December 2002Volume 2, Issue 8
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North Mississippi
Gem and Mineral
Society Officers
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President: Floy Hawkins
P.O. Box 7312
Tupelo, MS 38802
(662) 844-7441
studioh@dixie-net.com
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Vice President: Mary Reed
Rt. One, Box 104
Ackerman, MS 39735
(662) 285-6712
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Secretary: Rena Everett
69 Jeff Street
Oxford, MS 38655
(662) 234-8561
mlgae@olemiss.edu
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Treasurer: Shirly Randle
905 Poorhouse Road, E.
Starkville, MS 39759
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Newsletter Editor: Sandy Grych
P.O. Box 283
Mathiston, MS 39752
(662) 263-8405
sigrych@yahoo.com
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Next Meeting
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Saturday, Dec. 14
Noon
Lee County Library
Tupelo, MS
Christmas Party
Potluck Lunch
Gift exchange: categories women, men, children.
Toys-for-Tots Gift Collection
Directions:
Take East Main Street to Madison
St. (near United Methodist
Church); turn North; go two blocks
to the corner of Madison and Jeffer-
son St. Library is there
Or,
From Gloster St. turn east onto
Jefferson St. until you get to Madison St.
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NMGMS Minutes for November 2002 by Rena Everett, Secretary
NMGMS Youth Day attracts 100 folks
 Youth Day was a great success! That needed to be said before anything else. Twenty-three of our members and 79 visitors (young people and their parents) met at the Lee County Library on November 16, 2002. There were 31 door prizes given and 50 rock bags were given out at the door. Members gathered at the library at 12:00 to begin setting up and our visitors began arriving at precisely 1:00 p.m. If there was ever any doubt as to whether or not we were going to have a good crowd, those doubts were quickly dispersed because most of the visitors had arrived within the first ten minutes.
As promised, we had a fluorescent display, a display of neat minerals and fossils, and a display of lapidary work and jewelry that our members had made. In addition, members worked very hard at teaching, interacting with, and answering questions from the young people and their parents. I don’t know the tally of bracelets or rings made, but George Everett wire wrapped 68 shark’s teeth and arrowheads in about 1½ hours and there were about 80 coloring sheets colored during that time. I’m sure that the other tallies were equally as high. One little boy came up to me at the end and said, “Look, I got two rings and three necklaces!” He was very pleased. All of our visitors had time to visit whatever stations they wanted to, and as the meeting was winding down, it was time for the piñata. All of the children knew that we were going to have the piñata, and they were all looking forward to it. After eight or ten children tried to break the piñata, one succeeded; and there was a real free-for-all on the floor as they all went after the quartz crystals, amethyst chips, crinoid stems, turritellas, candy, and toys that spilled out of the piñata.
When there was not one single part of the piñata left, we announced that refreshments were served. Our members had gone the second mile with refreshments, and we really had a spread. After everybody had finished, there was very little left on the table. (We couldn’t say the same for the floor.)
After folks finished their refreshments, they continued seeing the stations that they hadn’t seen before, and, a little time after 3:00, they began leaving. Everyone had something to take home; many of the children and their parents thanked us profusely; and one little girl went around and gave everybody a big hug. I think that expressed their feelings very well. After about an hour of vacuuming, cleaning up, and putting away, the members wended their ways home, knowing that theirs was a job well done.
There was one family who joined at the meeting; several took applications home; and even one Scout leader said that she was going to see if her whole troop could join so that they could all come to meetings together. Another Scout leader asked if we could do this for her troops later because she didn’t know about it soon enough to get the Scouts to this meeting. I am sure that, even if we don’t have any other people to join the club right away as a result of this meeting, the people of Tupelo and surrounding areas know that there is a rock club alive and well in their neighborhood, and that will have longtime results.
President Floy Hawkins sends her thanks to all of our members, and especially our junior members, who worked so hard so that this Youth Day could be a spectacular success.
And now, the Christmas news: Our Christmas party will be a potluck lunch at the Lee County Library in Tupelo on December 14, 2002, at 12:00 noon. Arch Murphree says that he will again bring one of his famous hams, and other members should bring dishes to complement the ham, not leaving out dessert, of course. Everyone should bring a rock-related gift to exchange. The cost should be no more than $8-10; men should bring something appropriate for a man, ladies something appropriate for a lady, and young people something appropriate for a young person.
Our contributions to Toys for Tots last year was so gratefully received that we thought we would do that again this year. So please bring a new toy for this worthy cause. It doesn’t have to be wrapped.
Arch also asks that everyone bring something for a silent auction. Since we had one last year and it was a lot of fun, this could become a tradition—a Christmas gift from us to the club. Proceeds would go toward club expenses.
Since there was no business meeting on the 16th, this is just an informal report on our Youth Day and plans for the Christmas party.
Respectfully submitted,
Rena Everett, Secretary
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Black Gold from Mississippi
NMGMS President thanks Members for their Help
Floy Hawkins
NMGMS President
 Thanks to all of our hard working members that helped make Youth Day a ROCKing success. I know NMGMS will be hearing others talk about this day for months to come. We had 23 members helping out every way possible.
Some of the moments I will remember will be when I looked over to see
how George was doing and couldn't see him for all the people waiting in line for their chance to have a wire-wrapped shark tooth or arrowhead;
Arch asking where the kids were getting the calcite because he figures he polished every piece given out;
hearing Sandy call out door prize numbers with such enthusiasm and excitement that I wanted to run over every time just to see who claimed the prize and watch Jessie try to make sure things were kept in order;
sitting with Shirley and watching her volcano and other experiments;
watching Nathan get tangled in the black plastic surrounding the fluorescent exhibit and noticing Bill was trying to calm the anxious waiting their turn in line;
seeing the kids gang up on Mary getting to the art projects;
observing Virginia, Arch, George and Steve beam with pride when asked about their lapidary work;
visiting Gene at the mineral and fossil table and learning what a quick study he is when hearing him answer the guests’ and members’ questions about everything on the table;
watching Matthew and Rachel introduce their friends to the joys of rockhounding;
trying to talk with Bob, Ruby, and Erin over the glee and shouts of the crowd waiting in line to get their rings and bracelets and polished rocks;
I could only get on tip toe to watch Christy enthusiastically make necklaces for those in her line;
I got a smile from Nancy as she and Leisa were answering questions for the guests about the fossils they brought to share and give away;
I watched Mary, Susan, Rena and others pitch in to set up the kid friendly refreshments but when I looked later those kid-friendly refreshments were being enjoyed by all;
and last but certainly not least, was George and Rena's (stocked to the brim with rocks, toys and candy) dinosaur piñata.
It took awhile for the piñata to burst but when it did, every kid was on the floor, packing their pockets full of goodies. All the young guests remaining until 3 p.m. went home with a bag full of rocks brought by Bill and me.
Everyone pitched in to help put the room back in good order and helped one another pack, carry out and load the vehicles. It was a fast and furious 2-plus hours; but Steve said it best when he told me he thought Youth Day was like a mini-gem and mineral show.
I look forward to our Christmas get-together and hope to see some new NMGMS members sharing a good time.
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 Youth DayRegistration Table Counts People
The registration table staff kept busy signing in 79 visitors, as well as 23 club members. Those working the table were Susan Curry, Jessie Frye, and Sandy Grych
Among the visitors, group or family leaders said that they found out about the NMGMS Youth Day from the following sources: NMGMS Members – 4, Scouts – 4, Library – 3, School – 3, Flea Market – 2, and Newspaper – 1.
The visitors came from Beldon, Blue Springs, Clinton, Ecru, Greenwood, Mooreville, Nettleton, Oxford, Pontotoc, Saltillo, Shannon, Starkville, Thaxton, Tupelo, and Verona.
...And the Winner is... The Nugget from NMGMS!
The NMGMS’s newsletter The Nugget is now an “award-winning” newsletter having earned two honors in the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies 2002 Bulletin Editors Contest.
Sandy Grych received Sixth Place in Adult Articles (out of eleven) for her story entitled “Just One of Those OTHER Kind of Rockhounds” which appeared in the December 2001 issue. In the article, Sandy mentions, “…I prefer taking my field trips to the mall.” SFMS Judge June Miller commented, “I like your humor and frankness and many of us ‘gals’ agree with your kind of ‘rockhunting.’”
The second honor was a Certificate of Appreciation to Sandra Grych, Editor – the Nugget. Judge Diane Dare thanked the NMGMS editor stating, “It is wonderful to have such participation from a new club and a new editor.
Judge Shirley Leeson suggested that The Nugget receive a Certificate of Appreciation for entering stating, “It’s a grand effort and has all the information you currently need for your growing membership.”
She pointed out, “However, I don’t believe this should have been entered in competition with other editors who have some background. While they are ‘new editors’ they have bulletins to look at from previous editors and know what is needed to have a well rounded bulletin.”
Leeson closed by saying, “The color and layout of your very first bulletin is impressive. I’d like to see future bulletins, bet they will be special.”
The Nugget Editor Sandy Grych would like to thank Jessie Frye and Susan Curry for their help in producing the newsletter. “Jessie has helped with the mailing. However, Susan has been a faithful proofreader and inspiring critic who has helped tremendously.”
Make Plans for the MGMS Show in February
The Mississippi Gem and Mineral Society’s Annual Show is set for February 22 & 23, 2003 in Jackson, Miss. This will be the 44th annual event for our sister club.
Many NMGMS members attend and participate in competitions, working exhibits and other aspects. Those who have traveled to other shows consider the MGMS Show one of the best club shows in the Southeast.
For more information contact a NMGMS officer (many are members) or the show chair Brenda Hankins, 601-854-6085 or email
Welcome New NMGMS Members
Wendy Savage
P.O. Box 834, Verona, MS 38879
Ida & Chris Groves and Nigel Sneed & Thomas C. Groves
238 CR 501, Shannon, MS 38868
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North Mississippi Gem and Mineral SocietyMeeting Schedule |
| Sat., Dec. 14 | Noon | Christmas Party | Lee County Library, Tupelo |
| Sat., Jan. 18, 2003 | 1 p.m. | Rock video | Lee County Library, Tupelo |
| Sat., Feb. 15 | 1 p.m. | TBA | Lee County Library, Tupelo |
| Sat., Mar. 15 | 1 p.m. | TBA | Lee County Library, Tupelo |
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