The Geode – The MMLG Monthly Newsletter

Volume 61, Number 9 September 2016

Well, we’re back from our Summer hiatus (fancy word for “time when nothing is happening”), and we’ve got big plans for this Fall and Winter.

First of all, while we appreciated the warmth and generosity of the MIAMI FRIENDS MEETING house in Coral Gables, we found that many of our members and supporters from North Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach found it difficult to get to our monthly meetings on a weekday evening due to distance and traffic issues.  Parking and lack of outdoor lighting after dark were complicating factors. Additionally, a number of our folks greatly missed our old 4th Sunday Show-and-Tell activity which took place at the former Museum site before it closed down.

Some of the Board members have spent considerable time and effort trying to find a way for the club to revitalize itself.  We came to the inescapable conclusion that our old way of doing things simply was not working to keep our club going and growing.  So, we’re embarking on a plan to re-invent ourselves.  For the next six months or so, we’re going to combine our monthly meetings and our 4th Sunday activity into a new “recurring educational experience” - we will begin holding a once-a-month Rock-Mineral-Fossil Open House Event on the second Saturday of each month in the Fellowship Hall at ST. JOHN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH in Miami Shores from 1 PM to 4 PM.  By making these changes in the day, time, location, and duration of our getting together, we hope to reconnect not only with our own members, but with the community as a whole.

Specifics on the first session of new monthly activity are on page 3 along with photos and a map. (A 3-up flyer template is on page 5 - just print and cut-on-the-dotted line. Ignore the window saying it’s outside the printer boundaries.)

Info about our December Show in Pinecrest is on page 4.

As promised, we begin offering classes in Cabuchon Machine Operation shortly – and we will devise a methodolgy for members who already have cabbing skills to use the equipment for their personal work. Watch for an email notice prior to Oct 1.

- more on next page -

Club News –

-We gave you information in our last newsletter about Bill Prema’s health, but we’re sad to say that he has now passed away.

Here is Bill's information: Viewing on Friday 9/2/16 5pm-7pm Viewing Fred Hunters 2401 University Dr Davie Fl - (No Flowers Please) - Please make donation's to ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC CHURCH Address: 1301 SW 136th Avenue Davie, FL 33325 or American Cancer Society  - Saturday 9/3/16 Funeral and Mass at ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC CHURCH Address: 1301 SW 136th Avenue Davie, FL 33325 Church Office Phone: (954)424-9504 Fax: (954)424-9505He was a good man and will be missed.

- The next tri-county club picnic will take place at TY Park in Hollywood on Sunday September 25 in Pavilion 9 – food, friends, fun! Mark it on your calendar – bring a side dish (the Clubs provide turkey, ham,and sloppy Joes). Brunching & Munching starts arounf 11 AM, and there’s a lot of Show-and-Tell plus Swap-and-Sell of minerals, gems, jewelry, supplies – all followed by a raffle and bingo. Take Sheridan Street west off I-95.

- Just as reminder: Our upcoming membership year starts January 1, 2017. Single membership is $15.00 per year - Family membership is $20.00 per year. Dues are payable either by cash or check (made out to MMLG). You may pay the dues in person at our meetings & events or by mail to MMLG, P.O. Box 460206, Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33346-0206.

What are the advantages of membership? Dues-paid members are entitled to a number of benefits:- participation at all club activities- discounts on publications and outside educational activities- access to club library, displays, and collections- accidental injury insurance on field trips and at club activities- discount access to club sponsored classes and workshops- special interest groups within the club- access to club swaps, raffles, auctions, and vendor activities- voting rights at club elections, meetings, and referendums- co-ordination with other clubs, groups, or associations

- Don’t forget that our club website is your website. If you have news to announce, photos to share, stuff to sell or trade, contact us at webguy@mmlg-inc.org so that we can put it on the appropriate page at our website. Also, to make it easier for our members to share our website with friends, we have secured a much-easier-to-remember alternate domain name: www.miamigemandmineral.com.

- As well, our website has a link to our Club’s FACEBOOK page. For those of you involved with social media, this is a way to stay in touch and communicate with each other more often than once a month.

- Our newsletter accepts business and commercial advertising. The Guild charges $35.00 per year to advertise a “business card” listing in The Geode. This amounts to just a few dollars per month – call us or email us to set it up. Additionally, if any hobby-related advertisers present a program (on any Guild related subject) at one of our meetings, the yearly fee of $35.00 will be refunded!!!!!

- Any member wishing to serve on a committee and/or present a program should contact John Speier, at 954.648.1874.

Page 2

President - John Speier Vice President – Sandy MielkeSecretary/Treasurer - Dianne Mielke

Board of Trustees to December 2017 Adam Lawrence Cindy Chicvara LoRain DudleyMimi Rieger

Board of Trustees to December 2016 Biljana Pesic David Lubow Maria Garrido Bernice Granick

2016 Officers and Board of Trustees

Page 3

The MIAMI MINERALOGICAL AND LAPIDARY GUILD (MMLG) presents its first monthly Rock-Mineral-Fossil Open House Event on Saturday Sept 10 from 1 PM to 4 PM in Fellowship Hall at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 10390 NE 2 Avenue in Miami Shores, with plenty of free parking. Families and individuals of all ages are welcome to this free community event.

There will be exhibits, displays, educational presentations, raffles, and club members showcasing mineral & fossil specimens, gemstones, fine jewelry, and artisan-crafted collectibles. Children’s activities include jewelry-making sessions, surprise grab-bags, gem prospecting, and geode splitting – and every child receives a free mini mineral collection! Stay for just a few minutes – or stay for the whole time. There will be plenty to keep your attention!

If any of you would like to volunteer to help with these activities, please call Sandy Mielke at 786.546.3454

The parking lot entrance on NE 103 Street is only 2 minutes from the I-95 on- and off-ramps. The site is 8 blocks south of Barry University - 4 blocks west of Miami Shores Country Club - and 2 blocks north of Miami Shores Village Hall.

St. John Lutheran Church – Miami Shores

Page 4

The MIAMI MINERALOGICAL AND LAPIDARY GUILD (MMLG) is celebrating its 63rd anniversary by holding a Gem, Jewelry, Mineral, and Fossil Show on Dec 10 & 11 from 10 AM to 5 PM at EVELYN GREER PARK, 8200 SW 124 Street in the Village of Pinecrest – just one block off US 1 with plenty of free parking. Admission is $4 – children under 12 admitted free (with paid adult admission).

There will be exhibits, displays, demonstrations, raffles, and vendors showcasing mineral & fossil specimens, gemstones, fine jewelry, and artisan-crafted collectibles. Children’s activities include jewelry-making sessions, surprise grab-bags, gem prospecting, and geode splitting..

FOR  SALE  DIRECTLY   FROM THE DOMINICAN  REPUBLIC THE  BEST  QUALITY  LARIMAR   AT  THE  BEST  PRICES. Contact  me at:  mtrifi@gmail.com

So many of our members have asked to be vendors in our Shows that we need to adjust the assignment of tables to insure fairness and equity. If you wish to be a member/vendor at the Dec Show, please email us at webguy@mmlg-inc to tell us your preferences regarding number, size, and configuration of tables.of tables, i.e., “1 - 4 ft folding table adjacent to 1 – 5 ft round table, anywhere in the room” or “3 – 8 ft tables in a U-shape at the back of the room”, or “ 2 – 6 ft tables along the north wall windows”, etc, etc.

We can’t promise any specific arrangement, but we will do our best to accommodate everyone in a fair and equitable manner. So far, the Club (and our patrons) have benefitted from the diversity of offerings.