President’s Message

Vice-President’s Message

Section News

Shop and Building News

Notes from Neal

Education

Fire and Ice

Rauks are Rocks

Rockhound Holidays

Minutes of December 5, 2023 Board Meeting

Holiday Party – No General Meeting in December

Upcoming Shows

About Us

Upcoming Meetings and Events

Calendar

Officers and Contact Information

Happy New Year HGMS!

I hope we all enjoyed our time over the holidays whether we were traveling, visiting loved ones, or searching for that new big show piece for our collections at home.

I’d like to start off by thanking everyone for giving me the opportunity to lead you into the new year and I look forward to working with everyone. The new team has already been busy getting into their positions with a great eager to get started! I’d like to thank our 2023 committee for all the hard work they have put in over the last years and we look forward to putting all the new upgrades to use.

This year our main goal will be getting new members into the club. There have been some ideas already brought up and they all sound great so far. We will also be looking into bringing some new tech to hopefully make our lives a bit easier, help individual sections and appeal to the younger generation. Nothing has been set in stone and details need to be discussed so everyone has a chance to show us what our current members are capable of. I’d like to hear from everyone, we need your input to make sure we meet everyone’s needs.

HGMS was founded upon the sharing of information and teaching, so let’s bring the wise and ready to learn together.

I will be at the clubhouse on Thursdays “be it as long as life cooperates,” so if you’d like to talk in person that would be the best way to reach me.

Here’s to an already exciting 2024!

LT – Logan Wilcox

We typically present a talk at each General Meeting. On January 27th, Sigrid Stewart will follow up her previous talk on the Mineralogy of the Asteroid Belt with a presentation discussing how asteroids and meteorites have affected Earth, called “Fire from Heaven”.

Gemstones and Faceting – Second Thursday, 6:30 PM

Zoom meeting begins at 7:30 pm.

From Randy Carlson:  Happy New Year! I will leading the Gemstones & Faceting Section as LT is now Club President.

FIRST – If you do not want to be included in my emails, that is fine, and just reply back and say “NO”. In that way, I won’t be clogging your email inbox. I understand that not everyone may still be interested in the group at this time.

The International School of Gemology is an excellent school. It’s operated by Robert James. It’s designed to be an online school, so easy for anyone, anywhere to complete.

Robert is offering a free class, mentioned below, for Introduction of Gemology! If you have not taken this class, I highly suggest it. If anyone if interested in taking further classes through the ISG, please talk to me. This school is  affordable compared to the GIA GG program, and in my opinion, as good and better in some regards. Anyway, take advantage of the offer below, if it interests you.

I’m looking forward to this year! At the January 11th meeting I want to discuss what our year studies and projects will be, so please join if you can. I will not be at the meeting in person, as I’m in Colorado for the next few weeks. I’ll be attending via Zoom. I’m really looking forward to this year and our entire group’s participation.

Lapidary and Silversmithing – Third Monday, 7:00 PM

January 15, 2024 – As always for the first meeting of the year,  we talk about what things we want to do over the next year, we introduce everybody,  new and for this meeting we’re going to be working on the rings that people made in November.

Refreshments will be served and we will choose programs for the following months. Email Lapidary@hgms.org if you have questions.

Day Light – First Wednesday, 1:00 PM

The Daylight Section meets the first Wednesday of the month from 1 to 3 PM.

On January 3rd, Neal will be teaching us how to drill “stuff.” We will be drilling glass beads and then we will make earrings out of them. We will also drill fossils which we can take home and make whatever we want to make with them, perhaps a necklace. There is no cost for this session. Hope to see you there!

Please register in advance to make sure we have enough materials for everyone. A $5.00 fee is necessary for most classes to pay for materials. Register by sending an email to Nancy Searle at daylight@hgms.org. All programs are $5.00 and the fee is paid at the meeting.

Mineral – Third Wednesday, 7:30 PM

On January 17th Steve Blyskal will present the topic of Pegmatites. That is the theme of this year’s Tucson Gem & Mineral Club Show, and there are articles in the Mineralogical Record, Rocks and Minerals, and Rock and Gem this month. He will propose that the Section return to the clubhouse for hybrid meetings. It would be beneficial for people to come to the club to see and handle minerals again!

The link for the Zoom meeting is:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4517997588?pwd=SnZjckZBTnRMbHRxZitScE9WU3RWUT09

Paleontology – Third Tuesday, 7:30 PM 

We’ve started hybrid Zoom meetings that include members attending remotely via Zoom; if you’re intrigued by dinosaurs, trilobites, field trips to collect Texas fossils and all other paleontology-related topics we’d love to have you attend a meeting in one way or another and see what we’ve got going on. If you’d like to join the Paleo Section email list, send an email to hgmspaleosection@gmail.com and ask to be added.

At the January 16, 2024 meeting, we will work on preparation of urchins using air abrasive and tooth brush. Bring a used tooth brush. I will supply fossils.

Paleo has joined the digital age with our very own microscope. We have microscopes but this one will allow us to project the image with a projector and connect to everyone on Zoom. Most importantly, it does low/high magnification. All the things I did not understand turn out to not be a problem, including the price. It is only about $300. The one Jeanean settled on is the Tomlov DM-602 . You can find it on Amazon.

I had been talking about microscopes to Jeanean. It was plain that I had worked myself into a corner because the descriptions never told me what I needed to know about magnification and such. She bravely decided to cut the knot by buying a likely candidate and testing it on our materials.  The unit can be used as a standalone or connected to Zoom through a laptop. Paleo may be able to get over my problems with Zoom by using this microscope. My admiration knows no bounds, partially because she figured out how to connect all the wires!!!

I am going to give her a favorite fossil, a Pentremites from Millstadt, Illinois collected by me in 1965. On paper these are about 1/3 larger than the usual find.

For the December Paleo meeting we had a record post-Covid turnout – 23 people attacking blocks of Wheeler Shale from Utah. Fossils and hammers – a perfect mix.

Youth, First and Third Saturdays, 10:00am – 12:00pm

Mostly we will be working on cabochons.

101 American Fossil Sites You’ve Gotta See by Albert B. Dickas: This is the ideal book to take on your next field trip. It has fossil sites in all states, including Hawaii. Some sites you can collect, and some are museums. I know you have not checked it out so come and see. I suggest you get a copy from Amazon. I am going to put it on the top shelf, left side of the Paleo section in the library (first alcove, in the stacks).  Look for it.

The following classes are now being offered at Houston Gem & Mineral Society Clubhouse in January and February 2024.  You must register and pay online at HGMS.org/Education Tab/Classes.  They will be available for online registration in the next week.  Please read the class description carefully as specifics vary by teacher.  Forward questions or problems registering to:  Education@hgms.org.

Class:  TREE-OF-LIFE PENDANT in Center Classroom –  Taught by Maggie Manley

Date:   Sunday, January 14th, FROM 1 PM to 4 PM

Cost:   Member Cost $50.00; Non-Member Cost $65.00, plus cabochon, if purchased

Description:    Maggie will teach you to wire wrap a tree sculpture onto your cabochon (see photo of example).  You will learn many fabrication recommendations to create a beautiful tree on your cab.  It is recommended that your cab be relatively simple in texture and color so that the wire tree stands out from the stone background.  Several wire colors will be available to complement your pendant (silver, brass, or copper). The cab size should be approximately 1-3/8″ wide by 2″ high.  This is an intermediate wire-wrapping class.  It requires manipulating wire and fabricating a free-form tree shape that wraps around your cabochon.  The most challenging part of this project is neatly terminating each of the branch-wires at the back of the pendant, as it requires some patience.  You will be proud of your creation and able to make more on your own.  Written instructions and resources will be provided to recreate these pendants at home.

Misc.:  Students provide an oval cabochon for their Tree-of-Life Pendant; or, they can purchase a cab in class.  Wire and tool usage is included in the class cost.  Students will leave with ability to complete the pendant, if not completed in class.

Bring to class:  Cabochon and magnifiers, if needed.  You may also bring a light for extra visibility.

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Class: CABOCHON 101 CLASS in Center Classroom and Lapidary Shop – Taught by Sharon Halton, Shop Manager

Date:  Saturday, January 20th, from 3 PM to 7 PM

Cost:  Member Cost:  $60.00; Non-Member Cost:  $75.00

Description:  This class includes a discussion of how to create cabochons and examples of cabs in various stages of development.  Sharon will provide each student with a pre-cut, preformed, and dopped cabochon to shape, while their chosen slab is curing from the dopping process.  Students will select a slab and shown how to use a template to outline the cab shape and use the the trim saw to roughly shape the cabochon outline.  Students will roughly outline their slab and dop it.  Each student will leave with 2-cabochons and the knowledge to finish them, if they have not completed them in class.  Students will learn the best way to use the equipment in the Lapidary Shop so that they can work semi-independently and confidently in the shop afterwards with oversight from Shop Managers. This class is highly recommended for those wishing to utilize the Lapidary Shop.

Misc.:  Minimum of 3-students; Maximum of 5-students; Students must be 16 years +

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Class: CABOCHON 101 CLASS in Center Classroom and Lapidary Shop – Taught by Sharon Halton

Date:  Monday, January 29th, from 11 AM to 3 PM

Cost:  Member Cost:  $60.00; Non-Member Cost:  $75.00

Description:  This class includes a discussion of how to create cabochons and examples of cabs in various stages of development.  Sharon will provide each student with a pre-cut, preformed, and dopped cabochon to shape, while their chosen slab is curing from the dopping process.  Students will select a slab and shown how to use a template to outline the cab shape and use the the trim saw to roughly shape the cabochon outline.  Students will roughly outline their slab and dop it.  Each student will leave with 2-cabochons and the knowledge to finish them, if they have not completed them in class.  Students will learn the best way to use the equipment in the Lapidary Shop so that they can work semi-independently and confidently in the shop afterwards with oversight from Shop Managers. This class is highly recommended for those wishing to utilize the Lapidary Shop.

Misc.:  Minimum of 3-students; Maximum of 5-students; Students must be 16 years +

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Class:  JEWELRY DESIGN CLASS – Main Meeting Room – Taught by Jeanean Slamen

Date:    Wednesday, January 31st, from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM

Cost:    Member Cost $40.00; Non-Member Cost $50.00

Description: This class will introduce you to the toolbox of ideas and workflow that allow you to transform your inspiration into jewelry that reflects your personal taste and style.  You’ll have more confidence in your designs and will be able to solve design issues before you start fabricating. During the class we’ll learn about design principles, evaluate various jewelry designs, and practice the kind of activities you can use to create your own designs at home.  A class handout will be provided for note taking.  These principles are applicable to every method and style of jewelry making.

Misc.:   Registration for this class closes on Sunday, January 28th.

Minimum 3-students

Bring to Class:  Your favorite doodling tool, such as a soft lead pencil or fine line marker.

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Class:  TEXTURED RING CLASS – Metalsmith /Jewelry Shop, Taught by Carmen Fraticelli

Date:    Sunday, February 11th from Noon to 5:00 PM

Cost:    Member Cost $85.00; Non-Member Cost $100.00

Description:  Learn to make and texture a set of stacking rings from scratch. This class is appropriate for the beginning silversmith or for expanding one’s knowledge of basic ring making. The class will cover creating rings and the fundamentals of finishing a piece (the key to making it look professional). Each student will leave with 1-2 rings and a set of basic finishing tools.  You will learn to: Calculate length needed for ring size; Form & solder ring bands; Polish & finish using a flex shaft; and Texture using hammers, chisels, and burs.  Materials, polishing and texturing tools are provided by the instructor.  This class will be held in the HGMS Clubhouse Metalsmith/Jewelry Shop. Class will overlap open studio hours but will extend into after hours.  Tool box rental is included.

Misc.:  Max. 4- students; Minimum 2-students

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Class:  BEADED BEZEL ON YOUR CABOCHON in Center Classroom – Taught by Maggie Manley

Date:   Sunday, February 18th, from Noon to 4:00 PM

Cost:   Member Cost $45.00 ; Non-Member Cost $55.00

Description:  Learn to create a beaded bezel on on one of your own cabochons. You will use Peyote stitch with small seed beads to surround your cabochon in colors designed to complement individual cabochons.  This is a beginner to moderate level class.  Beads, needles, and thread, bead mats and tool usage are included.  Bring your own cabochon; or, you may purchase one at the class (prices vary).  Bring magnification.  This simple and fast method creates beautiful and unique settings for your cabochons in just a few hours. Examples of Peyote projects will be available for understanding the versatility of this popular beading stitch. Oval cabochons are recommended for beginners; however, this technique can be used on many shapes with a little experience.  Cost includes Beads, thread, and needle.  Cabochon provided by student, or you may purchase a cabochon at the class.  Maximum of 8-students.  Class taught by Maggie Manley.         

Bring:  Cabochon of your choice (small oval shape is easier to finish within class time frame.  Beading needle (#10 or 12), Magnification and project lamp, if needed.  All other supplies provided (beads, thread), tool usage is also included in cost of class.

Tom Gill alerted us to this study, saying “I’ve been a geology nerd for fifty-plus years. I was “today” years old when I learned that a type of rocks exists which is officially named… rauks.” The study is: “Limestone Sea Stacks (Rauks) Record Past Sea Levels and Rocky Coast Evolution in the Baltic Sea (Gotland and Fårö Islands, Sweden),” Mateusz C. Strzelecki, Filip Duszyński, Sebastian Tyszkowski, and Łukasz Zbucki, Frontiers in Earth Science, 2022.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.895419/full

With permission from Marc Abrams – https://improbable.com/2022/08/03/rauks-are-rocks/

The winter time frame seems to have more occasions for us to have a celebration or holiday than the rest of the year It starts with Thanksgiving and runs through Valentine’s Day. All these holidays had me wondering if we had any Rockhound-related holidays. Then, in mid-January, I received an email from Rock & Gem magazine that answered the question. Rock & Gem sends out a weekly email newsletter that has interesting and timely reprinted articles. Each electronic issue has three or four articles, The latest had an article “2023 Rockhound Holidays”. Rockhound Holidays listed include Old Rock Day on January 7, National Jewel Date on March 13, Geologists Day on April 2, Nickel Day on May 16, Dinosaur Days on May 15 and June 1, National Caves & Karst Day on June 6, World Oceans Day on June 8, International Drop a Rock Day on July 3, International Rock Day on July 13, Pet Rock Day on September 3, Collect Rocks Day on September 16, and International Fossil Day on October 11. Thanks to Rock and Gem, they also explained what these days really signified and how they were celebrated. I never realized there were so many days to celebrate Rocks and Rockhounding!

I wondered what Old Rock Day was all about. It is a day to contemplate how old the Earth is. It was probably just a coincidence, but on Old Rock Day I was reading Isaac Asimov’s Guide to Earth and Space which had a lot to say about how big and hold old the Earth really is, and how the age, size, and shape were determined.

National Jewelry Day seems like it should be just before Valentine’s Day, not a month later. It is a day to think about jewelry, from the most ancient to the newest pieces in the Jewelry Store. On National Jewelry Day you are supposed to wear your jewelry, be they a simple ring or a gaudy necklace, or better yet would be both! It is also a day to consider buying a jewelry item for your loved ones (see, I told you it should be a month earlier).

Geologist’s Day was set aside to recognize geologists, both professional and amateur. It is also a day to think about how geology impacts our lives. Geology provides methods to clean our teeth, fuel our automobiles, and build our homes and buildings. It is because of the Earth’s geology that life evolved.

Nickel Day is a day to think about the mineral Nickel, how it is mined and how it is used. The five-cent coin is called the Nickel as they were made from – you got it – Nickel. Nickel was used in many ways by itself and, more often, alloyed with other minerals. Nickel Day makes me wonder why we don’t have a Gold Day, Aluminum Day, Iron Day, etc.

Dinosaurs were so big and lived long (and they still live today, we just call them birds) that we need two days to celebrate them. Dinosaur Days are days to ponder how the dinosaurs lived, how there became so many species, and what caused the demise of all but the non-avian dinosaurs. Dinosaur Days would be a good day to visit a local museum to study and appreciate them.

National Caves and Karst Day and World Ocean Day are more or less self-explanatory. However, International Drop a Rock Day is not what I expected. I thought one should take a rock and just drop it. It is actually a bit more complicated. One takes a rock and paints a picture and/or message on the rock or rocks and hides (drops) them for others to find. The finder can do with it as he/she pleases. They can hide it again, keep it, or possibly even follow the directions if there is a message provided. As a thought, we have a bunch of donated tumbled rocks. We

could tie some of these up in small bags with a note to contact the club if they would like to learn more about rockhounding, and then hide them in places that people visit (shopping centers, grocery stores, parks, etc.). It may be a way to gain a few members. If we publicize it, we could perhaps get an even bigger response.

Pet Rock Day is a day to think about the 1975 marketing scheme which caused an international craze. Who, besides myself, didn’t have a pet rock? Could this be another outline to grow our club? Some nice rocks and a booth at a park or store could lead to more members.

National Collect Rocks Day is just what the name implies. The day was established recently in 2015; a day to get out and collect rocks and appreciate geology. It is not known how the day was established and who celebrated it. Still, it sounds like a good day for a field trip.

International Fossil Day is much like National Collect Rocks Day but has been around longer. It is a day to go out and hunt fossils. Here in North Texas, we do not have to travel far to find fossils. Mineral Wells Fossil Park and the Ladonia Fossil Park (North Sulphur River) are two popular spots, but fossils can be found almost anywhere the white limestone or the grey shale outcrops

are exposed. Locally you can find fossils in Breckenridge Park (Richardson), the area around the dam at Benbrook Lake, the outcrops on the eastern side of Lake Worth (e.g., Marion Sansom Park), and the creeks in east and northeast Dallas (where legally accessible) are all possible locations.

There are at least two takeaways from this article. The first is that it is OK to celebrate being a Rockhound. The second is that there are nationally and internationally recognized days to celebrate rocks.

I would like to thank Rock & Gem for the articles that they distribute in their Weekly Newsletter. For me, they provide background and insight for potential articles. Below is a link to the weekly newsletter from Rock & Gem. The newsletter is free and you do not have to be a subscriber to Rock and Gem. However, Rock & Gem does collect your email for advertising their Magazine. I find that is a small price to pay.

Rock and Gem Magazine:

https://www.rockngem.com/author/adminrockngem/

Photographs:

Pet Rock phtograph: Hempdiddy– own work. Public Domain

Stegosaurus skeleton photograph:

By Perry Quan from Oakville, Canada – Pittsburgh-2013-05-18-054Uploaded by FunkMonk, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27797412

Meeting Statistics:

• Zoom Meeting was called to order by President Nancy English at 7:34 p.m.
• A quorum was present.
• Non-voting members in attendance: Sharon Halton, Jeanean Slamen, Daniel Rodriguez, and Scott Singleton.

President’s Comments:

• President English welcomed three of the 2024 officers. She appreciates all of them for volunteering for these important positions. Nancy is available to listen, coach, or advise if needed.
• Nancy praised Heidi Shelley for her tireless work on the Shop Renovation project. Heidi exercised patience while dealing with the many personalities involved in the North Wall Rebuild Project. Her enthusiasm and expertise got the project rolling and kept it on track from start to finish. She worked with the contractors sometimes daily. She accomplished all of that cheerfully with respect and consideration for committee members’ ideas and feelings. Nancy asked that we all wish her the best in the next phase of her life. Maggie Manley said Heidi was truly remarkable. Nancy described a picture of Heidi at the Show with her arm in the air, a huge smile on her face, talking to a large group of kids. That’s Heidi. Nancy wanted the minutes to reflect that the Club loves and appreciates Heidi for all she has done in the past two years she has been a member.
• Nancy also thanked Michele Marsel for her continued coaching in the background. Even as Michele is trying to back away from the many positions she held in the Club she still sends reminders and cautions to Nancy and other volunteers. The information is always welcome.
• The Club appreciates all that Michele has done over the years. It is unclear how long Michele will be able to continue to support the Club, but her involvement will always be appreciated. Treasurer’s Report:

Treasurer’s Report:

• Financial Tracker for November 30, 2023. The November Financial Report report was emailed to the board members by Nancy English on December 4, 2023. Nancy authorized payment to Noor Lakhani for her November time sheet on December 4, 2023. None of the payments to Noor are posted on the Financial Tracker spreadsheet. From September through December 4, we have paid her $5,055.00. The Board had hoped to continue paying her after the initial startup period for $500.00 per month. During the startup period, we were paying her $30.00 per hour. Michele suggested we may get better results if we paid her the going rate of $800.00 per month. Nancy is not offering her that amount. Nancy added a Bookkeeper/Contractor line item to the November tracker. She will send it to the Board.

Sharon Halton, the 2024 Treasurer, asked if the Club has access to the QuickBooks accounting Noor made. We do not. Noor is on vacation out of the country until December 27. Noor assured Nancy that her family has access to the laptop she left in Houston with our information on it. Noor will be able to conduct business while she is on vacation. Nancy will send her reimbursement requests but told Noor that she does not have to do anything until she returns home.

• Tax Withholding on HGMS Bank Account: Sarah Metsa called Live Oak Bank, and then met with Noor Lakhani and Nancy English to be certain all the signers’ users’ profiles are correct, showing the debits for the withholding tax are shut down. They all showed no withholding. Sarah said the bank would send us a 1099 about the withholding.
• IRS Tax Return for 2021: Nancy called the IRS. Then talked with Michele Marsel. The form the IRS said to use to recover the withholding tax was not correct. Michele already has the correct form. Michele will finish 2021 taxes this weekend and send Nancy the results when they are filed. They must be submitted before year end to avoid jeopardizing our 501C3 status.

Heidi Shelley joined the Zoom meeting. The Board took the opportunity to share the compliments made earlier and tell her we will miss her.

Approval of Minutes:

• President English asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the November 7, 2023, Board Meeting. Fred Brueckner moved to approve the minutes of the November 7, 2023, Board of Directors’ Meeting. Ray Kizer seconded it. The motion passed.

Committee Reports

• Show Committee, Show Statistics: Scott Singleton:
  • Financial Spreadsheet: Scott shared his 2023 Show Spreadsheet from the Financial Tracker. He uses a more detailed report than the summary page we received. He reviewed the discrepancies in the report, explaining under-budget and over-budget items. As of November 30, the net revenue is $18,955. However, Scott expects more expenses and suggests $18,000.00 is a more realistic number.
  • The spreadsheet showed 3,022 people bought tickets online and at the ticket booth. Fred Brueckner pointed out that a lot of the people who attended on Saturday and Sunday used the tickets they bought previously.
  • Nancy told the future Board that Scott will be sending them his 2024 Budget in January of 2024. The Board should be collecting information for the Board section of the Budget to be presented at the February Board meeting.
  • Nancy reminded Scott that the Show Committee’s annual planner includes making the Show Flyer to distribute at the Clear Lake Gem and Mineral Show.
  • Daniel Rodriguez composed a beautiful thank you letter to all the Show volunteers. Nancy said we had 134 volunteers fill 271 shifts. That includes the eleven members of the Show Committee, all the Section booth people, the demonstrators, and Gem ID. All the supervisors of volunteers said the volunteers this year were the smartest, friendliest, most cooperative volunteers in memory.
  • Nancy complimented Scott on the Appreciation Party.
  • HGMS Trailer and contents: The HGMS Trailer needs to be removed from its current location in Porter by January 15, 2023. Clyde McMeans suggests selling the trailer. The trailer was emptied before the Show and returned to the Porter lot. Nancy contacted SCFMS to get permission to use their directory to contact the other clubs to offer it for sale. Clyde McMeans offered us $2000.00 for the trailer.
  • Scott reminded the Board that former fluorescent booth construction pipes also need to be disposed of. Ray Kizer said the metal may be worth as much as the truck if recycled. Scott will ask Clyde to take it to a metal yard. Nancy asked for a motion to dispose of the trailer and its contents.

MOTION: Fred Brueckner moved to sell the trailer to Clyde McMeans for $2,000. And ask Clyde to recycle the steel in the trailer and give HGMS the money for the steel. Ray Kizer seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

• Nancy English told Scott Singleton that as President she has enjoyed working with him as Show Chairman. As Volunteer Coordinator, Nancy has enjoyed working with Scott for the Show. She speaks for the Club when she says we are grateful that he will continue to be the Show Chairman in 2024. Scott is happy if we are happy.
• Sharon Halton reminded the Board that the Rock Village tables are still in her garage. She agreed to house them while we were renovating the shops. Nancy will contact Dean Wix to see if he will help move the tables. Ray and Fred will figure out a place to put them.
• That concludes the Show Committee reports. Scott said Goodnight.
• BBG Notice – On December 4, 2023, Beverly Mace sent a notification to members that the online version of the December BBG (without the minutes) is available on the HGMS Website.
• Donations, Sales, Auction Committee (DSAC): Ray Kizer
  • Holiday Auction: Sigrid will handle the Zettle reader. The tax will be calculated automatically. Ray has 54 high-end items listed on the Auction spreadsheet. He will sell bags of rocks for $5.00 for a 5lb bag of agates.
• Education Committee (Maggie Manley):
  • No Classes posted as of now. Sharon Halton will do a Cab class in December. Ray suggested Dean Lagerwall wire wraps. He might teach a glass. Jeanean Slamen agreed to help Maggie publicize the classes outside the Club.
• Safety/Policy Committee (Nancy English):
  • Progress: On Sunday, December 3, 2023, Dean Wix installed three Smoke detectors and CO2 detectors in the shops and middle classroom. Fred Brueckner discussed the emergency lighting we have at the Exit signs. The emergency lights come on when the electricity goes out. Nancy contacted Pathfinder and they agreed that is enough. lighting.
  • $45727.26 actual expenses against $44,000 budgeted amount. I think the Jewelry sink should be charged to the Jewelry Shop budget. Clubhouse Shop (Repairs/Maintenance) (Richard G) (203.35) should pay for other upgrades made to the Lapidary Shop that needed to be done anyway. Nancy charged the cleaning supplies to the Clubhouse supplies account. The Board agreed with these changes.
  • The $1,000 donation we used to offset the floor painting was reduced to $500 by the donor to pay for a lifetime membership.
  • The North Wall Committee disbanded after the completion of the project. Any further issues with the Lapidary and Jewelry Shops should be handled by Richard Good, Neal Immega, or Tony Lucci.
  • A new committee will need to be formed to assess the ventilation project and the determination of the attic load limit.
  • Club Shop Room Rules Documentation: Jeanean Slamen is still facilitating this project. She predicted the first draft to be available in March.
• Membership Committee (Beverly Mace):
  • Statistics Report for November 2023:

Nancy asked Sarah Metsa to produce a 2024 Roster as soon as possible or by May 31, 2024, as required by the Bylaws.

• Scholarship Committee (Mike Sommers): no report yet. Daniel Rodriguez is on this committee he will be able to keep the Board updated next year. Ray Kizer asked Daniel to ask Scholarship recipients to do presentations to the Club General Meeting about their projects.

Section News/Problems to Report:

• Beading Section (Maggie Manley):
• Day Light Section (Fred Brueckner): Holiday Party on December 6, 2023
• Gemstones/Faceting (Randy Carlson):
• Lapidary/Silversmithing (Richard Good): No meeting in December.
• Mineral (Ray Kizer): Mineral Section no meeting in place of Holiday Party
• Paleo (Mike Dawkins): Not meeting in December.
• Youth (Beverly Mace): The Holiday Party was on December 3, 2023

Old Business

• Equipment Schedule for insurance – Ray Kizer suggested a photo with the number. Richard Good will etch serial numbers on the machines. Nancy thanked Richard Good for all the work he did on the machines as part of the renovation.
• Holiday Party is scheduled for December 9, at the Unitarian Fellowship Hall

There is still time to RSVP and tell me what you are bringing. We have about 20 RSVPS. Five Board members signed up.

New Business

• New Officer suggestions
  • President, Treasurer, and Bookkeeper: Start planning the budget in December by contacting the budget category owners and getting their feedback on 2024 plans.
    • Note: share the Monthly Financial Trackers with them.
    • Present budget draft to Board at January meeting to be finalized at February meeting.
  • Have Secretary Rodriguez prepare January minutes to include signature change motions for the accounts. Nancy will forward the information to him. Keep track of Motions made throughout the year. Nancy told Daniel that he may arrange the minutes’ format however he wants.
  • Keys for Shop Supervisors
    • Clyde McMeans will get the extra keys to the office and the library. F
    • Nancy English asked Ray Kizer to move the donation items out of the Library so members can have access to it again. He has room for those things in other cabinets now.
  • Entry Codes: Ask Michele Marsal to make entry codes for the new Board Members.
  • President English praised the Board. She said “(the Board members have been) wonderful, gracious, astute, intelligent, and supportive of me for the two years I have been President. This has been a wonderful time for me. I enjoy working with you guys. I can’t thank you enough for the time you have put in and the support you have given me for two years.” Board members thanked Nancy for the job she has done.

Dates of Note

Adjourn

Mike Dawkins moved to adjourn the Board of Directors Meeting. Richard Good seconded the motion and it passed. The meeting was adjourned at 9:39 p.m.

What a great way to end the year! Forty-four people came to the HGMS 2023 Holiday Party at the Unitarian Fellowship of Houston Hall. The food was delicious because the potluck cooks are the best. Debbie Seid organized a beautiful setting for the party. Centerpieces brought the holiday spirit right to our tables. We ate Hickory Barn barbeque beef and chicken

Nancy English gave a brief speech Thanking all the volunteers who worked on the North Wall Rebuild Project especially the committee she worked with: Richard Good, Theo Glanton Maggie Manley, Heidi Shelley. Twenty-seven of tonights attendees worked on the shop renovation projects.

Nancy reported that the Annual Show doubled last year’s revenue. Thirty of the party goers volunteered for the Show. The chairmen of every area of the Show said this year’s volunteers were the best we have had in recent memory: smart; friendly; competent; experienced or quick learners.

Nancy praised the Board she has worked with: Sarah Metsa, Beverly Mace, Michele Marsal and Heidi Shelley. Then, Nancy introduced the new Board.

LT Wilcox, President; Jeanean Slamen, 1^st Vice President; Sarah Metsa, 2^nd Vice President & Membership Chairman; Sharon Halton, Treasurer working with Bookkeeper Noor Lakhani; Daniel Rodriguez, Secretary; Scott Singleton, Show Committee Chair; and Past President; Nancy English. Nancy will continue as Volunteer Coordinator. Section Board members are Maggie Manley, Fred Brueckner, Richard Good, Ray Kizer, Mike Dawkins

All of these people volunteer for more than one role to make our Society run smoothly.

This year HGMS received financial donations from two people. Trisha Pollard donated $500.00 which we used to offset the cost of painting the shop floor. An anonymous donor gave us $1000.00 toward our Scholarship program. Non-financial gifts include Sharon Halton’s donation of a dozen shop aprons and Maggie Manley getting them labeled HGMS. Richard Good has spent hours and his own resources to improve saws, grinders, platforms, and tables for the shop.

Beverly Mace is retiring from Membership Chairman and Board member. We honored Beverly with a set of Arizona petrified wood bookends, at the last General meeting. Beverly was Membership Chairman for 29 years and 32 years as Youth Section Chairman. She will continue Chairing the Youth Section and managing the Youth Area at the Annual Show.

This year Michele Marsel has stepped out of the many roles she has assumed over the last few years. The Board and other leadership members are grateful to her for her work as Treasurer/Bookkeeper, Donation Chairman, Safety and Policy Committee Chairman, Bylaws editor, Show money manager, Website committee where she found better IT programs to use, Shop Supervisor, and Security committee member. In the past she has been Show Committee Chairman and Secretary. She continues to coach us slow learners in the background.

Nancy asked for a round of applause to all the people who organized this party and all the people who make HGMS the best.

And then we had THE BEST AUCTION I have ever attended. The 54 items drew enthusiastic bids from the audience and approximately $3,500 net revenue. Ray Kizer our new Donations Chairman is planning a Spring Auction. Watch the weekly Eblasts for more information.

Fredericksburg Rockhounds Annual Show

01/20/2024 – 01/21/2024

Sat. 9:00am -6:00pm, Sun. 10:00am – 4:00pm

Ladybird Johnson Park (Pioneer Pavilion)

Lady Bird Dr, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Frank Rowell, (325) 248-1067 or hcgms20@gmail.com

fredericksburgrockhounds.org

East Texas Gem & Mineral Society

01/26/2024 – 01/28/2024

Fri. 9:00am -5:00pm, Sat. 10:00am – 6:00pm, Sun. 10:00 – 5:00pm

Tyler Rose Garden Center

420 Rose Park Drive, Tyler TX 75702

Jerry Suddeth, (903) 787-2088 or suddethjerry13@gmail.com

www.ETGMS.org