April Business Meeting Summary

by Andy Thompson, MSDC Secretary

This raspberry-and mint-colored tourmaline, nicknamed the “Steamboat," is one of the world’s finest and most valuable mineral specimens. Photo by Duncan Pay © GIA, courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution, http://geogallery.si.edu

MSDC President Dan Teich opened the meeting by welcoming and thanking everyone for coming. He also thanked the club’s past presidents in attendance for their earlier service to the club. Dan welcomed several first-time attenders, including Nick Staten, who shared his interest in fossils and the environment.

Dan requested a motion, which passed unanimously, to approve the March business meeting summary published in MSDC’s April newsletter.

Reports from Club Officers

Treasurer John Weidner confirmed that the club’s finances continue to be stable and that in March, we were pleased to welcome several new members who had joined MSDC.

Vice President for Programs Ken Reynolds asked Laura Dwyer to update members on speakers scheduled for our upcoming presentations:

· April 1: Kathy Hrechka is sharing her personal research with snow crystallography.

· May 6: Mike (“Miner”) Kaas will share the history of the Friedensville, PA zinc mine which transformed zinc from a little used metal to an industry staple.

· June 3: Dr. Mike Wise from the Smithsonian’s Department of Mineral Sciences will discuss recent gem and mineral acquisitions and, if time permits, current research projects.

Secretary Andy Thompson said he would send the Board of Directors a meeting request to discuss members’ desire for more personal interactions in this time of Zoom meetings and our need to find club members willing to learn about, and be understudies for, some of our club’s financial, secretarial, media, and other core efforts.

President Dan Teich said he was very interested in promoting face-to-face meetings among members. Several then offered suggestions and a willingness to gather for special small-group mineralogical tours and to help with various social gatherings.

Old and New Business

Other than the above issues of helping club members gather in more social settings or for possible mineral tours, no other old or new business was raised. Accordingly Dan called for and received a motion to close the business meeting.