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Rockwood Gem and Mineral Society
St. Louis, Missouri

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ROCKWOOD ROCKHOUND NEWS for MARCH 2001

Comments, Etc.
We had so much fun with Hank's "Mineral of the Month" in February. This month it is going to be pyrite so bring along an interesting piece or story about pyrite to share.
By the way, remember last month's article on the crystallographers deciding that the chemical formula for Quartz was wrong? I was worried enough to say that I wondered if it were a joke. It was an April Fool's joke written in a California newsletter, Lithosphere, on April 1, 1994. Here we editors are still circulating it. There must be a moral here someplace!

Dues are Overdue
If you have not paid your dues yet, please get a check to Andy Larson by our next meeting on March 16th. After that we will be revising the list of people to whom we send the newsletter.

From the Grapevine
We received a nice note from Lee Wheeling. He said to tell everyone hello and while he is bothered with Bell's Palsy, he is doing OK for someone who 89.

Rockwood Rockhounds History Project
Our historian, Roy Cottrell, is going to make a video scrapbook about our club. Roy asks that we either bring our pictures to the next meeting or send them to him at: 5109 Audjill Drive, St. Louis MO 63128. 
Please include information such as when taken, of whom, and why or whatever you know about the picture or person.
Once the pictures are in digital format, we can put selected pictures on the Rockwood Web site. Roy can also put the scanned pictures all together with comments and history on a CD as a Rockwood album along with a "Share Ware" program for viewing. Then we could Sell them to interested current and past club members as a fund raising event.
Marianne and Larry Toenjes have agreed to write a short summary history of the club as a starter. Then additional comments and stories, particularly those illustrated by pictures, can be added by anyone who wishes to contribute.
With your input and assistance, together we can capture Rockwood Gem and Mineral Society History in such a manner that it can be saved, stored and distributed for current and past members and easily updated by future members. To get there, we have to start! Please respond.

Having a Bad Day?
The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska was $80,000. At a special ceremony, two of the most expensively saved animals were released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute later, in full view, a killer wale ate them both.
Via the Internet

NEWS FROM OTHER CLUBS 

Oil Shortages:
There are a lot of people who can't understand how we came to have oil shortages
here in the USA.
Well, there's a very simple answer nobody bothered to check the oil.
We just didn't know we were getting Iow. The reason for that is purely geographical. All the oil's in Texas, Oklahoma, Alaska, etc. 
All the dipsticks are in Washington, DC.
Mountain Gem, Franklin, N.C.
via AFMS Newsletter 1/01

March Aquamarine
Aquamarine is a beautiful light blue, deep blue or greenish-blue color, much like the sea itself. The deep blue stones are considered the most desirable and valuable, it belongs to the beryl group of gems, along with emerald. However, aquamarine is less brittle and considerably more durable than emerald, making it a very wearable gem. If the special someone in your life loves ocean cruises, aquamarine jewelry makes a perfect gift as it has traditionally been a talisman of ocean travelers.
Clarkson, Jewelers
Chesterfield, MO

Faceters PLUS Seminar
The Midwest Faceters Guild proudly presents its twelfth annual weekend "Faceters PLUS Seminar," which is devoted to faceting, facts, friends and fun. The Midwest Faceters Guild presents some of the finest instructors ever gathered to share their years of cutting and teaching experience. Join in for a fun, fact filled weekend of learning. Meet old friends and make new ones.
Our classes this year include four levels of Faceting: Beginners, Advanced, Open Faceting and Gem Cad plus Lost Wax Casting, Chain Making, Jewelry Finishing and Bead Workshop.
Once again, this year's Seminar will be held on the beautiful campus of the air conditioned Mott College, located in Flint, Michigan. The dates are August 17-19, 2001.
Registration is limited-don't be disappointed. Send in your registration early. The deadline for registration is July 24, 2001. Classes are filled on a first come first served basis.
Packets for the seminar are obtainable by contacting Harold "ARIZONA" Rice. 122 Lois Lane, Mt. Clemens MI. 48043 or by phone (810) 463-5972 or by email azrice@wwdb.org

Murphy's Laws of Mineral Collecting
1. The specimens that you like will cost more than you have.
2. The specimens that you hate will always be on sale.
3. The specimen you love and order, will be sold the day before you order.
4. The day after you receive the specimen you settled for instead, the sale on the one you really wanted will fall through and it will again be available, but this time it will be more than what you have.
AFMS, Oklahoma City

From our Secretary

MINUTES OF THE ROCKWOOD GEM AND MINERAL SOCIETY MEETING

The meeting was called to order at 7:08 P.M. by Pres. Bob Morse. There were 9 members and 6 guests present.The Secretary's report was read and accepted.
Field trip: If possible we could go to Washington University on Saturday March 1 7. This is an inside field trip. It was discussed that we could hunt for fossils off highway 109 near Eureka. It was reported there were a lot of fossils there.
The dues will remain the same as last year $1 5.00 per person and $20.00 per family.
Claudia and Marianne made up some new flyers to give out.
Marina Peng (a guest) won the door prize.
Hank Schlichter gave an interesting talk on quartz.
The meeting adjourned at 7:40 P.M. Claudia Uccello gave an interesting slide show on volcanoes.

Respectfully submitted,
Helen Heitland, Sec.