THE BACKBENDER’S GAZETTE
Volume LV ----- Houston Gem & Mineral Society ----- December 2025
Hunting Mammoth Teeth
Table of Contents
Click a Table of Contents Entry to jump to that article.
President's Message
Our Annual Holiday Party will be held at the Unitarian Fellowship of Houston Hall, 1504 Wirt Road, Houston, Tx 77055 on Saturday, December 13, at 6:00 PM.
Volunteers needed! See all the yummy details here.
Hunting Mammoth Teeth
by Sigrid Stewart
There are some very distinctive shapes to look for in the world of fossil hunting, and one such shape is that of mammoth teeth. Between the Miocene epoch of 6.2 million years ago into the Holocene, species of the now-extinct genus Mammuthus roamed North America, Eurasia and parts of Africa. Mammoths are well-known for their cold adaptations, like heavy fur and smaller ears, but those are a bit hard to find in the fossil record. Their structure of their tusks are different from that of modern elephants, featuring spiral twists, and their teeth also exhibit differences.
The oldest representative of the genus first appeared in Africa in the Miocene and spread to Eurasia before crossing into North America around 1.5 million years ago. The famous Woolly mammoth of Eurasia and northern North America appeared around 700,000 years ago and was still found up to about 4000 years ago on Wrangel Island in the Arctic, well into historical times. Mammoths feature in Siberian folklore and were painted in caves frequented by Paleolithic peoples.
The best known of the North America animals was the Columbian mammoth, perhaps the largest of the mammoths, standing up to 13 feet at the shoulders and weighing up to 13 tons. The smallest were the pygmy mammoths of the Channel Islands off the coast of California. Mammoths specialized on feeding upon grasses and sedges, and its teeth were adapted to grinding those plants finely. Their jaws carried four molars, which were replaced 5 times as they wore out. The teeth have varying numbers of ridges called lamellae, probably depending on how abrasive the plants in their diet were
The Clovis people hunted mammoths and mastodons 20,000 years ago with their fluted bifacial stone points, and many Native American tribes have legends about them. The Ponca people, who lived near the Niobrara River in Nebraska, called mammoths and mastodons “long nose”, and have a story recorded by the Smithsonian Institute about hunting a mastodon. Both mammoths and mastodons belong to the order Proboscidea, but mastodons belong to the genus Mammut. Their teeth are shaped quite differently from those of mammoths.
Mammoths and mastodons are known from many American fossil sites, such as the La Brea Tar Pits in California and the Waco Mammoth National Monument in Texas. I have seen mammoth fossils which were brought to a professor at University of Texas – Permian Basin, found in the Monahans Sand Dunes of West Texas. In 1992, possible mammoth or mastodon tusk fragments were found near a bayou west of Houston and investigated by the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Tusks are more fragile but are sometimes found; so many have been found in Siberia that fossil ivory is popular for carving and jewelry.
Can fossil hunters find mammoth teeth? Yes! I have found several in gravels of the Pecos River in West Texas, and I am sure there are many more to be found buried or in other gravel deposits, because of their hardness and resistance to abrasion. Many people have found mammoth bones and teeth (as well as horse and camel and bison) in and near the Brazos River around College Station and Waco. For any fossil lover, mammoth teeth are a prize find.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoth
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbian_mammoth
1863 lithograph of the partial holotype molar from Georgia, Wikipedia, Public Domain
https://tarpits.org/mammoths-and-mastodons
https://www.nps.gov/waco/index.htm
Photographs Sigrid Stewart
Section News
Beading – Second Saturday, 12:00 PM
- NEXT MEETING: On December 13th, we will have a White Elephant gift exchange. Gifts should be bead-related with a value of $20.00.
- We will car pool to the HGMS Christmas party on Wirt Road on Dec. 13th after the meeting.
- We are making preliminary plans for another Beading Retreat at Camp Allen for late Summer or early Fall of 2026.
NOTICE: Do you have a bracelet or necklace that needs restringing? The Beading Section will carefully restring your piece at an hourly rate of $15.00 + materials. Contact Beading @HGMS.org to make arrangements. All funds will go to the Beading Section.
Always bring beading mat, scissors, wire, wire cutter, round nose and needle nose pliers, thread, and beading needles if you have them.
Find out more about the Beading Section!
Gemstones and Faceting – Third Thursday, 6:30 PM
Our next meeting will be January 8th at 6:30 pm.
- Our January meeting will be a Gem I.D. theme, using multiple instruments to identify different gemstones.
Learn more about the Gemstones and Faceting Section here.
Lapidary and Silversmithing – Third Monday, 7:00 PM
The next meeting will be on January 19th starting at 7:00 pm.
- At our last meeting in November, we voted in everyone that’s going to run the section for the next year.
- Be on the lookout for a write-up of next year’s projects.
Email Lapidary@hgms.org if you have questions, and check out the Lapidary and Silversmithing Section page.
Day Light – First Wednesday, 12:00 PM
The Daylight Section meets the first Wednesday of the month from 12:00PM to 3 PM.
The next meeting of the Daylight Section is Wednesday, December 4th, at 12 PM. For this meeting,
- We will celebrate the holiday season with a Pot Luck lunch of pulled pork barbeque and then an OPTIONAL favorite candy or cookie gift exchange.
- For more information or to register please contact Lindak.hgms@gmail.com to let me know you are coming and what appetizer, side dish or dessert you are bringing.
- Even if you have not yet made it to a previous meeting, you are welcome to join us. Come meet the Daylight Section.
- We will have a Display: Daylight: Past, Present and Future. I will have our 2025 projects displayed as well as a few potential projects for 2026.
- I need help from section members for examples of Pre-2025 projects!
- After we eat, we will have a short business meeting for end of year activities and a discussion of future projects.
A big thanks to Nancy Searle who taught our Christmas Spider November project. We enjoyed making this unusual holiday ornament.
Please register for this session at daylight@hgms.org so that I will have the correct amount of supplies for the session. There will be a charge of $5.00 per participant.
Mineral – Third Wednesday, 7:30 PM
The next meeting is Wednesday, January 21st, at 7:30 pm. Topic to be announced.
Zoom link for the meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86053771923?pwd=ek5lNlk5SGFYNjN6U29ONU4xVElyQT09
or
Meeting ID: 860 5377 1923
Passcode: 826994
If you’d like to join the Mineral Section email list, send an email to mineral@hgms.org and ask to be added.
Paleontology – Third Tuesday, 7:30 PM
On December 16th, we will not have a regular meeting (and no Zoom); instead we will have a Potluck and Secret Santa.
The next meeting is Tuesday, January 20th at 7:30 pm. Topic to be announced.
Zoom link for the meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86053771923?pwd=ek5lNlk5SGFYNjN6U29ONU4xVElyQT09
or
Meeting ID: 860 5377 1923
Passcode: 826994
If you’d like to join the Paleo Section email list, send an email to hgmspaleosection@gmail.com and ask to be added.
Youth, First and Third Saturdays, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Mostly we will be working on cabochons. Children must be accompanied by parents.
September meetings will be on Saturday September 6th and 20th
Houston Matters
At the show this year Brenda Valdivia from Houston Matters came and interviewed our club members and some vendors at the show. The show has multiple segment and our segment is around 45 minutes in.
Check it out! Houston Matters – HGMS Segment
Membership News
- Hello HGMS Members!It is getting close to the end of the year which means it is coming up to Annual Membership Renewal time!Please take a moment and renew using our online application, which allows you to pay online using your credit card (via a PayPal service). Here on the websiteWe will also be having Membership Renewal Drives at the club in January. Each Saturday, I or another volunteer, will be at the club to help you process your membership online and you can pay in cash or check at that time.Please remember, if your membership is not renewed by March 31, 2026, you will no longer be able to use club facilities.Thanks so much! Sarah Metsa, HGMS 2nd VP and Membership Chair
Hello HGMS Members!
It is getting close to the end of the year which means it is coming up to Annual Membership Renewal time! Please take a moment and renew using our online application, which allows you to pay online using your credit card (via a PayPal service). Here on the website
We will also be having Membership Renewal Drives at the club in January. Each Saturday, I or another volunteer, will be at the club to help you process your membership online and you can pay in cash or check at that time.
Please remember, if your membership is not renewed by March 31, 2026, you will no longer be able to use club facilities.
Thanks so much! Sarah Metsa HGMS 2nd VP and Membership Chair
Education
Beginning Wire-wrapped Pendant with Susan Burch on Saturday, December 13th from 10:00 AM to 3 PM in the small classroom. This is an introduction to wire-wrapping.
Beginning Wire-wrapped Pendant with Susan Burch on Monday, December 15th from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM in the small classroom. This is an introduction to wire-wrapping.
CABS 101 Class with Sharon Halton on Friday, January 9th from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This is an introduction to using the equipment in the Lapidary Shop.
CABS 101 Class with Sharon Halton on Tuesday, January 13th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. This is an introduction to using the equipment in the Lapidary Shop.
Sign up here.
Bench Tips
OCHRE APPLICATOR
Yellow ochre is used when you want to be sure the solder won’t flow on an area of your piece while you’re soldering another area. The only problem with ochre is coming up with a good way to store and apply it.
I use recycled nail polish bottles. They seal well and have a built-in brush applicator. Just clean them out with a little acetone or nail polish remover, and they’re ready to go.
TEMPLATES
Whenever I have to make more than 2-3 exact copies of a sheet metal component, I think of making a template. Templates let me easily draw the shape of an item to cut out.
Art stores or online sources like cooltools.us/ and kingsleynorth.com/ sell templates for common shapes like circles, ovals, hearts, etc. but for nonstandard shapes, I make my own out of a scrap of sheet plastic or sheet metal. My preference is brass. I carefully lay out the shape using a steel ruler, a set of dividers, a scribe, and a fine center punch.
One example is the brass template in the pic below that lets me quickly trace the design of ginkgo leaf earrings onto a silver sheet. Another is the nickel template which makes it easy to drill a pattern of holes for pin inlay into wooden handles.
HGMS Annual Holiday Potluck Dinner and Auction
Our Annual Holiday Party will be held at the Unitarian Fellowship of Houston Hall, 1504 Wirt Road, Houston, Tx 77055 on Saturday, December 13, at 6:00 PM.
- The meat, sodas, water, tea, and coffee will be provided by the Club. YOU get to show off your favorite side dish or dessert. Our members make some terrific dishes!
- You can bring food at 5:30, but we need volunteers to set up tables at 5:00 and decorate before the party.
- We also need people after the party to reset the sanctuary for Sunday’s service.
- This year the Auction will be especially good due to some excellent donations.
Christmas Rocks and Minerals – Continued
By Don Shurtz, Pleasant Oaks Gem and Mineral Club of Dallas
Chips and Chatter Newsletter, November 2025
Most years since December 2018, I have written about minerals and rocks that remind me of Christmas. I try to find green and red minerals and rocks. In 2018, my choices were Watermelon Tourmaline and Bloodstone. In 2019, I nominated Willemite to the list. In 2021, I was amazed by a Mindat post titled “Minerals Reminiscent of Christmas.” I added a link to the post, and here it is again: https://www.mindat.org/mesg-278215.html. The link is still active. In 2022, I looked at the dark (naughty) side of Christmas and nominated a “Lump of Coal” to the list.
Did you ever get a lump of coal in your Christmas stocking? 2023 was the year for Unakite and Anyolite, also known as Ruby in Zoisite, Ruby Zoisite, and Tanganyika artstone. Both Anyolite and Unakite are rocks, not minerals. 2024 was when I nominated Franklinite. Franklinite and Willemite are both red and green minerals that were mined in Franklin, New Jersey.
Rocks and minerals that exhibit both green and red in the same stone are difficult to find. This year, I am going Green – the rocks and minerals I nominate are green in color. For the Mineral, I nominate Malachite. There is a picture of a Malachite Christmas Tree in the Mindat post shown in the first paragraph. Malachite is copper carbonate hydroxide; its chemical formula is Cu2CO3(OH)2. About 62% of Malachite’s mass is copper; it is easy to see why it would be a great ore for copper. Copper can be smelted using the heat of a charcoal fire. Copper was smelted from copper-bearing rocks, such as Malachite, as early as 5,000 BCE in southern Europe and the Middle East
For the green rock, I nominate Jade. The general name Jade encompasses both Nephrite, a Calcium and Magnesium Silicate, and Jadeite, a Sodium and Aluminum Silicate. Both Nephrite and Jadeite are commonly green. However, Nephrite can be yellow, white, or black. Jadeite can be white, yellow, lavender, orange, brown, or black. Jade was used in eastern, southern, and southeast Asia for carvings and other works of art. Jade was being mined in China as early as 6,000 BCE. The Olmec, Maya, and Aztec cultures all used Jade for tools and weapons (ceremonial and for fighting) and carved it into various images. Jade mining in Guatemala began as early as 1,500 BCE.
References: Mindat.org, multiple topics, https://www.mindat.org/
Wikipedia, multiple topics, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Malachite slab used under CCA-SA 4.0. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
Other Photographs Steve Blyskal
Safety Matters: Why Rock Safety?
Ellery Borow, AFMS Safety Chair
Why Rock Safety? It’s not a long story, but it does take some background. Safety concerns abound in most everything we do. Take breakfast, for example – we want our foods to be safe. We are careful not to touch the hot cooking surfaces. We try to cook the foods the correct way. We use special caution when fishing the toast out of the uncooperative toaster. We carefully wash the eating utensils afterward. We may not think excessively about making sure breakfast is safe, but we do want it to be a safe and healthy activity.
All around us are activities that are in need of constant safety interaction. We get on an airplane, and we receive safety instructions. People who work in an automobile repair shop are reprimanded if their efforts do not follow safety protocols. Where would we be if no drivers followed the safety rules of the road? Many people who are employed in grocery stores are schooled in how to safely lift heavy loads. Even working in an office has its safety concerns – using scissors, office machinery safe operation, being careful of pinch points, break room health safety, and so on.
A great many of the products we purchase come with a set of operating instructions, and those invariably begin with a set of safety guidelines. Yes, the manufacturers of those products want you to be safe and have a great user experience with their product. Safety matters abound. People engage in an astoundingly diverse number of hobby interests and activities – every one of which has its own safety concerns. Being a race car driver, rock climber, quilter, bee keeper, oil painter, you name it, and there are, no doubt, safety concerns. Even stamp collectors have matters of safety in their activities. The rock, mineral, fossil, bead, lapidary, and jewelry activities are no exception to having safety matters of concern to us.
In the rock and mineral hobby, we engage in numerous and very different kinds of activities, each with its own safety concerns. Here is a short list of our major activities: driving to our events, collecting, working in rock quarries and mines, putting on shows, mineral cleaning, stone cutting, jewelry work, working with ultraviolet light, lapidary effort, rock trimming, and lots and lots of lifting.
All of these activities have a laundry list of safety concerns unique to the activity. Lest one be discouraged from participating in the mineral hobby due to too much concern with matters of safety, being safe can be as simple as:
- Try not to work on something while tired — Take a break instead
- Pay attention to what you are is doing
- Have sufficient lighting
- Ask for help if a project needs an extra set of hands or opinions
- Read the directions for proper use of machinery and chemistry
- Think before acting
That’s TTPHART for short! These and more are the essence of being safe in most any activity. Future safety articles are planned for fire safety, chemical safety, collecting safety, pet safety, show safety, meeting safety, mineral cleaning safety, vision safety, and more in our hobby-related activities. Ours is a great hobby with a rich variety of activities. Encouraging people to be safe in all we do within those hobby activities is the goal of these safety matters articles. Please make matters of safety your concern as well. Please take safety matters to heart because your safety matters.
HGMS Board of Directors Meeting
Meeting Minutes for January 3, 2023
| Board Member | Section Board Member | ||
| President – LT [Logan] Wilcox | X | Beading – Maggie Manley | |
| X | 1st Vice President – John Moffitt | X | Day Light – Fred Brueckner |
| X | 2nd Vice President – Sarah Metsa | Gemstones & Faceting – Randy Carlson | |
| X | Treasurer – Rhett Cooper |
X | Lapidary & Silversmithing – Richard Good |
| X | Secretary – Nancy English | X | Mineral – Ray Kizer |
| X | Past President | X | Paleontology – Al Robb |
| X | Web & Show – Scott Singleton [SS] |
Key Takeaways:
Secretary Nancy English called the Zoom meeting to order at 7:53 p.m. A quorum was present. Non-voting members in attendance: Mike Dawkins. Mike was not at the October meeting when we welcomed his replacement, Al Robb, to the Board. The Board was glad for the opportunity to thank Mike Dawkins for fifteen years of service as the Paleo Board Rep. Mike continues to be the Field Trip Chairman for Paleo field trips.
Approval of Minutes – Secretary Nancy English
BBG Editor, Sigrid Stewart, asked Secretary Nancy English for Board minutes from April, May, June, July, and September in an email. She asked for the General Meeting Minutes for June and August.
Secretary English sent September’s minutes to Sigrid on November 1. The April, May, and October Board meeting minutes are presented for approval tonight.
On June 5, 2025, Nancy emailed the minutes for the April 1, 2025, Board of Directors meeting to the Board for email approval. She received one response.
MOTION: Maggie Manley moved to approve the minutes of the April 1, 2025, Board of Directors ’Meeting. Ray Kizer seconded the motion. It was the motion passed.
On October 28, 2025, Secretary English emailed the combined minutes for the May 6, 2025, Board of Directors meeting to the Board for review.
MOTION: Maggie Manley moved to approve the minutes of the May 6, 2025, Board of Directors ’Meeting. Rhett Cooper seconded the motion. The motion passed.
On Saturday, November 1, Secretary English emailed the minutes of the October 7, 2025, Board of Directors meeting to the Board for review. After reviewing the issues from the August Treasurer’s report, Nancy withdrew the minutes to correct them.
Treasurer’s Report – Treasurer Rhett Cooper reported that the Treasurer’s Report for October is not available yet. He was asked again to provide information regarding the negative $945 line item on the August Statement of Financial Position report. He will investigate it for the December 2 Board meeting.
Rhett reminded the Board Reps that he needs the October month-end statements from the Section accounts.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Donations, Sales, Auction Committee (DSAC) – Ray Kizer reported that Richard Good donated some tumbled rocks for the Show areas: Dino Dig and Youth Area. Ray is gathering the 25 items for the Holiday Party Auction. Ray finished renovating a saw. It is at the back of the main hall.
Safety/Policy Committee – Rhett Cooper did not have a report on proposals to improve circulation and ventilation, and exhaust.
Membership Committee: Sarah Metsa reported new and renewed memberships effective November 4, 2025.
Single Adult – 210
Couples – 61
Families – 21
Youths – 14
Students – 4
Lifetime members – 69.
Overall Members: Adults – 444 and Youths – 54.
Total membership 499
Sarah announced that she is working on Welcome Member Meetings that will start early next year, 2026. She will collaborate with the new Volunteer Coordinator to share new members’ skills and interests in volunteering. Sarah suggested working on the colleges for new members.
Volunteer Committee – Nancy English, Daniel Rodriguez, and July Olsen: Nancy said, “My cup runneth over for most shifts. I’m still placing late applicants.” She still needs people on Sunday.
Scholarship Committee – Mike Sommers and Daniel Rodriguez, and Nancy English.
Nancy English reported that during the October General Meeting, Sigrid Stewart presented Michael Sommers for the American Federation Scholarship Foundation 2025 Honorary Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Field of Earth Science. Michael shared that 30 years ago, as a graduate student, he received an AFMS scholarship.
Michael Sommers was nominated by HGMS because he has been the head of the HGMS Scholarship Committee for 12 years. Michael explained that the HGMS Scholarship program has grown due to the efforts of himself and Daiel Rodriguez over the last few years. Sixteen students applied in 2025 for three HGMS scholarships. Nancy English reminded the group that there is about $10,000 more in the Scholarship fund from 2024. She hopes more scholarships will be available next year. Sigrid emphasized the importance of expanding the scholarship program to accommodate more applicants.
Security – Fred Brueckner called the entry lock technician to troubleshoot intermittent problems with the lock. The 5 AA batteries need to be changed every year. The batteries were original to the installation four years ago. Fred or Dean Wix will schedule the annual replacement.
Show Committee – Scott Singleton: We are ready for lift off!! The Show Committee Chairmen went to HGMS on Saturday to label their supplies and bring them down from the attic. Movers will pick it all up on Wednesday afternoon, for delivery on Thursday morning at the Humble Civic Center. Volunteers will shuttle supplies from the dock to the Show areas on Thursday morning.
SECTION REPORTS
Beading Section – Maggie Manley in person: second Saturday, noon to 3:00 p.m., November 15, December 13, January 10. The November meeting was changed because the Show date was November 8, the second Saturday.
Day Light Section – Linda Krzywicki in person: first Wednesday, noon to 3:00 p.m., November 12, December 3 Holiday Party, January 7, 2026. The November meeting changed because the Show supply setup was on the 1st Wednesday.
Gemstones and Faceting Section – Randy Carlson Zoom Hybrid: third Thursday, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., No November meeting, No December meeting, January 15, 2026.
Lapidary and Silversmithing Section – Tony Lucci in person: third Monday, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., November 17, No December meeting, January 19, 2026.
Mineral Section – Steve Blyskal Zoom program planned: third Wednesday, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., November 19, December Holiday Party to TBD, January 21, 2026.
Paleo Section – Mike Dawkins, Jeanean Slamen, Ray Kizer in person: third Tuesday, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., November 18, No December Meeting, January 20, 2026.
Youth Section– Beverly Mace in person: first and third Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to Noon, November 1 & 15, December 6 Holiday Party, January 3 & 17, 2026.
OLD BUSINESS
2026 Slate of Officers
The Nominating Committee presented its nominations for the 2026 Board of Directors officers to the General Meeting on October 28, 2025
MOTION:
Ray Kizer moved to approve the nominations listed, to be voted on by the General Meeting attendees on November 25, 2025: President Jeanean Slamen, 1st Vice President Julius Albonetti, 2nd Vice President Sarah Metsa, Treasurer Rhett Cooper, and Secretary Debbie Seid. Al Robb seconded the motion. The motion passed. Scott Singleton will remain Show Chairman, and Sigrid Stewart will remain Assistant Show Chairman.
Outreach for Rice University
Sarah Metsa was not in attendance at the October meeting, and this is her presentation. So, we postponed it until the November Board meeting. She will be late tonight. So, Secretary English suggested it might be more important to address the request in January.
SHU Affiliate Club
Randy Carlson emailed that “after a discussion with Dr. Moss yesterday, we agreed to withdraw our request to HGMS, so you can dismiss any further work concerning this matter.”
Neal Immega’s progress from Foster Kneeland.
In mid-October, Neal suffered from severe abdominal pain and was taken to St. Luke’s. They found gallstones in one of the ducts and had surgery to remove them. Some days later, the doctors felt that the gall bladder in total should be removed in total, and he underwent a second surgery. Then later, it was discovered he had a large aortic aneurysm and again, still another surgery. Just recently, there was also a blood clot in the right arm, which is being treated with medication.
Neal is quite alert and talkative and sends his best to his HGMS friends. Neal has an excellent appetite, but he’s a bit dismayed with the “Five Star” hospital food. He’s anxious to return to his home at the Brazos Towers, where the food is superb!
2025 Holiday Party: Join HGMS members for the HGMS Annual Holiday Potluck Dinner and Auction at the
Unitarian Fellowship of Houston Hall, 1504 Wirt Road, Houston, TX 77055
Saturday, December 13, at 6:00 PM. The meat, sodas, water, tea, and coffee will be provided. Members get to show off their favorite side dish or dessert. Bring food at 5:30. This year, the Auction will be especially good due to some excellent donations, but only 25 items. We need volunteers to set up tables at 4:30 or 5:00 and decorate before the party. After the party, we need people to tear down the tables and reset the sanctuary for Sunday’s service. Contact Nancy English to volunteer and name your dish. volunteercoordinator@hgms.org.
Nancy English resigned from numerous responsibilities effective December 31, 2025. She explained.
I am encouraged that Debbie Seid has agreed to be the HGMS Board Secretary in 2026. July Olsen has been a huge help to the Volunteer Coordinator Team for the Show and is a good candidate for the Volunteer Coordinator position. These are the two biggest responsibilities I have. I resigned from the Scholarship Committee, the Show Committee, and the Donations Committee.
I emailed resignations to the Board for my positions as the HGMS representative to the Dunn Southwest Management District and the Registered Agent to the State of Texas for HGMS.
Maggie Manley volunteered to be the v HGMS representative to the Dunn Southwest Management District. Sarah Metsa volunteered to be the Registered Agent to the State of Texas for HGMS.
MOTION: Richard Good moved to appoint Maggie Manley as the HGMS Representative to the Dunn Southwest Management District. Al Robb seconded the motion, and it passed.
MOTION: Maggie Manley moved to appoint Sarah Metsa to be the Registered Agent to the State of Texas. Al Robb seconded the motion, and it passed.
NEW BUSINESS
SCFMS Convention in 2026. Sigrid Stewart emailed, “I want the Board to agree to sponsor the SCFMS Convention in 2026. As of the October Convention, SCFMS does not have a club to sponsor this meeting. I have spoken to Scott about this.”
MOTION: Sarah Metsa made a motion for HGMS to sponsor the SCFMS Convention during the 2026 HGMS Annual Show. Al Robb seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Display Cases:
The Austin Gem and Mineral Society told Sigrid Stewart they have 4 display cases they will give HGMS if we can get them. Sigrid will tell Scott Singleton about the offer, also. Ray Kizer said he would need someone with a truck. Al Robb offered to help load and unload them. Sigrid will send them a picture of the cases. Ray Kizer said HGMS needs to reimburse for gas.
The next Board of Directors Zoom Meeting will be on the first Tuesday, December 2, 7:30 p.m.
The next General Hybrid Meeting will be on the fourth Tuesday, November 25, 7:30 p.m. Program Lifetime member of the HGMS, Chris Garvie, will present “A Lifetime Among Fossils.”
Adjourn: Ray Kizer moved to adjourn. Richard Good seconded the motion, and it passed. The meeting adjourned at 9:30.
HGMS General Meeting Minutes
Minutes for November 25th, 2025
by Nancy English
1st Vice President John Moffitt called the meeting to order at 7:32. He welcomed 24 attendees: 19 in person and 5 online.
One guest attended: Member Karl Schleicher’s daughter, Lisa, is visiting from San Francisco for Thanksgiving. Lisa belonged to the Youth Section as a child. Field trips with her dad and other HGMS members began her interest in geology and led her to her current career. Lisa helped Karl set up the technology for the ZOOM meeting and the program.
Door Prize: Lisa Mochizuki won the pair of crystal votive candle holders in the door prize drawing.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Secretary Nancy English asked for motions to approve two separate months of minutes.
John Moffitt moved to approve the minutes of the August 26, 2025, General Meeting as recently published in the September 2025, BBG and posted on the November 23, 2025, weekly Event Blast. Ray Kizer seconded the motion, and it passed.
Approval of Minutes: Ray Kizer moved to approve the minutes of the October 28, 2025, General Meeting as recently published in the November 2025 BBG and posted in the November 23, 2025, weekly Event Blast. Sigrid Stewart seconded the motion, and it passed.
COMMITTEE/SECTION REPORTS
1st Vice President John Moffitt invited Section Chairs and Standing Committee Chairs to make any additional announcements.
Donations, Sales, Auction Committee (DSAC): Ray Kizer
The Holiday Party Auction will be fun but limited to 25 items.
Education Committee: Maggie Manley. Please watch the Sunday Event Blasts and the Education Section of the BBG under classes for upcoming classes.
Website Committee: Scott Singleton/Sigrid Stewart are looking for more volunteers to assist with the Website updates. Contact webmaster@hgms.org
Safety/Policy Committee: Ventilation upgrade on hold until 2026.
Mineral Section: Steve Blyskal announced the Mineral Section Holiday Party is scheduled for December 14 at his house. All Mineral Section members are invited to attend.
Membership Committee: Sarah Metsa reported new and renewed memberships effective November 4, 2025.
Single Adult – 210
Couples – 61
Families – 21
Youths – 14
Students – 4
Lifetime members – 69.
Overall Members: Adults – 444 and Youths – 54.
Total membership 498
Show Committee: Scott Singleton/Sigrid Stewart
Nancy English wants to thank the volunteers in the room for their help with the Show. 160 volunteers filled 432 shifts. The Show made good money for the 2026 Club expenses. Dealers are happy with their sales, and especially with the hand-delivered drinks, and offer to provide breaks for them. The Appreciation Party at Scott Singleton’s house provided door prizes for all 53 attendees. Greek food, homemade appetizers and desserts, and wine set the stage for a great time. Some volunteers gave us ideas for improvements for volunteers and for the Show for next year.
OLD BUSINESS
Nominating Committee: 1st Vice President John Moffitt invited the Nominating Committee member to announce the 2026 Slate of Officers. All of the candidates agreed to accept the positions. Sigrid Stewart presented the list:
- President: Jeanean Slamen
- 1st Vice President Julius Albonetti
- 2nd Vice President Sarah Metsa
- Treasurer Rhett Cooper
- Secretary Debbie Seid
- Scott Singleton will continue as Show Chairman, and Sigrid Stewart will continue as Assistant Show Chairman.
1st Vice President John Moffitt invited any additional nominations from the floor. There were no additional nominations.
1st Vice President John Moffitt called for a motion to approve the 2026 nominees as presented by the nominating Committee.
MOTION: Sigrid Stewart moved to approve the 2026 nominees as presented. Sharon Halton seconded the motion, and it passed.
Shop News: Please consider volunteering as a Shop Foreman. We need permanent volunteers and fill-in Shop Foremen. Steve Blyskal suggested the Shop purchase 10“saws and 14“saws. He saw them in use in the Austin Gem and Mineral Shop. He said they would take care of most of the rocks that are cut on the HGMS’s big saws.
2025 Holiday Party: Join HGMS members for the
HGMS Annual Holiday Potluck Dinner and Auction at the
Unitarian Fellowship of Houston Hall, 1504 Wirt Road, Houston, TX 77055
Saturday, December 13, at 6:00 PM
The meat, sodas, water, tea, and coffee will be provided.
You get to show off your favorite side dish or dessert.
The food is always good. You can bring food at 5:30.
This year, the Auction will be especially good due to some excellent donations.
We need volunteers to set up tables at 5:00 and decorate before the party.
And after the party, people reset the sanctuary for Sunday’s service.
Contact Nancy English to volunteer and name your dish.
volunteercoordinator@hgms.org
1st Vice President John Moffitt asked members to look for the progress of Old Business items in the Board of Directors’ Meeting Minutes in the latest BackBenders Gazette (BBG) on the HGMS Website https://hgms.org under Publications.
NEW BUSINESS
Nancy English asked to speak about her pending resignations from several positions.
During the November 4, 2025, Board of Directors meeting, Nancy English resigned as the Volunteer Coordinator. July Olsen stepped into the position and will be confirmed at the December 2 Board of Directors meeting. Debbie Seid was just voted as the new Board Secretary. These two ladies will do an excellent job.
Nancy emailed resignations to the Board for her positions as the HGMS representative to the Dunn Southwest Management District and the Registered Agent to the State of Texas for HGMS.
In two separate motions, Maggie Manley became the HGMS representative to the Dunn Southwest Management District, and Sarah Metsa became the Registered Agent to the State of Texas for HGMS.
Nancy praised the volunteers who make HGMS the terrific Club it is. She said she has enjoyed all the positions she has held over the years. She is looking forward to polishing rocks, wire wrapping, doing jigsaw puzzles, and reading, all without HGMS responsibilities.
1st Vice President John Moffitt asked for any further New Business. There was no other New Business.
The next Zoom Board of Directors meeting is on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
The next Hybrid General Meeting will be on Tuesday, January 27, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Show-n-Tell: John Moffitt asked presenters to limit items to 3.
Steve Blyskal shared three of the beautiful agates he purchased at the Austin Gem and Mineral Society Show.
- He showed a 2.5’ square flat of Prehnite noodle-looking pieces.
- He had a 1.5” thick log of snakewood.
- The Laguna agate was especially colorful.
- He invited us to look at his other specimens during the break.
1st Vice President John Moffitt reminded everyone:
Debbie Seid provided refreshments. This is her last General Meeting refreshment commitment. If you are interested in providing refreshments for the January meeting, contact volunteercoordinator@hgms.org or Secretary@hgms.org.
John Moffitt asked members to do the following during the break.
Feed the Kitty! Your donations offset the cost of the snacks.
Thank the volunteers who made tonight possible.
Thank the volunteers who make all of what HGMS is available.
Adjourn: Nancy English moved to adjourn the meeting. James Eleckel seconded the motion, and it passed. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
1st Vice President John Moffitt introduced the Program after the break. Chris Garvie presented “A Lifetime Among Fossils.”
Upcoming Shows
December 6-7, DeRidder Gem & Mineral Society, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4, West LA Forestry Fair Grounds, Leesville, LA.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064473110778
Club and Federation Information
Houston Gem & Mineral Society
Regional and National
American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS)
South Central Federation of Mineral Societies (SCFMS)
Permission to use material originating in this newsletter is given freely providing that credit is given to the author and the source. Articles published in the BBG may be edited for grammar and content and should be submitted before the 15th day of the month. Email content and comments to editor@hgms.org.