President’s Message – November 2020

Past Presidents Message
From the Top of the Rock Pile …. by Kat Koch
There will be no club meeting in November. I just read Gov. Inslee’s most recent memorandum and I really don’t think we are going to be able to hold any meetings for sometime yet.
I know we are all anxious to see one another and engage in some good rock talk. Hopefully, that time isn’t too far off. In the meantime, as long as the weather holds up, please take advantage of our club field trips. Roger works so very hard to keep this monthly event going. Check the website to see what great adventure he has planned for us this month. Be sure to join the emailing list under the website “Field Trip” tab and you will receive timely updates in the upcoming field trips.
Bob Sahalee was a very well known Washington rock collector and carver. Mr. Sahalee passed away a few years ago and Doug True from the Billings, Montana bought Sahalee’s collection. After taking what he wanted Doug contacted and offered the NFMS clubs the opportunity to come to Sahalee’s old ranch, just south of Port Townsend, and collect stuff for their clubs and take some for themselves.
Our club was the only club that showed up. I would like to thank the individuals that did help to collect: Mike Blanton, Charley Benedict, Ron & Christine Jacobson and Scott & Madeline Harris. Everyone worked so hard loading the trucks. Thanks to each of you.
We also had a private collection donated to our club from Mike & Barb Weibel of Renton. The rock and fossil collection had belonged to Mike’s grandparents. Thank you!
With these 2 additions to our stores we now have a great supply for the silent auction at our 2021 Gem & Mineral Show, meeting door prizes and club auctions.
We are continuing to a get new members every month. Welcome to all our new members and I hope we all get to meet real soon.
I hope everyone is staying healthy. Be sure to take good care of yourselves and wear a face mask when going out. I know we are all looking forward to seeing another again. As far as I know, we have not lost any of our members to the virus or any other health reason.
Kat Koch, President
Updated: January 9, 2022 — 3:34 pm

Presidents Message

  • Digging It!  Thanks to everyone who came to the club camp out at Teanaway campground near Cle Elum last month. After a brief spell of rain the first night, we were blessed with sun, clear skies, and rockhounding the rest of the weekend. And a big thanks to Roger Danneman for doing all of the trip organizing, and keeping us all warm and well fed during the weekend. This month I’ll be giving a talk at our club meeting about how to use Gaia for rockhounding. If you have specific questions, please bring them along or feel free to email …

Meeting Announcements

  • Noelle Barnes will present Using Gaia for Rockhounding, an overview of the features and tricks associated with the app Gaia and how you can use it for GPS, saving waypoints, navigation, photo tagging, trail recording and more. Show and Tell: Bring the rock(s) that have the best “story” – and tell everyone how you found them and where!

  • Club board member Paul Ahnberg will talk to us about the impact of wildfires on our lives – from protecting your home to staying safe while out rockhounding – and what we can do today to help mitigate our risk. Paul will combine his knowledge gained from learning at both the WSU Green School (Master Gardener) and WSU Climate Steward programs. Show and Tell: Bring something you found, from a place that you know has since been impacted by floods or wildfires – or was impacted shortly before you arrived. Tell your story!

  • December’s date and time is coming soon. We will update this page as soon as we know more.

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