We invite you to come to our meetings

            come to our scheduled events

                    and join our rockhounding 

                                  make plans to join us!!!

CLUB MEMBERSHIP  = $20.00
(per household family - per year)

NOTE:

MEMBERSHIP IS NOW $10.00 which will go to the end of the year!!! 

JOIN TODAY!!!

January

January 10, 2008

• Regular Club Meeting - Carrollton, GA EMC (see Meetings tab)

February

February 7, 2008

• Board Meeting  - Carrollton, GA (see Meetings tab for more information)

February 14, 2008

•  Optional dinner before  club meeting:  Little Hawaiian Restaurant (see meetings)
•  Regular Club Meeting - Carrollton, GA EMC (see Meetings tab for more information)

February 16, 2008

• Scheduled Field Trip to Summerville, GA to dig Lace Agate (see Club Events tab)

March 

March 13, 2008

• Regular Club Meeting -   We are meeting this month at the Villa Rica Gold Mine on Stockmar Road in Villa Rica - GA.   At this meeting we will make gem bags for the festivals we will attend this year.  Club members are to bring their small finds or extras they found rockhunting this year to put into the bags.   Also bring extra rocks that can be sold at the festivals.

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April

April 10, 2008

• Regular Club Meeting - Carrollton, GA - EMC  (see Meetings for more information)

April 26, 2008

• Blue Grass Springfest - 10 - 4    Gold Dust Park - Villa Rica, GA   - Stop by and visit our booth at this annual festival.   We will have panning for gold - rock and mineral bags to pan - rock grab bags for sale - and a few gems, rocks and minerals for sale. 

May

May 9-10-11, 2008

• The Georgia Mineral Show 's 40th Annual Gem, Mineral,  Jewelry & Fossill Show-  548 South Marietta Parkway and Fairground Street...Marietta, Georgia - Cobb County Civic Center.   Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-6, Sunday 12-5. FREE Admission.   For more information:  www.gamineral.org/may-show.htm

May 17, 2008

• Annual Club Picnic  - Meeting and Rock Auction!  Everyone is invited to come and be with our rockhound family - as we relax and enjoy sharing rock stories and bid on rocks collected during the year by our club members!  McIntosh State Park - in Whitesburg, GA  Picnic time tba.....

• DMC Field Trip to Aquadall, NC - Information is in the May newsletter - to be posted May 1.

May 18, 2008

• GMS Field Trip to Antreville, SC - Information is in the May newsletter - to be posted May 1.

June

June 7 - 8, 2008

• 35th Annual Tannehill Gem, Mineral, Fossil, & Jewelry Show  - Alabama Mineral & Lapidary Society          Birmingham, Alabama   Sat. & Sun.  9 am to 5 pm both days.
  Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park
   From B'ham, take I-20/59 S. to Exit #100 or take Exit #1 off I-459 and follow the signs.
  Show is free with admission to the park.  Outdoor show!
  Contact Rick Kittinger, 1612 Colesbury Circle,
  Hoover, AL 35226 or rk2273@att.com

June 12, 2008 

• Regular Club Meeting will be held at Carroll County EMC beginning at 7 p.m.  - After the business meeting we will have POPCORN AND A MOVIE..." Gems of North America" 

June 28, 29, 2008

• Club Field Trip   - June 28, 29  JXR Amethyst Mine in Wilkes County.....more details at our club meeting - check back more information posted soon!

July

July 10, 2008

• Club meeting will be held at the Gold Mine Museum in Villa Rica.  July is for Juniors!  Bring a young person to the meeting.  We will have an informational class, tour of the museum, scavenger hunt, and gold panning!   Meeting is 7pm - 8:30 pm.  Refreshments will be served.

July 19, 2008

8:30 a.m. EST, Saturday,  Diamond Hill Mine, Antreville, Abbeville County, S.C.

The Southern Appalachian Mineral Society would like to extend an invitation to rockhounds to visit one of the premier quartz collecting localities in the southeast.  The Diamond Hill Mine has been producing skeletal,

amethyst and smoky quartz crystals as well as quartz scepters and an assortment of pegmatite minerals for many years.  Come join us!

Trip Chairman:  Tim Barton,                (828) 885-8248         or Hal Mahan (SAMS President) phone                828-285-9470        
Fees: Adults = $15/day Children under 16 year of age = $5/day.  Also, upon arrival, each participant will be required to sign a waiver of liability.  Bring: Pick and shovel, rock hammer, chisels, and scratching tools.  There is ample water on site for screening and washing specimens.  Bring a lunch, plenty of fluids, hat, sunscreen, gloves, and sturdy shoes.  Bring rubber boots and a change of cloths if it is going to be a rainy or wet day.  Please be

prepared for hot and humid conditions at the mine during this time of year. 

Directions: The Diamond Hill Mine is located near the small town of Antreville in northeastern South Carolina.   
From the south: Exit I-20 at US 221 (exit # 183) just east of Augusta, Georgia.  Drive north on US 221 to McCormick, SC.  In McCormick turn north onto SR 28.  Continue north on SR 28 toward Antreville (approx. 50 miles).  About 2 miles south of Antreville, SR 184 enters SR 28 from the left (west).  When you pass SR 184 start watching carefully on the left for Emanuel Baptist Church.  Turn left at the church onto SR 284.  Drive west on SR 284 for 2.3 miles watching carefully on the right for Suber Road (S-0 1 -508).  Turn right onto Suber Road and follow it approx. 0.7 mile to Diamond Hill Road ( on right, gravel, S-l-538).  Turn right onto Diamond Hill Road and follow it about 0.5 miles. The mine entrance will be on the right.

July 23-27, 2008

JULY 23– 27 FRANKLIN, NC  The “Whistle Stop Gemfest”

South East Gemshows;  Whistle Stop Antique Mall ,1281 Georgia Road (Hwy 441 N.)  Wed-Sat 9-7, Sun 9-6.  FREE  admission.  Faceting and   cabbing rough, opal, meteorites, minerals, fossils, gemstones, handcrafted jewelry, equipment,  supplies, tools, silversmith and goldsmith doing custom jewelry and repair.  Contact Mark or Patricia Smith,
 P O Box 298—Montmorenci, SC  29836
               706-490-4515          Email:  gemshows@bellsouth.net

July 24-27, 2008

JULY 24-27 FRANKLIN, NC  Macon County Gemboree

43rd annual show, “Macon Country Gemboree”, Gem & Mineral Society of Franklin;  Macon County Community Bldg., US 441 South…..Thu-Sat  10-6, Sun 12-5.  Adults $2.00 Children under 12 free.  Minerals, beads, handcrafted jewelry, rough and cut stones, lapidary equipment, demonstrations, door prizes, gold and sliver jewelry, findings, jewelry repairs and mounting.  Contact Linda Harbuck, 425 Porter Street—Franklin, NC  28734.                 800-336-7829        .  Email  lindah@franklin-chamber.com— www.franklin-chamber.com

July 26, 2008

 SFMS EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING   2nd. Executive Board Meeting:    July 26, 2008

The Franklin Gem and Mineral Society  graciously offered to host our summer board meeting. Held in conjunction with their July show, it offers a great
opportunity to attend their show as well as the other shows that occur at the same time.

The meeting will be held about 17 miles south of Franklin at the Knights Inn in Dillard Georgia. Rooms have been reserved at $79.99 + tax per night. The address is: 3 Best Inn Way  Dillard, GA 30537.   Phone:                706 746-5321        .  Tell them you are with the SFMS when you book your room. If we have enough people staying there we won’t have to pay for our meeting room.

 August

August 9, 2008

GMS & CCG&MS FIELD TRIP…...Saturday August 9th. 2008…noon (GA time)…..Clio, Alabama

Collecting, petrified wood, these are great pieces for display. Most have druzy quartz crystals and are very

 similar to the pieces from Brilliant although I have not seen the smoky quartz crystals found there. This site does offer some pieces with great color white with some red, blue and gray pieces. These pieces look very soft and you might think that they have to be stabilized before working them into cabs but I have found that is not the case and they polish into great cabs by just grinding them on a lap or genie.

Fee, There is no charge to visit this site but there is a $.25 {cent) per pound fee for the material you wish to take with you.

Where, We will meet just east of State Road 51 on the North side of State Road 10 at an open parking area on the side of an old brick building. You can not miss the building. It has wood headers between the rows of bricks on a couple of the lower layers.. From there we will caravan together to the site, which is just a short distance east of town.

Collecting, Colorful pieces of petrified wood. They have been cleared from the horse farm and been dumped in a small area under some trees. Cars can be parked very close to the site so there is very little walking making this very easy for children. Keep in mind they will have to be in close proximity of their parents at all times. Pets were allowed the last time I visited the site so I’m sure they will be allowed if on a leash.

What to bring, the only thing you need is a bucket to put your finds in. Keep in mind that some of the pieces are very large. You will not be able to lift them and if that is your collecting plan you might want to bring a 12 or 16 lb. sledge hammer You might consider a crack hammer and a chisel if you just want small pieces but if that is the case don’t forget the paper to wrap them. You shouldn’t need a shovel but some pieces may be buried. You won’t need boots unless it is muddy but bug spray and drinks are always a good idea.

Directions, Take I-85 to exit 60 in Alabama. Take State Route 51 South .all the way to Clio.  There are sections where Route 51 will join other roads and even a place near Union Springs that county road 47 becomes a short cut going straight south between a section of 51 that runs South West and then come back going South East. Map Quest said the trip would take 3 hours and 50 minuets. I may have just been lucky but I made it in 3 and1/2 hours last time there.

Contact  George Libby  Field Trip Chair @               770-978-2117          Or Onsiteinatlanta@yahoo.com

August 15–17, 2008 

• SE Gem & Mineral Show
  Description: Newest show in the Martin Zinn Expositions lineup.   Show Hours: 10 a.m.– 6 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday  Admission: No admission fee.  Open to the public.  Location: Holiday Inn — Cartersville, GA , I-75 Exit 293 and 411 NE, Cartersville, GA 30120.

August 24, 2008

 STATE DIRECTOR to Southeast Federation Mineral Society

ITEMS OF PERSONAL COLLECTION FOR SALE

AUGUST 24, 2008

Anita Westlake

1253 Spencer Avenue

East Point, Georgia  30344

Anita Westlake, State Director of the Southeast Federation Mineral Society has items of her personal rock  collection for sale.  “I have had the pleasure of collection rocks, minerals and fossils for over 20 years.  My house has become its own geo-hazard and is sinking under the weight.  I must lighten the load.  80% of my personal collection is for sale.  Many have been cataloged, appraised and come with the original labels.”

All pieces are priced individually, some way below current market value.  Anita will accept cash and personal checks.  If you have your own flats, bring them along because she guarantees you will want to fill them up!!!

Anita Westlake will host a Wine and Cheese Preview Sale on Friday, August 22, 2008 from 7pm to 10 pm.   This is an RSVP event (               404-761-7849        ).  Admission for the preview is $20.00 per person.  Avoid the crowds and get the best selection!

September

September 6, 1008

• Gold Rush Festival -  On the downtown square in Villa Rica, GA.    Stop by and visit our booth at this annual festival.  We will have panning for gold - rock and mineral bags to pan - rock grab bags for sale - and a few gems, rock, and minerals for sale.  Look for the Gold Miners at the booth and in the parade!

September 27-28, 2008

• McIntosh Reserve Annual Fall Festival - Whitesburg, GA  .....Come and visit our booth at this annual festival.  We will have gem grubbing, gold panning, grab bags, and rocks for sale...!!!

October

October 18, 2008 to February 15, 2009

BERMAN MUSEUM OF WORLD HISTORY presents INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICAN

A temporary exhibition of art and artifacts from native cultures of North America features pottery vessels, stone implements and various other remarkable hand-made objects.  www.bemanmuseum.org  
840 Museum Drive, Anniston, AL  36206                     256-237-6261        

November

November 14-15, 2008

 Heritage Days, in conjunction with the Indians of North America exhibit at the Berman Museum of World History/   See arts and crafts on display and live demonstrations by native artisans and expert craftsmen.  

840 Museum Drive, Anniston, AL                 256-237-6261              www.bermannmuseum.org

December

Annual Club Business Meeting - Installation of Officers and Christmas Dinner