NEXT MEETING: FEBRUARY 15^TH

PROGRAM: PETOSKEY STONES AND MINI AUCTION

REFRESHMENTS. K THROUGH R, Please bring goodies.

CLUB CALENDAR

February 15th               Regular club meeting at North School 7:30

March 1^st                     Board Meeting-7:00 at the Okemos Library

March 15^th                   Regular club meeting at North School 7:30

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February Program

Our program will be on petoskey stones-the origin of, history-folklore, how & where to find, & polishing. Asking that anyone that has specimens that they would like to display & share please bring them to the meeting. We will also be having a mini auction-so folks can bring items for that also.  There will be several items which were donated to the Club by Bill and Alice Gardner  when they closed A & B Jewels and Tools.

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A reminder: In the event of bad weather, the meeting will be canceled if school has been canceled. If weather becomes bad after school has been held and you wonder if meeting will be held call the editors and hopefully they will have the information.

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Note from the editors: Those of you who missed the January meeting missed a great program.  The DVD on Rhodocrosite was very interesting and we all learned a lot about a mineral that most of us knew very little about.

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Its time to start work on the 2007 directory. To be in the directory your dues must be paid by the February 15^th club meeting.

 In addition I would appreciate it if you would check the 2006 directory and send any corrections, additions or subtractions to me. I need to have these by or at the February Meeting. I hope to get the directory out by the March meeting.

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Six members of CML&MS braved the cold and wind to take part in the Okemos Science Day. Karen Kanine deserves a medal for coming from St. Louis.  Karen, hope your trip home was not too bad. Attendance was pretty good considering the weather. Mary, you were right, it was a lot of fun.  The only bad part was loading up the cars to go home, as the wind was blowing 40+ right out of the direction we had to go in.

There will be no minutes in this news letter as the editor managed to lose them in to cyberspace, sorry Sue.

SOCIETY  PROGRAMS  2007

JANUARY-RHODOCROSITE   (To bad if you missed this one)

FEBRUARY-PETOSKEYS WITH THE MILLERS & MINI AUCTION

MARCH-SILENT AUCTION

APRIL-ELE’S PLACE

MAY-GEMS & FACETING WITH ALAN HUKILL & MINI AUCTION

JUNE-ANNUAL BANQUET(ANNIVERSARY CAKE)

JULY-AUG-NO MEETING

SEPTEMBER-DISCOVERING FOSSILLS WITH THE SNEPPS

OCTOBER-WONDERS IN ARIZONA WITH ELAINE ANGSTMAN

NOVEMBER-SHOW & TELL/SILENT AUCTION

DECEMBER-HOLIDAY PARTY & GIFT EXCHANGE

Have you got cabin fever? I know I do. Hang in there a little longer, shows start up in March.

March 2-4                     34^th Annual Show Eastern Indiana Gem & Geological Society

                                    Wayne County Fairgrounds, N. Salisbury Rd., Richmond, Indiana

                                    Hours:March 2^nd 9-6, March 3^rd 10-6, March 4^th 11-4.

March 3-4                     35^th Annual Special Auction Roamin Club of Livonia

                                    Schoolcraft College, Visatech Building

                                    18600 Haggerty Rd., Livonia

                                    March 3rd 11-6 &  March 4^th 12-6

March 16-17                       45^th Annual Show Michigan Gem & Mineral Society “Gem Heaven in 07”

Location: Michigan Center Masonic Lodge. 355 Napoleon Road, Michigan Center, Michigan. Hours: March 16^th 11-6, March 17^th 10-6, March 18^th 10-5.

March 24^th                    35^th Annual Metro Rock Swap

                                    Midwest Mineralogical & Lapidary Society of Dearborn

                                    Democratic Club of Taylor , 23400 Wick Rd, Taylor MI , 10 AM-5PM

April 20 – 22                 30^th Annual Gem, Jewelry, Fossil, Rock, and Mineral Show

                                    Cool Stuff From The Ground

                                    Macomb County Gem & Mineral Society

                                    Roseville Recreation Department

                                    18185 Sycamore, Roseville,MI (E side of Gratiot just N of I 696

                                    9am – 7 pm., 10 am – 7pm., 11am –5 pm

                                                    

Join the Excitement in Roswell, NM

As a member of the Chaparral Rockhounds and President of the American Federation (AFMS), I would like to take the opportunity to offer a very warm welcome to the joint Rocky Mountain and the AFMS annual Gem and Mineral Convention. The welcome is especially warm because the festivities will be held in June in Roswell, New Mexico.

Roswell is an oasis in the southern New Mexico desert and is noted for its strange events. In addition to beautiful gems, stunning jewelry, fabulous mineral specimens, intriguing fossils, and informative educational displays that you will see at the show, there will be some unusual incidents and displays. Alien some might say.

So, if you want some unparalleled fun, come see us in Roswell.

By Bob Car/son, AFMS President, via the A.F.M.S. Newsletter

(See the AFMS website www.amfed.org for more information)

Department of the Interior

Announces the New “America the Beautiful” Pass

Legislation passed in the waning days of the 2005 Congressional session, established a new program of passes for the National Parks Service Here’s the information on the new program that went into effect on January 1 of this year.

Dubbed “America the Beautiful”, these passes will be needed to use certain facilities and access certain areas on public land. (If you a casual user, say you only visit one or two parks once or twice per year, you will still be able to pay for park use on an individual basis.) The new program replaces the Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and the Golden Access Passports as well as the National Parks Pass. Existing passes will remain valid until expired, lost, or stolen. This means the lifetime passes will be valid unless lost or stolen, at which time they will be replaced

Costs of the four different passes in the new interagency program are:

1)     A new annual interagency pass costing $80—for visitors to multiple federal sites, the pass offers unlimited coverage of entrance and standard amenity recreation fees for a specific period of time, typically a year, beginning from the date of sale.

2)     A $10 lifetime senior pass for U.S. citizens 62 or over.

3)     A free lifetime pass for citizens with permanent disabilities, and

4)     A new, free annual volunteer pass for volunteers acquiring 500 hours of service on a cumulative basis.

Information on the new pass can be found on the intranet at:

www.doi.gov/06 News Releases/061205.html                           By John Spunaugle via the A.F.M.S. Newsletter via Arrowhead News

Polishing Tip

Petoskey Stones in a Tumbler - A rock shop in Michigan uses finely ground corncobs about the size of Ivory Soap flakes to polish Petoskey stones. Polish dry with cerium oxide; the finish will be excellent. Petoskey is a soft material but this would probably work on other stones.              By Lila Trudel in the Lapidary Digest via Chip & Lick 12/02 via The Tulip City Conglomerate 01/07 via       Arrowhead  News

List of CMLMS Board meetings

CMLMS 2007 Board meetings (Jan - May)
January 4, February 1, March 1, April 4 (Wednesday), May 3
Expected dates for June - December:
June 7, September 6, October 4, November 1, December 6

Show alert

The show is only 8 & ½ months away.  The pebble pond is out of pebbles. Keep those rock tumblers going (the children really enjoy the polished stones).  If you go collecting any place remember the childrens table.  If you visit other shows watch for new ideas. When the weather warms up remember there are still piles of rocks that need sorting at the Laylins.  THINK SHOW! ! !

Here are a few more indications that you might be a rock hound.

You can pronounce the word”molybdenite” correctly on the first try.

You’ve ever spent more than ten dollars for a book on rocks. (know anyone like that Alan ?).

The polished slab on your bola tie is six or more inches in diameter (ring a bell Grit ?

You’re retired and still thinking of adding another room to you house.

The baggage handlers at the airport know you by name and refuse to help with your baggage (know anyone like that Roger ?).

You”re planning on using a pick and shovel while you’re on vacation.

You receive a letter from the county informing you a permit is required to put anymore rocks on your property.

From the science humor collection by Joachim Verhagen on his Science Jokes website, by way of the Flint Rock and Gem Club newsletter  vol.50 #2

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Here is something else to get you out of the house.

Geode Hunting at Keokuk, Iowa Feb. 23, 07  $16.00 a bucket. Contact Kevin Ponzio @verizon.net

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That’s all folks!

If you had sent something in for the newsletter it could have appeared here