The 2006 AFMS Endowment Fund
Drawing
from Joy Bourne, AFMS Endowment Fund Committee
Chairman
Here Come The Prizes!
More Prizes for the 2006 Endowment Fund
Drawing
We have now received twelve (count ‘em - 12!!) Fabulous Prizes for the
2006 drawing as of March 15th - and we are still expecting more! We have received
donations of prizes from every one of the seven AFMS Regional Federations, and
know you, too, will want to help support this once-a-year fund-raiser for the
AFMS Endowment Fund.
If you have already purchased your tickets, you are eligible to win any of
these beautiful and valuable prizes. If you have not yet bought yours, there is
still time to join in the excitement. Your Regional Committee person has plenty
of tickets to sell at $5.00 each (or get 5 tickets for $20), and he/she is
looking forward to selling a winning ticket to you!!
The regional representatives are visiting all major shows in your Region,
and if you should happen to miss seeing your rep, you can contact him/her as
follows:
We urge you to make the contact soon - and if, for some reason, you cannot
contact your regional rep, never fear! You can purchase tickets by mail, too.
Just send your check for the desired number of tickets to me at:
Joy Bourne, Chair
AFMS Endowment Fund
RR #1, Box 159A
Towanda, PA 18848-9739
(570) 265-6454
csprings@epix.net
I will send your tickets by return mail. 
Note: Items will be added to this page
as they become available.
2006 AFMS Endowment Fund
Drawing Prizes
As of
April 22,
2006
Click on the images below for a larger picture.
2006 Drawing tickets will again be priced at $5.00 each, or 5 tickets for
$20.00, and are available for purchase from your Regional Endowment Fund
Committee members.
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1. Signed original painting of a Great Horned Owl in a 14" x18" mahogany
frame. The “paint” is NOT the usual artist’s paint. It is actually rock which
has been pulverized very finely, and mixed with Elmer’s glue and water. There is
no paint in this picture. It was painted by Bryce Barker of Battle Creek,
Michigan. He has also painted wildlife scenes on Jacobs- Yule sandstone from the
shores of Lake Superior. (MWF) |
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2. Fourteen Herkimer Diamonds in seven druse-lined vugs on two faces in a
cabinet specimen of Little Falls dolomite matrix from Herkimer County, NY.
Donated by long-time collectors and exhibitors, Thomas and Joseph Kapalewski
Syracuse, NY, who have collected these stones for over 30 years. The “diamonds”
are actually doubly-terminated crystals of some of the finest quartz in the
world, and are often found with inclusions of water-filled bubbles or small
black anthraxolite crystals. Crystals in this specimen measure from micro-size
to 1" in length. The formation in which they are found extends north along the
Mohawk River in central New York state to the Appalachian mountain range. It is
believed the “diamonds’ formed about 500 million years ago. This specimen is
trimmed as a triangular pyramid with a rectangular base. The base measures 3" x
5", with a slant front face measuring 6" tall. (EFMLS) |
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3. Honey-golden calcite xls in a fossilized Mercenaria permagna (Giant Venus)
clam shell. Overall dimensions of the specimen are 3' x 2" x 1-3/4 “. The four
or five largest golden dogtooth xls seen in the lower valve measure 10mm wide x
15mm tall. Collected from the Nashua Fm, Ruck’s Pit, Fort Drum Florida, this
excellent specimen was donated by Betty James, SFMS Secretary and member of the
Mississippi Gem & Mineral Club, Value $90. (SFMS) |
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4. Three-inch Honey Calcite sphere created by Jim Matlock, member of the
Chaparral Rockhounds. (Howell Whiting says, “Jim is also a member of the High
Plains Mineral club in Texas but we will not mention that.”) Jim says that it is
worth about $100.00. (RMFMS) |
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5. Five-inch diameter Amethyst Geode, lined with crystals ranging to ˝" in
size. This is an excellent specimen from the Las Choyas Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Impeccably cut and polished by donor, Ken Anderson of the So. Appalachin Mineral
Society and SFMS Treasurer, this beauty comes complete with a cherry wood
display stand fashioned by the donor. Ken gives the age of the specimen at 44
million years. The base was cut from one of the 15 major trees that were brought
down by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Ken salvaged much from the beautifully grained
trees and has turned bowls and other items from them. Value of the prize is
$65.00. (SFMS) |
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6. Tanzanite pendant. This tanzanite rough used in this piece originated in
the Merelani fields of Tanzania. This prized and valuable dichroic gemstone was
purchased, cut and faceted by Reivan Zeleznik, Past President of EFMLS, and
longtime Wildacres faceting instructor. The cut of the stone is Long’s “Lazy
Pear 2” design with 69 facets. The stone measures approximately 6mm x 9mm, and
weighs 1.38 carats. It is set in a lovely stylized 14K lost-wax gold pendant,
which enhances the stone’s beauty and sets off the flashes of rose or blue
depending up on the lighting conditions under which it is viewed. Its value is
conservatively estimated at $500. (EFMLS) |
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7. This magnificent Intarsia Pendant, entitled “Red Mountain,” was created by
multiple-AFMS Award-Winning artist and author, Rocky McCall of NFMS, presently
serving as AFMS 5th Regional Vice President. It is accompanied by a signed
descriptive certificate of authenticity, and a brief resume of the artist’s many
prestigious awards and credentials. Set in stamped sterling silver, the 1- 5/16"
x 1-3/4" Montana agate cabochon is inset with the 1- 3/16" x 1" intarsia
“picture” of Red Mountain. The first frame of the intarsia is Oregon Jasper, the
second frame is Washington Pristine. The corners are carnelian from Washington
and the final frame is of petrified wood, also from Washington state. The
pendant is mounted on a 16" sterling silver chain, and the pendant is contained
in a black leatherette case. Rocky tells us that the intarsia contains 17
separate pieces. He continues, “ It is one of a kind, and cannot be duplicated.
The center is made by God and displayed by his servant.” A truly outstanding
prize for some really fortunate winner! Its retail value is set at $400. (NFMS) |
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8. A beautiful original pottery bowl made by the drape method, decorated and
fired by Mississippi Gem & Mineral Society member, Bob Summers ("Bob the
artist"). The bowl measures three and one-half inches high and seven inches
wide. Bob works in pottery by several methods, and paints in all mediums. He has
quite a large local following but has just recently started selling on the
internet. His decorations on the inside of the bowl are interesting, don't you
think? Because he did not glaze the inside, which would have detracted from the
pattern, it probably is not suitable for food but Betty James, SFMS Secretary
and MGMS member, suggests that it would make a wonderful display and cache pot
for all those odds and ends we toss here and there or just to decorate a table
in the foyer. Actually, Betty says she would like to be the lucky winner!
Conservatively appraised at $120. (SFMS) |
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9. Collection of four agate cabochons cut from material
collected in the Calamity Creek area, south of Alpine Texas. Included
are Texas Plume and Moss agates and an Owyhee jasper. Sizes of the three
larger cabs are 40mm x 52mm, and the fourth measures 30mm x 40mm. The
uniquely beautiful cabochons are just a small sample of the superb
lapidary work done by the late Carl Childers, well known lapidarist,
cabbing instructor and author, of Lubbock, TX. His wife Mary has
graciously donated this set to the AFMS to be used as one of the 2006
prizes in tribute to Carl’s dedication to our organization and
its objectives. The set is most conservatively valued at $200. (SCFMS) |
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10. A real Texas Treasure of a Bolo Tie, also created
by Carl Childers, of Lubbock, TX. The cabochon was cut from rare White
Dino and polished by Carl, then mounted in a sterling setting designed
by metalsmith Ron Simons, of Lubbock, Texas. The cabochon circle
measures 2" in diameter and overall dimensions of the piece are 2 1/4'
high by 2 3/4' wide. Included with the tie is a handsome
tarnish-resistant velcro-closured pouch designed and made by Carl’s
wife, Mary. A real value at $200. (SCFMS) |
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11. Lady’s 14k gold lost wax cast ring. This stunning
beauty was created for the 2006 drawing by Bural LaRue, CFMS Second
Vice-President, who is well-known for his outstanding craftsmanship,
metalsmith teaching, and his generous contributions over the past three
years to our AFMS drawings. The striking and unusual design of the ring
features a slightly left-offset 8 x10 mm laser-cut oval blue topaz. The
spectacular stone is entwined in a golden wreath, with a spray of six
golden stems placed to the right. The ring is size 7, but if that is not
your size, Bural assures us that it can be easily resized by a competent
jeweler. The value of the boxed ring is $250. (CFMS) |
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12. Carving - Virgil Keltz, master carver, created this
minutely detailed frog, sitting on a leaf, from Lake Wenatchee, WA
soapstone, which is tan in color with a tinge of rose. Virgil is a
four-time winner of AFMS trophies for his carvings; most recently in the
2004 AFMS competition, and we are pleased and honored that he created
and donated this beautiful piece especially for the 2006 Endowment Fund
Drawing. The stylized leaf is approximately 5"x9" and the colorful frog
measures 3". A self-styled “semi-professional” carver, Virgil is a
member of Skagit Rock & Gem Club, NFMS. and is a Past NFMS Rules
Chairman. The magnificent piece is valued at $550. (NFMS) |
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13. Rhyolite Necklace and Pierced- Earring Set. This
strikingly beautiful set of beads and earrings was hand-crafted by
co-producers, Marve and Kitty Starbuck especially for the 2006 Endowment
Fund Drawing. As many of you know, Marve is an AFMS Past President, and
Kitty has served as AFMS Club Publications Chairman for a number of
years. The 18" necklace features 41 beautifully polished, 6-mm to 8-mm
rhyolite beads, made from material collected by the Starbucks near
Deming, NM this past winter. The picture-perfect rhyolite pendant drop
was created, polished and set in a delicately bezeled sterling silver
mounting by Marve. The clasp, accent pieces and pierced earring settings
are also sterling silver. Kitty says, “ Marve did the silver work, I did
the stringing.“ This excellently-executed set of lovely jewelry is
valued at $100. (MWF) —(Photo by Norman Hanshu) |
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14. Waving Flag Bracelet, hand-beaded and graciously
donated by Anna Christiansen CFMS artist and regular ZYZXX instructor.
Anna chose tiny colorful Delicas to create this beautiful patriotic
piece of jewelry especially for the 2006 AFMS Endowment Fund Drawing.
Delicas are very tiny sliced tube-beads, each measuring only 1 mm x 1mm,
and the actual beading operation is described as somewhat like working
with blocks, instead of balls. These beads are widely used in the making
of amulet purses, pins and bracelets where designs are curved or
patterned. Anna’s lovely design contains ten waving flags, each made up
of a golden Delica-beaded mast on the left followed by 68 red, white and
blue Delicas, in a stylized United States flag configuration. The ends
of the bracelet are bounded by four rows of shining gold Delicas,
demarking the two parts of the easy-to-use magnetic closure. Overall
measurements of the bracelet are 1/2" wide and 7" long. A real treasure
for some lucky lady, the bracelet is valued at $100. (CFMS) |
And - This is only the beginning! We have more great prizes on the way!
We expect to have 14 beautiful and valuable prizes to offer for you by the time
the Nashville Convention rolls around. Pictures and descriptions will be added
to the list as soon as they are received from the donors, and as always, we will
keep you posted with continuing updates on this website. Stay Tuned!

Print a Brochure
Download a printable brochure (3
parts) that
includes pictures and descriptions:
2006 Endowment Fund Brochure - Part 1 (791k)
Updated 3-19-2006
2006 Endowment Fund Brochure - Part 2 (601k)
Updated 3-19-2006
2006 Endowment Fund Brochure - Part
3 (263k)
Updated 3-19-2006
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