Southern Utah Rock Club

Club Meeting Minutes

2025–January • February • March • April • May • June • July • August • September • October • November • December
2024–January • February • March • April • May • June • July • August • September • October • November • December
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March 6, 2025

President Mitch Elwood conducted.

There were no raffles this club meeting.

Announcements
Mitch showed the new club coin, designed by Lily Holt.

Classes

  • Eric Vogt and Scott Karkos will be teaching classes on silversmithing.
  • Eric said that last month he has been going through the part of the shop that was for the jewelry program. All of the supplies, tools, and equipment are organized and secured. They will be trading off classes.
  • Eric is planning on teaching a casting class and doing the advanced stuff.
  • Scott will be teaching basic silversmithing and then two more basic classes.

Field Trips

  • DoBel Ranch was fun.
  • Next field trip is Mataqua (Pet Wood). Annual March trip.
  • Full year’s trip schedule will be built this weekend.

Officer Reports

Allison (Vice President)

  • Thanks for all who volunteered to help with the show. “We are getting the help that we needed.”

Amber (Secretary) was absent.

Shannon (Treasurer)

  • Tax stuff is due soon.

Lynn (Shop Foreman)

  • Same old stuff. “Come to the shop.” Some equipment was donated, so we are selling it at the show.
  • Eric will bring it to the show.

Ed K (Communications)

  • Announced that there is now an interactive comprehensive Calendar on the web site, available under the Member Hub menu.
  • The goal of the reorganization of the web site is to make it a resource with a lot of information that is is easy to find and get to.
  • There are other features on web site now and a club Pinterest and YouTube channel was set up as a club resource and a way to funnel prospective members to the web site.
  • Ed brought up the idea of having speaker on Iron Mining in Utah, co-sponsored by SUU GEO Club, a community-directed event that could be held on the SUU campus. The speaker, Evan Jones, gave a similar presentation to the club about 5 years ago. Shari said that she remembered it and said it was good. Asking for those who would like to attend indicated that most present were interested. A brief discussion on when it could be planned led to a decision to create a Google Survey to determine the best date.

Presentation
Lily Holt gave a presentation on Celestite.

Cabochon Contest
Tiffany King (far right) conducted the contest. There were 6 entries. Eric (lower left) received the most votes and was awarded the prize slab for his opal entry.

Questions & Answers
Mitch responded to questions from a member:

  • To rock hound on Utah State Trust Lands, you need a permit, which costs $200, the Club has one for Septarian Nodules which expires in April. The club could organize another trip there. It’s in the Muddy River. It is a physical event.
  • OnX is a great application.
  • BLM MLRS system tells you about claims, who owns them.

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February 6, 2025

Location: Enoch. President Elwood conducted.

Mitch welcomed Rafael Arteaga, founder and past president of the club, as the new Show Chair.

Announcements

  • The next member meeting is in Cedar.
  • We need to vote on paying Rafael for the next show. 20% of NET proceeds
  • Spring Show feasibility is under review
  • February Class will be given Ella Cowley on Aquamarine.
  • Thanks to Alison for the help with the Quartzite packaging for 2025 Raffles. (A few Smoky Quartz were set aside for the Show Silent Auction.
  • RMFMS has earmarked SURC for the 2029 show.
  • Kyle at Dixie Rocks has a storage area behind the store that he is converting to a Lapidary Shop. He wants to potentially collaborate with our club and is looking for equipment now.

Trip Coordinator

  • Next trip is a paid trip DoBell Ranch on Feb. 15 (over 20 has signed up so far; final head count adjustments) and Feb. 16 will be on BLM land.
  • Mitch met with a newly discovered Nevada Opalized Fluorite Mine, north of Tonopah. They are offering to our club $200 per bucket.
  • March Field Trip ideas were asked for. Need to build the year calendar for distribution

Cabochon Contest

Tiffany King was selected by members present as the winner of the first of newly resurrected Monthly Cabochon Contest. She was awarded a slab for her prize.

Presentation

Astrid Cowley gave a presentation on Minerals in Utah.

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January 2, 2025

Location: Hurricane. President Elwood conducted.

Announcements

  • Starting next meeting will a monthly cab contest. The winner will receive a slab.
  • The club will be hosting the 2029 Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies.
  • There are a number of members who have volunteered to teach jewelry classes.
  • Reminder that Allison Cawley was installed as the new Vice President at last meeting.
  • The next club show will be in the second week of March
  • The Quartzite (Arizona) Powwow Show will be Jan. 15-19. It is a wonderful show to pick up rough rocks and slabs. It is sponsored by the local club who will also be hosting 2 rock field trips per day for the 5 days. The fee is $3 (to cover insurance).

Amber (Secretary)

  • Report that 60 people answered the recent survey and that she had compiled the results.

Shannon (Treasurer) was away and not in attendance. Mitch reported the club had $24,000 in its account.

Lynn (Shop Foreman)

  • a few more supervisors are needed in the shop. The goal is to have two (one as backup/mentee) for each night.

Club Presentations

Owen Fletcher gave a presentation on the mineral Opal.

Lynn Dalton gave a presentation of the four glues he uses for lapidary projects. See a video of his presentation on the Galleries page.

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December 5, 2024

Location: Enoch. President Elwood conducted.

Business

Allison Cowley was elected as club Vice President and  Ed Kanet was appointed as club Communications Director.

. Cindy Nord‘s design for the Club Coin Design Contest was selected from among nearly a dozen entries. She was also given a large Smoky Quartz specimen.

Annual Christmas Potluck Dinner

The best part of the meeting was the Gift Exchange (Stealing) Game. (click for photos)
Quite a selection of gifts. There were more gifts brought then there were those who participated in the game. Some of the surprise gifts were quite entertaining. What is it? Can’t wait to see what you got. Many gathered around Tiffany King to see what she got.
Lynn Dalton shows everyone what he got. Lost another one! Elwood was “lucky” to keep choosing the best gift, ones that others wanted. He had his choices stolen 5 times.