The Pine Country Gem & Mineral Society met at the clubhouse on Zavalla Street on Thursday, June 19, 2008 with President, Ann James, presiding.  Ann welcomed our visitors, recognized members having birthdays and anniversaries, and asked for any updates on members that have been ill and have not attended recently. Ann also reminded the club to get their half-and-half tickets for the drawing to be held at the end of this meeting.

    Minutes of the May 2008 meeting were published in the Rooter. A motion to accept the minutes as published was made and seconded. The motion passed. The Treasurer’s Report was given by Sharon Stalsby and a motion to accept the report was made, seconded and passed.

    The library exhibit by Fred Brown is still on display. Members are urged to go and have a look as the specimens are very nice. Rich Geist has agreed to set up the next exhibit.

     Lonnie Stalsby reported on the progression of plans for the 2008 Show. There will be sign-up sheets for kitchen duty during the show. Everyone is asked to please pick your best time, and if you do not sign up, a time will be assigned for you. All hands are needed--the burden is light if everyone gets involved. James Lollar has again volunteered to cook, and George Wells has volunteered to bring a 10 X 20 tent for the cooking area. Ron Ducote, co-chairman, reminded members that the show has four different areas that the club can make money. They are the Silent Auction, Spinning Wheel, Kitchen and Front Desk--all hands are needed. Set-up will take place all day on Friday, August 22, beginning at around 9:00 a.m.

Lonnie and Ron have made some rock stands and asked the members to take them and think of ways to make ornamentals that can be used for the auction table during the show. Friday night, we will feed the vendors and everyone is asked to bring a covered dish.

Hospitality Hosts for the July meeting are Jonetta and John Nash.  Don Ramey will host the August meeting.

Historian, Sharon Stalsby reminded members to bring pictures and art for the club scrapbook.

     Publicity for the 2008 Show will begin next month. Volunteers will be called upon to help with the mailings, fliers, and speaking engagements. Please help if you can.

     Ann reminded members of our fundraising projects--recipes and old cell phones are still being collected.

     The raffle for the Opal Pendant donated by Robert Yarbrough will be at the end of the July meeting. Tickets are $2.00 each. You will be able to purchase tickets at this meeting. Robert, thanks again for your generosity.

     The John Sanders memorial plaque was discussed and Jonetta Nash suggested using a palmwood slab and attach name plates as a memorial to deceased members of our club. Two slabs donated by Janice and Fred Herron were shown and members voted on the one they would like to be used for the plaque. Louie Wilkerson volunteered to polish the slab.

     Louie and Nancy Wilkerson have donated a shelf to the club for display. Once again, Louie and Nancy, thank you so much for your generosity to our club.

     Ron Ducote reported that he has had no luck with speaking to the man engaged to make our club sign. He will try to speak to someone at the Metalworks to have the materials returned to us.

     Sharon Kerr reported on the t-shirts that will be ordered at $15 each, and orders need to be placed at this meeting.

 Personal name badges can be ordered at Stamps Commercial Press in Jasper for $6.00. If you need a club emblem patch, see Jonetta Nash. The large patch is $10.00 and the small is $6.00.

     The short mineral report of the month was on Sulfur, and it was given by Junior member, Zachary Ferguson. Nice report, Zack, you did a great job.

     The program for this meeting was given by Raven Ferguson on Cameos.  She showed the club beautiful examples of the different materials that cameos are made of. Thank you Raven, we enjoyed the program.

The July meeting program was to be Show & Tell. (This has been changed to a program on Trilobites given by a guest speaker, John Moffitt.)

     Bulletin Editor, John Nash, thanked Vance Beaver and Rich Geist for articles that they gave for the bulletin.

     The door prize, a fossil plate, donated by Fred Brown was won by Janice Herron.

     The half and half drawing took place--Dawn Langton was the winner of $32.00. The club also received $32.00 for the treasury.  Forty members and guests attended this meeting.

Donna Ducote                                                                     

Secretary