The 2009 AFMS Endowment Fund
Drawing
The Excitement is Building!
by Dee Holland, Endowment Fund Chair
We have a new twist to the way prizes for the Endowment Fund Drawing will
be awarded. In the past, all the tickets were dumped into a single hopper and
all tickets were drawn from there. Doing this sometimes produced a large number
of winners for ticket holders in one federation and perhaps none for another.
This year, we're going to ensure that at least one prize is awarded to someone
in each of our seven federations!
Here's our plan. Tickets sold by each of the regional federation
representatives will be held apart from all the others until we make the
drawings on Saturday, August 1 during the AFMS/NFMS Convention in Billings, MT.
We'll start the drawing by randomly pulling one ticket from each of the regional
federation submissions. That way, each federation will have at least one prize
winner.
After the first seven prizes are drawn, we'll dump all the remaining
tickets together in a huge hopper, mix them thoroughly and proceed to draw
tickets for the remaining prizes.
Another new twist.... We're going to number each of the prizes as we've
always done., but this time, after all the winning tickets have been drawn,
we'll put them in a small container and select them again....the first ticket
drawn would receive prize #1, second ticket, #2 etc.
In order to be sure that you have a better chance of winning, don’t send
money to me for tickets. Instead, send for tickets from your regional committee
member so you can get in on the regional drawing. This new idea has been
suggested by a number of former and present regional committee people and we'll
see how it works this year.
As in previous years, you will be able to purchase tickets at the show
itself through Saturday morning. We'll hold the drawings on Saturday afternoon,
possibly right after the Single Stone Auction. We'll announce the winners during
the Awards Banquet on Saturday evening and of course via the AFMS Newsletter.
We do have prizes coming in including faceted stones, a meteorite and an
intarsia. Here's a picture of one new prize that's been added to the engraved
vase we featured last month.
Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20 and can be purchased from your regional
federation representative. See last month’s AFMS Newsletter (or <www.amfed.org>)
for their addresses and emails.
If you have a question, or wish to donate a prize, contact me at: <beauholland
centurytel.net>
or <shirleyleeson
cox.net>
or write me at PO Box 23, Tendoy, ID 83468.

Note: Items will be added to this page
as they become available.
2009 AFMS Endowment Fund
Drawing Prizes
As of
June 14,
2009
A First Look . . . Prize Descriptions and More
Information
Click on the images below for a larger picture.
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Prize #1 -
Square Etched Crystal Vase |
|
|
Prize #1: A beautiful square crystal vase etched
with a Celtic princess and dragon on one side and the Celtic knot on the
other. Created and donated by Jay Bowman and valued at $235. (EFMLS and
RMFMS) |
|
|
|
 |
Prize #2 -
Vial of Virgin Valley Opal |
|
|
|
 |
Prize #3 -
Amethyst Clock |
|
|
Prize #2: An opal pendant featuring 7
Mexican opals and 6 diamonds. It's set in 14 carat gold and is on a 20
inch gold chain. Donated by Joyce & Delbert Speed it has an estimated
value is $150. (SCFMS)
|
|
Prize #3: Donated by Gulf Coast Gem &
Mineral Society, South Central Federation, Bill Pattillo, Ticket Chair
Amethyst clock, value: $120. (SCFMS) |
|
|
|
 |
Prize #4 -
Meteorite |
|
|
|
 |
Prize #5 -
Brazilian Agate Slab in Stand |
|
|
Prize #4: The item is from: David
Gheesling and his FALLING ROCKS collection (www.fallingrocks.com).
It is valued at $125.00. Here is the description:
Sikhote-Alin Coarsest Octahedrite Iron Meteorite 64.7 gram complete
individual Witnessed Fall: February 12, 1947 Maritime Territory, Eastern
Siberia Total Known Weight = 23,000 kilograms |
|
Prize #5: This lovely
Brazilian agate slab is set in a custom crafter wood stand. Designed and
made by 2008 EFMLS President Ellery Borow, the slab is translucent. When
the lighting is right, it looks like you can see through the slab but
what you are seeing is a reflection of the curved wood at the front of
the base. Estimated value: $150. |
|
|
|
 |
Prize #6 -
Intarsia Bolo |
|
|
|
 |
Prize #7 -
Oval Carving |
|
|
Prize #6: this beautiful
intarsia Bola is hand crafted by Jerry Blimka from the Hells Canyon Gem
Club, Lewiston Idaho. Jerry is a well known artist in the Northwest. His
work can be seen at many of the shows. Last year in Ontario, Oregon at
the NFMS show he was awarded the Master trophy for Jewelry Intarsia.
Each of his pieces is a signed and numbered collector’s item. His work
will be on display at the AFMS/NFMS Billings, Montana show this year.
The piece shows the 3D dimensions of his work. Set in Sterling Silver
and valued at $850. |
|
Prize #7: An oval carving of calcite with quartz
and magnetite dendrites was donated by James Gaddey of Joplin, MO and is
valued at $115. |
|
|
|
 |
Prize #8 -
Dogwood Carving |
|
|
|
 |
Prize #9 - Lemon Citrine Pendant |
|
|
Prize #8: By Kenneth Neaves,
Lansing, North Carolina, master carver
The flowers are rhodonite, the flower center and leaves are
chrysoprase, the stem is petrified wood and it’s mounted on a piece of
petrified wood from the area near his home. The estimated value is $450.
and the size is 1 ¾ in x 1 ¾ in square. |
|
Prize #9: A faceted 10mm lemon citrine set in a
14k gold pendant. Faceted by EFMLS and AFMS past president Steve
Weinberger, the pendant has an estimated value of $125. |
|
|
|
 |
Prize #10 -
Chondrite Meteorite Slab |
|
|
|
 |
Prize #11 -
Multi-color Jadeite Pendant |
|
|
Prize #10: Morocco, Northwest
Africa
Type: Stone (LL) Chondrite
Chondrite (n) A type of meteorite containing
mineral spheres called chondrules. Most Chondrites are believed to
originate in the asteroids that orbit the Sun between Jupiter and Mars.
Chondrites contain between 2 and 21 percent iron-nickel metal.
Addition information accompanies the specimen.
It is a slab and is about 5/8 inch thick. The specimen is 55 grams in
weight and has an estimated value is $100.
Donated by Carl Shugart, San Diego Mineral & Gem Society |
|
Prize #11: Multi-color Jadeite - Guatemala,
Sterling Silver Pendant. The Pendant that was donated by the Dallas Gem
and Mineral Society, Dallas, Texas. It has a retail value of $75.00.
|
|
|
|
 |
Prize #12 -
Smoky Quartz Wirewrapped Pendant |
|
|
|
 |
Prize #13 -
Beaded Pendant |
|
|
Prize #12: The Pendant is from Jennifer Rhodes,
Reno Gem & Mineral Society. Wirewrapped original, with Petersen Mountain
Smoky Quartz, Nevada. The wirewrap is gold filled.
Value: $150. |
|
Prize #13: A one-of-a-kind beaded pendant made
by master artist Mia Schulman. The pendant measures 1 1/2" x 2" and
contains approximately 420 colored beads, stitched together to form a
flowing pattern. The pendant is hanging on an 18 inch black corded
necklace. The value of this lovely pendant is $120. (EFMLS) |
|
|
|
Picture
Not
Yet
Available
|
Prize #14 -
Dophin Carving |
|
|
|
 |
Prize #15 & #16 -
Agates and Jaspers Book |
|
|
Prize #14: Spectacular dolphin carving. The
smoky quartz dolphins are riding on a milky quartz wave. The two
dolphins are roughly 2 inches long riding on a wave. The total size is 2
1/2 inches by 3 inches. Created by master carver Kenneth Neaves of
Lansing, NC, the piece has an estimated value of $1,200. |
|
Prize #15 & #16: Two copies of a brand new book
on agates and jasper written by
Ron Gibbs, the book provides an introduction to the genesis and
structural characteristics of agates and jaspers.
Included are numerous macro and micro photographs. The retail price of
the book is $40.00 and each copy will be awarded as a separate prize. |
|
|
|
 |
Prize #17 -
Obsidian Bear Sculpture |
|
|
|
|
Prize #17: The sculptured bear was donated by
Larry Costigan, Costigan’s Minerals, Newport, MN. The value of
this sculpture is $125.
This bear was sculpted and polished from mahogany obsidian in Mexico. It
stands 2½ inches high and is 3 inches from nose to tail. It appears to
be a bear poised on a rock ready to lunge at a passing salmon. It would
make a great knick-knack or paper weight.
|
|
|