NEXT MEETING: Thursday, February 19, 2009

PROGRAM: Slide Show on Michigan Archeology (tentative)

REFRESHMENTS: Members with last names A-L bring goodies!

Program: A slide show on Michigan Archeology is tentatively scheduled.

Vice President Roni Sionakides will narrate.

Location & Time: The CMLMS February 19 meeting will be held at 7:30 pm at the North School, 333 E. Miller Rd, Lansing, MI. Please get there a little early to help set up.

CMLMS Calendar for February 2009

Wednesday, February 4, 2009             Board Meeting-7:00 pm at the Okemos Library

Thursday, February 19, 2009              Membership Meeting-7:30 at North School

Message from Roster Secretary Ernie Aughenbaugh

If you haven’t paid your 2009 dues, NOW is the time!

Club News

• The January 15 membership meeting of the CMLMS included a presentation by President Milt Gere on the Mineral Resources of Michigan. The January “Field Trip” was cancelled by the Board.

• Affordable meeting space is becoming hard to find. If you know of cheap meeting space (less than $100/half day) please let Milt Gere, 2009 President, know about it.

• The Show Board met at the January Board meeting. The budget for the 2009 Show was reviewed and approved. Please contact Roger Laylin (Show Chair) if you are willing to help with Show preparations.

• Display Chair Dan Sine is seeking volunteers and displays for the Okemos Science is Fun Day, February 21st from 11 – 3. Please contact Dan by email or phone if you are interested in helping.

• The Newsletter Editor [Elaine Beane] apologies for the delay in sending out the January 2009 issue. The January 6^th Board meeting disarranged the usual production schedule. – A lesson learned!

Check the MWF News for more shows to attend this winter & spring.

www.amfed.org/mwf.

Places to Go and Things to Do

• Feb 12-15: Tucson, Arizona. Tucson Gem & Mineral Society Annual Show. Tucson Convention Center, downtown. Thu through Sun 10-6. Contact www.tgms.org.

Time to Start Thinking About Field Trips

Field Trip Chair Dan Sine has outlined a tentative field trip schedule for 2009:

March – Bus/van trip to Chicago Museum of Natural History

April/May – LaFarge Quarry in Alpena, Michigan

May/June – LaFarge Quarry in Paulding, Ohio

June/July -- Indiana highway exposures and quarries for geodes and fossils.

Other possibilities: A local trip to the Bellevue, Michigan, limestone quarry & furnace?

Up to the Upper Peninsula to the Ishpeming Show and Field Trips in August?

Up all the way to the Keweenaw Peninsula for the Copper Country Mineral Retreat in August?

Over to Hamilton, Ontario, to the Dundas Quarry (also owned by LaFarge)?

A local trip to a mid-Michigan gravel pit that Milt Gere knows?

If you have ideas, please talk to Dan Sine, Field Trip Chair, or Milt Gere, President.

Now is the time to plan for Spring and Summer!

MINUTES -- Central Michigan Lapidary and Mineral Society -- Board Meeting -- November 6, 2008

Board Members Present: Elaine Angstman, Ernie Aughenbaugh, Elaine Beane, Sue Casler, Milt Gere, George Heaton, Alan Hukill, Lyle Laylin, Roger Laylin, Gordon Lewis, Bob Mosher, Dan Sine and Kris Wood. [Board members absent: Arie Koewelyn, Jenny Martin, Kara Miller, Mary Anne Hanlon-Smith]

President: President Kris Wood called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm at the Okemos Public Library.

Vice President: Milt Gere – The November program will be a talk by club member Roni Sionakides on glass making.

Recording Secretary: Sue Casler – Summarized minutes of October 2, 2008 board meeting, to be published in November newsletter.

Corresponding Secretary: Mary Anne Hanlon-Smith – Absent.

Treasurer’s Report: Alan Hukill – Reviewed receipts/disbursements for the month of October 2008; also summarized Show receipts/disbursements to date.

Directors: 3-YR, Bob Mosher – Pictures of the show! 2-YR, George Heaton – No report;

1-YR, Arie Koewelyn – Absent.

Liaison Officer: Alan Hukill – No report.

Roster Secretary: Ernie Aughenbaugh – No report.

Past President: Elaine Beane – No report

Membership: Elaine Angstman – Presented new applications (as a result of the Show) for membership: Ronald Elowski; Susannah Duly; Ron & Charly Kenroy; Barbara Kohls; and John R. Sidange.

Dan Sine moved to accept the new member applications to the Central Michigan Lapidary and Mineral Society (CMLMS); Milt Gere seconded the motion. Vote taken, motion approved. Welcome to all the new members!

Field Trips: Dan Sine – Outlined a tentative field trip schedule: March – bus/van trip to Chicago museum; April/May – Alpena quarry; May/June – LaFarge Quarry, Paulding, Ohio; also Indiana for geodes and fossils.

Publications: Elaine Beane, newsletter editor, requested ideas for articles, notes of thanks, Show report, etc.

Community Outreach: Elaine Angstman – (with Kara Miller) will be doing a Petoskey Stone Demonstration at Atwood school on Nov. 21.

Library: Roger Laylin – displayed some of the newest library book purchases.

Display: Dan Sine – door prizes for November listed. Requests that anyone with extra small fossils let him know so they can be identified/bagged, for the Children’s fossil table next year. For the December program – Christmas party, gift rock exchange of rock-related small items of less than $5 value.

Show: Roger Laylin “the Show Master” – 1) all raffle tickets were sold, all prizes have been either mailed or delivered; 2) very few problems with Show this year, need to get some electrical cables for Demonstrators; need another dealer to replace F&L.

Old Business: None

New Business: 1) Federation/scholarships – club can select/nominate a person to be the selector of the scholarships; 2) CMLMS nominating committee will conduct business through emails/phone; (meeting had

to be ended due to time limit on library conference room).

Milt Gere moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Dan Sine. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm.

Respectfully submitted, Sue Casler, Recording Secretary

MINUTES -- Central Michigan Lapidary and Mineral Society -- Membership Meeting -- November 20, 2008

Call to Order. The November membership meeting was called to order by President Kris Wood at 7:45 pm at the North Elementary School.

Welcome and Introduction of Guests/Visitors. Welcome to new members Ron & Charly Kenroy; and to visitor Jackie Kipp.

Minutes of Last Meeting. Sue Casler – The October meeting minutes were printed in the November newsletter.

Treasurer’s Report. Alan Hukill – reviewed receipts/expenses to date for November 2008.

Announcements: *Lee Laylin – Library books purchased; T-shirts, chocolate rocks, mineral & fossil mugs, are for sale.

*Roger Laylin – Show Report – Thanks to all the volunteers for making this year’s show a success. A show wrap-up meeting will be held – date/location to be determined. Membership voted affirmatively for a show in 2009.

*December meeting will be the Holiday party, bring treats and a rock related wrapped gift for exchange.

Program: Talk on basic glassmaking by club member Roni Sionakedes.

Adjournment. Elaine Beane moved to adjourn the meeting, supported by Sharon Patton. Meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm.

Respectfully submitted, Sue Casler, Recording Secretary

MINUTES --Central Michigan Lapidary and Mineral Society -- Board Meeting -- December 4, 2008

Board Members Present: Elaine Angstman, Ernie Aughenbaugh, Elaine Beane, Sue Casler, Milt Gere, Mary Anne Hanlon-Smith, George Heaton, Alan Hukill, Lyle Laylin, Roger Laylin, Gordon Lewis, Bob Mosher, and Kris Wood. [Board members absent: Arie Koewelyn, Jenny Martin, Kara Miller, and Dan Sine.]

President: President Kris Wood called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm at the Okemos Public Library. President Wood spoke w/Alan Hukill re: club nominating Neil Snepp as American Fed. Scholarship Honoree for the Midwest Fed. Alan has prepared the paperwork for submittal.

Vice President: Milt Gere – The December program will be the Holiday party. Everyone should bring a treat and a wrapped, rock related gift for exchange.

Recording Secretary: Sue Casler – Summarized minutes of November 6, 2008 board meeting.

Corresponding Secretary: Mary Anne Hanlon-Smith – Sympathy card sent to Phyllis K. on loss of family members.

Treasurer’s Report: Alan Hukill – Reviewed receipts/disbursements for the month of November 2008; also presented final (financial) show report.

Directors: 3-YR, Bob Mosher – Shared a couple articles on collecting; GPS coordinates for collecting sites in the UP carbonate belt; and picture of Graptolite fossil.

2-YR, George Heaton – January Board Meeting will be 6^th (Tues.), 7^th (Wed.), or 8^th (Thurs.), since 1^st Thurs. of Jan. is New Years Day and the Okemos Library will not be open. 1-YR, Arie Koewelyn – Absent.

Roster Secretary: Ernie Aughenbaugh – No report. Past President: Elaine Beane – No report.

Membership: Elaine Angstman – No report. Field Trips: Dan Sine – Absent.

Publications: Elaine Beane – Any items for monthly newsletter due by Tues. after the Board meeting.

Community Outreach: Elaine Angstman – On Nov. 21, Kara, Jennifer and Elaine participated in a petoskey stone demonstration for 3^rd grade classes at Atwood School in Lansing.

Show: Roger Laylin –Show Chair. 1) A 2008 show wrap-up meeting needs to be scheduled. According to the constitution, the 2009 show budget needs to be done by the February Board Mtg. 2) With respect to the 2009 Show at the Ingham Co. Fairgrounds, the contract with the Fairgrounds is for one-year and needs to be signed and submitted. Sue Casler moved that Alan Hukill sign the one-year contract with the Ingham Co. Fairgrounds (as location of the club’s 2009 Show). Elaine Angstman seconded the motion.

Vote taken – motion approved. 3) The club in the past has had a “January field trip” - a potluck at the Alaiedon Twp. Hall. The cost to rent the Twp. Hall has been raised to $100 and alternate (cheaper) locations are not readily available. Participation in this event has been declining over the past several years. Elaine Beane moved to cancel this event [January field trip] for 2009; Alan Hukill seconded the motion. Vote taken – motion approved.

Old Business: Nominating Committee: Proposed slate of 2009 Officers – Pres. Milt Gere; Vice Pres. Still looking for someone; Rec. Sec. Sue Casler; Corr. Sec. Mary Anne Hanlon-Smith; Treasurer Alan Hukill and 3YR Director Elaine Beane, unless someone else volunteers.

New Business: 1) Discussion/suggestion by Mary Anne Hanlon-Smith re: CMLMS Facebook.com site.

2) Discussion of club purchasing audio/video equipment for use in club meeting presentations; Lyle Laylin will investigate/explore purchase of equipment (type/cost/etc.).

3) Discussion on use of club funds for an endowed scholarship at MSU.

Elaine Beane moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Kris Wood. Meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm.

Respectfully submitted, Sue Casler, Recording Secretary

MINUTES--Central Michigan Lapidary and Mineral Society--Membership Meeting--December 18, 2008

Call to Order. The December membership meeting was called to order by President Kris Wood at 7:45 pm.

Welcome and Introduction of Guests/Visitors. Welcome visitors, Dan Cox (member of Faceter’s group) and Carolyn Condell (former club member); and new member, Phyllis Keeney and granddaughter Caitlyn.

Minutes of Last Meeting. Sue Casler – No summary of November membership meeting minutes.

Announcements: 1) Dan Sine – The Okemos Science is Fun Day is scheduled for February 21^st from 11-3pm, any volunteers – see Dan. 2) The door prize drawings were held by Dan following the vote for CMLMS 2009 Officers.

Proposed Slate of 2009 Club Officers: President – Milt Gere; Vice President – Roni Sionakedes; Rec. Sec. - Sue Casler; Corr. Sec. – Mary Anne Hanlon-Smith; Treasurer – Kris Wood; 1-YR Director – George Heaton; 2-YR Director – Robert Mosher; 3-YR Director – Mary Gowans. Neil Snepp moved that the nominations be closed and that the entire 2009 slate be voted on; Roger Laylin seconded the motion. Membership voted and approved.

Neil Snepp presided over the Installation of 2009 CMLMS Club Officers.

Program: Holiday party, eat, watch a video, eat, rock gift exchange, and eat some more!

Adjournment. Elaine Beane moved to adjourn the meeting, supported by Sharon Patton. Meeting was adjourned at 8:05 pm.

Respectfully submitted, Sue Casler, Recording Secretary

Other Interesting Topics

Commemorative Stamps with Minerals by Wendell C. Mohr, AFMS Newsletter, November 2008

“….Lets gain even more support to have another stamp in the “Our Mineral Heritage” series of 1974 & 1992 with birthstones next. For promotional materials you may refer to http://www.amfed.org/stamps.htm, the AFMS website. Pass-outs are for members of clubs and the general public, and for student and teacher use, which is educational while promoting our project. Send your request for Birthstone stamps to this address:

The Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee Stamp Development, US Postal Service, 1735 North Lynn St., Room 5013, Arlington VA 22209-6432.” – Perhaps we could print out handouts to take to the Okemos Science is Fun Day on February 21^st.

How to Collect and Display Really Small Mineral Specimens -- Sand Collecting At the January 15, 2009, CMLMS meeting, Milt Gere talked about the mineral resources of Michigan, which include sands used in construction work, horticulture and the production of glass – which Roni Sionakides described in her November glass making presentation to CMLMS. At the January Board meeting, Bob Mosher talked about sand collecting as a way to collect a wide range of minerals without spending a lot of money. The New York Times recently had an article about a geophysicist and oceanographer, Rob Holman, who studies sands to learn about the oceans: www.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/science/06prof.html?ref=science.

Sand is defined as “mineral material consisting of particles ranging in size from 0.02 mm to 2.0 mm in diameter. Sand is produced by the physical and chemical weathering of rock and accumulates wherever water and rock meet. Almost any mineral can exist as sand, but by far the most common constituent is quartz. Sand may also contain the remains of animals and plants. Shells and shell fragments are found in many coastal sands, as are coral fragments and the skeletons of various marine algae.” www.fernwood-nursery.co.uk

Geologists and mineral collectors all over the world collect and trade sand specimens. Sand collectors are known as Arenophiles or Psammofiles, and may collect local sands, sands from around the world, or particular types of sands (quartz, feldspars, zircons, garnet, hematite, magnetite, olivine, coral, lava, etc.) or sand from the shores of oceans, lakes, or rivers on specific continents. Sand specimens may be displayed in small glass bottles, and viewed under a hand lens (10X) or microscope at 10X to 30X magnification.

Sand is found naturally in many beautiful or exciting locations and collecting sand provides another reason to search out and visit such places (the black lava sand beaches of Hawaii, for example). It also adds another feature of interest to any place visited, and years later, the samples can bring back pleasant memories of visits and experiences. It’s a good hobby for both children and adults.

The International Sand Collectors Society (www.sandcollectors.org/ISCSHomeIndexx.html) provides information on sand collecting worldwide. Sand doesn’t require much collecting equipment – small self-sealing plastic bags and an old spoon for scooping up the sand, plus a marking pen to put the place and date on the plastic bag. You need to dry the sand before you put it into clear containers (with labels) for your collection and/or display. Some collectors end up with their car trunk full of collecting equipment and their house full of racks of small bottles, trays full of drying sands, and sieves for cleaning sand, but you can have fun collecting and trading sands without a lot of expense. Here are some more websites about sand and sand collecting:

www.sand-collecting.org/overview.htm (This webpage branches out into methods, equipment, tools, viewing, projects, and special topics.)

www.sand-collecting.org/articles/why.htm (Articles about sand collecting.)

www.jaster.20m.com/index.html (The Virtual Sandbox shows great photographs of sands.)

The newsletters of the International Sand Collectors Society are at http://www3.ewebsity.com/aaronm1063.

http://www.netaxs.com/~sparky/sand.html (The Internet Centre for Sand)

http://users2.50megs.com/sandcollect/ (Frank Krumme’s Sand Site has lots of links.)

http://www.scienceart.nl/ (Photomicrographs of sand and crystals by Loes Moddermann.)

http://www.bigai.ne.jp/~miwa/sand/index.html (Musical Sand)

http://home.t-online.de/home/kpa.kuhlen/sand.htm (Virtual Sand Museum)

http://www.multimania.com/james38/sandcollection.shtm (Sand Collection has many other links.)

The Fernwood Nursery website (above ) also has a link to the Arenophile WebRing (sand collection) if you would like to become a member of a worldwide group of Arenophiles.