Yellowstone Deposit Billings Gem & Mineral Club P.O. Box 477 Billings, Mt, 59103 Board Meeting June 4, 2015 6:00 PM St. Bernard s Catholic Church, 226 Wicks Lane All are welcome!! Club Meeting St Bernard s Catholic Church 226 Wick s Lane Thursday, June 4, 2015 7:00 PM Yellowstone Deposit June, 2015 www.billingsgemclub.com Our Club Objective: Sharing the enjoyment and education of all earth science related activities. 1
From the President First off I would like to give a big THANK YOU to all those who par>cipated in our annual show this year!!! On Friday set up there were many members present that I no>ced and I m sure many that I didn t see, THANKS to all. I specifically no>ced these members and wish to express my personal Thank You to them for all the hard work: Doug true Show chairman among many others du>es, whose efforts brought off a successful show. Earl and Verda Moos and Lloyd and Jean Norby were seen working from early on through the complete weekend. I m sure they took a break in there somewhere, but I didn t no>ce when. Others of note are: Lynn Edwards, Julie Peden, Janie Haberchak, Leroy and Kathy Pickham, Chris Channel, Don Black, David Lefler and Steve Nelson. I want to give a special Thanks to Don DeShaw for taking over as Display Case chair!!! One member saw him work with a dealer that wanted to fill a showcase, but was not on the list of show cases. but he assured her he would set up a showcase for her he assured her it was no trouble and that the Club encouraged club members and dealers to par>cipate in displaying. Don was cheerful, accommoda>ng and it was pleasant to observe a club member who took on a role that wasn t assigned to him in such a calm and pleasant manner. I think it was a very good show, especially considering we changed >mes of year and venues. Our azendance was up slightly, the best we can figure out, from last years and there were many posi>ves heard about the Shrine as our new site. It is ge[ng to be that >me of year when many of us like to go afield to see what wonders await discovery in the great outdoors. I wish everyone a wonderful spring and summer and ask each of you to be careful while out and about so there are no accidents to recover from before our August picnic. Take care and I will see you at the June 4 th mee>ng, Mark Lent BGMS President Billings Gem and Mineral Club Mee2ng May 7 th, 2015 St. Bernard,s Church Basement Board Mee2ng 6:00 PM to 7:00PM Present: MLent, TThayer, JHaburchak, CAzpei>a, PClicon, LPickham, K Pickham, JPeden, KBurke, DTrue, DMacDowall, Called to order @ 6:00 PM by MLent Discussion: Show o Issues iden>fied during the show: Power: more coordina>on and bezer connec>ons. Club to buy heavy 10 gauge grounded electrical cords and rubber mats to cover them ( for safety) Concessions op>ons were inadequate. We need to give them a list of what we want served. Can Doug find out the deadline for this request ( they will need to purchase supplies so need some lead >me) 2
Silent Auc>on: at least one show par>cipant was irritated that those working the auc>on were able to bid. The 4-6 persons who work the auc>on every year put in considerable hours. The past vision was that auc>oneers would be able to 1) ini>ate bidding on large long term items 2) bid on other items in which they were interested but 3) should not take advantage of their posi>on to get the last bid and win or 4) bid against a child. These last two items are in the interests of adherence to the club s mission. Pres. Lent con>nues to support these posi>ons. The club feels large durable signs that list the rules for the Silent Auc>on and Garnet table should be designed and approved and printed at club expense before the next show. The can be stored in the trailer for annual use. The should be built so they can be displayed behind the tables. Ms Clicon has portable easels that could be used to display these o Publicity: Doug did a wonderful job with the GazeZe and other adver>sing in the Outpost. GazeZe has offered to come along on a Field Trip and then run that as a show promo. We can invite them on a trip. Consider offering early, and asking them to archive, in case there are trip obstacles before the show. We have confirmed the Shrine for the next five (5) years on the weekend immediately before Mothers Day. Doug also suggested flyers that have pockets for rackcard type mini flyers so our single flyers aren t taken down. We could make these on card stock and laminate them if we can commit to retrieving them. We could omit the dates so they are reusable year acer year. The date and >mes would be on the mini flyers in the brochure pocket. o AZendance would be easier to track if those selling >ckets could keep track of the number on the first >cket they sell. A color for adults and one for children under 13 (?) would help us determine the age of our azendees. o Showcases: There was a good turnout for cases this year but we con>nue to need more club involvement and variety. The Peoples Choice and Junior will be the only awards Our clubs cases need some new glass and refurbishing for use. Leroy offered to help with this wood work. A sugges>on was made to save cost with a one >me investment in LED ligh>ng for the cases. An es>mate for all this work will be needed and the expense approved by the club. We got 25 cases from ID and 10-15 from WA. The Federa>on trailer may someday no longer be an op>on. So we need to work on our own cases. This would also serve to reduce the ongoing costs of fuel and >me to go pick up the trailer. Pres.Lent would like volunteers to sort through all the donated rock that seems to roll over from show to show and not move. Penny Clicon would help with that and take and rock that is no longer desired for the show. Website o Pres. Lent and Penny Clicon will get instruc>on at some point from Deb Zimbelman about running the website. Deb needs to construct a list of the features of the exis>ng site that we need to query (Terry Bybee, webmaster, who built the site)mr. about in order to manage it. We can an>cipate that Mr. Bybee will likely not agree to hand over the site and will see it as proprietary. Do we have a formal paper contract with Mr. Bybee that outlines what he provides for the monthly amount he keeps billing us. If he is supposed to change and update the site at this cost, how do we make that happen. What role, exactly, did the past club member have in sending things to him, or pos>ng things herself. Mr. Bybee bills us 40$ a month but we are unclear what that 40$ is buying. Determine if we have a formal contract. If not, Pres. Lent and other board member need to have a conference call with him soon There is a contact number on the site for someone in Westby MT and we have no idea who that is. o We also do not know where the emails go from the contact us page on the site o Deb Zimbelman will email Penny and Mark the ques>ons we need to ask the current webmaster o We have 2 emails for him: Terry@infinitydigitaldesign.com and Terry@2mites.us. Penny Clicon will test these to determine best path to Mr. Bybee o We want A Blog func>on where members can post trips they are planning and invite partners Allow members with private businesses to sponsor the site Links to websites of interest to rockhounds 3
o Perhaps a password system for members to use to Blog, upload images, etc. Would there be any value to a club Facebook page that is bidirec>onally linked to the website? Discuss at next mee>ng. Old Show Business items: Janey found some vests and laid them out for members. She does not have people to sew new vest but also does not have a long list of those wai>ng for vests. Field Trips: Leroy says Bob Miller is planning a trip to a ranch owned by one of the Haughan s between Terry and Miles City overnight May 16 and 17. Fossils, Agates, wood, ar>facts. A lengthy discussion was held about the large interest the BLM has in this property and that BM agents are likely to be in the vicinity. Therefore azendees will need to be very careful they are aware that they are on private and not state/ federal land during this trip. Anyone wan>ng to azend needs to meet Bob at the Flying J at 7 AM on the 16 th of May. Individuals need to make their own lodging arrangements or can camp at the site. Bob needs to have all aeendees sign the clubs liability waiver form. This is true for any trip. o Doug men>oned that he bought a GPS device, purchased a chip for it at about a $100 cost, and now for 20$ he can take it to Selby s mapping and get it updated annually with current state/federal/blm land GPS boundaries Finance: S>ll need someone to audit the books. Miscellaneous: o Alan Moos contacted Janey re the grinder that we had in storage for 2 years. Alan was not a member during those years. No on recalled that this grinder was his. No explana>on was given for why the grinder was never retrieved by Alan. It was sold. Alan wants the money. Janey did not approve that payment. Alan went to Doug. Doug supported Janey s decision as president in 2014. The current board supports both these opinions. The board feels that the grinder was unlabeled and abandoned and, despite numerous discussions at mee>ngs, no one knew who it belonged to and con>nued storage was not an op>on. We therefore owned the grinder by default, were in possession, and sale was within or rights. There are, to our knowledge, no other unclaimed items like this in the trailer or in storage. o Mark bought 5 pounds of garnets that may be a workable size. Club members can see him. 25$ if given for show o Don t forget Annual Picnic: August 2 nd. We are moving into Billings. Kathie Burke reserved a pavilion/gazebo. We will need a map for members in June. We have to rent it from 08:00 AM to 2:00 PM Upcoming Events o Leroy Pickham demonstra>ng flint knapping at Pictograph Caves Interpre>ve Center in Lockwood on August 8 th o Bob Garritson teaching Tools and Technology of the Middle Stone Age on June 6 th at Pictograph Caves Interpre>ve Center in Lockwood o The Larry Loendorf classes at the Arts Guild in Red Lodge are: Apr. 14 & 16 from 7-8:30 pm and have been moved to St. Agnes. Refreshments will be served and it is free. o Other informa>on from Montana Archaeological Associa>on is on a large poster on the raffle table hzp:// www.mtarchaeologicalsociety.org o MSU- B Library on the next 2 Tuesdays, Lewis and Clark related presenta>ons: 7/14: Campsite: the Clark Canoe Camp 7/21: History of the Pompey s Pillar Site and what happened to baby Pomp? Adjourned @ 7:00 PM General Mee2ng 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM Called to order at 7:00 PM by Mark Lent, Pres. Discussion: Guests introduced themselves and were welcomed Minutes: April mee>ng minutes reviewed, approved, seconded. Treasurers Report o Read aloud: Approved. o Acer costs, a $4000 profit on show may be realized. o Membership list on table for manual updates. o Audit of books completed by Marla DeShaw and Steve Nelson. Our thanks. Correspondance: Thank you sent to Sapphire Gallery, Phillipsburg, for show dona>on Field Trip: 4
o Bob talked about the Haughan ranch trip. Dates we had picked conflict with another event such that there will be no lodging available. Will reschedule. o Doug will lead a trip to Bear Canyon from Walmart, West End, Applebees corner of lot Saturday 5/16 0830 look for his big blue Ford Deisel truck o Doug has purchased a bank of records re fossils and rocks in the Froze and Starve to Death grazing districts above Hysham, near Ingomar and, acer some scou>ng, plans to lead a trip there for marine fossils this summer. EducaBon: Second year for a free trip around Jordan to learn from museum experts about search for and excava>ng fossils. Nothing is to be collected. Purely educa>onal. This year the group from Missouri will take 15 people/day from the Garfield Hotel in Jordan for day trips each day July 13 through 17. Food is provided for lunches which group will pack before departure. See Kathie Burke for details. Friendship report: Kathy Pickham sent cards to Bob Gerritsen and JeaneZe True both of who are recovering from surgery. Welcome back to Tom Thayer who looks wonderful acer his surgery. Historian report: Nothing to report. Janey is informally the informal historian. She has bound all the newslezers. Librarian report: Nothing to report. Janey will have a second key made.contents of the library cabinet used to be loaned out in library fashion but few recall contents of library any longer. Amber McGiven has volunteered to be the librarian. A sugges>on was made to pull 5-10 items monthly for display during the mee>ng to encourage borrowing. Publicity: o A member recalls that two past members had a large bank of low cost or free publicity contacts. They may be in amongst all the archived paperwork and could be searched for if someone would donate the >me. o NewsleHer editor: Chris thanked members for the photos their contribu>ons especially the Australian items from Steve. Always welcomes stories of our adventures. His email is cchan22@midrivers.com Website: The discussion held at the board mee>ng was reviewed with the membership. Mark, Penny, and Deb will pursue a transi>on to club management. FederaBon shows: Rocky Mountain Federa>on show July 16 through 18 in Cody, WY at the community center Old Business: website as above New Business: Larry Field suggested that members consider substan>al size or quality dona>on to the silent auc>on where they would profit share with club. Everybody wins! Longer term for the auc>on on these items. Signups for next year Club MeeBng Raffle This month the prizes were a Blue Forest cast and a chunk of Crystal Park conglomerate. Remember, winner brings two prizes to next mee>ng an only present members and guests may win. Mee>ng adjourned for refreshments. Mark Lent presented >ps and educa>on on hun>ng agate along the Yellowstone and tributaries, using slides of gravel bars and showing members how to pick agate from the mix. Next mee>ng is Thursday June 4th.Board at 6PM and general at 7PM Birthstone for June is Agate Who comes with summer to this earth, And owes to June her hour of birth, With ring of agate on her hand Can health, wealth, and long life command. 5
There is More Than One Way to Skin a Silent Auc2on By LGField PLEASE READ THIS AS IT IS TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE JUNE MEETING: Those of you that have belonged to other clubs and those of you that have aeended shows hosted by other clubs have no doubt seen other ways of conduc2ng certain ac2vi2es, such as silent auc2ons. At the May mee2ng I suggested that we expand our silent auc2on, it was discussed and proposed that this ar2cle be entered into the newsleeer and ac2on be taken on the subject at the June mee2ng. The idea of our auc2on is to raise money for the club s year round opera2ng expenses. All members and in many cases, non- members are encouraged to donate auc2on materials and to place bids on auc2on materials to aid the club s boeom line. As many of you are aware, our auc2on receives hand me downs, dona2ons, that in most cases are of such quality that their owners don t want them. The net result is that the majority of the auc2on material is low grade. Many clubs use other techniques to up the quality of the auc2on material and to give its members a chance to sell items. I have seen items worth at least $1000 ea at some auc2ons. At a Glendive auc2on in the 1970s I saw a beau2ful red agate that weighed 27 lbs. My sugges2on was that we increase the size of our auc2on and include two separate and isolated from one- another techniques. The first would be the format that we have been using. The second would auc2on club member consignment items. Club members would select higher quality items that they no longer want, but items that they do not wish to donate because of their high value, and they would receive the majority of the sale price with the club receiving a commission from EVERY consignment sale. By conduc2ng a two part auc2on, we would s2ll have lots of inexpensive things for children and others to bid on. We might also have some high dollar items consigned by members wishing to part with some high dollar materials. This new part would give members the opportunity to eliminate some excess and it would provide the club with addi2onal income. IT WOULD ALSO CREATE MORE WORK! The following are some of the items discussed at the last mee2ng, but nothing is final at this point- it is 2me to voice your opinion. 1. Limit the number of consignments. The show runs for 13 hours. The auc2on would have to end an hour before the show each day, so we would have 11 auc2on hours. Assuming that we placed 10 items each hour, let them ride for an hour and then pulled them to be replaced by another 10, we could theore2cally aeempt to auc2on 110 items. 2. We would no doubt have some items that receive bids for which the bidder is no longer present. In that case two possibili2es would be to sell it to the second highest bidder, if present, or to pull it for return to the owner. This could be indicated on the bid sheet. 3. If we chose to limit consignments to 110 items, the auc2oneer could accept consignments un2l that number was reached. If addi2onal items were presented for consignment, the individual, or those individuals, that had turned in large numbers of items would have to pull some so that each member, up to 110 members, received the opportunity to enter one or more items. We could also set a limit on the number of items entered by one person un2l all had a chance to enter. If 110 was not reached, a second round of consignments could be accepted 4. The owner, consigner, would have to provide a bid slip for each item consigned. The bid slip should contain the owners name and contact informa2on, the minimum acceptable bid, the minimum bid increment, item descrip2on and a calcula2on space at the boeom for determining both the club s and consignee s shares of the sale price. Probably more sugges2ons will be proposed for this sheet. I would recommend quartering an 6
8.5 X 11 sheet so that each bid sheet is uniform in size, 8.5 long and 2.75 wide, with a standardized format based on the June discussion, something similar to the following: Larry G. Field 652-1160 If the high bidder is not present, return the item to owner.* If the high bidder is not present, take the second highest bid. Are personal checks acceptable? Yes No, resort to above choices Min bid $45.00 Min bid increment $5.00 Sale Item: Used 6 lb Lortone Tumbler Bidder name Bid (must be present to win) $45.00 (addi2onal lines Sale Price X 0.80 Consigner s share *The first three choices above could be pre- determined and each person would only consign if he/she agreed with rules. 5. Since a two part auc2on would require more total show work, the discussion at the May mee2ng indicated that a work requirement would be levied upon consigners. It was suggested that each household that made one or more consignments would be required to work at least two hours at one of the show sta2ons: 2cket sales, silent auc2on, bean bags, etc. 6. It was also suggested that the club s cut would be 20% of selling price. 7. It would seem logical to me to discuss items such as the first three above- bidder not present, second price, checks acceptable, bids other than minimum increment, etc. make all decisions to minimize the size of the bid sheet. The consignee would only enter items if he/she agreed with the rules as set. 8. Do not change our exis2ng auc2on or try this sugges2on. All of the above and probably more will be discussed in June. Normally, the Yellowstone Deposit is not published in July and August.Due to the large amount of business in this issue, space does not allow the conclusion of the Aussie Agate article or a new article received from Earl Moos. So look for a special edition along with the picnic reminder! 7
Code of Ethics I will respect both private and public property and will do no collecting on privately owned land without permission. I will use no firearms or blasting material in collecting areas. I will take all garbage home or deposit it in proper receptacles I will leave all gates as found. I will cause no willful damage to materials or take more than I can reasonably use I will build fires only in designated or safe places only. I will discard no burning material - matches, cigarettes, etc. I will fill all excavation holes which may be dangerous to livestock. I will not contaminate wells, creeks, or other water supplies. I will not damage or tamper with signs, structural facilities or equipment. I will leave all collecting areas devoid of litter, regardless of how found. I will appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources. Friendship News by Cathy Pickham No news since the last meeting. Yellowstone Deposit Editor: Chris Channell 10 Shoe String Rd Lavina, Mt, 59046 406-575-4207 cchan22@midrivers.com DON T FORGET TO BRING YOUR POSTAGE STAMPS TO THE MEETING! THEY ARE USED TO SUPPORT CANCER RESEARCH. 2015 Officers President : Mark Lent 373-5131 Vice Pres: Tom Thayer 259-6280 Secretary: Penny Clifton 281-0731 Treasurer: Juli Peden 256-0041 Board Members Leroy Pickham 633-2950 Kathie Burke 652-1133 Cora Azpeitia, 248-7507 Janey Haburchak 245-1618 Committee Chairmen Field Trip: Bob Miller 259-5461 Friendship: Cathy Pickham 633-2950 Show Chair: Doug True 670-0506 NFMS Rep, Doug True NFMS and AFMS Field Trip Chair: Doug True Visit Our Website! www.billingsgemclub.com Annual Picnic will be held Sunday August 2 in Billings Map to follow 8