Whatcom County, Washington
Wire Wrapping a Cabochon
Instructor – Bruce Wickler
Location – Bellis Fair Mall Club, Space 424
Date April 12, may include follow up day class, date to be determined
Time 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Price paid to Mt. Baker Rock & Gem Club – $50.00
Also, a payment to instructor for supplies of wire and cabochon
This is a pre-pay class, on a first come, first paid basis. You can pay in the club rock shop.
Masks required.
The limit is 4 students at a time. There will be a waiting list sign up also.
Instructor- Sandee Hess
Date- March 29 th and April 5 th Time- 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Bellis Fair Mall, Space 424, (JC Penny Wing)
Price of class – $50.00 paid to Mt. Baker Rock & Gem Club
Cash or Check paid to Mt Baker Rock and Gem Club (Do not send cash by mail!)
Price of supplies – 20.00 paid in cash to instructor. Plus, purchase choice of stone, between $15-$30.00
Sign up and payments may be paid for by mail or in the club’s mall rock shop on March 18 or 25th from 11 o’clock to 7 o’clock.
This is a first come- first paid for class.
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by President Candi Gerard at Bellis Fair Mall, Space 424. We did social distance ourselves and wear masks. In attendance: Wes & Deb Gannaway, Ralph Sisco, Bonnie Keel, Gordy Gerard, and Linda Mitchell. Guest Sandy Hess.
Secretary’s Report: The minutes of the last meeting on October 12, 2020, were approved. There have been 23 new members since November 2020. A newsletter will be sent out in the month of February.
Treasurer’s Report: Deb gave a report of income and expenses.
Show 2021: Wes reported we may be able to have the show in the fall timeframe. We will wait and see what happens and if we can schedule a location.
New Business:
Volunteer Needed: A volunteer to head up the Rockhound Rendezvous (RR) is needed. If we want to continue to have this venue so members can sell their rocks and rock-related items, we need to have someone step up to do this. If you are interested, please contact Candi or one of the board members.
Retail Store, Bellis Fair Mall:
The club’s retail store hours in the mall: Tuesday-Saturday 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, Sunday 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm, closed Mondays.
We plan to have “class day” on Mondays. The classes being planned are wire wrapping and beading a cabochon. More information will be forthcoming. If there is enough interest, other classes being considered are Gem ID Class, Geminars, and Rock and Gem ID. The classes are for members. If there are spaces available, then it may open to the public. We will be able to only have 3-4 people per class in the beginning to social distance. There will be a fee paid at sign up and any supply fees will be paid to the instructor. We will have a calendar to schedule the classes. If anyone has an idea for a class, please contact Candi or one of the board members.
Lapidary Room: The Lapidary Room is still be worked, and we hope to have it up and running soon.
Meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm
Respectfully submitted by Linda Mitchell
We have opened a space in Bellis Fair Mall, Space 424, the JC Penny wing. We have had quite a few new members sign up already. We have retail space for members to sell rock-related items or for you to come in to look around and/or purchase items. There are still a couple spaces left for members to sell their rock hobby-related items for a donation fee. We are setting up the Lapidary area. Hopefully, we will be able to have Lapidary classes as well as member use of the lapidary equipment soon. We will keep you posted on the lapidary equipment set up.
The annual Christmas party is cancelled, but if you would like to participate in a Christmas gift exchange, you can drop off a wrapped gift, $15 or less, indicate man or woman if gender specific, at our location in the mall no later than December 15. Then prior to December 24, you would pick up a gift if you dropped one off. This would give you a chance to check out the new location. The gift exchange is voluntary but we hope you would like to participate.
Come in and see the club’s new location!
Mall hours: The December hours are 10 to 8. Except Sunday is 11 to 6. January should go back to regular hours.
Note: There were no newsletters for the months of November and December.
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by President Candi Gerard at her home. We did social distance ourselves and wear masks. In attendance: Wes & Deb Gannaway, Michael Langley, Ralph Sisco, Bonnie Keel, Gordy Gerard, Rick Barrett, Glenn Ishihara, and Linda Mitchell.
Secretary’s Report: The minutes of the last meeting were approved.
Committee Reports: There were no committee reports.
Board Member Positions: Usually, this time of year, we have a nominating committee for next year’s board member positions. If anyone is interested in a board member position, please contact Candi with the position you are interested in. In case there is no interest, the current board members will stay in office.
Ads in the Newsletter: There was a discussion of ads in the newsletter. Ads are limited to 5 lines for $5, must be approved by the board, and advance payment. Ads can be placed on the club’s Facebook page for free.
Lapidary Room:
The contract for the lapidary room at the mall was discussed. The location is in Bellis Fair Mall, Space 424 (the previous tenant was Chocolate Forte). A motion was made to accept and sign the contract, the motion was seconded, and was passed unanimously.
A work group to move the lapidary equipment from the storage area to the mall will be set up. More information will be forthcoming.
There is an area for members to sell their rock-related items. There will be a monthly donation for the square footage members request. If you sell items, you will be required to volunteer in the front showroom. Prepayment will be required each month.
The lapidary equipment will be in the back portion for member use. Classes will be offered. Pre-payments will be required for use of the equipment and for classes.
More information will be forthcoming on costs, rules and guidelines and any other open-ended issues.
Meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm
Respectfully submitted by Linda Mitchell
The Rockhound Rendezvous (RR) that was scheduled for September 26th at the Pioneer Pavilion Community Center in Ferndale is cancelled.
Gordy Gerard will be having a sale on September 26th at 1371 Paradise Rd, Ferndale WA. Members are invited to tailgate at this venue to sell their rock-related items. Time is 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Set up begins at 8:00 am. There is no space fee. It will be outside so be prepared with your own chairs and table or use the back of your car or pickup. Bring your own food. Coffee and water provided. Members must call 360-366-0121 if you are going to sell.
If you are looking for rocks and other rock-related items to buy, this is the place to buy. There will be some good items for sale. Please bring cash.
There will be social distancing and mask wearing. More info coming.
Also, we will need helpers to do a club sale table.
Thank you, Candi Gerard
Hello; I hope everyone is safe and well. As we continue social distancing without meetings or outings, I have been thinking a lot about our club and missing everyone.
We are working on details for our lapidary space and are hoping to have things set up this fall. There are so many things to work out: contracts, electrical, insurance, and just getting it all put together. Please be patient and then ready to get involved!
On another subject, I have also been thinking about all the people who have been so faithful, working to keep our club together. Over the years that I have been a member, it just seems like things always just got done. Looking deeper, there have been active members who just do whatever needs to be done. If I started listing names, I know I would accidentally leave someone out. So…here is a big “thank you” to all committee chairs, board members, show chairs, kitchen people, floor sweepers, lapidary workers, volunteers, guest speakers, field trip leaders, library book packers, and members who show up at the meetings. You are all appreciated!!! (if I forgot someone — it’s because I am old!) Thank You!!!
One more subject: TREASURES. Again, as we cannot get together, let’s spend some time admiring our “Treasures” that we have. Our beautiful rocks, flowers, sunsets, or whatever you think of as TREASURE. Gordy and I were visiting a friend the other day. I snapped a picture of him with his treasure collection. As I looked at the picture, I realized the real treasure was not so much the beautiful rocks in the background, but the wonderful person in front of them. Yes, it is Dick Rantz. With a wealth of knowledge, a willingness to teach, and a giving heart, he has been a mentor, not only to us, but to the club ever since I have been a member. So, Thank You Dick for all your help and behind the scenes leadership! You are a real Treasure!
I hope we can all get together in August for a meeting. We will let you know.
Candi Gerard
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by President Candi Gerard in her yard at her
home. We did social distance ourselves. In attendance: Wes & Deb Gannaway, Michael
Langley, Ralph Sisco, Bonnie Keel, Gordy Gerard, Rick Barrett, Glenn Ishihara, and Linda
Mitchell.
Secretary’s Report: The minutes of the last meeting were approved.
There were no committee reports.
We have found space for a lapidary room. The lapidary room will be in Bellis Fair Mall.
The location is Space 424 in the mall (the previous tenant was Chocolate Forte). There
are still a few issues to resolve but most of the needs required have been met. We are
also researching the monthly costs of doing business. After discussion, all board members
agreed to go forward to get the lapidary room started up again.
The key to make this work is to have members volunteer to help once the operation is
set up. We will have an area for members to sell their rock-related items and a lapidary
area. If we can get enough volunteers to help, this will work. We will need to
determine the hours and days of the week that we will be open.
The lapidary equipment will be set up in the back. There will be six complete stations.
The small saw will have a time limit and limit on number of pieces. The large saw will only be operated on specific days. All new members will need to take a Lapidary Class.
Members who have previously taken the class will need to take a safety and refresher
class. Sign up for a lapidary station will be done at the meetings and pre-payment made to
reserve your spot. No shows will forfeit pre-payment. We need to have enough help to
clean up the lapidary area when done using the equipment.
In the front portion, members can sell their rock-related items. Members must have a
business license. There will be a donation per square footage per month by the member
of space requested. Sales tax must be included in the price so that you can pay your own
taxes. It will be cash or check accepted only. If you have valuable pieces, you will be
allowed to bring in your own case that can be locked.
If you use the lapidary equipment and/or sell your rock-related items, it will be
mandatory for you to volunteer to help staff this location.
More information will be forthcoming on costs and open-ended issues.
Meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm
Respectfully submitted by Linda Mitchell
The Rockhound Rendezvous (RR) has been scheduled for September 26th at the Pioneer Pavilion Community Center in Ferndale. The club will receive a 30-day notice if the RR must be cancelled. Updates will be posted by email, Facebook, and on the club website. Please stay in touch.
The cost for a space is $20 and must be pre-paid in order to reserve your table. The size may be larger at this location. There is no food available for purchase so please bring a lunch. Tables will be available to club members by contacting Candi Gerard. More information will be provided at a later date.