Cheryl Neary (see page 2) Bulletin Editors Advisory * R. J. Harris %Central PA Rock & Mineral Club PO Box 6271 Harrisburg, PA <roqfreq@rjharris.com> Bylaws / Parliamentarian Steve Weinberger PO Box 302 Glyndon, MD <cscrystals2@verizon.net> Club Rockhound of the Year * Ellery Borow PO Box 47 Waterville, ME Conservation & Legislation * To be appointed Convention Advisory Matt Charsky 2430 N Glebe Rd Arlington, VA <Charsky.Matthew@epa.gov> Directory Carolyn Weinberger - (see Editor) Each One Teach One Hazel Remaley 3298 Centerville Rd Gillett, PA <northridge5@verizon.net> Eastern Foundation Fund Fran Sick PO Box 5, Dushore, PA <ednfran@epix.net> Historian Susanna MacInnis 1245 Whithall Av Allentown, PA <sumacndeb@aol.com> Insurance Coordinator Carl Miller (see Boundaries) Junior Activities * Darryl Powell PO Box 145 Manchester, NY <diamonddan@rochester.rr.com> Operating Procedures Steve Weinberger (see Bylaws) Safety * Ellery Borow - (see Club Rockhound) Show Coordinator Matt Charsky (See Convention Advisory) Slide & Video Librarian * Ken Tudor PO Box 332, Orono, ME <kentudor@yahoo.com> Supplies Suzy Milligan 931 Carmichael Rd Owego, NY <smilligan@stny.rr.com> Uniform Rules Barbara Sky 25 Roland Av;;Winchester, MO <bskysky@aol.com> Ways & Means (EFMLS) Cheryl Neary (see page 2) Webmaster Dan Imel 4 Lanaray Park, Fairport, NY <lapidry@aol.com> Wildacres Workshop Committee Steve Weinberger, Chair (see Bylaws) Mary Bateman (see Bulletin Ed. Advisory) Gerry Cox 2304 S Rolfe St; Arlington, VA <gerryannec@verizon.net> Al DeMilo Rolling Hill Ln Bowie, MD <abdemilo@verizon.net> Jim Doran 1202 Dinwiddie Ave Richmond, VA <jpdoran@verizon.net> Bruce Gaber 5707 Northfield Rd Bethesda, MD <sun@visionrising.com> Wildacres Continued Valerie Johnson 4645 River Rd W Goochland, VA <moon@copper.net> Director Fran Sick (See Eastern Foundation Fund) Registrar Pamm Bryant 2645 Davis Mill Rd Goochland, VA <pjbryant6@juno.com> Nominating (Elected committee) Matt Charsky, Chair (see Convention Advisory) Jim Doran (see Wildacres) Carl Miller (see boundaries) Betsy Oberheim (see All American) Wayne Sukow 3156 Eakin Park Ct Fairfax, VA <d8olite@fastmail.fm> Loren Patterson 7725 Van Buren Rd Baldwinsville, NY <lorenpatterson@gmss.us> Reivan Zeleznik 39 Pepper Ridge Pl Stamford, CT <rzlapidary@yahoo.com> *Also Eastern Representative to American Federation Committee Communication and Involvement Are the Keys to Our Success! EFMLS News --December,

22 EFMLS News Carolyn Weinberger, Editor PO Box 302 Glyndon, MD Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #189 Owings Mills, MD Visit the EFMLS Website < Visit A Show from Matt Charsky November: 12-13: 20 th Annual Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show sponsored by the Northern Virginia Mineral Club. George Mason University, Student Union Bldg, Rt 123 & Braddock Rd; Fairfax, VA : 45 th Annual Gem, Mineral, Jewelry, Bead & Fossil Show sponsored by the Gem & Mineral Society of the Palm Beaches. Americraft Expo Center at the So. Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL : 32 nd Annual Roanoke Valley Mineral & Gem Show sponsored by the Roanoke Valley Mineral & Gem Society. Salem Civic Center, 1001 Roanoke Blvd; Salem, VA. March: 3-4: 49 th Annual Earth Science Gem & Mineral Show sponsored by the Delaware Mineralogical Society. Delaware Technical & Community College, I-95, Exit 4B, Churchmans Rd (Rt 58); Newark (Stanton), DE. 9 11: 24 th Annual Aiken-Augusta Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show jointly sponsored by the Aiken Gem, Mineral & Fossil Society and the Augusta Gem & Mineral Society. Julian Smith Casino, 2200 Broad St; Augusta, GA : 23 rd Annual North Jersey Gem & Mineral Show sponsored by the North Jersey Mineralogical Society. Pope John Paul II Center; Clifton, NJ : 42 nd Annual Unifour Gem, Mineral, Bead, Fossil & Jewelry Show sponsored by the Catawba Valley Gem & Mineral Club. Hickory Metro Convention Center, 1-40, Exit 125; Hickory, NC : 43 rd Annual Che-Hanna Rock & Mineral Show sponsored by the Che- Hanna Rock & Mineral Club. Athens Volunteer Fire Hall, 211 Herric Ave; Sayre, PA. April: 19-22: 39 th Annual Rochester Mineralogical Symposium sponsored by the Rochester Academy of Science, Mineral Section. Radisson Inn, Rochester Airport, 175 Jefferson Rd; Rochester, NY. September: 15-16: 47th Annual Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show and 62nd Annual EFMLS Convention hosted by the Central PA Rock & Mineral Club. Zembo Shrine, 2801 N 3rd St; Harrisburg, PA : 48 th Annual Atlantic Coast Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show hosted by the Gem Cutters Guild of Baltimore. Howard County Fairgrounds, MD 32 at I-70; West Friendship, MD. October: 5-7: 56 th Annual Paul Desautels Micromount Symposium hosted by the Baltimore Mineral Society. MHA Pierson Conference Center, Elkridge, MD. If you are an EFMLS member club and would like to have your show or swap listed here, send information to Matt Charsky, EFMLS Show Coordinator at 2430 N Glebe Rd; Arlington, VA or at <Charsky.Matthew@epa.gov>. 22 EFMLS News --December, 2011 September: Communication and Involvement Are the Keys to Our Success!