|
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman's Letter
By Ray Grant
Foundation activities are moving along. See the notes in this issue about Family Day and the Flagg Show. I think this will be a great year at the Flagg show as we are looking at some great publicity. I am working on the Arizona Minerals Symposium for next April. If you know any good speakers let me know or volunteer. I have tentatively gotten permission for an interesting field trip for the day after the symposium. More information about the trip as it is available. We always need field trip ideas!
I would like to tell you about Friends of Mineralogy. It is a national organization composed of mineralogists, mineral collectors, mineral curators, and mineral dealers. It was started in 1970 at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. I was at that meeting in Tucson (my first trip to the Tucson Show) and part of the original organization and I am currently on the National Board of Directors. Today there are seven regional chapters around the U.S. and a national membership. Many of the chapters are doing what our Foundation is doing: sponsoring symposiums, publishing, supporting educational activities related to minerals, and trying to further the mineral collecting hobby. I have not tried to start a chapter here because we have the Foundation doing the same things, but I am asking you to consider joining the National Friends of Mineralogy. It cost $10 per year. Like the Foundation, you don't join for what you can get, but you join to help promote mineral collecting. The dues support symposia, publications, awards, and educational programs. Go to the web site www.friendsofmineralogy.org and consider joining. I have some membership applications that I will bring to meetings.
Remember, the Foundation always needs help. Our organization is a service group. What you get is the satisfaction of working with great people to help promote a hobby that you love. The Museum can also use volunteers, so if you have some time consider helping out there. Come to our next collection committee meeting or our next business meeting and find out what you can contribute.
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mineral Merit Badges!
Review by Steve Decker
The greatest benefit of writing for Rock & Gem magazine is having the opportunity to meet interesting people with creative ways of supporting the mineral collecting hobby. One of the most creative people I have met recently is Darryl Powell.
Darryl writes and publishes books about minerals for kids. He has written several featuring the theme minerals of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, including Gold, Minerals From Brazil, and Minerals Out of Africa.
One of Darryl's coolest ideas is The Earth Digger Club. It has Merit Badges that kids can earn by learning about minerals, and includes activities that make it easy to be the Youth Leader at your Rock Club.
Darryl can be contacted at:
Diamond Dan Publications
P.O. Box 143
Manchester, New York 14504
|
|
|
|
|
|
