Yolume 42, Issue 9 THE PICK & SHOVEL May2002,PAGE 1 ,-, PRESIDENT'S CLUB EVENTS MESSAGE May 23 General Meeting,Antelope Park: Shelter near 31st & Sumner 7 :30PM, (PLEASE This will be our last fick. & Shovel until September. Does that mean NOTE TI:IIS IS CORRECTION FROM APRIL PICK& SHOVEL.) that school will be out soon? I do believe it will! And summer ... vacations and swimming and rock. hunting and all the wonderful things that go with being June 29 Limestone Day, Weeping Water outdoors will be part of the lifetime memories we mak.e. July 21 Rock & Mineral Grinding Party, Pioneers Park:, Prairie Building, 1-4 PM. Open to Our first meeting at Gere Library was a tun one, with Roger f abian public. Free. Stone cutting, polishing and finishing giving us a difficult but educational rock. 9uiz. I say difficult because no one will be demonstrated by chili members. got I 00% on the multiple choice answers to 9uestions on specific minerals. Sept 4 Board Mtg, Kinko's 48th&Vine ,7PM Or even missed just 26 General Meeting, Gere Librruy, 56th & one, or two. t)ut we Normal, 7-9PM Geode Jam, Sheffier's Geode Mine, learned a lot about Alexandria, MO.... more information will be the specimens on forthcoming (SEEPAGE 4) which we were being Oct 24 General Meeting... Halloween Party, 9uizzed.Dave Antelope Park: Shelter Heffelbower won the prize of a _year's tree Nov. 21 General Meeting, Kellogg Center, 33rd &Holdredge dub membership tor having the most correct answers. And the microphone volume (or my voice Dec. 8 Christmas Party/ Meeting, Antelope Park Shelter, 5-9 PM volume) apparently violated the silence rules tor the library. May Meeting We welcomed the new members who attended: Terry Van t)utsel, Program: Presentation of Scholarship Steve May, E_verit & Marcia Claeson and their girls Monica and Carmen. Dessert "Supper" with club providing coffee, tea and cold cuts & rolls. Chili members bring your I look. forward to seeing all of you at the Thursday, May 23 meeting! favorite desserts. Juniors will meet at 7PM. ........... Susy Display Material:Stones showing optical REGIONAL SHOWS phenomena- double refraction, chatoyancy, CALIFORNIA-JULY 12-14, PLACERVILLE,CA. interference figures, etc. Examples:star stones, eyed COMBINED NWF/AFMS-JULY 16-21, PORT TOWNSEND,WA. stones, dichroic stones, etc. MIDWEST-OCTOBER 4-6, SPRINGFIELD, IL AT THE IL. THIS WILL BEA GREAT STATE FAIRGROUNDS. (PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A MEETING... OUR LAST CORRECTION FROM THE APRIL PICK & SHOVEL.) BEFORE THE SUMMER SOUTHEAST- OCTOBER 5-6, .JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA BREAK. COME AND OTHER EVENTS TO CONSIDER MEETOURNEW MAY 18-19- ROCKSWAP,FAIRFIELD,IA.(641)472-5874 MEMBERS, EN.JOY JUNE 14-16-MISSOURI MINES ROCK SWAP (319)3937193 ;()OD FOOD, GREAT AUGUST 16-18- MW FACETERS' GfilLD 13TH ANNUAL COMPANY AND MAYBE FACETERS' SEMINAR, MOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, May27,2002 A FEW SURPRISES! FLINT, MICfilGAN (SEE FLYER AT THE MAY MEETING) REMEMBER .. Volume 42, Issue 9 1HE PICK & SHOVEL May 2002, PAGE 2 SPECIAL PRESENTATION WHATS THE BUZZ? I am pleased to announce the very special presentation of Lifetime by Judy Reilly Membership and a special plaque for recognition of years of service to LGMC to Jim and Phyllis Parks. The awards were presented in their home, April 28 by May sure is a busy month, isn't it? From May Club President, Susy McMahan and Club Founder, Irl Everett. Also present were Day to Mother's Day to Memorial Day everyone Roger Fabian and Vera Lyman, longtime club members. The following tribute, seems to be bustling with new energy. I guess this written by Irl Everett, sums up how we all feel about Jim and Phyllis. comes from the anticipation of warmer weather Congratulations for an honor well deserved! and all the chores and activities that the higher temperatures bring. When Roger first called me (to present the awards) I had no idea what to I have already driven back east this month to say. But as I sat and thought awhile, many memories passed through my help a friend move her daughter and her whole mind.It seems that I first met Jim and Phyll at the museum where the club dorm room, it seemed, back to Wyoming. We met for many years. From the first, they were always interested in the club visited Hershey, PA. and Colonial Williamsburg, and its future and with this interest was also a real desire to enjoy the hobby VA., places I had never been even though I grew of collecting, rmishing and displaying at all the shows. up in PA. There was a quarry near Hershey but I didn't have time to get in on any rockhounding We came through some ups and downs through the years. One club doing activities. I did purchase some "specimens" of two national shows on their own is quite a feat in itself. But through all this course at a touristy shop. and the other 44 shows, we could always count on Jim and Phyll. They have Now I am settled back in NE. Apparently the been the greatest asset to our club. They both have held many positions in monsoons came through while I was gone because the club; president, treasurer, vice president, show starter uppers, and the grass in my back yard was high enough for a working with the youth, among others . At many shows they helped with the machete instead of a lawn mower. But that is part Nebraska Case and also the State of Nebraska Case. You name it and they of the joys of May... high grass, new flowers, new(~ have done it all Through the years, as we have grown older and maybe have growth, new experiences. slowed down a bit, both of them have come to all the shows and have been Have a wonderful summer! Remember to send there from start to finish. I was so glad when I was able to be at the 2002 any articles or ideas for the next newsletter, which show and once again meet Jim and have a chuckle or two. It was just the you will receive in Sept. to me @ right time for both of us, as you know we have both slipped a little. [email protected] or mail them to the club So when Roger called me abut this little assignment, I said to myself, "It's mail box. about time we honor Jim and PhylL" After all, they have been very ***************************************** deserving of this moment and I am proud to say, "Jim and Phyllis, we of the OOPS! Last month I had the wrong dates for Lincoln Gem and Mineral Club present to you, your well-deserved life the May meeting page 1 and for the Sept. and membership card. You are long overdue but now you can see just how much Oct. events listed on page 10. The following are we love you and have enjoyed the times we have had together." corrections: General Meeting: May 23, see page I Midwest Federation Convention and Show: Oct 4-6 in Springfield, IL., see page 1 Sheffler's Geode Jam, dates not certain, see page 4 Des Moines Lapidary Society Show, dates and location to be announced Hopefully, OOPS, will not be an ongoing column but as Phyllis says, "thanks for reading!" New club member, Mark Renter, recently had heart surgery. We wish him well and hope to be seeing him again soon. Volume 42, Issue 9 THE PICK & SHOVEL May 2002, PAGE 3 a:EPEa&AT•e»N Crying Wolf skin bums. However, all three give you a little time to from Mel Albright minimize damage by rapid washing with water. But In this age every bureaucratic nanny is trying to ONE small drop of hydrogen fluoride can KILL you. So protect everybody from something. Lawyers are trying getting complacent about using acids can be fatal. Some to protect manufacturers from lawsuits. We are buried flammable solvents are actually hard to get burning. in warnings. Almost every item has some warning Some flash easily from heat or static electricity. So printed on it-sometimes several. If you hunt, you will casual use of solvents can be dangerous. Some tools can find there is a MSDS (material safety data sheet) bruise you if misused while others can take off a finger. issued for WATER as required by the government. A SO WHAT DO YOU DO? First, read the little search says vinegar is considered one of the most information on everything you buy. Then decide what dangerous substances around. Stickers say not to let the warnings are for your status. Then remember the baby put its head in a bucket of water. Plastic EVERY TIME you use them to mentally review the sheets repeatedly warn that they aren't for putting over safety conditions needed and be sure you follow them. your nose. And on and on. Remember, sometimes the wolf really does show up. If you are like me, you are starting to ignore all the _________AF_M_s_N_E_w __ s..:..LE:..:TI:...::.=:ER,:..::..::M=ay::..:.,..:.20:.:o..:.2 ___ 1 ,_ ='Safety warnings. I don't even read them anymore. IT's A BIG STONE! There are so many that that there might as well be from Jon Spunaugle AFMS Scholarship Foundation Weighing almost 6,000 carats, the "Dare Devil" really is a big none. faceted stone. When you hold it in the light and tum it ever so BUT, some of them are somewhat serious. They s1 igh tly, it flashes a brilliant variety of colors-salmon, lilac, yellow, should be followed carefully. Every new prescription red ..