CALENDAR

Apr 12 next club field trip
Apr 17 next club meeting
Apr 25-27 Graves Mountain Rock Swap & Dig
Sep 27-28 ROCK Show
Oct 3-5 Graves Mountain Rock Swap & Dig

SFMS sponsored workshops
Jun 8-14 William Holland
Aug 18-24 Wildacres
Sep 15-21 Wildacres
Oct 12-18 William Holland

EFMLS sponsored workshops
Apr 18-24 Wildacres

Graves Mountain - change in collecting status and 2008 Rock Swap dates.

From: "Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc" <sfms@amfed.org>

Date: Wed, Jan 16, 2008 3:26 pm To: "SFMS Member Society" <sfms@amfed.org>

The Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc, The Friendly Federation - Founded in 1976 to serve. SFMS Field Trip Committee

Graves Mountain Update
The collecting restrictions that were imposed in October 2007 have been rescinded. As it stands now, any group (two or more rock hounds) can reserve Graves Mountain (i.e., you do not have to be the field trip leader of a college, university or gem and mineral society).

Graves Mountain "Rock Swap and Dig
8 am to 6 pm, Friday, April 25, Saturday, April 26, Sunday, April 27, 2008

8 am to 6 pm, Friday, October 3, Saturday, October 4, Sunday, October 5, 2008

"You are invited to field collect minerals at Georgia's premiere mineral location!"

The caretaker in charge of Graves Mountain, Clarence Norman Jr., has announced plans to hold TWO three day dig and rock swaps on the Mountain during April 25, 26, & 27 2008 and during October 3, 4, & 5 2008. He will have the mountain open to collecting from 8 am to 6 pm each day. All participants must stop at the welcome table in the Hospitality tent to sign a liability release and make a small contribution to defray the cost of opening the mountain and providing port-o-lets. There will be several

golf cart type, four wheeled vehicles available to transport those participants who have trouble walking long distances. The dig will cease and everyone is expected to be off the mountain by around 6 pm each day. Participants will be allowed to park in a designated area on the mountain.

Rock Swap and Hot Food/Drinks: Junior will set aside an area in the upper parking lot for tables to be setup for daily rock swaps. Anyone who would like to setup a table(s), please contact Junior at the phone numbers listed below. Hot food cooked on the grill, cold drinks and chips will be available for purchase on the mountain during all three days of these events. Don't forget to bring some extra money to buy the special "Graves Mountain Rock Swap and Dig" T-shirt!

THESE DIGS ARE OPEN TO ALL. Mark your calendar and tell all your friends about this great event!

Clarence Norman Jr. (Junior) - 706.359.3862 (his business) or 706.359.2381 (his home)

Any group (two or more rock hounds) can reserve Graves Mountain (i.e. you do not have to be the field trip leader of a college, university or gem and mineral society).

In order to gain access, you will need to contact the caretaker, Clarence Norman, Jr (Junior) at 706.359.3862 (his business) or 706.359.2381 (his home). Give him a call and he can reserve the mountain exclusively for your group. All of the mineral societies that come here to collect, offer the caretaker a donation for his trouble and effort in keeping the mountain open and assessable to them. Please consider what it is worth to your mineral society to be able to field collect minerals at Georgia's premiere mineral location!

Lots of Graves Mountain information, including reports and pictures, may be obtained on the Georgia Mineral Society website: www.qamineral.org/commercial-qravesmountain.htm

Graves Mountain code of conduct!
Park your vehicle in the designated area(at the end of the paved access road but not much beyond the woods to the right of this road).

NO child under the age of 12 years old is to be allowed on the mountain because of all the dangers involved.

ALL pets must be kept under control and on a leash.

The field trip leader(s) have final and absolute say as to where you may safely work.

Ladders or power tools of any kind will not be allowed. (HAND TOOLS ONLY!)

Stay away from all high walls !!

No repelling of of anything!

NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO DRIVE THEIR VEHICLE ON ANY PART OF GRAVES MOUNTAIN BEYOND

THE PARKING AREA! (The caretaker must accompany anyone driving beyond the parking area!)

EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE OFF THE MOUNTAIN BY DUSK. (Absolutely no one is allowed on Graves Mountain after dark.)

Please protect our ability to field collect at Graves Mountain!

Report violations to: Clarence Norman, Jr Norman C E Wrecking Co 3333 C E Norman

Rd Lincolnton, GA 30817-3110 706.359.3862 (his business) or 706.359.2381 (his home)

All reported violations will be held in strict confidence.

Full details on classes, registration forms, prices and so forth are on the internet website of the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies.

The SFMS internet website also has the LODESTAR newsletter so you can read and download the current copy of our federation newsletter. Please log on and obtain all the information you want about the Wildacres and William Holland Sessions.

William Holland School of Lapidary Arts
www.lapidaryschool.org
SFMS weeks June 8-14 & Oct 12-18

Wildacres Retreat
www.wildacres.org
Spring session will be April 18-24

Kentucky School of Craft
Hazard Community College
www.hazard.kctcs.edu

Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts
Jewelry Making Classes
www.revereacademy.com

ROCK Club member, John, is a lapidary who facets gemstones and makes custom handmade jewelry using precious stones and karat gold, plantinum and silver.