John Martin. PRESIDENTS MESSAGE By John Martin

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1 CFMS NEWSLETTER Vol LIII #3 March 2016 PRESIDENTS MESSAGE By John Martin Here we are in March, the end of the 1 st quarter of Spring is just around the corner and field trip season is upon the st Rockhound. The 1 CFMS South field trip is being scheduled for March 26, 2016 to Lavic Siding and being led by Adam Dean and Roy Isaac. More information on the trip may be found elsewhere in the newsletter. As always stay safe and follow the AFMS Land Use Policy and the AFMS Code of Ethics, you are representing the CFMS and your home club or society while you are on the field trip. Make sure your club or society has filed all the forms necessary to keep your organization an active member and in good standing of the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies. After March your organization will become delinquent and additional fees may be applied to reinstate your organization to good standing status. If any of your officer s address or address has changed, make sure to submit the changes as required to remain in good standing. Information on who to contact and the forms to use are in the newsletter and available on the CFMS Website. The 2016 CFMS Convention and Show is rapidly approaching and because it is being held in conjunction with the World Gold Panning Championship Hotel rooms and RV sites are going to become difficult to reserve the closer the dates approach. The Convention and Show are going to be very exciting and interesting this year, so now would be a great time to plan and make your reservations. Information on the show may be found on the CFMS Website. Our Earth Science Studies program at Camp ZZYZX is at the end of March and there are 17 first time attendees which is about 23% new to the ZZYZX experience. I look forward to meeting all of the new attendees and seeing all of those returning to Camp ZZYZX for continuing their Earth Science Studies and improving their Lapidary Arts. Show Dates If you would like your show listed in the newsletter and on the CFMS Website, just go to the website, fill out the electronic form and click the submit button. That is all it takes to have your show posted on the Website and in the monthly CFMS Newsletter. John Martin On the Inside Mark Your Calendar CFMS Insurance & Website Contacts Donations Avoid the Penalty!! Radioactive Rock Specimens All American Club Taking Inventory Junior Activities Livermore Lithophiles 2015 Show Lavic Siding Field Trip Topaz Mountain Field Trip In Memory of Bob Stultz th AFMS 5 Regional VP CFMS Web Site Contest Electronic Communications Nominating Committee CFMS Scholarship Rockhound Soapbox Mother Lode Mineral Society Show How to Honor That Special Person Mining Helps US Energy Security Show Dates Endowment Fund Donation Form

2 M MARK YOUR CALENDAR Mar deadline for April newsletter Jan dues/insurance payment due Mar dues are delinquent Mar 27 - Apr Zyzxx April deadline for May newsletter Sept CFMS Show, Placerville. CFMS INSURANCE CONTACTS McDaniel Insurance Services PO Box 1294, Ojai, CA Tel (805) or (800) Fax (805) ; mcins@ west.net Web Site: CFMS Insurance Chairman Fred Ott 3420 Coach Lane, Ste 4 Cameron Park, CA (530) fred@ fredott.net CFMS NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTIONS CFMS Newsletter is published 11 times a year by the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc., PO Box 1657, Rialto, CA Subscription: $5.50 per year, January through December. CFMS WEBSITE The CFMS website is accessible at the for the web site is cfmswebsite@yahoo.com. Editors are invited to download articles for their bulletins from this website. NOTES FROM THE EDITOR th The deadline for the newsletter is the 5 day of the month prior to the month of publication. Articles should be sent to the editor at bplarue@ earthlink.net. snail mail? Please send to the CFMS PO Box 1657, Rialto, CA DONATIONS Donations to any of the funds administered by CFMS and/or AFMS are tax deductible under the rules governing tax exempt organizations which are 501(c)(3). Your cancelled check or receipt is considered to be proof of your donation for purposes of filing your federal tax return. If a personal donation is $250 or more, a letter attesting to that amount is also required. Member clubs and individuals are encouraged to donate to any of the following: CFMS Scholarship Fund CFMS Endowment Fund CFMS General Fund Diedrick Memorial Scholarship Fund AFMS Scholarship Foundation AFMS Endowment Fund Your donations should be sent to: Pat LaRue, Exec. Sec/Treas PO Box 1657 Rialto, CA Receipts and any supporting documents will be forwarded on to the committee member responsible for acknowledgements. Please make all checks payable to CFMS or AFMS as appropriate and note the fund in the memo section. AVOID THE PENALTY As approved by the Directors at the Fall Business Meeting, clubs which have not submitted payment for dues and insurance based on their membership at the end of December, 2015 will be subject to a $50 penalty for failing to submit their paperwork by March 31. A March 31 postmark will suffice. Please remind your club treasurer of this new policy. If there are any questions do not hesitate to call or with your concerns. Due to my schedule during tax preparation season, is the preferred manner of contact. I check daily. The best time to reach me by phone is before 9 am and after 7 pm. I do not use an answering machine on my land line. If unable to locate the dues/insurance form in the January newsletter or in the Directors packet from the fall meeting the form is posted on the CFMS website under forms. 2

3 RADIOACTIVE ROCK SPECIMENS by Mark Nelson, Safety Chair If you went to the rock shows in Quartzsite or Tucson this year you may have seen nice, green, specimens of Guilleminite with Malachite from the Republic of the Congo. What does it have in common with specimens of Uranite with Sphalerite, Tyuyamunite, Andersonite, Carnotite, Samarskite and Aeschynite - specimens commonly found in Utah, Colorado and Arizona, not Zaire? What about specimens of Columbate, Tantalate, Titanate, Thorium, Monazite, Thorite, Allanite, Autunite, Betafite, Brannerite, Carnotite, Cyrtolite, Euxenite, Yttrocrasite and Zircon. These are typically found throughout California, in Pacific beach sands and in placer gravels along many of the rivers that head in the Sierra Nevada mountains. What do all of these minerals have in common? are all radioactive. They Should we be alarmed that our collection of minerals contains a deadly sleeper agent? Of course not. Rock and mineral collections can be both interesting and educational. There are actually some collectors who sp ecialize in radioactive m inerals. O thers prize torbernite and autinite because it flu oresces b righ tly in ultraviolet light. Pegmatites, w h ich con tain b eau tifu l tourmaline, can also contain radioactive minerals, as is common in the Spruce Pine Torbemite area of North Carolina. We are surrounded by radioactive substances every day. Some of the top emitters are brazil nuts, bananas, smoke detectors, granite countertops, your grandmother s dinnerware, cigarettes and the human body. Everything is radioactive to some extent, and minerals are no exception. Naturally occurring isotopes of potassium, thorium and uranium are three of the most common contributors, but in the majority of specimens they are present in such low levels as to provide no noticeable increase above normal background radiation that we are exposed to every day. If enough of these are gathered in one place (hundreds of pounds), the radiation can present a hazard because these minerals can emit radon gas, which is a lung cancer concern. There have been occasions in which a home is being sold by a geologist or collector who had accumulated large piles of radioactive minerals, then discovered that the buyer s radon tests show phenomenal levels of radon gas. With this in mind, note that abandoned Uranium mines contain a significant amount of Radon gas and should not be attempted without a self-contained breathing apparatus. A lot of rockhounds and enthusiasts clearly appreciate the hazards of handling radioactive specimens well enough, but there is still a lot of hysteria related to the very idea of having a radioactive substance in one s collection. As educated rock and mineral collectors we should be aware that radioactivity, radon, asbestos, toxins and carcinogens can all be an attractive part of a collection. The key is to treat our specimens with common sense. Here are some guidelines for radioactive minerals: Handle specimens as little as possible; if they are touched, wash hands with soap and water. Never store specimens, even the smallest of size, in an inhabited room. Store specimens in a well ventilated area. Keep all specimens out of the reach of children. Never eat, drink, smoke, or sleep near a radioactive mineral. Label all radioactive specimens as radioactive. Don't carry radioactive minerals in your pocket or wear them as jewelry. Try to keep radioactive minerals in a plastic display case or some other container with a lid. This helps to control small pieces that may break off during handling. A boxed radioactive mineral keeps you from directly touching the specimen, which helps to minimize radiation exposure to your skin. Clean up small particles that may break off of radioactive specimens with soap and water. If you collect lots of large highly radioactive specimens, consider a lead, lead-glass or concrete shielded box for storage, in a well ventilated area. Occasionally something will turn up that is a bit 'hotter' than normal, though. For this reason, a Geiger counter is a useful addition to any collector's tool kit. A compact one will cost about $200. 3

4 I try to put safety risks for rock and mineral handling in perspective in this way: Any rock or mineral is a hazard if it s moving fast enough. Any rock and mineral above a certain weight is a hazard to your head or feet. With reasonable care, hard hats, safety glasses and steel toed shoes most hazards can be minimized. After handling rocks don t stick your fingers in your mouth before washing them. Don t swallow the rocks. Don t trip over rocks while collecting. Watch for ants, spiders and other critters when poking around rocks. Never grind, inhale, smoke or snort rock dust Always use water, a mask and eye protection when grinding or polishing rocks. My intention with this short discussion is to highlight some key issues, and hopefully to encourage people to read up on the topic and inform themselves. Sources for this article include: A few thoughts on the safe handling of radioactive rock specimens by Antony Glauser; Mineral Hazards by Chris Tacker, Curator of Geology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences; Radioactive Deposits in California By G. W. W a l k e r a n d T. G. L o v e r i n g ( h t t p : / / p u b s. u s g s. g o v / t e i / / r e p o r t. p d f ) ; w w w.ato m icro cks.com /h tm l/safety.h tm l an d -items-your-home ALL AMERICAN CLUB By Susy Martin, Chair The deadline for submitting an All American Award book is Feb 28, 2016, I can extend the deadline if you contact me. I would like to thank Merryan O'Neill for helping me get theses forms on the website in a timely manner for the last few years. Our website is not easy to manage and she has been on top of things when we get updates rather late. If your club has decided not to compile a book and submit I would encourage you to look over the material and add just one activity to your club activities as that is what makes your club a true winner. TAKING INVENTORY By Fred Ott So what happens when your Society purchases insurance coverage for the various items (lapidary equipment, supplies, computers, etc.) and these items are stolen or lost in a fire? After reporting the incident to McDaniel Insurance Services, Inc. and having an insurance adjustor assigned to handle the claim, you will be required to submit a detailed inventory of the items that were stolen or lost in the fire. Sounds simple enough, doesn t it? Whether making a claim under the Federation s insurance policy or a claim for such losses under your own homeowners insurance policy, there are three problems that will be encountered. And, without proper preparation, the headaches will begin! The first problem is itemization. Making a list of everything involved in the loss might seem simple enough but is actually a HUGE challenge. We usually remember the big things but seldom remember everything else. And, for whatever is not listed on the inventory, no payment will be made. The second problem is docum entation. The insurance company will ask for some sort of proof or documentation (such as receipts, warranty cards, etc.) to validate the ownership of every item being claimed. Another big challenge! Finally, the third problem: establishing the value for something that cannot be replaced. This usually occurs under homeowners insurance policies for things such as fine arts and antiques. For such items, the insurance policy provides payment based upon the actual cash value of the item, which can be extremely difficult to determine after an item has been stolen or consumed in a fire. The solution: photographic inventory with a digital camera. In a very short amount of time, you can take photos of everything you are insuring; this satisfies each of the three problems. Placing those photos on a memory stick which you keep elsewhere (or download them to the Cloud) completes the process. susymartin1010@ hotmail.com 4

5 JUNIORS ACTIVITIES By Jim Brace-Thompson A Dozen Years Later: The 4th Edition of our AFMS/FRA Badge Manual Now Posted! I was appointed CFMS Juniors Activities Chair in 1998 and then AFMS Juniors Program Chair in I immediately set to work developing a nation-wide Badge Program modeled after the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. At the time, my family and I were visiting London, England, staying in an apartment in South Kensington. Every day I found myself walking by a statue of Boy Scouts founder Robert Baden-Powell, which provided inspiration and motivation. Month-bymonth in the AFMS Newsletter, I outlined ideas for 9 badges, and with approval from AFMS officers and generous support of the AFMS Endowment Fund (which I cannot thank enough) we began offering our AFMS Future Rockhounds of America Badge Program entirely free to affiliated clubs and societies nationwide in At that time I indicated that if the program proved successful, my goal was to update and expand it every 4 years. With well over 10,000 badges now awarded to kids nationwide, I m happy to report we have proven successful! 515 kids have been awarded the Rockhound badge by earning at least 6 of the activity badges, and 25 kids have earned coveted Rock Star pin by having earned each and every badge in the program. Their names are recorded on our AFMS Kids Corner website in Honor Rolls recognizing their achievements. (My sincere thanks to Marty Hart for his always helpful, cheerful, unfailing and consistent assistance with the AFMS website these many years.) The first edition of my Badge Manual offered 9 badges and 53 activities. Staying true to plan, I ve updated and expanded it in 2008 and 2012 (with a minor update in 2010), and I m now pleased to report I will soon be posting the 2016 edition. This Fourth Edition offers 20 badges and 130 activities. As with past editions, many of the new activities were suggested by the junior leaders of local clubs. In fact, one of the badges introduced in our 3rd Edition was designed by a junior member, Rock Star Erica Nathan of Florida. Similarly, in our 4th Edition another junior member Rock Star Jem Burch of California suggested a new Elements activity you ll now find as part of our Rocks & Minerals badge. overwhelming calls to add whole new badges. Some suggested adding Elements, Prospecting, and Beading badges, but because of manufacturing expenses a whole new badge incurs, I ve opted instead to include these ideas as new activities within the existing badges for Rocks & Minerals, Gold Panning & Prospecting, and Lapidary Arts. For those already familiar with the program, here are examples of changes you ll find: 10. Over a dozen new activities have been added within our existing badges. 11. Many previously existing activities have been augmented and/or enhanced with new activities. 12. All website links have been checked to ensure viability and any that have evaporated have been replaced, and many new websites links have been added. 13. I ve added many new books as recommended resources. 14. New tables have been added and existing tables have been expanded. Looking toward our 5th Edition, I m hoping to expand the visual appeal of our manual along with links to such things as YouTube videos to better appeal to a more technologically sophisticated cohort of junior members who could probably teach me a thing or two about my smart phone, which increasingly proves smarter than its Baby Boomer owner. If you have suggestions for enhancing visual appeal and/or links to video or other multimedia elements, I welcome hearing from you! Meanwhile, my sincere thanks to all who responded to my calls for ideas to add to our 4th Edition. I ve incorporated every suggestion I ve received. Most of all, I wish to thank local youth leaders who have embraced the program, devoted time and effort, and who found creative ways to implement it so that their juniors members have been encouraged not only to learn about our hobby and passion, but also to have fun! For the 4th Edition, I issued requests for new badge ideas via the AFMS and CFMS newsletters. There were no 5

6 CFMS Newsletter March 2016 Another favorite at our show is the Glow-Room, which had three cases of fluorescent minerals and one case full of uranium glass. We also had some award winning educational display cases at the show, a case with backlit slabs, which was a great way to show off their colors and patterns, two cases full of fossils and some amazing lapidary, beading and metal working cases. We had fewer display cases this year so we could bring in more vendors who were selling supplies and tools for lapidary, beading, books, finished jewelry, and of course, lots of minerals. Hot food, cakes and pies were available for purchase so you could spend all day at the show without having to leave for lunch. LIVERMORE VALLEY LITHOPHILES 2015 GEM & MINERAL SHOW The Livermore Valley Lithophiles had their annual show on November 21st and 22nd at the Barn in Livermore. Our show had a lot to offer families. We had a free fossil & mineral dig, with an identification board and the kids got to keep 5 of the specimens they found. We also had a gold panning demonstration by East Bay Prospectors and kids could pay a few dollars to pan for gems and minerals in a large trough. The kids got to keep what they found, or trade up to bigger stones. This was the first time we ve had this activity and it was very popular and helped raise money for our shop. Our club supports a 4H lapidary project and this was the second year the 4H members put together a display case to show off their work. 4H members were also on hand throughout the entire show, demonstrating how to make cabochons and helping with the Silent Auction and kids activities. At the Silent Auction table we had great deals on slabs, geodes, chunks of obsidian etc, and sold Mystery Bags, paper lunch bags containing a wide variety of rock related treasures(apache tears, geodes, crystals, small slabs, etc) for only $1. These were a big hit with the kids, and a few adults were seen buying them as well. The Livermore Lithophile s Gem & Mineral Show may be one of the smaller shows in the area but we pack in a lot of great activities and are a very family friendly show. Hope you come out to see us next year. Jennifer Siders 6

7 CFMS LAVIC SIDING FIELD TRIP By Adam Dean, Field Trips South WHEN: March 26th Saturday at 9am WHERE: Lavic Siding Jasper M EET: Hector Rd off ramp just south of I-40 for orientation and sign in. WHAT TO BRING: Safety glasses, gloves, first aid kit, plenty of drinking water, food and snacks, collecting bags/buckets, rock hammer, spray bottles and camera. This is the heart of the Mojave and the weather can be unpredictable during this time of year so dress accordingly. We will be collecting the world famous Lavic jasper which can come in a multitude of colors and can be brecciate, layered or solid with veins of white, black or blue agate. The jasper has been found in reds, blacks, yellows, gold s, greens, purples, or any combination and range from tumble sized to football sized. Most found as float. This site covers a vast area between the Pisgah Crater lava fields, the railroad tracks and the dry lake to the south. We will explore various spots here. From the meeting spot we will caravan east to a safe crossing over the tracks then make a number of stops. Bring lunch. This widespread field offers no shade. Gas and food are available in Ludlow. Waiver of liability will be signed at the meeting spot. While the roads are basically traversable in most high clearance sedans, high clearance trucks and SUVs highly recommended. Nearby is Pisgah Crater, a young volcano with an extensive lava field. This area offers plenty of space for overnight camping, or at the motel in Ludlow and also offers the southern Cadys for a wide variety of material. Bring your rock collecting guides. For these other sites 4wd is recommended but high clearance is mandatory. Treat the desert with respect - tread lightly and pack it in -- pack it out. For more info contact: CFMS South Co-chairs: Adam Dean theagatehunter@ verizon.net (909) Roy Isaac: djbionic@ msn.com (818) A CO-OP MEMBER /CFMS NORTH FIELD TRIP TO TOPAZ MOUNTAIN By Jim Hutchings, Field Trips North This trip is open to all rockhounds who agree to abide by the AFMS Code of Ethics, the directions of the field trip leader and practice safe rock hounding. Members guests are welcome, but must bring proof of liability insurance. Call the field trip leader beforehand to sign up and for further information. Remember to sign in with the field trip leader and sign out. A Consent and Assumption of Risk Waiver of Liability form must be signed upon arrival at meeting site. TRIP LOCATION: Topaz Mtn., North West of Delta, Utah. DIFFICULTY SCALE: Vehicle access & parking: Scale 1-10, 3 at Topaz Mt. camp site. - Good for most vehicles and RVs, no specific handicap parking at Topaz Mt. Collection or View Site: From a 3 at the base of the Mt. to a 7 at the Red Beryl site, ½ mile or more to site, difficult trails and ravines or water crossings. High clearance vehicle required from the camp site to the trail head at the base of the mountain or share rides. WHEN: April 29 through May 1. This is a repeating site tour, you may show up and leave at any time during these 3 days. See schedule for optimum arrival dates. SPONSOR CLUB: Roseville Rock Rollers G & M Society MEMBER'S GUESTS: Members guests are allowed. This is a public collecting area; anybody may camp and collect at the area concurrent with our activities. Those who choose to make the escorted trip to the Red Beryl site will need to sign the liability waiver. COLLECTING MATERIAL: Topaz crystals, Bixbyite (Red Beryl), Pseudobrookite crystals, and Hematite crystals. LEADER & CONTACT INFO: Please contact ahead of time: Jim Hutchings, Home (530) , Cell (916) jhutchings22@ hotmail.com More details are posted on the CFMS Web site, Click on Field Trip. 7

8 IN MEMORY OF BOB STULTZ We ve lost another hardworking, staunch supporter of CFMS and its mission. Bob Stultz passed away February 6, 2016 following several years of declining health. He and Jeane had been unable to attend CFMS functions for the past few years due to his being unable to travel long distances but they always sent their greetings to everyone. Bob and Jeane were founding members of the Conejo Gem & Mineral Club in Newbury Park and remained active in that organization until moving north to Redding to be closer to their family members. Not to be slowed down by a move to a new part of the state, they soon became active in the Shasta Gem & Mineral Society. Within a short time Bob was able to persuade that group to host a CFMS show in Bob along with Jeane were honored as CFMS Scholarship Honorees in 1992 and again as Golden Bears in They were honored as AFMS Scholarship Honorees in Bob served as CFMS President in Perhaps Bob will be best remembered for his ardent support of competitive exhibiting at the CFMS show. He actively encouraged the three Ventura area clubs to enter their displays at the Ventura fair as well as the CFMS shows. His special interest was minerals and he was the proud owner of multiple awards for his outstanding displays. I was honored to present him the CFMS President s Award in 2000 for a display of rather unusual selenite specimens; earlier in the day he was regretting the fact that he didn t have a display in competition that year little did he know! He served as the CFMS South Show Consultant for many years until moving to Redding. Bob could be pretty persuasive at convincing a club that they could host a show; perhaps that s why the three Ventura area clubs have hosted so many of them! Our thoughts are with Jeane and his family at this difficult time. He may be gone but fond memories will remain. It was a privilege to have worked with him on CFMS projects and I am proud to have called him a friend and a fellow mineral collector. TH AFMS 5 REGIONAL V.P. REPRESENTING CFMS By Jennifer Haley th As the AFMS 5 Regional V.P. this year, I am hoping to acquaint you more with the AFMS as space permits in the CFMS newsletter. When I first joined a rock and gem club, I heard the love and respect the local society s officers and chairmen had in their voices when they mentioned involvement with CFMS and AFMS. As a new club member, the words were initials to me for quite awhile, even though both were mentioned briefly in the society s brochure; appeared in the club bulletin announcing entry forms for various activities; and acknowledged members who were recipients of ribbons, trophies and certificates. This society adored the CFMS/AFMS relationship, and I was trying to understand what the relationship was. As many of you have discovered, that CFMS/AFMS relationship is a wonderful one. For those of you who fell in love with the hobby and the family of CFMS clubs/societies, but only know AFMS as initials; welcome home to an even larger family. They are the ones that pull us altogether as a nation of dedicated societies and clubs interested in the Earth Sciences and the Lapidary Arts & Crafts. Before any of the Federations and AFMS existed, there was the New York Mineralogical Club formed in1886, and the Philadelphia Mineralogical Society formed in They shared the thrill of their hobby with others: collecting minerals, going on field trips, cut and polishing rocks and gems, and sharing their knowledge. Much later and with more details than there is space to write about this month, so many rock and gem clubs formed across the country, that members felt a national overseeing group with Federations would benefit them all. These clubs and societies loved getting together in their areas, across the state, and all around our country, even abroad. Now you can understand the inspiration behind such activities as bulletin contests, non-competitive/competitive exhibits, club shows, Federation and AFMS/Federation Shows and Conventions, committees to honor our exceptional people, scholarship funds, and last but not least the junior programs within our clubs and our communities. I can feel the thrill they felt and passed on to us for generations. It is our history and our gift to give and share with others. I am happy to note CFMS people serving asafms Officers & Committee Chairmen this year: John Martin-Conservation and Legislation Pat LaRue- AFMS Treasurer Mark Nelson-AFMS Bulletin Editor s Advisory Shirley Leeson-AFMS Historian Marion Roberts-AFMS Long Range Planning Jim Brace-Thompson-AFMS Junior Activities This year s AFMS President is Matt Charsky, from the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies. Professionally, he is a geologist with a degree from the University of Rochester (NY). He did his field work at Boston University (MA). Personal interest: minerals crystals. The AFMS fiscal year runs from November to October. This year it is 11/01/2015 to 10/31/

9 2016 CFMS WEB SITE CONTEST By Merryan O Neill, CFMS Web Site Contest Chair All CFMS society Webmasters are invited to enter the 2016 CFMS Web Site Contest. The major functions of a society s web site are: attracting new members, providing information for its members, publicly advertising club activities including shows, and offering educational information. Through its Guidelines, Score Sheet, and Judging, the Web Site Contest attempts to determine the effectiveness of the society s web site in providing information for these goals, not to determine the quality or capabilities of the club. Even if you don t enter the competition, the Web Site Guidelines are full of valuable information. If you have any questions about any other rules or requirements, please me at mvoneill@comcast.net. I ll answer to the best of my ability. To access the 2016 FORMS: go to the CFMS web site, click on Forms or use the link from the home page calendar. All of the CFMS Contest Forms are at the top of the page. The Web Site Contest entry and score sheet forms are fillable and savable. Open each form and save it to your computer using a different file name. For the Entry Form, please use entry somewhere in your file name. For the Score Sheet, use score somewhere in your file name. Include your society s name or an abbreviation in both file names. The forms are used by all regions and are titled AFMS Web Site Contest so be sure to enter and X in the CFMS box on the forms. Complete the entire entry form and the top of the score sheet. Save and the forms to the CFMS Web Site Contest Chair, Merryan O Neill, mvoneill@comcast.net. The 2016 CFMS Web Site Contest deadline is March 20, Webmasters may enter their society s web sites even if they have placed first the previous year. The top 3 CFMS winners will be forwarded to compete in the AFMS st competition (except for those placing 1 in the AFMS contest in the last 2 years). The AFMS will continue to enforce a 2-year waiting period for entries that have placed first at the AFMS level. The CFMS regional results will be announced on Saturday, September 17, 2016, during the Breakfast with the Editors and Webmasters at the CFMS Show & Convention, in Placerville, California. We look forward to receiving your entries and seeing you at the show. CFMS ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS REPORT By Jennifer Haley, Chairman If you did not receive a CFMS Electronic Communication in January or your society/club began in January with a new Federation Director, please send me your information as soon as you can. I know some of you start your change of officers a little later, so as soon as you know, please give me a buzz. The s we send to you are about CFMS information only. We started the CFMS Electronic Communications Committee so we can contact your society/club with timely information that can t wait for the next Federation Newsletter to reach you. All s are sent blind copy to insure your information is protected. Here s what I need:!society name!your name and address!last year s information of the person who served before you, if there was one. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at: ladybuglane@ napablogger.com Thank you! NOMINATING COMMITTEE By Shirley Leeson, Chair As the new chair for the CFMS Nominating Committee I am asking all clubs/directors to su b m it nominations to me for CFMS Treasurer for Please submit a resume of your candidate's related positions he/she has held in your club, and also include any and/or all CFMS Chairmanships or CFMS Committees. I must have them as soon as possible to disseminate the resumes to the committee members before the convention/show in Placerville, CA in September... You may send them via shirleyleeson@ gmail.com or by snail mail: 6155 Haas St. La Mesa, CA Thanks for your help in this important matter. 9

10 CFMS SCHOLARSHIP FUND By Louisa Carey, Chair Recently someone asked how to know if someone in their club or community should be honored by nominating them to be part of the Scholarship family? The answer is there really isn t a list of what qualifies a person. There isn t a guideline I can send you to check the amount of awesome a person needs to be to make such a difference in the life of a student. An honoree gets to pick a school and be a part of the process for choosing a student to receive a $2000 scholarship which is a huge deal. So who is it going to be? It could be the person you see every time you go the clubhouse or field trip, inspiring the joy of the share or treasure hunt. The person who teaches the class, who always keeps the group going with snacks and drinks, the one who continues to educate themselves so they have more to offer the community, the guy or gal who holds an office on the board, keeps the club motivated to get new members so our beautiful hobby isn t lost to the next generation, or even the quiet one who sets up a case every year, plugs the local community with posters and flyers for upcoming shows, or someone who does it all. Take a moment to think about the club or class you joined. Take a deep breath in the next moment who stands out? Who comes to mind? THAT is the person you should nominate. Do the right thing by saying thank you and contact me with their 411 so we can honor them together. Keep rocking, Louisa ROCKHOUND SOAPBOX CFMS Public Lands Advisory Committee By John Martin, Chair plac@ antelecom.net This is just a reminder, because you have read this before. It is the beginning of a new year for the politicians, lobbyists, lawyers and special interest groups. They are hard at work doing their best to change the face of our landscape and our ability to pursue our interest in our own collecting of rocks, minerals and fossils from our Public Lands through legislation, regulation and proclamation. Much of the public lands we use are being closed to m otorized access to su p p osed ly p rotect th e environment and wildlife habitat that may or may not exist where collecting areas have been used for decades. Without motorized access to our collecting areas soon we will only be able to access them by foot or horseback. The decision makers keep closing access roads because they keep hearing from special interest groups who only seem to want the land to be gazed upon from a distance, a long distance. We, the Rockhounds, amateur collectors of Rocks, Minerals and Fossils must become engaged at the grass roots level and make our voices heard as loud as those of the other special interest groups. We must become one of the Special Interest Groups speaking up to protect our interest in the management of our public lands for now and our future generations to use and enjoy. When an alert is received, whether through CFMS, ALAA, national or local news outlets, Blogs or any means, take the time to read and understand what is being planned for your collecting areas. If you do not speak up and make your voice heard, we will lose our ability to pursue our American Right to access and use of our public lands as Rockhounds within the guidelines that have been established for the collecting of Rocks, Minerals and Fossils and the AFMS Code of Ethics and AFMS Land Use Policy Statement. As always if you need more information on an issue the CFMS Website can supply you with contact information or contact the CFMS PLAC members at plac@ antelecom.net and we will attempt to find answers to your concerns or provide guidance in contacting the responsible legislator or Land Manager. Happy Rockhounding and Enjoy Your Public Lands DUES ARE DUE!!! 10

11 MOTHER LODE MINERAL SOCIETY GEM SHOW By Bob Rush The Mother Lode Mineral Society's show is held at the Turlock Fairgrounds in the first full weekend in March. This year's show will be the 50th annual show and we have been working diligently to make it the best show ever. The featured mineral is gold so we have many activities relating to that precious metal. We occupy two large fairground buildings and the patio between them. Our society is very oriented towards educating children so we have many things to appeal to them. Last year's attendance was attendees including paid attendance and 4000 children under 12 years old. At times the buildings can get quite noisy and crowded from all the excited children and interested adults at the show getting a great education in the earth sciences. One of the most popular exhibits and its related program is about dinosaurs. The program which is very p op u lar occurs once each day and it attracts o v e r participants. It is presented by Richard Wade, M.A. creator of who leads an interactive demonstration of how the dinosaurs lived and died and how a fossil is created. He also explains the geologic time scale as well as explaining a full scale model of a T-Rex skull and a 7 foot model of a brachiosaurus thigh bone. A n o t h e r p o p u l a r exhibit called the The Tethys Ocean Project presented for the 10th year by the Schaffert family with a new e x c i t i n g S H A R K! exhibit featuring the enormous jaws of Megladon, one of the largest sharks ever to haunt the oceans. Also included is a replica of a Great White shark along with other extinct fossils and teeth from ancient oceans. Again, another popular exhibit is our fluorescent tent that has 12 exhibit cases including several world class displays exhibited by members of the Florescent Mineral Society. Mike Whittier, educator and MLMS member, wearing special UV protective glasses remains in the exhibit with 18 feet of florescent specimens so he can explain about florescence and answer questions. Because of the significant interest in this tent it has been expanded to 400 square feet and reconfigured to allow a flow through stream of visitors that at times can have as many as 50+ people waiting to get in to see the exhibit. The Delta Gold Diggers dressed in 49ers garb, complete with scraggly beards and well worn hats provide detailed instructions for eager panners to find a gold piece that they get to take home. One of the noisiest areas is outside in the patio where show attendees can pick out a geode to have cut on one of the three continuously running saws. Lots of beautiful finds await the lucky participants. There approximately 20 rotating demonstrations going throughout the show including lapidary, jewelry making, chainmail, enameling, pearl stringing, beading, faceting, engraving, soapstone carving and a working sphere making machine. There are 70 educational exhibits displayed throughout the show including many presented by the Modesto Junior College students showing their expert work. The Mother Lode Mineral Society has supported the college for 30+ years by providing much of the equipment including maintenance and repairs for all of the students use in the lapidary and jewelry classrooms. There is a treasure hunt both days that requires the kids to find 19 items including the California state gemstone, mineral, rock and fossil displayed in exhibit cases throughout each building with a prize presented for each completed form. This activity has the purpose of educating the kids as well as getting them and their accompanying adults to visit all the exhibits and events in both buildings. About 1,400 kids participate in this activity. Other activities include a rock sale that has a special selection of granite, quartz and serpentine just for teachers, soapstone carving, 2 wheels of fortune, mineral identification, a fully dedicated and manned membership table that attracts many new member candidates, a bracelet making area and a half hour drawing that collects names, addresses and addresses for next year's show mailing database. 11

12 HOW TO HONOR THAT SPECIAL PERSON WHO S DONE SO MUCH nd By Kim Erb, 2 VP Is there someone in your society or the rockhound/lapidary community who you d like to honor for their contributions? Why not nominate him or her (or a couple) for the CFMS Jury of Awards for an AFMS Scholarship Foundation award? Six of the seven AFMS Federations participate in this awards program each year. Each of these Federations chooses an Honoree. The six Honorees are given the privilege of choosing a University within the territory of their Federation, and on behalf of the AFMS Scholarship Foundation two students pursuing graduate studies in the Earth Sciences receive a scholarship in the amount of $4000. Nominations are being accepted now through November 1. The selection will be made by the CFMS Jury of Committee at our Fall Business Meeting in Visalia. The guidelines for nominating an Honoree are:!the nominee must not know that his/her/their name is being considered.!the nominee should be well versed in the Earth Sciences!The nominee should have helped further the knowledge and skills of rockhounds and the Earth Sciences to societies as well as individuals.!the nominee need not be a member of a CFMS Club/Society!The Honoree may receive this honor only once. At this time, the nominee s name and the documentation for his/her nomination should be sent to: CFMS Jury of Awards Chairman Kim Erb P.O. Box 26006, Anaheim, CA Phone: (714) Or to erbzrox@gmail.com. Please send me an letting me know the documention is forthcoming through the US Postal Service. MINING HELPS US ENERGY SECURITY PLAC-North By Albert Bolshazy abnreno@ sbcglobal.net In 1990, the United States led the world in metals and minerals production. This was great news for America s manufacturers because it meant they had ready access to the copper, gold, platinum, and silver needed to power everything from electronics and automobiles to solar panels and power plants. However, something troubling has happened over the past 25 years. Mineral extraction in the United States has plummeted drastically to the point where America now ranks seventh in global production. The real-world consequence of this lost mining capacity is that we now import roughly $27 billion worth of minerals every year. In fact, America is now completely import-dependent for 19 key minerals, and more than 50 percent dependent for another 24 important minerals. This is a critical issue because these are the very minerals and metals needed to create the energy infrastructure of the 21st century. For example, in order to produce hybrid cars, we need secure, reliable supplies of zinc. Solar panels require ample amounts of both gold and silver. And wind turbines necessitate copious supplies of copper, zinc, and molybdenum. This explains why the U.S. Department of Energy has made critical minerals a national priority, especially since they contribute to a variety of new energy technologies. The real irony of our dependence on imported minerals is that the United States is already blessed with an incredibly abundant array of these same natural resources. Geologists estimate that America possesses some of the greatest mineral reserves on the planet worth an estimated $6.2 trillion. Essentially, we are sitting on top of the very raw materials needed to transform energy demands globally. And so, we urgently need to address a situation where America is often importing the very same minerals it already possesses. Specifically, what s needed to support America s energy future is a plan to address the one key problem holding us back: our outdated minerals mine permitting process. It currently takes anywhere from seven to 10 years for U.S. companies to navigate the permitting requirements necessary to open a new mine. In contrast, mine permitting in countries like Australia and Canada, which maintain comparable environmental standards, requires only two to three years. If the U.S. could...continued on page 14 12

13 CFMS SHOW DATES 2016 M arch 4 6: NEW ARK, CA Mineral & Gem Society of Castro Valley Newark Pavilion 6430 Thornton Avenue Hours: Fri. & Sat. 10-6; Sun.10-5 Cathy Miller (510) Cell: (510) showchair@ mgscv.org M arch 5 & 6: VENTURA, CA Ventura Gem & Mineral Society Ventura County Fairgrounds 10 West Harbor Boulevard Hours: Sat. 10-5; Sun Show Chair (805) info@ VGM S.org M arch 5 & 6: ARCADIA, CA Monrovia Rockhounds L.A. Arboretum-Ayres Hall301 North Baldwin Avenue Hours: 9am - 4:30pm Daily Jo Anna Ritchey (626) joannaritchey@ gmail.com M arch 12 & 13: TURLOCK, CA Mother Lode Mineral Society Stanislaus County Fairgrounds 900 N. Broadway Hours: 10am-5pm Daily Bud & Terry McMillin (209) Bud.mcmillin.b7yj@ statefarm.com M arch 12 & 13: SPRECKELS, CA Salinas Valley Rock & Gem Club Spreckels Vets Hall th 5 & Llano Streets Hours: 10-5 Daily Karin Salomon (831) Kcbakes27@ yahoo.com Salinasrockandgem.com M arch 12 & 13: SAN M ARINO Pasadena Lapidary Society San Marino Masonic Center 3130 Huntington Drive Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun Marcia Goetz (626) joenmar1@ verizon.net M arch 19 & 20: LEM OORE, CA Lemoore Gem & Mineral Club Lemoore Trinity Hall 470 Champion Street Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun Christopher Wertinberger (559) kim-morrell@ hotmail.com M arch 26 & 27: ROSEVILLE, CA Roseville Rock Rollers GMS Placer County Fairgrounds 800 All America Blvd. (off Washington) Hours: Sat 10-5; Sun 10-4 Gloria Marie (916) gloriarosevillerockrollers@ gmail.com April 8, 9 & 10: VISTA, CA Vista Gem & Mineral Society Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum 2040 N. Santa Fe Avenue Hours: 9am 5pm Daily Ray Pearce (760) Cell (760) raysrocks@ cox.net April 9 & 10: M ARIPOSA, CA Mariposa Gem & Mineral Club Mariposa County Fairgrounds 5005 Fairgrounds Road Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun Martin Fodin (209) martin@ safarigold.com April 16 & 17: SAN JOSE, CA Santa Clara County Fairgrounds 344 Tully Road Hours: 10am 5pm Daily June Harris (408) info@ scvgms.org April 23 & 24: PASO ROBLES, CA Santa Lucia Rock Hounds Paso Robles Event Center 2198 Riverside Ave. Hours: Sat. 10-5; Sun.10 4 Mike Judy (805) mrhaludy@ gmail.com M arch 26 & 27: ANGELS CAM P, CA Calaveras Gem & Mineral Society Calaveras County Fairgrounds 101 Frogtown Road Hours: Sat. 10-5; Sun Robin Williams (209) robinski@ yahoo.com calaverasgemandmineral.org April 23 & 24: LANCASTER, CA Antelope Valley Gem & Mineral Club Lancaster High School nd Street West Hours: 9 am 5 pm Daily CJ Quitoriano (661) cjq_62@ yahoo.com April 23 & 24: ESCONDIDO, CA Palomar Gem & Mineral Club California Center for the Arts 340 N. Escondido Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-5; Sun Gayle Hamilton (760) gemshow@ palomargem.org M ay 7 & 8: JACKSON, CA Amador County Gem & Mineral Society Kennedy Mine Kennedy Mine Road (off Hwy. 49/88) Hours: 10am 4pm Daily Gaylene Lichty (209) mountaingirl@ volcano.net May 13-15: YUCAIPA, CA Yucaipa Valley Gem & Mineral Society Yucaipa Music & Arts Festival Yucaipa Boulevard Fri. 6pm-9pm; Sat 11am-10pm; Sun. 12-6pm Lee Peterson (909) res09ayd@ verizon.net June 3, 4 & 5: LA HABRA, CA North Orange County GMS La Habra Community Center 101 W. La Habra Blvd. Hours: Fri. 5pm-7pm; Sat. & Sun Don Warthen (626) Cell (626) odwarthen@ verizon.net nocgms.com June 4-5, 2016: GLENDORA Glendora Gem and M ineral Club 859 E. Sierra M adre Ave. Glendora, CA Sat. 10am-5pm Sun. 10am-4pm Bonnie Bidwell (626) Ybidwell2@ aol.com June 25 & 26: CULVER CITY, CA Culver City Rock & Mineral Club Veterans Memorial Auditorium 4117 Overland Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun Janice Metz (310) janicemtz@ yahoo.com September 24 & 25: LODI, CA Stockton Lapidary & Mineral Club Lodi Grape & Harvest Festival Grounds 413 East Lockeford Street Hours: 10 a.m. 5p.m. Daily Jerold Kyle (209) jeroldkyle@ yahoo.com 13

14 September 24 & 25: SANTA ROSA, CA Santa Rosa Mineral & Gem Society Wells Fargo Center for the Arts 50 Mark West Springs Road Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun Erica (707) GS.org October 8, 9, 2016 : TRONA Searles Lake Gem and M ineral Society SLGM Show Building M ain St. P.O.Box 966 Trona, CA (M ail Address) Sat: 7am 5pm Sun: 7am 4pm Jim and Bonnie Fairchild (760) slgms@ iwvisp.com or google Trona Gem Club November 19-20: OXNARD, CA Oxnard Gem & Mineral Society Oxnard Performing Arts Center 800 Hobson Way Hours: Sat 10-5; Sun 10-4 Diane Cook (805) johndianedaisy@ yahoo.com CFMS SHOW PLACERVILLE, CA Host: El Dorado County Mineral & Gem Society September El Dorado County Fairgrounds 100 Placerville Drive Fri-Sun 10 am -5 pm Daily Barbara Terrill (530) info@rockandgemshow.org Mining Continued... expedite the opening of new mines, we could see a much-needed expansion of domestic supplies of these crucial minerals. Thankfully, the Senate is currently taking up an Energy Policy Modernization Act that includes language introduced by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to address the production of critical minerals. Specifically, Sen. Murkowski s legislation calls for geological surveying of critical mineral resources, and aims to reduce federal permitting delays by requiring both coordination among agencies and establishing deadlines. Passage of the Energy Policy Modernization Act would help spur minerals production throughout the United States, and help to provide the resources needed for an energy boom already underway in America. Such supplies are crucial to new energy technologies that could bring America one step closer to a true all of the above energy policy. It s past time to overhaul our outdated mine permitting process and make the United States more self-reliant in vital minerals production. From statements by Hal Quinn, President and CEO of National Mining Association. SHOW DATE INFORMATION SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO: Bob High 434 East Lancaster Blvd. Lancaster, CA (661) cfms.show.dates@ amlands.org or Sharon Rogow PO Box Las Vegas, NV (702) cfms.show.dates@ amlands.org 14