In spite of some bitter cold and snowy weather, the 2008 Annual Show at the Boulder County Fair Grounds in Longmont was a great success, thanks to the efforts of the Show Committee and the hours of many volunteers from the two clubs. Highlights included some of the best show cases we’ve ever had, excellent classes, interesting lectures, including one on “Alien Volcanoes”, and lots of activity at the Kids’ area (a record number of grab bags sold).
Flatirons Mineral Club Annual Gem & Mineral Show
December 12-14, 2008
Boulder County Fairgrounds
Fri. 10-6, Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4
Age 14 and up $2.50 on Friday, $5 on Sat. and Sunday, 13 and under free with paid adult
Held in conjunction with the Boulder Model Railroad Club Annual Show, December 13-14.
Friday is Kids' Day - special activities and free admission for participating students.
15 Dealers - offering gems, rocks, minerals, lapidary items, tools & supplies, jewelry, fossils, and more!
Exhibits - Cases by club members, dealers, and area clubs and museums. Special exhibits: fluorescent room and Colorado state map.
It's not too early to begin planning to put together a
display case for the show in December. Be sure to reserve a case from
Paul Ralston at a club meeting. Cases are
available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Demonstrations - Lapidary, jewelry making, and more at the club table.
Friday-Sunday - Flint knapper Bob Patten.
Children's Activities - Grab bags, children's wheel, dig site, and
more! As a special treat: gold panning by the
Rocky Mountain Prospectors and Treasure
Hunters Club on Saturday and Sunday.
Classes & Programs Class fees will be posted before the show, and are to be paid to the instructor. Reserve a place in advance by email by December 10, or sign up at the show. Signup sheets for the classes will be at the admissions table. All classes & programs will be in the classroom.
Alien Volcanoes. (11-12:30 Saturday) Slideshow and talk by Michael Carroll. Take a journey to some of the solar system's most violent and dramatic sites, from ancient volcanoes of Mars and Venus to the super-chilled geysers of Saturn's moon Enceladus with science journalist and artist Michael Carroll. Copies of his books will be available for purchase and signing following the presentation.
Wire-Wrap Pendant (Cabochon). (1-3:30 Saturday) Beginners' instruction in wire-wrap taught by Caren Johannes. Learn how to make a pendant from sterling silver wire, set with a stone cabochon. Students are asked to bring a cabochon. All other tools and materials will be provided. Limited to 10 students.
Colorado Gemstones. (11-12 Sunday) Talk and slideshow on gemstones to be found in Colorado and where to find them by Pete Modreski from the U.S. Geological Survey. (Cancelled due to road conditions)
Faking It and Making It Better. (1-2 Sunday) Talk and slideshow by geologist and jewelry designer Caren Johannes. It's real...or is it? Gemstones have been "improved," substituted, and made by human beings throughout history. Take a quick tour through the most common treatments and substitutes and make yourself a more knowledgeable gem purchaser.
See past programs and schedules 2008 program 2008 schedule
Door Prizes - door prizes will be awarded at intervals throughout the show, plus the grand prizes– an agate geode and a root-beer calcite sphere. The grand prize drawing will be held at the end of the show on Sunday. (You must be present to win door prizes, but not the grand prizes)
The 2008 Grand Prizes: an agate geode and a root-beer calcite sphere. Photo by Gerry Naugle.
Free parking. Food available.
2008 FMC Show Committee
Show Chair:
Jan Buda
Dealers:
John Hurst
Display Cases: Paul Ralston
Children's Activities:
Kristi Traynor
Admissions
& General Information:
Gerry Naugle
Programming & Publicity:
Emily Epstein
Volunteer Coordinator:
TBA
Exhibit Cases at 2008
Show - Judging Results
Cases Judging
Subcommittee Chair,
Gerry Naugle announces
the case judging
results. They are:
Senior Division
Best Jewelry - Ray
Gilbert
Best Lapidary - Bob
Johannes
Best Fossils - Jim
Siegwarth and Jim
Mayrath
Best Field Trip - Bill
Hutchinson
Best Minerals - Cory
Olin
Best of Show - Ed Raines
Junior Division
Best Fossils - Natsuki
Takazawa
Best Lapidary - Lukas
Simon
Best Field Trip -
Shealene Kent
Best Minerals - Preston
Dailey
Best of Show - Charles
Mock
Ed Raines’ "Sr. Division Best of Show” case, a selection of spectacular agates.
Charles Mock’s Jr. Division “Best of Show” case, “What on Earth is a Pseudomorph?”
Youngsters learning to make cabochons under the expert tutelage of Shaula Lee and Terry O’Donnell
Grand Door Prize winner Colleen Attaway shown with 2008 Show Chair, Jan Buda
2008 Grand Door-Prize, an Agate Geode at about 35 lbs.
Ed Raines at the Mineral Identification Table
Cory Olin, with a Zeolite specimen
Digging for fossils in the Kids’ Area at the show
Click here for information on the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2009 shows.
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Updated 1/6/09