Category: Minutes

1/20/25 MBRGC General Meeting

7 pm, Pioneer Pavilion, Ferndale, WA

Meeting called to order by President Michael Langley. He addressed the club and told us about the desire to increase attendance and participation so that “10% are not doing 90% of work.”

Raffle: Wanda, Elliot, Ken were our guests and are all winners, congrats! Gretchen, Steven are new members who also took away a prize. Melody won a $25 club gift certificate for our mall store.

Secretary Report (Trevor): shared info about upcoming shows in the area. Shared the phone number to the mall shop: 564-565-0840, which should be used to inform of last-minute cancellations, etc. PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL THE CLUB FOR REAL-TIME INQUIRIES OR UPDATES, AS IT MAY NOT BE SEEN IN TIME. PLEASE CALL THE STORE TO SPEAK TO A VOLUNTEER.

Treasurer (Ralph): went over income and expenses for December. Discussed possible 2-day RRR event in September. 2024 was a good year for the club, it was our best RRR to date. Thank you in advance for helping to spread the word about our show. In 2024, the club purchased (3) 8″ Cabking machines, and one was donated for a total of (4) new 8″ machines in the lap room.

Federation (Mike): Updates are now made online, printed newsletter being discontinued. Next annual show is in Wala Wala, WA. 

If you are interested in purchasing tools or equipment from Kingsley North, please use our affiliate link on the website HERE, (which gives the club credit for the referral.)

Upcoming mineral council field trips:  

https://mineralcouncil.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/fieldtrips_2025.pdf which can be found HERE.

02/22 – Cedar Ponds for jasper and fossils
03/08 – Cherry Creek for jasper
04/12 – Saddle Mt for petrified wood
05/10 – Racehorse Creek for fossils and morel mushrooms
05/24 – Wild Turkey mine for Noble serpentine

Local Field Trips: TBD, club offers a $50 stipend to members who host a field trip within Whatcom or Skagit Counties. (Local trips are members-only for liability/insurance purposes.)

2025 Show Chair Update (Candi): 

• The show is coming up FAST! Online volunteer sign-ups coming soon, Todd will have more info about Sign-up Genius at our next meeting, as well as below… In the meantime, volunteers can sign up on the clipboards at the next meeting. Stations that need volunteers: Silent Auction, Spinning Wheel, Raffle Tix, Load/unload truck, Door Greeters, Club Sales, etc.
• We also need more tumbled rocks / painted rocks / rock “critters” for the kids prizes. The club will purchase some higher-end prizes to incent raffle ticket sales. 
• For load/unload: Meet at the Gerard’s at 9 am Friday, March 28. Load into UHAUL tables, rocks, equipment etc. to bring to the Pavilion. Unloading will happen Monday, March 31st.
• Adult and kid silent auctions approximately every 15 minutes. 
• Display cases – 20-25 will need to be filled. We will provide a demonstration at the March meeting.

“Please use the SignUpGenius application to add/modify/delete your volunteering schedule for the club’s March rock and gem show. Using this application will produce email reminders of your signups, let others see where vacancies exist, and help the show chairpersons as they organize the event. Although the signup form has numerical limits for each task, don’t think that you can’t help out if a task is “full”. You can sign up as an Alternate for tasks during the show and fill in where needed. Some tasks, like Welcome Table and Club Sales, can benefit from more than two volunteers during the busiest times. Having lots of hands for the set-up and tear-down tasks are essential.
Go to the SignUpGenius form at Rock & Gem Show 2025 to sign up with your name, email address, and optionally your phone number. 

If you signed up on the paper sheets at the January meeting, please go to the application and enter your slots so that no one else gets them.”

Matt Sisco gave a brief presentation about the Wild Turkey Serpentine Mine in Valley, WA. Thanks, Matt!

<Break, snacks>

Show ‘n’ tell: Members shared examples of their favorite fossil or mineral. 

Theme for February, 17 meeting: Amethyst or Quartz

minutes submitted by Trevor Duncan, club secretary

01/06/25 MBRGC Board Meeting, Portal Creek Clubhouse, Ferndale, WA

Attending: Harold, Wes, Candi, Gordy, Michael, Ralph, Trevor, Dave, Mike

Meeting called to order by President Michael Langley at 6 pm.

Secretary Report (Trevor): Need to update membership roster with AMFS (thanks for info Mike M.)

Proposal RE: cell phone minutes for phone at mall – renew for 365 days @ $99.99 vs. $19.99 quarterly – motion made, voted, passed, granted. 

Special thanks to Candi Gerard, former president, for your 8+ dedicated years served on our board. We appreciate you!

Treasurers Report (Ralph): expenses vs. income report. Income outweighed expenses, 29 memberships (new + renewals).

WECU CD – need to update names at bank in order to proceed.

Federation (Mike): request to update name in database from Michael L. to Mike M. 

The next annual retreat is in Walla Walla, WA. Discussed option of $35/ 1/4 page ad for show on Federation website.

Lapidary Room (Gordy): lots of Thundereggs cut in December, thought the lap room was closed the month of December.

<discussion> RE: Budget and advertising for March show. Option of Whatcom News online for under $100/month.

Show Chair (Candi): Clarification of raffle rules, break down of costs from 2024 show to help formulate budget.

Mall Report (Ralph): December was very robust in sales, especially the last week leading up to Christmas holiday. 

RRR – Mike/ Ralph: discussion of pros & cons of one day event vs. two – will reach out to past participants to get their opinion. Fee for 2025 RRR will be $40/ vendor space. Will determine a date and follow up with COF (City of Ferndale) RE: Pavilion availability.

WA Mineral Council: 2025 field trips published! More info here: https://mineralcouncil.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/fieldtrips_2025.pdf

<discussion> should Gordy bring more milk crates to next meeting? Pebble foldouts ordered for mall store. Shared ideas about how to increase club member participation and provide incentives for coming to meetings. Motion to award a $25 store gift certificate at monthly meetings, with raffle. Motion made, voted, passed, granted. 

Old & New Business: WPA member Dave D. willing to demonstrate gold panning at show if available that weekend. 

Michael & Harold attended a Marysville club meeting, which had 120+ participants, served dinner, hosted a silent auction, etc.

January Show ‘n’ tell: Fossils or a Thumbnail specimen (~1″ or less). Matt & Ralph Sisco to present RE: Wild Turkey mine or Fossil Fish.

February > Terry Steinborn to present about gold formations. 

March > “how to fill up a show case”

April > Candi shares about Yellowstone minerals

Future trip to Rice Museum? Summertime – group rates? Collect fund$ for bus charter, club to subsidize cost of museum entry ($22/ person.)

Meeting adjourned. Minutes submitted by Trevor Duncan, club secretary.

Monday, December 2, 2024. MBRGC Board Meeting

6 pm – Ferndale, Portal Way Clubhouse. In attendance: Deb, We, Candi, Gordy, Harold, Michael, Ralph, Bruce, Trevor, Mike M. Todd, Bonnie

Meeting called to order by president Candi Gerard

Secretary Report: Thanks Mike M, I will be sending out mailers with flyers for the show next week.

Treasurer Report: 26 new/renewing memberships, classes, club sales, silent auction. Another positive month with a deposit made at WECU!

Membership: renewing members are down from this time last year. 

Federation: Updating contact info, switching from Michael L. to Mike M. The Blanchard Mt. trip was a success on November 23, the weather held at about

50 degrees. The cut was discovered 36 years ago, making it harder to find crystalized stilpnomelane specimens. 

Mineral Council: nothing reported

Lap Room: Closed for December, as mall retail traffic picks up. There are 2 intro classes in January, next class is on December 10th. Discussed raising up

two machines by ~4″ for taller members.

<LAP ROOM CLOSED IN DECEMBER>

Mall Report: pretty good week with increasing number of sales. We hope things will continue to pick up. Discussed holiday decorations. 

ATM for show – $200 max withdrawal, $3.50/withdrawal fee. Can do multiple withdrawals up to your bank or card limit..

New/Old Business: Danielle @ City Hall reached out regarding a $50 discrepancy on check written in December 2023. Ralph will clear the books and replace $50 if needed.

Todd: new business; proposal to increase the $1000 scholarship to catch up with inflation. Proposal was made, seconded, voted, and passed to raise minimum to $1500/ recipient.

Our new board will be installed at the December holiday party. Bonnie is taking care of decorations, Ralph and Mike are coordinating food.

Action items: send out an email about the holiday meeting (completed).

December meeting: Fried chicken and ham are provided. Cups, plates, cutlery, napkins, coffee, and water are provided. The rest is potluck style. Bring a side, pasta, salad, etc. BYOB (NON-AOCOHOLIC.)

Gift exchange: up to $15 value, please mark masculine/feminine/inisex. Please bring a gift to open a gift, the exchange is completely voluntary.

Gordy needs help with rock cleanup by the Conex. Work party proposed Sunday, December 8th at 10:30 am, weather dependent. 

Remaining Mall Holiday hours: 
Monday, 12/16 – Saturday, 12/21 10am – 9pm
Sunday, 12/22 10am – 8pm
Monday, 12/23 10am – 9pm
Tuesday, 12/24 10am – 6pm
Wednesday, 12/25 (Christmas) CLOSED
Thursday, 12/26 regular mall hours resume

Gold panners at the 2025 Show? Have Chad reach out for contact names. 

Taxes/CD any conflict? Need to update authorized users of WECU bank account with change in board. Ralph, Michael, Wes.

Let’s send a big thank you to Candi Gerard for her most recent 6 years of service as club President. Candi, you ROCK!!!

minutes submitted by Trevor Duncan, club secretary.

Monday, October 7, 2024 MBRGC Board Meeting, Ferndale, WA

In attendance: Deb, Wes, Candi, Gordy, Ralph, Michael L., Bruce, Bonnie, Mike M, Todd

Secretary Report: Discussion about trim saw in lap room, pulley puller needed to properly service saw. Motion made by Bonnie, voted, passed to replace the saw with a brand new one if it is deemed irreplaceable. Blade needed for 16″ and 12″ saw, plus two tumblers wanted for holidays. Approved to order now, replace when needed, and reorder at time of replacement to have blades on hand.

Treasurer Report: September was a good month, 21 memberships/renewals. Income from lap room, classes, shelf donations. Reimbursements paid out for field trip, publicity for RRR, supplies, bio diesel oil for saw.

Federation 2025: Wala Wala, WA weekend after labor day. No more printed newsletters, moving to monthly electronic updates on their website. HERE is the link: http://northwestfederation.org/

Field trip 10/13: meet at REI at 9 am, and also; Happy Birthday to Gordy! (The field trip was a success, thank you Michael M. for taking us.)

Mineral Council: Next field trip 10/19 – Index area for picture jasper. More info HERE

Lapidary Room: oil changed in the big saw, please do not write down names in the lapidary book until they have paid. With the lap room getting busier, people have gotten bumped. In the event of a no-call, no-show, fee paid will be forfeited.

2025 Show Chairpersons: Candi & Tracy. Do we want to invite the gold panners to our show, and where could they set up?

Mall: Vendor Meeting was held, mall holiday hours are posted and everyone is up to speed. An account was created with CNG (Cascade Natural Gas) to stay in compliance with our lease. Thermostat is turned off, temp holding at 70 degrees.

Old Business: RRR wrap up, many positive reviews and feedback. More info to come and arrangements will be determined for next year’s event.

Todd – Square card reader proposal. Discussion about renting an ATM for those without cash and unable to take cards. Will look into this further.

Discussion about scholarships and fine print. 

Vice President needed for 2025 board. Members can nominate a fellow member if no one steps up.

Discussion about field trips and $$ stipend, mileage, insurance requirements (only members.) We also discussed getting basic business cards printed for the mall shop and location of large stamp for paper sacks.

Next meeting is our annual auction, Monday, October 21, 2024. Board members, please remember to wear your club vest! Bidding starts promptly at 6:30 pm.

minutes submitted by club secretary, Trevor Duncan.

9/16/24 MBRGC General Meeting, 7 pm – Pioneer Pavilion, Ferndale, WA

7:05pm – meeting called to order by President Candi Gerard. 

Raffle: welcome to our guests, and congrats to Steve and Andrew for being winners.

Secretary Report: no report

Treasurer’s Report: 4 new members in August, so far 14 new members in September. (Renewals start next month in October.)

As of August, the meeting space at the pavilion has been paid for for the March show and 2025 meetings. Thanks Ralph!

Overall we are doing well with P&L (Profit and Loss.)

Volunteer opportunities are highlighted on the side table – we will soon start soliciting for volunteers to help at the show.

Federation: wi-fi is working in the Pavilion again. NFMS website HERE. 

Check out news, etc. as fewer newsletters are being sent physically. Find info about upcoming shows, events, etc.

Mineral Council field trips:

10/19 – Index area for picture jasper

11/16 – Blanchard Hill for Stilpnomelane. Click HERE for the calendar and more info.

Upcoming local field trips: Sunday, October 13, Swift Creek for Baker Blues. Meet up at REI in Bellingham at 9:30, carpool to Cook Rd. exit 232 to meet up with Michael at 10 am to convoy to the location. More details to come soon.

2025 Show: Candi & Tracy are chairpersons, sign up sheets will be at the next meeting for volunteers at different stations. Volunteering is a great way to learn about the club!

Ralph reported on the RRR – 40 spaces sold, a few no shows. 25-30 vendors sold their wares. Exit interview revealed the following marketing efforts were most useful:

#1 Facebook

#2 Craiglist

#3 Physical posters around town

Thanks Michael, Trevor, Seren for all your hard work getting the word out!

Call for board member volunteers. It is nearly time to vote for our 2025 board. We will have openings for directors at large, etc. Get ready to nominate and vote!

John Lindell reported that the event at the museum was successful, several hundred people came and saw the displays. Lots of youth participation. Thank you, John and Michael L for organizing this!

October Meeting: Monday, October 15, 2024. Annual auction to benefit our scholarship fund. Please bring donations by 6 pm, 6-6:30 pm is registration to get a bidding number/ paddle. The auction starts promptly at 6:30 pm. Bring cash or check, card payments are not accepted.

<Break>

Show ‘n’ tell. 

Meeting adjourned

Minutes submitted by Trevor Duncan, club secretary.

September 2, 2024

MBRGC Board Meeting, Ferndale, WA

In attendance: Deb, Wes, Mike M, Bonnie, Trevor, Todd

Items discussed:

Show chairman created posters for the March 2025 show. Is there room to add a QR code to our site?

Club Participation at Museum on Friday, 9/6/24.

Planning ahead: 12/31, current paid members (head of household) will be reported to the council.  Separate page > add new members

Good to go with SOS filing as of 8/2/24 – no further action needed until July 2025.

Publicity ramped up for RRR by Mike, Trevor, Seren

Ad in Cascade Daily for 3 weeks – we got a copy in the PO Box,

Meeting adjourned.

minutes by Trevor Duncan, club secretary

August 19, 2025MBRGC General Meeting, Pioneer Pavilion, Ferndale, WA

Meeting called to order at 7 pm.

Secretary Report: Two upcoming sales in September, Saturday & Sunday 9/7 & 9/8 Location:

Glen Ripper

21102 91st ST. E

Bonney Lake, WA 98391

glen311944@yahoo.com

Lapidary Shop Liquidation Sale, one-day only Saturday, September 28th

2124 E Grand Ave (Blue house)

Everett, WA 98201

park on street. Cabs, equipment, rough, jewelry, etc.

Treasurer Report: 8 new members, club sales up in July. Thank you Gordy for help with a donation, and raising $2k from equipment sales.

Expenses: insurance. So far in August we have paid for next year’s show and meeting space for all of 2025.

Mineral Council: Lake Wenatchee trip for Garnets will most likely be cancelled due to a forest fire. More info here: https://mineralcouncil.wordpress.com/

Red Top 9/7 – Central WA. 8 am meet up at Teanaway campground.

Next: Little Naches for thunder eggs, Jasper

Local Field Trips? tentative: Baker Lake / Swift Creek for Baker Blues, October 6th.

If you would like to lead a field trip, please speak up!

Show Chair: Candi confirmed in event of no volunteers, the president can appoint a co-chair, so she has appointed herself. Thank you Candi!

We will soon be voting for a new board, we will have seats available as Vice President, and directors at large. A great way to get involved. Be prepared to vote in December.

A big thank you to everyone who helped at the picnic. Special thanks to Kim for assisting at the Old Settlers Days, as well as at the picnic. You rock!!!

John Lindell and Wes Ganaway were approached by Whatcom Museum to assist with a display/greeting table on Friday, September 6th during the Paleontology exhibit. Setup at 10:30 am, tear down at 4 pm. This is a kid-friendly, family event open to the public. There will be art and fossils on display at the Lightcatcher building.

Ed Mosley’s collection is being prepped for sale. October 12, 2024 in Arlington, WA. More info to follow. ~1200 specimens, crates of lapidary material, tools, etc.

RRR: Only 1 spot left! Saturday, September 14th from 9-5. Vendors can set up Friday, 9/13 from 3-6 pm.

There will be a club info table at the door, volunteers wanted from 8am-1pm, 1pm-5pm. Please see Ralph if you want to help out.

Speaking of Ralph, thank you for your lemonade stand at the picnic that raised $100 for Growing Veterans. With his $100 match, there was a $200 donation.

After a short break, we enjoyed a show and tell of people’s favorite colored stones from their collection.

Next meeting: September 16, 2024. The theme will be a favorite acquisition from the RRR (or a favorite of your choice.) 

minutes submitted by Trevor Duncan, club secretary

7/01/24 MBRGC Board Meeting

In attendance: Gordy, Candi, Ralph, Michael L, Bonnie, Bruce, Mike M, Trevor, Wes, Todd

Meeting called to order by president Candi Gerard.

Secretary Report: Katie from Sumas was very excited and grateful for our donations. Follow-up: I forwarded photos she provided to Todd. As of 7/02, new memberships have been processed.

Treasurer’s Report: $2775 expenses, $1990 deposit made, latest deposit of $900+ made in July. 3-months rent paid for the mall space.

Federation (Mike): Nothing to report, although a club member, Ken Fleming is interested in selling the club 295# (270 pieces) of thunder eggs for $2/ lb. $600 total. They look to be from Richardson Ranch and/or Lucky Strike mine. A motion was made, voted, and passed. A check was cut for Ken in the amount of $600. We discussed the ability to cut the eggs onsite at the pavilion. If not, we will direct them to the mall to have stones cut.

A change is being made to our club flier/ application – the info on the back of the removable app will be inserted into the flyer to use less paper.

Field Trips: no feedback received about latest trip from Verlot with Daniel D. 

Upcoming: 7/20 – Sweetwater for Travertine. Find out more HERE

Mineral Council: No news

Lapidary: large trim saw overheated multiple times last week; needs a new blade.

2025 Show: Tracy is co-chair, but we will need another co-chair for show. We discussed getting new table skirts, in a uniform color for next show. Green, Blue, black? Committee sign-ups are coming for the next show. We discussed the success of color coding / balloons at each station for next year. We would also like to update the scholarship poster to something more current, with Candi presenting a check.

Old Settlers: coming up fast, people are signing up to volunteer- thank you! We discussed show cases, tables, thunder eggs, books, etc. 

Set up will occur Thursday, 7/25 at 1 pm at the Pioneer Pavilion

This event occurs Friday and Saturday, 7/26 & 7/27. 

RRR: 32/40 spaces booked, 8 spots remain for $20/ spot, bring your own table to sell your rocks and rock-related wares.

We discussed publicity on Cascadia Daily – which is still in print, and they published our last show. Whatcom news, an electronic only media outlet will have a link. 

A proposal was made to give Trevor a budget of $200 to market the event online in the metaverse. Voted, passed. 

August Picnic: next meeting, we will have a show of hands for who wants a hotdog. Chicken, dogs, water will be provided.

Liberty Mutual insurance has been renewed. We had a discussion about “members only” at field trips due to liability policy.

Side note: a member asked to have a donation jar inside the mall store to help finance a cab machine. This was discussed, and was unfortunately declined due to possible  conflict of interest. All members are welcome to have a table at the RRR to promote their own business.

Meeting adjourned at 7 pm.

Minutes submitted by Trevor Duncan, club secretary

6/17/24 MBR&GC General Meeting

Pioneer Pavilion, Ferndale, WA 
7:06 pm: Meeting called to order by club President Candi Gerard

Raffle/ silent auction announcement. Congrats to members Devon (welcome!), Bruce Hurley, and Gale & Luca for being raffle winners.

Secretary Report: upcoming rock sale in 8/2-8/3 – flyers available at the mall. Katie from the Sumas Museum gratefully accepted our donation of goodies for kid bricks, and will tell everyone about our next booth at Old Settlers Days.

Mail from our insurance company – has been placed in safe at mall for Ralph to collect.

Treasurer’s Report: May was a great month! We made a healthy deposit into our bank account. Keep up the great work.

Field Trips: 

7/20 – Sweetwater for Travertine @ Gold Hill

8/24 – Marysville club trip to Lake Wenatchee for Garnets

RRR: 8 spots left @ $20/ 10 x 10′ space. Members must supply their own tables for this event on 9/14/24. 9am – 5pm, sell your rocks, and rock-related items.

Federation: nothing to report

Lapidary: All is well, new machines are really getting used, thank you everyone.

2025 Show: we have a co-chair person, but need more volunteers to head committees to help our next show be a success.

Annual Picnic: 8/4/24 (Sunday) – this is a family/ kid-friendly event. The club will supply water, hot dogs, chicken – please bring a side dish for the potluck style picnic. BYOB. Meet at the Gerard’s at 10 am to tail gate (Sell rocks out of your car), and help organize the club’s buckets in prep for our next show.

Lunch will be at 1 pm. Address: 1371 Paradise Rd, Ferndale, WA, 98248

Old Settlers Days: Thursday, July 25th, we need help setting up our information booth. Then Friday and Saturday 7/26 & 7/27, we need volunteers to man the booth. The club will sell books, etc. We recommend coming early to find parking, otherwise plan on a short hike to the Pavilion.

After a brief break, we enjoyed a show and tell of WA minerals. Thank you to John Lindell for sharing your rare finds with us!

July show n tell: Free-for-all, bring whatever rock / specimen you care to share.

minutes submitted by Trevor Duncan, club secretary.