President’s Message – March 2022

News
From the Top of the Rock Pile .  .  .  .
For the March meeting, we are back to in-person meetings. No vaccine
verification is required, so we are good to go. As of April, there will be no mask requirements either. Hopefully, very near future, everything will be back to normal.

I am looking for a member that is a techie. I have been asked by a few members for our meetings to be available streaming. Some members cannot attend our meetings because they are housebound due to the weather, have no childcare for small children at home, are disabled, can’t drive at night, etc.
Since we already have a channel, it’s my idea to stream live to Youtube. Members can then watch the meetings live or at their convenience. We could possibly use a free open source software called OSB (Open Broadcaster Software). I need someone to set up cameras and audio and use the software to stream directly to Youtube.
I don’t mind if you learn as you go. We can do a couple of test meetings to sync everything and ensure everything is working right. Then when you feel you are ready, we can go live streaming.
Are you the techie person I am looking for and willing to help? Contact Kat via email or phone.
James Starke, our Show Chairman, is hard at work getting our Gem Show off the ground. It is being held on August 20 & 21, 2022, at the Green River College gym. We need a load of volunteers for this event. James will have a signup sheet listing the positions he needs help on at the meeting. So be prepared to step up and volunteer.
In March, we are not only resuming in-person meetings, but we are also resuming the field trips on March 19th. If you have not renewed your membership for 2022, go grab your credit card now and “git ‘er done.” Go to our website, or you can use this link https://www.cascademineralogicalsociety.org/manage-cms-account/#myaccount
We continue to get new members every month. So if you are a new member, please be sure to come up and introduce yourselves at our meeting.

 

Updated: April 5, 2022 — 12:58 pm

Presidents Message

  • From the Top of the Rock Pile 2024 is in our rearview mirror. It was a very successful year for our club. We moved our Cascade Gem Show to June at Kent Commons. It has been an excellent decision for our club. We had the largest attendance since resuming our shows in 2018, with approximately 3,200 visitors! The proceeds from our two club auctions in 2024 brought in around $1,800. These funds help to cover our club’s largest expense, the liability insurance policy. I expect the premium for 2025 will be near $3,000. Our booth at the Puyallup Gem Faire …

Meeting Announcements

  • February 13th – Jim Cerenzie – Finding New (Old) Rockhounding Sites Our club member, Jim Cerenzie, is going to speak on how he finds long forgotten sites to hunt for rocks and crystals. He has a YouTube channel called the “Vug Meister” where he and his son go rockhounding to these places. If you watch YouTube please support him by subscribing to his channel. Show ‘n Tell: Your favorite rockhounding find. It can be a find from a field trip, your yard, the beach, or a riverbed.

  • March 13th – Field Trip Preview by Roger Danneman Where will we go this year? Join our wagonmaster Roger Danneman as he gives us a preview of all of the places the Club will explore this year on field trips – and what kinds of materials you might find there. Show ‘n Tell: Something you’ve found on a prior field trip (with a club or on your own!).

  • April 10th – Rock BINGO Kent schools on spring break. So all you members, junior members and their friends, your grandkids, guests it is time for our Rock Bingo night.  Everyone is guaranteed to be a winner. Rock Bingo is free tonight – bring 3 wrapped presents (see below). Maximum 3 game cards per player. Each player is to bring 3 wrapped presents. Rocks, minerals, fossils, cabachons, slabs, jewelry, or anything that you think would be a nice gift.  Guests do not need to bring any wrapped items.

  • May 8th – Glaciers by Paul Ahnberg What are the benefits of glaciers? Glaciers, slow-moving rivers of ice, have sculpted mountains and carved valleys throughout Earth’s history. They continue to flow and shape the landscape in many places today. But glaciers affect much more than the landscape. Show ‘n Tell: A white or clear mineral or crystal.

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