March Business Meeting Summary
by Andy Thompson MSDC Secretary
MSDC President Dan Teich, from his temporary perch in France, called the club’s meeting to order, welcomed and thanked all for attending, and thanked the past club presidents for their service. He then called for a motion and a second for the acceptance of the February business meeting report as published in the March newsletter. With no discussion needed and unanimous approval, the minutes were accepted.
Dan then invited any first-time attendees to introduce themselves if they cared to. Peter VanKuiken responded reminding Dan they met at the recent mineral show. Dan thanked Peter and his daughter for attending.
Old and New Business
No issues were raised for discussion.
Dan then invited the club’s executive officers to give their reports starting with the Programs team.
Vice President for Programs Ken Reynolds said tonight’s presenter was Dan Teich. The April 1 meeting will feature MSDC member Kathy Hrechka sharing her research with ice crystals as reported elsewhere in this April newsletter. Our May 6 presenter possibilities are under discussion and the June 3 program will be presented by Dr. Mike Wise of the Smithsonian.
Treasurer John Weidner shared the good news that he had a banner month paying lots of bills for the club’s:
· insurance with the Eastern Federation (EFMLS) which covers field trips and other liabilities,
· annual membership in EFMLS and AMS,
· annual filing with the IRS (no payment needed unless we bring in over $5,000 per year)
· registration fee for renewing our non-profit incorporation under the DC Government,
· our grant to support a college student’s geology research, and
· our donation to the Smithsonian’s Department of Mineral Sciences.
John explained the context for each of these payments. Importantly, he said the club’s finances continue to be stable. John implied that having completed these tasks he was now going to return to the rock from under which he said he had recently emerged.
Secretary Andy Thompson reported that in response to his request made during the February business meeting, asking if anyone was interested in serving on MSDC’s Board of Directors, Andy Gold stepped up to fill the seat vacated by Brian Silver whose service all of us very much appreciated. The BOD expressed thanks to both men and enthusiastically accepted Andy’s offer to serve.
Somehow the above report sparked a discussion about the TV program Golden Girls theme song, “I want to thank you for being a friend.” President Dan Teich assigned the issue to New Business for future consideration and he called on Ken for his report.
Editor Ken Rock reported that he sent our monthly Mineral Minutes newsletter to the 280 persons on our distribution list. His tracking of its use revealed that every month about 60-70 percent of recipients open the email. Dan thanked Ken for his excellent newsletter and urged everyone: “Read the newsletter.”
Dan asked if there were any additional business items that needed discussion. Several members reminded everyone of the upcoming gem, mineral and fossil shows hosted by our many sister clubs on the East coast.
John Weidner provided information on another new business item, namely if anyone needs acid for use with identifying minerals, our fellow club member Bob Cooke is an excellent source. John reported that he and Bob use it with their library mineral program for children, as a standard geo field test to help identify unknown rocks: put a little very highly diluted acid on the rock and if it fizzes it is marble, limestone, or one of the other carbonates.
With all the topics under discussion completed, Dan called for and received a motion to close the meeting. He then handed the mic over to Laura Dwyer to introduce the meeting’s presenter.