Hey Everyone, Spring is here! This means that we can get back to many club activities that because of winter we have to shut down. This month we have two trips planned, Larry is reopening the Shed, and we have extra work meetings to prepare for the May Show. Watch for emails with details on those work meetings. We need to get the new trailer ready and prepare the bags and other stuff for the kids tables. I often wonder why we do all these things. What is the purpose of all of this? For some it is a love of learning and sharing what they know with those around them. For some it is the social aspect. Others like the collecting and travelling around to hand collect the specimens. What ever the reason is it gives us a sense of satisfaction and purpose. It can help us define who we are. I always find it interesting the different reasons people do what they do. Whatever your reason, we are happy to have you as a part of this club. The Monthly Meeting is Thursday April 14th at 7 PM at the Cache County Fairgrounds Event Center. Patrick has a great program for us and it should be a good time. We are starting to collect rock for the show. If you want to donate, please see the Show Committee section of this newsletter for details. If you are new and want to get involved with the club the fastest way to get to know people is to volunteer to help at the show. There are many ways to do that, and we can always use more help. Thanks for all of you that give of your time to benefit the club and its members.
Bret Fonnesbeck

Hello Everyone, April is here and that means rock shows are happening. I have had the opportunity to go to a few already this year and there is a rock/mineral that I keep seeing over and over again, Malachite. I see it in raw mineral form, object form like skulls, and of course multitudes of various sized polished specimens. As you look, one can’t miss identifying it with all those bands of various green hues. And you know how much I like green. A question I keep asking myself is how come I didn’t notice malachite before? Have my eyes just been opened or is there an abundance this year? I remember seeing it in raw mineral form often mixed with azurite, but the full circles and bands of polished material are really catching my eye. I just might have to buy a chunk or two. This month’s program will be on my new found rock obsession mentioned above, Malachite. We will learn what gives it that green color, where it’s mined, uses of malachite through the ages and it’s metaphysical properties. If you have a sample, bring it to show us and we will see you at the meeting. We will also have our “Bring a Rock = Take a Rock” exchange, the kid’s club auction plates and bulk slabs for purchase.
Patrick

Well, the first trip of the year is in the books. I’m pretty sure everyone had a good time and found some usable material. We had a great turnout. April has a couple of good trips the first one is over to Woodruff on 4/16, for shell fossils, we will be collecting for the club as well to restock our supply for the grab bags, this is a great trip for the kids and older kids too. It’s only a couple hours away. The long trip is down to the Topaz mountain area, 4/22-24, there is a variety of material to be found there, there are motels in Delta or camping spots out by Topaz, from Delta it’s about an hour drive to where the club will meet for the different spots. Come to the meeting for more details and watch for an email when the Topaz trip gets closer. See you at the meeting.
Dave

Check out the calendar on the home page for trips.

Show Committee Members

Our annual club Rock and Gem show is fast approaching. The show chairmen are working hard to make sure everything is in order. The club will need a lot of support and help to make the show a success. The show schedule is for May 18 set up, the show is the 19th through the 21st. May 19th and 20th 10 am to 7 pm and May 21st 9 am to 6 pm, at the Cache County Events Center. Show setup 8:00 am to Noon, Chairman Larry Christiansen, Vendor setup starts at noon. Display case setup, Chairman Gary Allred, will be concurrent with show setup. Show take-down will start at the close of the show on the 21st. Other areas that will be included are, Front Desk/Greeting area, Chairman Craig Stewart and Tom Wilmore. Raffle/Door prizes, Chairmen Chuck and Dixie Wilson, Silent auction Chairman Arno Metting, Kids club Chairman, Maria Gates. Advertising Chairman LuAnne Wilmore, Donations Chairman (local merchants) Dawnette Hunter, UV Display Chairmen Patrick Carroll and Gary Allred. Please take note of the updates from the chairmen in the newsletter and see where you may be able to lend a hand. I want to add a special thank you the chairmen for their willingness to help and keep us on track.

Join the FUN Front Desk Team

Join the rock show front desk team and work with fun people. Greet show attendees as they come in, hand out club information brochures, give prize drawing tickets to show attendees and receive money for entrance to the show. Training takes less the10 minutes. A written guide will be available at all times while working at the front desk. Sign up early and choose your schedule-29 openings available. Text Craig Stewart at 435-730-5556 or see him at April’s club meeting for schedule times.

We need help with setup and takedown. Setup will be on Wednesday May 18 starting at 8:00 AM and trying to get setup complete by 12:00 Noon for the vendors. Take down will be after the show ends on Saturday May 21 at 6:00 PM until it is done. There will not be a signup sheet for these since no particular schedule of peoples time is necessary. The more help we get the better, especially for take down on Saturday evening. The more help we have the quicker and easier these tasks will be. If you have a little time to spare to help it would be appreciated.

Thank You. Larry Christiansen

HELP WANTED

In search of a few “CRGC” members to become dynamic sales persons, for our silent auction. No experience necessary just a willingness to sell LOTS of rocks at our ROCK SHOW on May 19, 20, 21. You get to see LOTS of rocks, SMILES on the faces of successful bidders and buyers, a warm feeling of helping our GREAT club provide information and education of rocks, minerals, and lapidary. To join this squad of select, super sellers, come to the show and take a place at the auction/sales table any time that is convenient for you. No sign up or reservations necessary. Join the fun!! If selling, “Mother Earths Treasures”, is not your favorite thing to do, come see us at the auction/sales table and let us find that perfect job for you. REMEMBER, the show keeps the club going to provide information and education of rocks, minerals, and lapidary.

Wanted

WE NEED: A few rocks and mineral, slabs, cabs, specimens, you name it. They will be used for the silent auction sale to support our club. Dig deep into your buckets, boxes, hidden corners and shelves, and find those rocks you forgot you had, please just remember if you would not buy it, we probably cannot sell it. PLEASE clean and label (rock name and/or location) of your donations. We can use an estimated value of the items also. Remember, PRETTY, sells and supports our club ALSO NEEDED: Raffle and door prizes, our members create some fantastic rock and gem related items. We can always use your creations for raffle prizes. Giving of your time to create, has much more value than the items. Bring you donations to our meetings or to the show. The show is less than 45 short days away.

Download a full pdf of the Rock show here.

Download the pdf version of the newsletter here.