January Business Meeting Summary

by Andy Thompson, MSDC Secretary

This specimen is on display in the Geology, Gems, & Mineral Hall in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Photo by Ken Rock.

President Dan Teich welcomed everyone and thanked them for joining our January meeting. For their earlier service, he thanked the club’s numerous past presidents who were in attendance and welcomed first-time visitors to the meeting.

Reports from Club Officers

Vice President for Programs Ken Reynolds mentioned that Todd Ballinger will be speaking tonight on the platinum group of elements. February’s program will be Dr. John Grant speaking on “The Mission of U.S. rovers Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity and what they tell us about the Geological Climate of Mars.” Ken said discussions continue to identify speakers for future presentations. Dan Teich said he will be presenting a program about giant clam fossils.

Treasurer John Weidner said the finances of the club continue to be stable. Membership dues currently are sufficient to cover the club’s regular expenses, such as our membership in national mineral organizations and our insurance. Our research grant to an undergraduate student and our annual donation to the Smithsonian’s Department of Mineral Sciences are paid from donations, including both cash donations and the sale of minerals donated to the club. The club's sale of donated minerals at the Northern Virginia Mineral Club's show at George Mason University netted $1,500.

Secretary Andy Thompson said he had nothing new to report.

Old and New Business

Although there were no old business items needing discussion, the one new business item discussed and approved was the 2026 grant awarded to Gabriela Desantos for her project working with Dr. Richard Tollo (GWU) in the Cascades in Oregon.

Andy noted that Dr. Tollo had provided the MSDC BOD with a detailed outline of Gabby’s project in which “she will work on a basaltic lava flow and its source scoria cone (“Red Crater”), followed by a petrographic analysis of thin sections to identify and characterize the mineral assemblages and textures.” This research will be part of an ongoing study and Gabby’s project will take place primarily in October. All that and more will enable answers to important questions about the Cascade areas volcanic eruptions and be grist for Gabby’s ZOOM-type presentation to MSDC when she completes her research.

Concluding the Business Meeting

With no further business to discuss, Dan called for a motion to adjourn, which was made, seconded, and unanimously approved. He turned the mic over to Andrea Lubawy to introduce the evening’s presenter, Dr. Todd Ballinger.