November 2009 CMLMS
Rockhound News
NEXT MEETING: Thursday, November 19, 2009
PROGRAM: Presentation on Scrimshaw by Rich Williams
REFRESHMENTS: Last names N through Z - Please Bring Goodies
Location & Time: The CMLMS November 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 the tables.
CMLMS Calendar for December 2009
December 3, 2009 Board Meeting-7:00 pm at the Okemos Library
December 17, 2009 Membership Meeting at North School
Show Thank You! – A Message from CMLMS Show Chair, Roger Laylin
All of the CMLMS members who took an active part in making this 44th Show a success deserve our thanks!
Mary Gowans, Children's Tour Chair, rates a gold star for her diligent efforts in contacting teachers and arranging the schedule for the students and the accompanying parents and teachers. Despite Mary's efforts, the children's morning attendance fell to an all time low of 380 kids and 85 parents and teachers. There were several causes: the most important was the curriculum change whereby Earth Science studies were moved to the spring; therefore the teachers could not justify a fall field trip to the Show; and H1N1 flu caused several schools to cancel. The Children’s exit gift free pass led to Saturday attendance by a few parents and children who otherwise may not have attended.
We were pleased to welcome the new Dealer “the Agate Lady” Karen Brys, and the return of “Archy's Rock Shop”. Archy’s family did a great job at the Rock Shop, and we hope Archy gets well SOON!
A special thank you goes to Jean Ann Wahl-Piotrowski and her able assistant Chuck Collins in managing the hospitality room. Chuck also provided morning relief for the night duty security person thus saving me from a early morning call. THANK YOU CHUCK!
Thanks also to the many members who contributed the good food that we happily consumed during the show. No one went home hungry, and more than one Dealer praised the eats!
The table covers provided by Grit and Alice Turner certainly add a professional look to the Show and are greatly appreciated. Alice does a great job of persuading our Demonstrators to participate!
Elaine Angstman puts in year-round hard work acquiring and preparing the offerings at the spinning wheel and the silent auction – and then setting up and running the silent auction. Without her efforts at these two features the proceeds of the show would be much reduced.
Club member turnout for both set-up and tear-down was very good (we can always use more hands to make the work easier). The Geology Student turnout Thursday noon was very helpful and it was GREAT on Sunday evening. Their energy and strength were much appreciated!
The efforts put forth by members in charge of all the various show functions was again exceptional -- publicity, children’s table, silent auction, spinning wheel, demonstrators, displays, admissions, raffle, florescent booth, security, dealer liaison, treasury and last but not least FOOD.
A special THANK YOU to all of you in charge as well as all of the members who assisted so ably during the show.
Overall attendance was slightly increased over last year -- 1176 adults and 86 teens, for a total of 1262 (compared to last year’s 1204). Not included in these numbers are 6 adults and 20 boy scouts that were admitted free, plus about 20 people who entered before the lights came back on Friday evening.
The Dealers seemed very satisfied with the results and all indications are that the 44th Show was a financial success – and was enjoyed by all.
There will be a wrap-up Show Board meeting at the Laylins,1770 Sandhill Rd. (northwest corner of Dobie and Sandhill), Alaiedon Township, on Monday, Nov . 23rd at 7 PM. Anyone who is interested is invited.
Thank You Message from Jean Ann Wahl-Piotrowski
Once again we did a great job of keeping folks full and happy while they are working at our show. It’s thanks to everyone’s generosity that we can manage to serve good food on a small budget.
Special thanks go to:
Chuck Collins, the other half of the hospitality team, for his early morning coffee and prep work.
Lee Laylin for making the Sunday Sloppy Joes and healthy desserts.
Elaine Angstman for all those eggs and an excellent casserole or two.
George Heaton for his pumpkin bread, cookies, and ever-popular chicken wings.
Marie Lewis & Mary Kay Bean for their delicious salads.
Sue Casler & Richard Miller & anyone else I’ve missed for the lifetime supply of “junk food” that we all treated ourselves to during the show.
Thank You Message from Elaine Beane
The Admissions Chair was getting over the flu this year, so she wants to sincerely thank all those who came to help with passing out tickets and making sure Elaine gave people the right amount of change. Friday night was a challenge because the Arena’s power was out from 1 pm to 6:20 pm, it was pouring rain and we had about 60 wet, unhappy people jammed into the entry way waiting for the lights to go on. Saturday was heavy traffic and lots of large groups. So thanks very much to: Sue Casler, Roni Sionakedes, Mary Gowans, Kris Wood, Roger Laylin, and Lee Laylin. It would have been impossible without you!
2010 Show Needs
We need new and different materials, especially fossils for the Children’s Table. The pebble pond always needs refilling, so get out there and collect over the coming year!
All the volunteers that assist us during the Children’s Tour (Friday morning) help make that day a success; please continue to recruit your friends and relatives, the more the merrier.
A Message from CMLMS President Milt Gere
On November 7, Michigan Tech University and the Houghton Post Office held a special event at Douglass Houghton Hall to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of geologist Douglass Houghton, Michigan’s first surveyor and identifier of natural resources. The US Postal Service Pictorial Cancellation will be offered for several weeks. Send your pre-addressed and postage-paid items to the Houghton Post Office at: Pictorial Postmarks, Douglass Houghton Hall Station, 701 Shelden Avenue, Houghton, MI 49931. -- Milt
Club News -- Nominating Committee -- The 2010 slate of nominations is:
President – Roni Sionakides; Vice-President – Richard Lassen; Recording Secretary – Sue Casler;
Corresponding Secretary – Mary Anne Smith; Treasurer – Kris Wood; 3 Year Director – David Westjohn
New Members -- Seven new members have joined CMLMS!
Thomas Howe of Lansing, Marilyn Williams of Lansing, Timothy Paul of Mason, Daniel Whelpley of Warren, Steven Veatch of Florissant, CO, Joyce Lightfoot-Brooks of Lansing, & Marie Hetherington of Williamston. Welcome to you all and hope to see you at the November meeting on November 19!
For Interesting Places To Go and Shows To See, check the Midwest Federation News at www.amfed.org/mwf!