As fall approaches, it is time to reflect on all of the activities during the past year - the great field trips, outstanding meeting programs, the Wednesday lapidary nights, the best club show in years. All of these activities are planned and run by volunteers; people just like you.

With elections for club officers and board members coming soon, think about volunteering for a leadership position in the club.  You won't have to do all the work yourself. There are others in the club that will provide assistance and guidance. You might consider co-chairing with someone else to share the work.

 The power of the volunteer can be seen in our club's Rockhounds of the Year. Ray and Dorothy Horton have spent countless hours making this club what it is today. While we thank them for their sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm, we should also think how each of us could help.  Let me know where you would like to use your talents for the club this next year.

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Club Meeting

Thursday, Sept 9, 7:15 p.m.
West Boulder Senior Center, 9th & Arapahoe

For this month's club meeting, we are fortunate to have club member Caren Johannes give us a presentation on her family's rock-hounding vacation this summer to Nevada and Oregon.  Caren says she has enough material for three presentations, so we will be treated to the best of the best!

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Jr. Geologists Continue to Study Boulder's Rock Formations

During the past two months, the Jr. Geologists have been studying the rock formations around Boulder.  September will be the last month of this series, where we will  be looking at the Cretaceous formations north of Boulder.  During the Cretaceous, Boulder was under the Interior Seaway and the sediments that were deposited during that time became the shales, limestones, and sandstones we see today.  The Jr. Geologists will look at these rocks and try to figure out what was going on at that time.

In order to get out into the field before it gets too dark, we will meet at 6:15 on Thursday, September 23rd in the parking lot of the Sol Azteca at 28th and Iris. Plan to eat before you get there or bring a sack supper.  Wear sturdy shoes, as  we will do some walking.  Be sure to bring a rock hammer and something to put your specimens in, if you want to collect.  Please let Dennis Gertenbach know you are coming.

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2004 Rockhound of the Year 

Every year, the Flatirons Mineral Club selects one of its members as their Rockhound of the Year.  This year, Ray and Dorothy Horton have been selected for this honor. Members for over 40 years, they have served the club repeatedly as Program Chair, Field Trip Chair, and on the Scholarship Committee.  They are faithful in filling grab bag samples, have helped judge the state science fair as a club representative, and have overseen the refreshments at the monthly club meetings.  Their activities include leading field trips and teaching at the Wednesday workshop nights. 

 The club is grateful for the years of service they have provided and we appreciate all of their hard work.  In summary, one of the nominations said it best.  "They pitch in and help with whatever is needed, they are knowledgeable and enjoy sharing."

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A Few More Field Trips!

Paul Boni

The summer field trip schedule is winding down.  Here is the latest trip schedule. A couple of trips remain unscheduled at this time, and we need volunteers to lead some fall field trips, such as to the newly accessible Table Mountain quarries to look for zeolites.

McCoy, CO
Sept 11 and 12
Trip leader: Dennis Gertenbach

Fossils, including crinoids, brachiopods, horn corals, and others

McCoy is famous for Pennsylvanian marine fossils. The area abounds with crinoids, brachiopods, and horn corals. Also found are shark teeth, bivalves, and other sea creatures from 300 million years ago. This is a great trip for kids.

We plan to visit several locations in the area, each with different fossils to find. The fossils are mostly loose on the ground and will require little or no digging. Plan to bring water, protection from the sun or inclement weather, hiking shoes, rock pick, food, and collecting stuff. McCoy can be hot this time of year, so plan accordingly. (It can also rain or even snow in September, too.)  Parents are responsible for their children.

Participants can plan on joining us just on Saturday or stay overnight and continue hunting on Sunday.  We will visit different areas each day. There is primitive camping in the area (no water or other facilities) or you can stay in a motel in Eagle. The distance from Boulder is about 150 miles.

Please contact Dennis Gertenbach to sign up for the trip.  He will provide information about the trip, the meeting times, and detailed directions to the meeting place.

Trips unscheduled as of this writing: The following are trips that will happen this summer, but have not yet been scheduled. We are working on other field trip ideas and will announce them when the details are worked out.

 Lien Quarry
Trip Leader; Connie Hauser

Calcite Crystals.

The reason that this trip is yet unscheduled is that the quarry operators have not hit a seam of calcite crystals lately. The plan is that when they do, they will call Connie and Connie will call all who are interested. The field trip will then be on. Please leave your name and phone number with Connie if you are interested. Lien Quarry calcite crystals are often UV fluorescent.

Caribou Silver Mine
Trip Leader; Ray Horton

Ray has spoken with Tom Hendricks who has graciously agreed to allow us to pick over the mine dumps at the famous Caribou Mine. The main attraction here is the chance to find wire silver specimens. Other mine dumps attractions are always things like quartz and pyrite crystals and specimens of ore minerals. This is a beautiful site and well worth the trip, even if just for a pick nick lunch! At this time we do not have a firm date with Mr. Hendricks.

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2004 FMC Picnic
Charlotte Morrison

 The annual Flatirons Mineral Club Picnic was well attended in North Boulder Park on August 21. Many hands were soon busy filling the grab bags with mineral specimens that have been waiting in our shed.

 We want to thank all of the members who collected these specimens on their field trips individually or with the club.  Then there were Wednesday evenings with people putting the mineral and fossil specimens in thousands of tiny plastic bags with  labels. Charlotte kept a count to be sure we had a variety and enough for ten groups. They could not all be from the same location, for example.

 We are fortunate to have members who like to sew and others who provide the fabric: Jeannie Hurst, Evelyn Lynch, Susanne Melbye, Jean Brownhill and a new friend of  Paul Ralston, Joan Sinwell.

 Gerry Naugle produced 450 coupons to place in the bags for the Denver Show sales table. These coupons have the name of our club and invite the person who bought the bag to come to our show in November, and receive a free mineral specimen in exchange for the coupon. After these 450 bags had been filled, there were still enough rocks and bags to make 400 more for sale at our November show.  All proceeds go to the scholarship fund at the Colorado School of Mines.

We are out of specimens for 2005, so we rely on you our members to continue to collect large numbers of small specimens suitable for the grab bags. Jeannie Hurst has cut out about 500 more bags from attractive fabric, and she has samples to show how  to assemble them to anyone who would like to volunteer and get started sewing the 2005 batch.

Gerry Naugle received a round of applause for his hard work.  Not only did he supervise the hauling of specimens from the shed to the picnic, making sure we had all the flats we would need, but he also worked hard setting up the grill and getting it going, and grilling the tasty hamburgers for our picnic meal.  So many thanks to the "cheerful chef", and also to our club members for their potluck dishes (salads and desert) that filled out the picnic fare. And finally, thanks to those who drove to the shed and took the finished bags and the few remaining specimens back for storage until November.

 Club president Dennis Gertenbach was unable to attend, but he delegated Gerry Naugle to announce at the picnic that our "Rockhound of the Year" award this year goes to Ray and Dorothy Horton, by popular vote.  Also, Alex Cook was given a lifetime membership card for his services to the club, by vote of the Board of Directors.

So thanks to many willing volunteers, we had another fun and successful annual picnic!

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Club Show Case At  Boulder Public Library
Gerry Naugle

 We have made arrangements with the Boulder Public Library to place a display case in the bridge walkway over the creek.  It will be there starting on Monday, Oct  31 through the end of November.

This is a major publicity coup for our club.  Club members are strongly encouraged to bring favorite and interesting specimens to the Library for display in this case on the afternoon of Monday, Oct 31. If possible, make your own display labels, but we may be able to have Microsoft Word on a diskette so that we can do some labeling on site.

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Helpers needed at the Denver Show

Charlotte Morrison, with the help of Lew Yoder, will show our "Touch Me Rocks" in the Flatirons Mineral Club area at the Denver showm, Sept. 17-19.  This table needs to be attended at all times by club members.  Please stop by for an hour when you visit the show, to give Charlotte and Lew time to see the exhibits.

If you volunteer as a helper, you can gain free admission to the show. Please call Charlotte (303-499-9289) to have your name placed on the list at the front door. Also, there will be a special party and silent auction for show volunteers in the foyer of the Mart at 6 PM Saturday night. So sign up to be a helper, and join in the fun!

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FMC Fall Show Committee Meeting

The next SHOW COMMITTEE MEETING for  our November 19, 20 & 21 show will be held at the Hurst's at 2863 Nebrina Pl., Tuesday, September 28 at 7 p.m.  Time is getting short and we all need to volunteer for lots of different jobs. Join us and be part of the show!  See you at John's & Jeanne's. Contact John if you are ready to learn a new show job. Thank you for your help and support.

Have you organized your display?  Call Paul Ralston to reserve one of the 32 Show Cases for your rocks, fossils or minerals.

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Volunteers Needed at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science

This fall, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science is planning a new interactive program for kids, call the Research Carts.  The first Research Cart will focus on the Denver Basin Research Project, which is helping to unravel the geology of the Denver area.  Ancient landscapes, including rain forests, swamps, and beaches, are being better defined through this research program.  Volunteers will use the Research Carts to teach the public about this research project and will help the public learn more about the geology in their own back yards.  If this first Research Cart is  successful, more will be added in the future.

Volunteers are asked to commit one year for a minimum of 8 hours per month.  Training will begin in September.  If you are interested in volunteering, contact Addie Jo Rocchio at 303-370-6436 or ajrocchio@dmns.org. 

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Colorado School of Mines Open House: An Invitation
Wednesday, September 15, 7-10 p.m.

The Colorado School of Mines has issued an invitation to an open house reception at their new Geology Museum in Golden, on Wednesday, September 15 from 7 to 10 PM, on the eve of the Denver Gem and Mineral Show.  The School of Mines hopes to make this an annual event.

The reception will feature hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and the fabulous School of Mines String Quartet, new displays on the Colorado uranium rush, as well as new  display cases and special exhibits. Some phenomenal new specimens donated by Bruce and David Oreck and Marty Zinn will be on display. There will be special displays of borates recently donated by Dawn Minette and spectacular Chinese minerals donated by Marty Zinn, as well as new special exhibits by Dave Bunk, Bryan Lees, and Bill Larson. In addition, there will be a newly installed, magnificent stained-glass window. Named The Call, it came from a nineteenth-century Scottish church and features two miners receiving wisdom and enlightenment from an angel of the Lord.

Last but not least, there will be a silent auction to benefit the Museum.  Last year's auction was a great success, with many marvelous pieces. Donations of items for this auction are solicited.  Contact Paul Bartos at the Museum.

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Offers for Sale to FMC Members

FMC club member Mike Trafton has completed his documentary video on rhodochrosite mining in Colorado, chiefly filmed in the Sweet Home Mine in Alma.  He showed some of this video to us at one of our club meetings several months ago.  The completed video is 82 minutes in length, and the DVD includes some "extras".  The DVD will sell commercially for $25, and will be on sale at the Denver Gem and Mineral Show in September. However, Mike will have some for sale to club members at our October meeting (Oct 14) for $20.

 A new book, Facts About Fluorite, is being offered for sale by its author, Joe Eburno, of Wheaton, IL, who has been a mineral collector for over 40 years. He says, "Although my initial interest encompassed general mineral species, I became fascinated by  the color, variety, and quality of worldwide fluorite specimens.  This interest prompted me to write Facts About Fluorite and develop an extensive fluorite collection." The book is soft-covered with 70 pages and 8 color photographs, and the cost is  $18 postpaid.  Order from the author: Joe Eburno, 2259 Hiram Dr, Wheaton IL 60187.

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Upcoming Events, Nearby & Elsewhere

Sept. 3-6, Rock Swap at Crawford, Nebraska. 6th Annual Fairburn Agate collectors' swap meet--if you haven't checked it out, it is well worth the drive this Labor Day weekend.  See lots of Fairburn Agates on display as well as for swap or for sale, usually about 50 dealers. There will be guided field trips for the public, so come prepared.  See you there!

Sept. 3-6 -- Volunteers are being sought to help at the education tent at Taste of Colorado, Labor Day weekend Sep. 3-6, sponsored by the Colorado Mining Exhibit Foundation: "The 40 ft x 40 ft walk-through public education tent will be on Cheyenne Place, just north of Colfax again this Labor Day weekend.  We need people for four-hour shifts Friday through Monday during the day light hours. Thousands of voters and teachers visit our exhibit, so we need 8 to 10 people per shift to help.  Call Guy Johnson (303-969-0365) if you can help with this pro-active outreach event with the theme: "The Importance of Mining and Minerals to a Strong America". (Or email Guy at GPJ222@aol.com)  Exhibits and exhibitors at this tent include free gold panning, the Colorado Geological Survey, etc.

Saturday, Sep. 4 will be the next "Dinosaur Discovery Day", public interpretive tour day at Dinosaur Ridge, Morrison, CO, 10 a.m.-2:30.  Interpretive walking tours are free; there is a $2 charge to ride the bus to the top of the Ridge. This day's tour will feature special booths and programs on the theme of "Rocks and Roles: Celebrating Females in Earth Science", aimed especially at getting young people interested in earth science.   For more information please see http://www.dinoridge.org

Thursday, Sep. 9, "Zeolite Minerals" will be the theme of the bimonthly meeting of the Colorado Chapter, Friends of Mineralogy.  The meeting will be at  7:30 p.m. in the V.I.P. room (ground floor, at rear of the T-rex Cafeteria) of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  Any interested persons are welcome to attend the meeting; for more information, please contact Pete Modreski (303-202-4766) or Jack Murphy at DMNS (303-370-6445 or 303-370-6355).

Sep. 17-19 -- Denver Gem and Mineral Show at the Denver Merchandise Mart, 58th Ave. at I-25.  The second largest such show in the entire U.S., and with much more to see than any of the smaller such shows held at other times in Denver or Colorado. It includes exhibits from many museums within and even outside the U.S., many (100 or more) dealers, "free mineral identification", lectures and special  programs including a Saturday evening lecture and silent auction, and an entire separate hall full of fossils exhibits and dealers.  "Zeolites and Associated Minerals" is the theme of this year's mineral show.  USGS will have a booth here, as well as the Colorado Geological Survey and other non-profit organizations. See http://www.denvermineralshow.com/

Mondays & Wednesdays, September 20-296:30-8:30 p.m. Naturalist Nook, Denver Museum of Nature and Science. $70 member, $85 nonmember. Paleontology of the Western Interior.  Dr. Kirk Johnson, chief curator and curator of paleontology. The Western Interior of North America preserves one of the most complete sequences of fossiliferous rock in the world, Explore the rich fossil treasures of the Rocky Mountain States.

Tuesdays, September 21-October 26, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Classroom 303, Denver Museum of Nature and Science. $120 member, $135 nonmember.  Introduction to Dinosaurs.  Virginia Tidwell, assistant preparator, Earth Sciences Department. Identify the characteristics used to define each group of dinosaurs and discuss current topics in paleobiology, with emphasis on how scientists test their theories. For ages 15 and up.

Thursday, September 30, 7:00 p.m. Ricketson Auditorium, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, $10 member, $13 nonmember. Revealing the Mysteries of the Earth's Deep Interior.  Dr. David James, research geophysicist, Carnegie Institution. Modern seismology was born in the 1960s with the remarkable discovery of sea floor spreading. In this talk, James describes how seismic images are obtained and the vital clues they yield for solving mysteries as diverse as the causes of earthquakes and mountain building to the origin of diamonds formed deep in the ancient roots of continents.

Thursdays, 0ctober 7-21, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Classroom 303, Denver Museum of Nature and Science. $60 member, $75 nonmember. Regional Geology of Western Europe. Dr. Bob Raynolds, research associate, Earth Sciences Department. Dive deep into the geological wonders of Western Europe with this insightful geologist.

Thursday, October 14--DAYTIME: 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. $7 member, $10 nonmember; EVENING: 7:00-9:00 p.m. Denver Museum of Nature and Science. $10 member, $13 nonmember. Geology of the World: Morocco. Dr. Bob Raynolds, research associate, Earth Sciences Department. The intrepid Raynolds will discuss the geological wonders underneath the modern landscape of Morocco.

Oct 30-31 - Tulsa (Oklahoma) Rock & Mineral Society Gem & Mineral Show, featuring Working Demonstrations, Continuous silent auction, Hourly door prizes, Adult & children's programs, Competitive and exceptional special exhibits, Children's games and scientific experiments, Select national dealers. Tulsa Event Center, 2625 South Memorial Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Contact Peggy Stewart at peggy22@cox.net.

 Check our own web site for additional events, and further details: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/community/fmc/fmctk.htm

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Peridot
Agate Licker 8/03

History: Peridot (pronounced pear-uh-doe) is a French word derived from the Arabic paridat, which means gem. The stone ranges in color from light yellow-green to the intense bright green of new grass to olive. Because of the way peridot splits and bends the rays of light passing through it, it has a velvety, "sleepy" appearance - a shining rich glow.

According to astrologers, the wearer of peridot will enjoy happiness in marriage, the power of eloquence in speech and enduring freedom from insecurity - both emotional and physical. Ancient Egyptians called peridot "the gem of the sun", although they believed its seekers might not find it in sunlight. Because of their brightness in the desert sun, the stones were supposedly invisible by daylight. In darkness, however, they were alleged to give off a light of their own. By night, miners were said to mark their locations accordingly and return to recover their treasures by day.

Peridot was believed to have the power to dissolve enchantments. To exert its full potential, the stone was to be set in gold. Then it would drive away night's terrors. If it was to be used to protect the wearer from evil spirits, it had to be pierced, strung on the hair of a donkey, and worn on the left arm. As a medical remedy, it was powdered to cure asthma. Holding a peridot under the tongue was supposed to lessen the thirst of a person suffering from fever.

The high priest's breastplate, which is described in the Biblical book of Exodus, includes a stone for each of the twelve tribes of Israel, one being peridot.

Sources: Archaeologists have found valuable peridots in Alexandria, Egypt, which must have come from the original source, the island of Zebargad (zebargad being the Arabic word for peridot). It is located about 50 miles from the coast of Egypt in the Red Sea.  Faceted stones have also been found in the ruins of ancient Greece and attributed to the same source.

Zebargad, which was known for many years as Saint John's Island, may have been mined as early as 1500 BC. The island was discussed in the natural history of Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD.) as having been explored in the fourth century BC. It was called the "the Serpent Isle" since its many poisonous snakes interfered with mining activity. Eventually, an Egyptian ruler had the snakes killed and kept the miners isolated at work on the island. Because the rich stones were so coveted, guards of the deposits were told to kill any unauthorized travelers approaching the island.

The treasure was kept secret from the western world for centuries - from Biblical times until the seventeenth century. The mines were very active from 1906 until World War I and afterward until World War II.

Burma then became the prime source of peridot, stones from its Mogok region being generally a bit lighter green than those of Zebargad. Another major worldwide source of peridot is the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona. Only the Apache Indians may mine there. Lesser sources of peridot are Norway, Brazil, Australia, Hawaii and the Congo. Peridots have been found in meteorites.

On Display: The largest known faceted peridot (310 carats) is displayed at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C. Now a part of the Diamond Treasury in Moscow, Russia, is a yellowish-green 192.75-carat stone that belonged to the czars. A step cut peridot of 146 carats is in the Geological Museum, London, England. The collections of the American Museum of Natural History in New York and the Chicago Museum of Natural History have included beautiful examples of peridot. Many peridots were taken to Europe by crusaders returning from the East and kept in cathedrals. Especially fine specimens are in the Cathedral in Cologne.

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History of Bauxite in Arkansas
by William V. Bush, Arkansas Geological Commission-1984
Reprinted from THE PETRIFIED LOG 10/99, via THE GLACIAL DRIFTER 10/03

Bauxite was discovered by a French chemist, P. Berthier, in 1821 while investigating specimens found near Les Baux in southern France. The name Bauxite was not used until many years later.

The development of the Bayer process for the extraction of alumina from bauxite and the Hall process for the reduction of the alumina to metallic aluminum occurred during the period 1885 to 1890. As the metal aluminum became better known and its qualities recognized, many plants designed to utilize the Bayer and Hall processes were built. Production of bauxite in Arkansas began in 1898 and has generally increased since, although the overall trend is marked by many short-term production declines.

Bauxite in Arkansas was first described in 1842 by Dr. W. Byrd Powell, who noted the peculiar character of this rock in Fourche Cove but did not recognize its true nature. John C. Branner, State Geologist, was the first to identify bauxite when he noticed it in a sample brought to him by Ed Weigel of Little Rock in 1887. The material was being used to surface the road from Sweet Home to Little Rock. Branner's first published report of the occurrence of bauxite appeared in 1891. This was only a few years after the first discovery of bauxite in America, at Rome, Georgia, and three years after the Pittsburgh Reduction Company had been organized to commercialize the Hall process of aluminum production.

Active development began in 1895, with the purchase of land and mineral rights on large areas, and in 1896 the first 20 tons of ore were shipped. In 1898 about 633 long tons of bauxite were mined to make aluminum. Pittsburgh Reduction Company,  a subsidiary of the Aluminum Company of America, entered the Arkansas bauxite field in 1899 and produced 1,720 tons of ore that year. In the same year the General Bauxite Company also shipped some ore. During the next three years the production remained low, but in 1903 it rose to more than 25,000 tons. Production increased rapidly, and reached nearly 200,000 tons in 1914. World War I resulted in a remarkable increase, and more than 560,000 tons were produced in 1918.

After the war, production dropped and oscillated from year to year. By 1923 the  total was back to nearly 500,000 tons. This tonnage represented about one half of the world's production for that year. After 1923 increased production of foreign ore, particularly the high-grade ores from northern South America, caused a decline in production. Depressed economic conditions during the early 1930's reduced the output further, and in 1932 it was down to about 90,000 tons. However, in subsequent years production figures began to rise again. The all-time peak was reached during World War II when, in 1942, more than 6,000,000 long tons was produced.

Since the end of World War II, two major companies have continued mining operations in the bauxite area. Alcoa Mining Company and Reynolds Metals Company, both have refineries located near Bryant, in Saline County. However, early in 1982 the Reynolds Company ceased operation of their mine. Several other companies have been active in Arkansas bauxite, American Cyanamid Company, Norton Company, Porocel Corporation, Stauffer Chemical Company, and A.P. Green Company. Between the end of the war and 1981 (the last year production data was available) annual production has averaged nearly 1,700,000 long tons.

Occurrence of Arkansas Bauxite: The bauxite deposits in Arkansas are associated with intrusions of nepheline syenite in Pulaski and Saline Counties. They were formed from weathering and leaching of silica from the aluminum-rich syenite when it was exposed. The deposits crop out on the surface but in most places are covered by sand and clays of Tertiary age. Although some bauxite was mined underground in the early years, it is now obtained by stripping and open pit methods.

Uses of Arkansas Bauxite: The principle use of Arkansas bauxite is in the manufacture of metallic aluminum. Other uses are for the manufacture of artificial abrasives, chemicals, refractories, cements, absorbents, and catalysts.

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Minutes of the Board Meeting
Emily Epstein, Secretary

August 8, 2004

Present: Paul Boni, Emily Epstein, Dennis Gertenbach, Ray Gilbert, Ray Horton, Shirley Mehta, Gerry Naugle, Terry O'Donnell,  Melinda Thompson, Lew Yoder

The meeting came to order at 7:30

Trick Runions was unable to attend due to an eye injury. He is working on new member packets, which should be ready to give to incoming members this fall.

Dennis Gertenbach announced that Ray and Dorothy Horton are the Club's Rockhounds of the Year.

Arrangements for the picnic were discussed. Alex Cook volunteered to get the ice. Paul Boni suggested that we should adjust drink purchases-more tea and water, less pop. Ray Horton and Terry O'Donnell are working on programs for the September and October meetings. Discussion of possible speakers ensued.

Gerry Naugle gave the treasurer's report. Scholarchip checks have been sent to the School of Mines, and the club is still solvent. Charlotte Morrison reported that Paul Ralston's sister, Margaret, died and Paul and Martha made a donation to the scholarship fund in her honor. She also reported the death of founding and life  member Don Tripp's son. The Board voted to authorize transfer of $25 each in memory of Margaret Ralston and Don Tripp's son.

We need to make preparations for the upcoming Denver Show. Bill Hutchison agreed to assemble the club case, but he needs specimens and photographs. Charlotte needs more volunteers for the club table. She'll have a sign-up sheet at the picnic.The braille captions for the Touch-Me rocks are getting worn and we need to have new ones made. The board authorized the expenditure.

Gerry has arranged to have a club exhibit at the Boulder Public Library in early November. Emily asked if it would be acceptable to include examples of what's being taught at the show. It was agreed that that and anything else done by the club would be suitable. We need items collected and/or made by club members, as well as photographs. People should bring their items to the library late afternoon or early evening ofOctober 31 to put them into the exhibit.

 Paul Boni reported on field trips. Jeffco is still debating what will happen with North Table Mountain. There will be yet another hearing on it on Wednesday, August 18, from 6-8 p.m. in the Open Space Hearing Room. People are encouraged to attend. Also, the Antero trip is in jeopardy. So far, Paul's is the only 4-wheel-drive vehicle signed up, and there will be no trip up the mountain unless there is at least one more vehicle.

The next show committee meeting will be August 17 at Alex Cook's house. We need to finalize arrangements for tables and cases. We are having difficulty locating Jim Armitage's educational materials in the shed. It may be under the sawhorses. Jim is inviting various school groups to attend the show. Gerry reported that the gold panning this year will be run by the prospecting group from Littleton. Discussion of various other matters ensued.

Board meetings conflicting with WIPS  monthly meetings continues to be a problem. The board voted to change our meeting to resolve this. We will meet on the last Monday of the month, starting this month. That should avoid conflict, yet still put the board meeting close enough to our club meeting to be useful. Charlotte agreed to host.

We need new officers for next year. Dennis will head the nominating committee. We need to fill secretary, webmaster, and field trip coordinator, among other offices.

Gerry reported that some groups meeting at the Senior Center have assigned closet space. David at the center told him it might be possible for the FMC get an assigned closet, which would  make things much easier for our membership.

The meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

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Updated 9/5/04