NFMS JUNIOR ROCKHOUNDS "News Flash"

Gary Buhr gemnut@hotmail.com

March, 2008 Springtime + more sunshine = Field Trips. This is one of our favorite equations that usually results in getting outdoors and discovering new treasures for our collections as well as new rough material to work into even more valuable treasures. Check your NFMS Juniors Webpage for the specifics of "Field Trip SAFETY FIRST" and please put the list to practice so you will have a more positive, safe experience in the field.

The Junior Achievement Award information and application is again published in this issue of Northwest Newsletter. Postmark cut off for entry into the 2008 event is the first day of April. If you excel in your Rockhound hobby, scholastic activities, community service and work related activities then consider writing your relevant Resume and filling out an official Application that is available in this Newsletter or on the Juniors Webpage at www.amfed.org/nfms/juniors or just Google: NFMS. Another superb opportunity for Juniors to consider at this time is to enter a Juniors Competition Display case in the upcoming Ontario, Oregon Annual NFMS Show and Convention, June 20, 21, and 22. Will your parents vacation there? Regardless of your Category/Division, Competition Displays need to be well organized and well planned in advance using the AFMS Uniform Rules for the type of display you want to do. As pointed out by Rules Chairman Dee Holland you have many choices of competition that include Open Division A, Minerals Division B, Lapidary Division C, Jewelry Division D, Education Division E, Fossil Division F, Petrified Wood Division G, Schrimshaw Division H and Ultra-Violet UV. Ask your Juniors Advisor, Federation Director, any of the current Judging Officials (Dee Holland, Joe Slouber, Rocky McCall), Judges you may know or someone in your Rock Club that is very experienced with placing quality displays in shows to help connect you with the AFMS Uniform Rules. The Uniform Rules are online at www.amfed.org and may seem overwhelming at first or all at once, but just figure out which Division your display will fit the best and focus on that part--divide and conquer is your best method for success. This is a profound opportunity to learn details and expand your self-satisfaction while communicating with the adult members who have proven success with Competition Displays over the years. When you start a new venture it is almost a requirement that you ask lots of questions so you develop self-confidence and feel familiar with arranging your Competition Display case correctly so that you will score BIG at the BIG Ontario Show. Qualified Rockhounds will be happy to help answer questions like where to start, what to do and how to finish with a positive experience. Your Juniors Webpage has a primer ("Junior Display Education Training") to help succeed with a great display, but the final and official "check list" of requirements for a Competition Display is the AFMS Uniform Rules. Pick one of the Competition Divisions and "go for it"--your rewards are better than you could ever imagine,

just ask Juniors role model and Everett Rookie Rockhound LAURA CIMOLINO, pictured receiving one of her three Competition Awards from Past President Chuck Sonner. Judging Director Dee Holland is in the middle of the photo taken at the 2007 NFMS Awards Banquet in Butte, Montana.

If you believe that the above opportunities are not interesting enough or challenging enough or maybe too complex and costly for your skills, talents and resources, then consider the AFMS/Future Rockhounds of America Merit Badge Program. The complete program is posted on the AFMS Website Juniors Page at www.amfed.org that explains how to get the materials and how to get started. Besides the nine original badges, Jim Brace-Thompson, your able AFMS Juniors Program Chair has recently amended the Merit Badge Program to also include six new areas: Earth Processes (including igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks), Earth in Space (focused mostly on meteorites and tektites), Gold Panning & Prospecting, Gemstone Lore & Legend, Stone Age Tools & Art, and Rocking on the Computer. This immense opportunity is available on the AFMS Website and if you do not have a computer, how far is the nearest Public Library computer? What is really exciting about the Merit Badge Program is that you can work towards the badges either individually or as a Juniors Rock Club together. Want to start? Just ask and then PARTICIPATE so you can begin or continue your journey towards becoming a famous "rockstar" Geologist. Beginning February, 2008 our show cycle started in Oak Harbor, WA where the Whidbey Island Gem Club hosted their 38th Annual Sweetheart of Gems Show. With helpful volunteers and particpants, Show Chairman and "anchor" Keith Ludemann again filled the parking lot with cars of Rockhounds of all ages, invited quality dealers, lots of talented demonstrators and neat displays including the famous Petrified Wood case by Skagit "rocker" George Anderson.

Rockhound Louise Sanderson says she will be the Juniors Advisor for the Whidbey Island Gem Club, but at this time they only have one Junior, NICHOLE BECKER age 13 in photo pictured in front of her fabulous display case of geodes and thundereggs. Every Juniors Rock Club starts with one and grows from there, just add rocks as "fertilizer"?