MSSC will hold its annual picnic, mineral swap and field collector’s forum on Saturday, August 14, 1999. We are fortunate to have Casey & Jane Jones as the featured speakers, relating stories of their collecting opportunities at the now closed Flambeau Mine in Ladysmith, Wisconsin. They have many beautiful Chalcocite specimens to show and available for purchase as seen in The Mineralogical Record recently. They have also recovered many fine Barite and Calcite specimens from the Barrick Meikle Mine in Elko, Nevada. You won’t want to miss this great program.

All members are welcome to show up with mineral specimens to swap (yes, even for those collectors who prefer to use the ‘silver pick’ collecting method, the folding green will work).

We will have an extensive field collector’s forum, so be prepared to bring your show and tell minerals for the round table discussion and your great stories. Maps and driving directions to collecting localities are appreciated as well.

The day’s picnic will only be a success if you participate. MSSC will provide all of the paper goods and soft drinks. You can provide a main dish, salad, chips-n-dips, fruit or dessert. Please let Bill Besse know what you are planning to bring so we can do a good job of coordinating and so we make sure we have plenty of everything – it always works out somehow! Bill Besse can be reached by e-mail at wbesse@mminternet.com, or by telephone at 626.359.4488. Please bring your own folding chairs for the picnic and tables if you have them.

Socializing will begin at 10:00 a.m. on the second floor of the Geology Building, also known as Building "E". The program will begin at 11 a.m. in the lecture hall. The Mineral Swap will take place all day in classroom space across from the lecture hall and the picnic will probably take place outside. The Field Collector’s Forum will take place in air-conditioned comfort in the afternoon after lunch.