DECEMBER PROGRAM
The program for December entitled "The Life and Times of Shady Myrick" will be given by John Lightburn. John was a long time resident of the San Bernardino area where he was involved in a number of educational, commercial, and political projects, but now lives in Hawaii and devotes much of his time to historical research. Shady Myrick was a prospector and miner active in Leadville Colorado and Death Valley between 1870 and 1925.Myrickite is named after him.
Grandma Lightburn, an early MSSC member was written up in the Mineralogist in 1937 as having one of the finest private collections in California. Much of this collection was acquired from her uncle, Shady Myrick. More information can be found at: http://home.earthlink.net/~fmmyrick
PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
by Bob Housley
Pasadena Show We have the momentum back! The Show this year was a dynamic, exciting experience. The displays were outstanding. There are hardly enough superlatives to describe them. The speakers were fantastic and the talks they gave fascinating. I listened to them all and would be happy to hear any one again. Then we get to the dealers. I have never seen so much beautiful new material at reasonable prices before. All the dealers I talked with were happy and enthusiastic about the show. While we reflect on this glorious success it is well that we also all think about how to make next years show even better. The main thing I can think of is that we should start earlier and work harder on publicity so that everyone interested learns about us. We owe tremendous gratitude to Show Committee Chair, Jim Schlegel, and to his right hand Carolyn Seitz, who made this Show possible. We need to be ready to help them in every way next year. I will not try to thank all the people who helped this year since I know that Jim plans to write up a separate appreciation.
January Banquet Thanks to a fine effort by Cathy Casey we have a great new location for our Banquet this year. Hope to see you all there.
Pacific Micromount Conference You are all invited to the Pacific Micromount Conference this year. It will be held on the last Saturday in January at the San Bernardino County
Museum as usual. The theme is “New California Mineral”. Invited speakers are Bill Wise and Garth Bricker. There will also be contributed talks. You do not have to look at microminerals to be welcome. There will be more detailed information in the January Bulletin.
Collecting With everything else that has been going on I have not been out too much during the last month. There is some fresh excavation in volcanics near Thousand Oaks. Also on my way over to Las Vegas to visit my daughter for Thanksgiving I noticed that there is a lot of fresh work in basalt connected with the widening of the Antelope Valley Freeway. While in Las Vegas I went out to Crystal Pass in the Goodsprings area and picked up some of the nice feldspar single crystals. Also one afternoon I stopped along Highway 1 near Malibu in a place where a basalt slide was exposed along the shoulder. One rock which had tumbled down contained vugs with nice analcime cavities containing chlorite balls, also some natrolite and calcite. It is possibly an area worth exploring a little further.
ANNUAL BANQUET
Our annual Banquet arranged by Cathy Casey will be held on January 20th, 2001 at The Oak Tree Room which is next to Cocos on Colorado Boulevard. at Michillinda near the boarder between Pasadena and Arcadia. This location should be roomier and quieter than last year. For $25 we will have a complete buffet featuring prime rib, salmon, and Dijon chicken, full salad bar, deserts, and non-alcoholic drinks. The speaker is still being negotiated. For reservations call or e-mail Cathy at (626) 358-7628 or caseyscurios@earthlink.net.
MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER, 2000 MEETING
The 754th meeting of the Mineralogical Society of Southern California was called to order at 7:35, November 10 by President Bob Housley. A motion to approve the minutes of the October meeting as published in the Bulletin was made by Dave Smith, seconded by Charlie Freed and passed unanimously.
The next item was election of officers. Bob Housley repeated the names nominated at the October meeting: Dave Smith, President; Dan McHough, Vice President; Janet Gordon, Treasurer, Bob Housley, Secretary; Bill Besse to fill the remainder of Dave Smith's term as a Director for 2000-20001; Steve Shailer, Rock Currier and Ron Thacker for Directors for 20001-2002. Bob noted that still left one Directorship and the Federation Director positions unfilled, at which time Bob Housley volunteered to serve as Federation Director and Charlie Crutchfield (who was present) volunteered to serve as a Director. There being no other nominations, Gus Meister moved to close the nominations, Janet Gordon seconded and the nominees were elected unanimously.
Bob Housley announced a number of upcoming shows other than our own, and urged members to sign up for volunteer jobs at our show. Dave stated that we especially need volunteers on Thursday setup beginning at 5 p.m.
Bob Housley then presented a talk on the scanning electron microscope and its uses in mineral identification.
Roy and Cathy Allmon won the guest door prize, then Cathy Allmon won the regular door prize, choosing a calcite. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 for refreshments.
Respectfully submitted by Ron Thacker, for the Secretary
MINUTES
OF THE NOVEMBER, 2000 BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
MEETING OF THE MSSC
The MSSC Board of Directors meeting was held at Jim Schlegel's home on Sunday, November 5, 2000. The meeting was called to order at 2:20 p.m. by Chairman Bob Housley. Board members in attendance were Bob Housley, Jim Schlegel, Dan McHugh, and Bill Besse.
The first item was the nomination and election of a replacement for Ron Pellar as Treasurer. Janet Gordon was nominated and elected unanimously by the board members present.
Bob Housley then initiated the paperwork to give Janet signature authority.Janet then indicated that she was having difficulty in reading the disk that contains the membership list. Ron Thacker volunteered to help her to read the list.
The next item for discussion was the January 2001 banquet. Bob Housley stated that Cathy Casey had volunteered to organize the banquet. Several possible locations were discussed, but no decision was reached in Cathy's absence. The meeting adjourned at 2:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Walter Margerum, for the Secretary
FEDERATION REPORT - NOVEMBER, 2000
The annual fall business meeting of the California Federation of Mineral Societies was held in Visalia the weekend of November 9-11. About 90 delegates attended. A highlight of the business meeting was the election of officers for calendar 2001. Bob Stultz from the Conejo Club was elected as our new President. Reports given by the heads of the many standing committees documented the good work being done by our Federation in areas like youth activities, education, field trips, scholarships, and recognition of clubs and individual members for their skills, accomplishments, or team efforts.
Last year, the focus had been on insurance matters. That appears to have been competently addressed with a policy that now that gives each club far better protection for field trips and club rock shops. A recent brochure by Fred Ott summarizes this important benefit of CFMS affiliation. The Federation seems to be healthy, active and financially stable.
This year's attention initially focused on encouraging clubs to take on sponsorship of the Federation's annual show for 2002, 2003 and 2004. Paso Robles is already well underway with arrangements for the Federation show in 2001. Several clubs stepped forward during the session to begin active consideration of future shows. The Valley Prospectors presented a check for over $7,500 as a 50/50 split of the profits from the August 2000 CFMS show in Riverside.
One new project that interests me is the formation of a new effort on publicity. CFMS started the project to help member clubs publicize their activities and attract new members. The initial meeting of the ad-hoc committee at Visalia developed a mission statement, goals for the next year, and a list of project ideas. These will be distributed to key officers in each of the Federation's 146 clubs. Bob Housley
MEET YOUR NEW BULLETIN EDITOR
For the past two plus years I have enjoyed editing your Bulletin, and now it is time to hand that job to a new editor. I want to thank every member who contributed content and support, large and small. Since many members are geographically remote to Pasadena, it is recognized that the Bulletin, as well as our expanding web site, are how you keep in touch with the Society's activities and members. I have encouraged Bob Housley to continue writing his column, for it has been an informative and welcome addition. And I urge other members to contribute as well. It is, after all, YOUR Bulletin, and each of you has something to share.
Taking over in January as Editor will be Walt Margerum, a newer member who some of you may not know well. We are fortunate, because Walt brings a diversity of experience and ability to the job. A native of Princeton, NJ, he earned a BSEE degree from Newark College of Engineering in 1961. Walt retired in 1994 after a 21 year association with Hughes Aircraft Co where he was Systems Engineering Manager. His interests in addition to mineralogy include photography, antique firearms and traveling. These interests have prompted a number of trips to the European continent, western United States and Canada.
From the Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society. If you cannot sign the petition at the meeting, please send a letter. -Ed
DON'T LET BUREAUCRATS TAKE AWAY YOUR RIGHT TO COLLECT MINERALS ON SEARLES DRY LAKE
The regional water quality control board has recommended that brine in Searles Dry Lake be classified as REC- I water. The REC- I classification is reserved for water where there is recreational contact with water with a probability of ingestion (swallowing). This includes swimming, diving, scuba, water skiing and personal watercraft (Jet Ski).
1. Searles Dry Lake is fenced and patrolled by the mining company to prevent unauthorized visitors.
2. The only recreation on Searles Dry Lake is mineral collecting during our Gem & Mineral show.
3. Water quality control board uses our Gem & Mineral show as the major justification for regulation.
4. We do nothing during the Gem & Mineral Show that warrants this classification.
5. REC-1 regulation would likely force the company mining Searles Dry Lake to install and operate costly environmental control measures.
6. We are guests of the company when we go on our field trips. They also provide major support for all trips, including digging and hauling the mud, drilling wells and jetting crystals at the blow holes, and a portable tank of brackish water for washing off mud and salt.
7. The easiest way for the company to avoid REC- I classification is to prohibit all public access to their mine, including mineral collection during our Gem & Mineral show.
8. Our club will not be bad guests to the company. We would rather end the lake field trips than jeopardize our host's business or have them embarrassed by having to tell us we are no longer welcome.
9. We have a.59 years history without a brine quality problem to any show visitor.
1 .The major hazard with Searles Dry Lake brine is high salt concentration. If brine were swallowed, the first thing that would prove deadly to humans is simply the salt - table salt. Salt would not be regulated under REC-1. And none of the other major saline chemicals, all of which are as toxic as salt when swallowed in large amounts, would be regulated under REC- 1.
2 Only minor chemicals in very low amounts would be regulated under REC- 1. Some even occur naturally in Searles Dry Lake Brine, yet the company could be forced to remove these as part of solution mining permits under REC- I regulations, and this would be very costly.
1. Have as many people as possible sign the petition on the backside of this sheet and return to any club member during the show. PLEASE take blank copies with you and have people in your gem and mineral club, college or school class, or scout troop sign the petition (or copies of it if you need) and mail to: the Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society, P.O. Box 966, Trona, CA 93592-0966. We'll take it from there and get your message across to the regulators.
2. You and your friends, club members and class mates - write letters to the water quality control board and object to classifying Searles Dry Lake brine as REC- I water. Mail to: Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, 15428 Civic Drive, Suite I00, Victorville, CA 92392
3. You and your friends, club members and class mates - write your State Assembly person and State Senator voicing your objection to this irrelevant regulatory action.