DEE'S DOINS - Dee Holland

EACH CLUB - EACH YEAR - ONE ROCKHOUND - Bonnie Glismann

THIS MONTH'S HONOREES

1998 AFMS-MWF Field Trip-Convention UPDATE - Steve Whelan - Show Chairman

ENDOWMENT FUND DRAWING - Glenn Lee

SAFETY - COLORFUL AND DEADLY - Jeff Freeman

EDITORIAL - Sure you can!

WANNA DIG DINO'S??

HEY EDITORS - CRYSTALS FONT AVAILABLE!

TID-BITS

PUBLICATION INFORMATION

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DEE'S DOINS

Dee Holland
President, AFMS

The web site committee have made their report. This report is very complete and covers all aspects of what is to be included in the web site for the AFMS. We would like to list all officers and committee chairpersons, names, addresses and telephone numbers as well as e-mail addresses if availible; if there are any officers or chairpersons that do not want their address or
telephone numbers listed contact Mel Albright and he will delete them or list as you wish. The web site address is:
http://www.galstar.com/~mela/afms.html
I wish to thank the committee that have worked on getting this proposal put together, Ron Carman. Chairperson and the people who did the work on putting this all together. Mel Albright, John Alf, and Carolyn Weinberger, many thanks for a job well done.

The future rockhounds of America are back with us again after not being heard from for awhile. Anyone that would like to know more about these rockhounds of the future may contact Kathy and Bob Miller, the AFMS juniors chairpersons at: 1106 Clayton Driv South Bend IN 46614 (219) 291-0332 they will give you all the information.

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EACH CLUB - EACH YEAR - ONE ROCKHOUND
by Bonnie Glismann, Chair

The AFMS recognition program, EACH CLUB-EACH YEAR-ONE ROCKHOUND, is a continuous program in which each club is allowed to recognize one member each year for their outstanding work as rockhounds. Nominations can be submitted at any time during the year. There is no deadline date. Also, no waiting to see your nominee recognized. Nominations will be submitted for publication throughout the year.

The AFMS Committee makes no distinction as to who is recognized and who is not. ALL names submitted for recognition will be published in the AFMS Newsletter. The only restriction is that each club may submit only one nomination per year. For this program, married couples are considered as "one". If a club submits a second nomination within a year, that nomination will be held and published the next year. Reasons for the nomination should be kept short and simple. Please tell us the name of the club, city and state where located and the individual sending the information.
Nominations should be sent to your Federation representative. We look forward to
hearing from all our AFMS affiliated clubs.
Bonnie Glismann, 4326 S. 200th West, Ogden UT, 84405, (801) 392-7832
CFMS - Grant & Toni Ewers, 12 Hillcrest Lane,
Boulder City, NV 89005-1607 (702) 293-5106
EFMLS - Duane Evans, 28 Ash St., Portsmouth
RI 02871 (401) 683-9536
MFMS - Nellie Claxton, 1001 Wilshire Dr., Mt. Vernon, IL 61102 (618) 242-2193
NFMS - Jean Brooks, 1405 Clearbrook Dr., SE, Apt. F104, Lacy, WA 98503 (360) 493-8380
RMFMS - Mary Clough, 3065 Everett, Wichita, KS 67217 (316) 943-2267
SCFMS - Virginia Brotherton, 2512 Bamberry Dr., Ft. Worth, TX 76133 (817) 346-1583
SFMS - Dee Conybear, 606 Timberlane Dr Lake Mary FL 32746 407-324-3846
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HONOREES

Honored by their club this month are:
M. J. HEUTTER, Washington Agate and Mineral Club, Olympia, WA, NFMS. When the WAMS club suffered the loss of several key people, M. J. stepped in and assumed many jobs, including President, in order to keep the club intact. Very important, too, was making sure there would be refreshments at each meeting.
TOM BURCHARD, Peninsula Gem and Geology Society, CFMS. The backbone of our club. His contributions of physical ability, truck, trailer, and rocks helps us hold our yearly show and sales. Workshops, field trips, many offices, shows. Volunteer, HE'S IT.
CARL & ANN BAKER, Maricopa Lapidary Societv, CFMS Members since 1981, loyal & hard workers - need something done? They do it or help get it done. They serve the Mineral Museum as volunteers. In the seventeen years they have never been heard to say NO.
JO ANN & BILL McPURDY, Victor Valley Gem & Mineral Club, CFMS. We proudly recognize. Joan - board member, hospitality chair, Chair of Tail Gate & Gem & Mineral Show food booth, assists with Club news letter always willingly doing over & above her share. Bill - raffle chair and sales chair at our show. His hard work, special words & Smiles will be missed. Bill passed away Jan 29, 1998.
NORA PERREN, Palos Verdes Gem & Mineral Soc CFMS. Since joining the PVGMS with her now-deceased husband Elwood in 1974, Nora has served our club in many officer & committee positions including 3 separate terms as president. She has always been willing to "go the extra mile" in organizing club events and encouraging members to participate in activities.
KATHRIN & DIETER STUTS, Capistrano Valley Rock & Mineral Club CFMS Members since 1977 are avid rockhounds and lapidarists. Kathrin taught children and club members about silversmithing, rocks, minerals, and is a jeweler & Gemologist. Dieter's assisted with field trips & club functions, while Kathrin's held positions on the Board of Directors, including President, Secretary, Treasurer and Historian.
MARY BARRETT, South Bay Lapidary & Mineral Soc CFMS. Charter Member, Life Member and currently President for the club's 50th year. Has previously served as Pres., V.Pres., Secretary, Fed. Director, Show Chair, Bulletin Editor. Has interest in all lapidary art+nd has collected in all the states. Outside interests - church work, needle work, orchids. She has served as Pres. of the local teachers Assoc. A very valuable 50 year member.
FRANCIS MUSSER, The Mt. Jura Gem and Mineral Society CFMS. Francis has worked tirelessly as President, Show Chairman and Federation Director since moving into the area in 1976. He has conducted field trips for members, and held workshops in carving. He is a gifted carver, sphere maker and crystal collector, and demonstrates and judges at other shows. He is our club's greatest asset, and an asset to all Rock Clubs.
DICK and ANN LUDLAM, Convair Rockhound Club, CFMS. They have held almost every office and chairmanship since joining 13 years ago, and president more than once. Dick chaired the club rock shop & show for 8 years. Ann organized the junior program & chaired the San Diego County Gemboree many times. They have led field trips, made presentations to schools, & are active in craft shows. Dick has been club representative to the San Diego County Council of Gem & Mineral Societies for many years. Whenever a job needs doing, only a glance at either one and you have a volunteer.

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1998 AFMS-MWF Field Trip-Convention UPDATE
Steve Whelan Show Chairman

As I sit and write this convention update, it is April 7th and spring has come very early to Michigan's Copper Country. That means just one thing to me, IT'S COLLECTING TIME AGAIN. As a matter of fact, this past weekend saw Sandi (my wife) and me visiting one of our favorite collecting sites. We did very well: several groups of copper crystals and a number of
silver/copper "half-breeds". One reason we did so well was that this rock pile was hauled from late last fall, just before the snow arrived, so the material was fresh and hadn't had many visitors before the weather closed in.

Back to Business: the field trips are filling up- seven of the trips are over 50% full, one is 75% full. Suggestion: if you have any questions on the status of any of the trips, give me a call in the evening (906-337-2599) and I'll try to answer any questions you may have.

This month we'll cover another four sites scheduled for this summer's field trips. Caledonia Mine: This mine, by the towns of Mass and Greenland, is an active producer of mineral specimens. Red Metal Explorations has been producing fine specimens from this mine since the mid-1980s. Last year, an outstanding lot of copper crystals were recovered. The year before, it produced a fabulous group of copper-in-calcites. And three years ago, an unbelievable number of pristine crystallized silver specimens. The A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum acquired a number of the "choicest" pieces from these finds- be sure to look for the displays at the Museum. Besides these major finds, it has recently produced thousands of pounds of native copper specimens and hundreds of datolite nodules. Either the surface or the underground trips will provide outstanding collecting opportunities. Copper, copper xls, silver, datolite, epidote, calcite and adularia will be found here.

Iroquois Mine: Located on Cliff Drive in Keweenaw County, this mine site produces some of the best copper wires on prehnite in the District. Common on the prehnite are minute copper xls and, on rare occasions, a silver wire or silver xls will appear. Also from this site: mass copper, copper xls, datolite, calcite, and epidote.

Thomsonite Hill: On the Delaware Road, between the town of Eagle Harbor and the ghost town of Delaware, this site requires an uphill quarter-mile hike to a location in the woods where thomsonite nodules may be recovered by digging into the hillside. This site produces very nice material that can be used in jewelry.

Taylor Mine: Located on Old U.S. 41 between L'Anse and Alberta, the collecting site is a quarter-mile walk through the woods. We will be collecting pyrolusite xls, magnetite xls, and quartz. Last year, noted collector Ray DeMark found micro-rhodochrosite xls at this location.

Next month I'll cover the rest of the field trip sites. Remember to call us evenings or email (swhelan@portup.com) should you have ANY questions on registration, collecting, equipment, lodging, etc. 'Til June, Happy Collecting.

MEETING ATTENDANCE AND FIELD TRIP ENTRY BLANKS WERE IN THE APRIL AFMS NEWSLETTER. IF YOU MISSED THEM, THE FORMS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET
AT http://www.portup.com/~swhelan/ccrmc/

REGISTRATION, SCHEDULES, COMPLETE SHOW INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET:
http://www.portup.com/~swhelan/ccrmc/

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ENDOWMENT FUND DRAWING
Glenn Lee, Chair
Ways and Means Committee

Jerry and Lois Harr of the CFMS have donated a beautiful hand crafted opal pendant to the Endowment Fund, and a drawing will be held for the pendant at the annual AFMS Show in Houghton this August. As was done a year ago with the walrus carving donated by Virgil Keltz of the NFMS, tickets will be sold for $1.00 each, and these tickets may be purchased at any time prior to the drawing from your Regional Federation members of either the Endowment Fund or
Ways and Means Committee. These members are listed in your newsletter. As many of you already know, Jerry Harr is an excellent craftsman and was elected to the National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame in 1996.

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SAFETY - COLORFUL AND DEADLY

Colorful and deadly - is that what you want in your fireplace? Dr. Jeff Freeman is a PhD chemist from the Osage Hills Gem and Mineral Society. Recently, he ran across several articles about making colorful flames in your fireplace. He immediately sounded an alarm. There is a BIG SAFETY HAZARD in some of the chemicals listed in these articles. Part of Jeff's article is:

"Attention - Safety Alert on "Colorful Flames" Article!
By Jeff Freeman

I have seen this article in exchange bulletins about making colorful flames. I needed to point out two potential hazards associated with the article that were not mentioned. The original article is given below.
"Colorful Flames - Prepare for a colorful holiday fireplace by soaking pine cones or small sticks in one of the follow solutions. Using a plastic bucket, mix one gallon of water to one pound of chemical. Soak overnight. Put in as many items as the solution will cover. Listed are some suggested chemicals to use and the color they will produce when burned. Most can be
purchased at the drug store; at least three can be has at the supermarket." Table salt - yellow; Borax - vivid green; copper sulfate - blue green; potassium nitrate - violet; strontium nitrate - red; copper nitrate - emerald green; barium nitrate - apple green; potassium chloride - purple; calcium chloride - orange; copper chloride - blue; lithium chloride - purple"

THE DANGERS
The main hazards are with the nitrates. Nitrates supply oxygen to organic materials; they are used to make gunpowder and explosives. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for nitrates contains the following warnings: 1. strong oxidizer; 2. may explode when heated; and 3. mixtures of nitrates and organic materials are potentially dangerous. For safety's sake, do not use nitrates to make colored flames! (Editor's note: one MSDS even says "contact with clothing or other organic material may cause fire")

The second hazard deals with the use of barium. Water-soluble compounds of barium are poisonous (see the Merck Index, volume I 1, pgs 153-156). Any barium solution left over from making colorful flames would be poisonous, even the ashes left over from the fire could be poisonous. Please do not use barium for green flames; use boric acid instead!

SAFE FLAME MATERIALS
If you want to make colorful flames, please use the revised list below. They will work! Note: lithium gives a crimson flame, not purple.; table salt - yellow; borax or boric acid - light green; copper sulfate - green; strontium chloride - red; potassium chloride - violet; calcium chloride - orange; copper chloride - blue; lithium chloride - crimson"

HEY EDITORS
Go through that pack-rat file of things to use and throw away every list for making
colorful flames and put Jeff's list above in your files.

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EDITORIAL

Sure you can!

How many times have you said "I'd love to --------, but I (a) am not good enough (b) am too dumb (c) am too old (d) could never do that, (e) have no talent, or (f) some other self-stopping statement? Have you ever considered that YOUR attitude is limiting YOU? Perhaps we judge ourselves against perfection. I'll never make jewelry like Tiffany. I'll never write like Hemmingway. I'll never paint like Picasso. BUT, I can make jewelry that is pleasing. I can write something that people find interesting. I can paint a picture that pleases me.

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT!!! You may not be the best in the world - or second or 20th or 10,000th. But - that doesn't keep you from doing things. It just keeps you from getting rich from doing them. The only limit is YOUR attitude!

It often seems to me that many of our rock clubs may be talking themselves out of things, too. Your show may not rival Tucson. Your school talk may not be ready for network TV. Your field trip may not involve moving science forward. You may not attract a world class lecturer for your programs. But, you CAN have a show. You CAN talk to kids. You CAN have interesting field trips. You CAN have interesting and varied programs. Only YOUR club's attitude limits your club
activities. And you CAN double your membership!

Another part of the self-limiting attitude that sometimes affects some of our clubs is the "Yes, but" cold-water reception to new ideas. "That's a good idea, But ---". "Some clubs do that, but I know we can't. To prove it, I'll avoid helping and be as lukewarm in support as I can be." "We've never done it that way." We all know those negative nay-sayers. Let's just be sure WE are not being one of them. Good clubs are full of members bubbling with ideas AND other members willing to help realize those ideas.

Consider the world to be full of fascinating oysters that you haven't yet opened. Open every one you can and learn what amazing things you and your club can do. All it takes is saying "We CAN do that!!" So, get going.

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WANNA DIG DINO'S??

Would you (or one of your university students) like to be a RESEARCH ASSISTANT ON A SCIENTIFIC DIG this summer? Would you like to camp in the Montana badlands and assist in the excavation of 75 million year old dinosaur eggs and embryos? Montana State University - Northern's Dinosaur Research Expeditions is offering 3, 6-day camping expeditions in July. This is an established field research project in its 6th field season. A few spaces are still left in each
week.The expedition dates are: July 5- 11; July12-18; July 19-25. The cost of this expedition is very reasonable. Any person in reasonably good health with a strong interest in dinosaurs is invited to attend. This project is especially suited for K-12 teachers. Families with children over the age of 13 are also encouraged to attend. Two earth science (ESCI) university semester credits can be earned through your experience on these expeditions. If you would like more information, please visit our "paleo. dig and degree" web page below or e-mail your mailing address to me and I will send you a brochure and registration forms. COME JOIN US!! WE DIG DINOSAUR RESEARCH!!!

Fossiliferously, Vickie Clouse Reply to:Vickie Clouse clousev@yahoo.com
:reply to:PALEO. DIG AND DEGREE WEB PAGE http://labrat3.nmclites.edu/dinosaurs

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HEY EDITORS
CRYSTALS FONT AVAILABLE!

Robert Boehringer, of the Burlington Gem and Mineral Club has developed a true type font of interest to gem and mineral editors. This is a True Type font which is installed in Windows 95 from Settings->Control Panel->Fonts.It includes around 200 characters which are single crystals, clusters, and tools such as hammers and chisels. It works with MS Word, Canvas,
Corel Draw, Quattro, Excel, NotePad, etc. The font is offered as shareware for $3 a copy.

Robert uses it to decorate the newsletter He writes for the Burlington Gem and Mineral Club If there is a good response he will work on a new font adding more crystals and tools such as a jeweler's loupe.

Contact: Bboehringer@microbrightfield.com
Robert Boehringer, 84 Hardy Ave. South Burlington, VT 05401. Robert has not given a price to handle the delivery other than by e-mail. It would cost more.

Update: We have been informed that the above Crystal Font information is no longer correct and therefore assumed no longer available.  The information is being maintained here for historical reference.

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TID-BITS

A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother.

A KID'S HISTORY STORY

The government of England was a limited mockery. Henry VIII found walking difficult because he had an abbess on his knee. Queen Elizabeth was the "Virgin Queen." As a queen she was a success. When Elizabeth exposed herself before her troops, they all shouted "hurrah." Then her navy went out and defeated the Spanish Armadillo

Meanwhile in Europe, the enlightenment was a reasonable time. Voltare invented electricity and also wrote a book called "Candy". Gravity was invented by Issac Walton. It is chiefly noticeable in the Autumn, when the apples are falling off
the trees.

In the city of Moscow, there lived a communist named Rudolph. One day the weather suddently turned terrible.
"Goodness", exclaimed his wife, "snow."
"No," said Rudolph,"it's rain!"
"I still stay it's snow," yelled the wife.
"Look,", he insisted,"Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear."

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INDEX

PUBLICATION INFORMATION

A.F.M.S. Newsletter is published monthly by the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies.A.F.M.S. Central Office Dan McLennan, P. O. Box 26523 Oklahoma City, OK 73126-0523(405) 682-2151A.F.M.S. Newsletter editor Mel Albright, Rt. 3 Box 8500 Bartlesville, OK 74003(918) 336-8036or mela@galstar.com

Subscriptions are available from the central office at $3.50 per year.

ADDRESS CORRECTIONS AND CHANGE
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
DISTRIBUTION QUESTIONS
Address maintenance and mail labeling are the responsibility of the AFMS Central Office. All changes and questions should be sent there. The President and the Bulletin Editor of each member club should receive the Newsletter. All others may subscribe. The publisher does the actual mailing.

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