Newsletters 2006

January '06

Hi Fellow Prospectors,

Well we are off to a new start for 2006 with our lst meeting.  It was very cold at the Park, but the attendance was great.

We had 3 visitors, Kevin Schreiber, Michael Lamarche and Bob Sweeney.  We welcome these gentlemen to our meetings and hope to see them again soon.

We didn't have a long meeting due to the extremely cold weather, but we did have some Coffee and Pies courtesy of Art and Faith Wolf, I don't know what we would do without them.  Those pies are really HOT and will take the chill away.

Most of the chatter for this meeting was a lot of anticipation for Outings and Alaska trips this year.  David and Debbie are really excited about the trip they are going to be taking to Alaska this year.

Discussion for the lst Club Outing or Common Dig, whichever you prefer to call it will begin with our February Meeting, so everyone please try to be there with some input.

The February Meeting is going to be a Breakfast/Brunch meeting.  This will cover a lot of possibilities for food. I will need to have a reply of what you are bringing so we will have a good fare.  Meeting will be as usual, Saturday Feb. 11th, 9:00 a.m. at Warren Park.

At this time we have Scrambled Eggs w/cheese and Sausage.  If anyone wants to bring some Biscuits, I will be more than happy to supply the Sausage Gravy.

Again, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO BRING.

The Raffle this month was a 2 gr. vial of Alaskan Gold won by Frank.  I almost forgot, Election of Officers is on for this meeting also, we are a little past due on this, so it needs to be taken care of real soon.

Hope everyone has a great January and hope to see you in February.

Paulette

Feburary '06

Hi Fellow Prospectors,

Well our February Meeting was a lot warmer than our January Meeting. Richard was unable to come to this meeting, so Patrick Kennedy, our Vice President had the honors of conducting this meeting.

The Breakfast/Brunch at this meeting was really good.  There were Scrambled Eggs, Donuts, Fresh Fruits, Blueberry Pie, Cherry Pie and of course that old faithful Coffee.  The food was very tasty and just hit the spot.

We had a couple of new visitors this month, Chip and Dorrie England, Warren Megibow, and Larry and Vickie Zdroik.  We welcome them to our meeting and hope to see them again real soon.

In the last Newsletter I said that Elections would be in February, but after checking the Chapter Bylaws we are not due an Election until August of this year.  More will be discussed at the next couple of meetings regarding the elections, as a few of our members will not be on hand at the time and will maybe have to vote ahead of time.

The first Outing for this year was discussed at the meeting and will be held over the Memorial Day Weekend, unless there is a need to adjust the weekend so that everyone who wants to go will be able to. Some of our members head off to Alaska the 1st week in June, so it is difficult for them to work this outing into that schedule.  Perhaps, having the Outing the weekend before Memorial Day would work out better for them.  Just a thought, and it can be discussed at the March Meeting.

Our March Meeting is going to be a POT LUCK.  This is an open menu, so anything goes.  I still need to know what you are bringing so we can have lots to choose from. So far, we have Chile Con Carne, Pie, Coffee, Vegetable Tray, and Pasta Salad.  I'm sure the club will be furnishing Fried Chicken or something like that and some sodas.  The weather should be nice, so think of something good to bring.

Our raffle this month consisted of a 2 gr. Australian Nugget and was won by Paulette.

Well, that's all for now, don't forget to email me what you are bringing to the POT LUCK.

Will see you Saturday, March 11, Warren Park, 9:00 a.m.

Paulette

March '06

Hi Fellow Prospectors,

Well our meeting this month was a great one, food and all. There was Fried Chicken, Shrimp Cocktail, Vegetable Trays, Fruit Bowl, Pasta Salad, Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, Homemade Baked Beans, Roast Beef for Sandwiches (or whatever way you wanted to eat it), Rolls and for dessert, 2 luxurious homemade Banana Cream Pies complete with Real Whipped Cream.  Makes me hungry all over just writing about it.

Anyway, the main topic of discussion this meeting was the first Outing or Common Dig for this year.  Outing will be the weekend of Memorial Day, Saturday and Sunday, May 27th and 28th, and will be held at the campground just the other side of the school on Hwy. 120 in Buchanan, Georgia.  Everyone will work together those 2 days then there will be a split of the gold found on Sunday and then we all go out for Dinner.

Lots of fun, relaxing, socializing, and just getting to know each other a little better.  If you've never been to one of these outings, please try to be there, you'll be glad you came.  Due to everyone wanting to be off on the Memorial Day weekend, I personally cannot be off that weekend, so me, my husband and our son are going up on the 17th (Wednesday) and will be there thru the 25th (Thursday).  Anyone needing directions, please call or email me and I will be happy to oblige.

It's about 500 miles and takes about 8 hours; that's if you obey the speed zones.  If you prefer to take your chances with speed, GOOD LUCK.  Frank made an announcement at this meeting about anyone wanting to purchase prospecting supplies.  If you get Frank to order them from the GPAA, we get a credit.  I'm not sure just how much of a selection they have, so check with Frank on that.

Richard received and email from a gentleman who lives in Clermont, who has a High Banker Dredge Combo for sale.  It has a 3.5 hp B & S motor, Pacer pump, Keene High Banker Hopper, Keene A 52 Sluice and Frame.  Also includes (2) 2 1/2 suction hoses and a 2 1/2 Suction Nozzle.  All of this equipment is in excellent condition.  Asking $500.00, but reasonable offer would be considered. Contact Stan Nemec, (352-242-1053) if interested and be sure to mention Richards name as the original recipient of his email.  We had a visitor today from New Jersey, Bob Sweeney, and we would like to welcome him and hope to see him again soon.

Raffle today was a 2.2 gr. Australian Nugget with a little quartz on it and was won by Debbie Kennedy.  Way to go Deb.  Our April Meeting will be as usual, Saturday the 8th, same time, same place.  Hope everyone has a terrific month, see ya in April.

Paulette

April '06

Hi Fellow Prospectors,

Our April meeting was a very good one.  We had a lot of attendee's and a new member.  We would like to Welcome Scotty Bennett to our club and wish to see him again soon.

The main topic of discussion today was of the upcoming Outing in May over the Memorial Day Weekend.  For those of you who were not with us today, the outing will be as usual, in Buchanan at the Holcomb Creek Campsite.  If anyone needs directions or has any questions, please feel free to call me and I will help in any way I can.

Common dig days will be Saturday and 1/2 day on Sunday.  The recovered gold will be split on Sunday afternoon with all participants, and then we will all go to dinner. The club pays a portion of the dinner or it could be all of it, depending on how many people go.  This is really a fun time for all of us, so try not to miss it.

For those of you who are going to still be around on Memorial Day and have some time to kill, a jog up to Dahlonega is worth the trip.  The town is all decked out on Memorial Day and I hear tell they also have some memoriums to some of those prospectors from way back when.

Our May Meeting will be on Saturday, the 13th and will be a BREAKFAST POTLUCK. Sausage, Biscuits, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Breakfast Pastries of any kind and of course Coffee would be a great fare.  Let me know what you are going to bring, so I can tie up the loose ends if need be.  Hopefully I can sweet talk Art and Faith Wolf to be the faithful coffee suppliers, anyone else who wants to join on that note.

Our Raffle today was a vial with 2 grams of Alaskan Gold and was won by Ed Adamczyk, way to go Ed.

Well that's all for now, have a safe and great month for the rest of April and will see you in May.

Paulette

May '06

Hi Fellow Prospectors,

For those of you who missed our meeting this month, you really should have been there. Our Breakfast was a hit. There was Scrambled Eggs, Bagels with Cream Cheese, Sausage Gravy, Biscuits, Sausage, Donuts, Fruit, Juice and of course Coffee. Everyone got their fill. The main topic of this meeting was of course the upcoming outing on Memorial Day weekend.

Looks like there will be quite a few members making the trip. I, personally am going up on the 17th of May and returning the day before the outing starts due to my work schedule, I had to practically beg to get that time off.  I know a few of you are not going to be able to make the trip due to your Alaska Trip which is just around the corner. Hopefully you will be able to attend the Outing which takes place around September.  Best of luck to all of you while you are in Alaska.

Just a note to Debbie and David, if you see any bears, run like hell for the nearest shelter. I don't really think you are going to have a problem with them, but you have to realize you are on their turf, so be attentive and watch your surroundings.

Our annual election of officers is coming up soon, we will wait until August when everyone will be back.  Start giving some thought of who you would like to have in office, or perhaps you would like to run for office yourself.

Not a lot of news this month, as like I said before all conversation was based on the Club Outing and the diehard Alaska fans’ trip. One (1) ounce of Alaskan gold will be bought this year while Frank is there, for our Annual Club Christmas Party. Hope everyone has a great month and a productive trip to wherever they may roam, I'm sure there will be a lot of new things to hear about next month.

June Meeting will be Sat. the 10th at Warren Park, 9:00 a.m.  Hope to see most all of you there.

Paulette

June '06

Hi Fellow Prospectors,

Our Meeting this month was really nice.  Talk was of the Memorial Day Outing and it sounded like everyone who was there had a great time.  Nobody got rich, but a lot of getting to know each other and tips on prospecting were shared.

Seems that everyone was impressed with the new Caretakers of the property, and a lot of good things were said about them. For those of you who have not yet met them, they are from New York and are working really hard to clean the place up and make new paths and roads to the creeks where just about the only things that could make it to some of those places were ATV'S and on foot.

They're names are Chet and Andria Lewis and they are just about the nicest people I have encountered in quite a while.  They will go out of their way to help you in any way they can.  They also have a cute little dog named Patches who is not a happy little camper when it comes to motors with wheels.  Seems like some kids from another camp where they worked liked to tease Patches with their ATV's, so now he's kinda freaked out by the noise and motion, but I'm sure in time he will get over that.

As I mentioned before, the outing was a success, and a nice Dinner was shared by all at the Pizza Farm on Sunday evening.  We would like to welcome a new visitor to our club, John Horsman from Melbourne, Fl.  Hope to see him again real soon.  Our Raffle today was for a 1 troy ounce Silver Prospector Round.  It is a new version and really nice.  To my joy, I was the lucky winner of it. Our July Meeting on Sat. July 8th, Warren Park, 9:00 am, will be a POTLUCK.

The menu is open for anything, but I heard thru the grapevine that a couple of our members are going to be cooking Hamburgers and Hot Dogs on the spot.  Another member is bringing a Cucumber Salad.  With the weather rearing its ugly hot days now, cold or cooler sides will work well to keep us cool.  Of course, what are Hamburgers and Hot Dogs without Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, Deviled Eggs, etc. Condiments (Ketchup, Mustard, Pickles, Relish, Onions and so forth) and of course, BUN'S!!!! are a necessity, so let me know a week ahead of time what you plan to bring, so I can be sure to tie up any loose ends.  Hope everyone has a great month, stay cool, play nice and see you next month.

Paulette

July / August '06

Hi Fellow Prospectors,

Well, needless to say I'm a little far behind with the newsletters.  I apologize for that, and hopefully will get everything back together now.  For those of you who I never got to address, the reason I'm behind is because of the auto accident Duane was in in July.

He is doing pretty well now, but still has a long way to go.  I had him to the Ortho Surgeon today and he still can't put any weight bearing on his hip for at least another 5 or 6 weeks.  His hip was dislocated, and the pelvis bone broke.  They went in and put a 6" steel plate, 6 screws and a pin to hold it together.  The pain in his neck will heal with time, they say it's because some of the ligaments in his neck had separated from the bone.  He also sports a new accent to his left eyelid and forehead up into the scalp, but that should fade some in time.  I guess he's just lucky he's still breathing, oh, by the way, he was the passenger in the vehicle.

Anyway, the July meeting went well.  We had a surprise visit from Frank, who had flown back from Alaska to be with his wife Marianne.  Seems she was at Busch Gardens and because of the heat, she passed out and fell breaking her collar bone.  The really bad thing about it was she hadn't even gotten to the free beer yet.  All in all Frank says she will be fine, just takes some time.  Raffle for our July meeting was a 1.2 gram Australian Nugget won by Pat Kennedy.

Now for our August Meeting, David and Debbie were back from their Alaska adventure and had some gorgeous pictures to show.  According to them they had a great time and wish they could have stayed longer.  Maybe next year you guys.

A possible Club Outing was discussed at this meeting for sometime in October, more serious talk about that at our September meeting. DON'T FORGET!!!!!!ELECTIONS IN SEPT.  Anyone interested in running for office please be at this meeting.

Our Sept. meeting is going to be an ITALIAN POT LUCK.  There will be Spaghetti, Meatballs, Italian Sausage, Garlic Bread, Salad and whatever else you guys want to bring.  We could use some sort of Desserts and maybe some different kinds of Salads, Grated Parmesan Cheese for the Spaghetti, you name it.  The club will furnish the Ice and Drinks.  Raffle this month was a Tom and Perry's Clean-up Sluice won by Richard Allen, LDMA T-Shirt won by Pat Kennedy and a Black Finishing Pan won by Debbie Briggs.  DON'T FORGET!!!!!ITALIAN POTLUCK ON SATURDAY, SEPT. 9TH, 9:00 AM, WARREN PARK.

Paulette

September '06

Hi Fellow Prospectors,

Well, here's hoping that the month of September is going good for everyone, although it's really passing quickly.

Our meeting this month was a hit.  The Italian Pot Luck was fantastic.  There was enough Spaghetti, Italian Sausage, Bread, Salads and Fried Chicken to feed half of Orlando, but it was delicious. Richard really outdone himself on the cooking.

The GPAA was contacted about GPAA MEMBERS having their outings at some of the LDMA Properties, and they said it just has to be arranged with the property we wish to go to.  That would be a fresh new approach for Outings next year.  As far as another outing for this club this year, seems like not enough people can arrange to be off at the same time, so we will have to wait until the Spring to go again as a group.  I know that some of you can go when ever you want to, so, pack up your blankets and long johns and try to go before November and the cold weather sets in.

We would like to welcome a new visitor this month, Gary Shadle, from St. Cloud.  Gary picked a great time to attend a meeting, he got to eat and be in on the New Election of Officers.  We sure hope Gary enjoyed himself and will come to future meetings.

Elections were held and results are as follows:

    President: Jim Green
    Vice Pres.: Duane Chancey
    Treasurer: Frank Mercier
    Secretary: Paulette Chancey

We would like to thank Richard Allen and Patrick Kennedy for their past years as President and Vice President.  We are not going to lose them from our meetings, but sometimes work schedules kind of get in the way of Club Office obligations.

Oh, by the way, we were all graced with the Shuttle Lift-Off at 11:15 and it was gorgeous, not a cloud in the sky to get in the way.

Raffle this month was nice.  There was an LDMA T-Shirt, Coffee Mug, Snuffer Bottle/glass vial combo, and a 1.2 Australian Nugget.  I was a little overwhelmed by the outcome, as the T-shirt, Coffee Mug and Nugget went home with the Chancey family.  Pat Kennedy took home the Snuffer Bottle/vial combo.

Well, so much for this month's news.  Please try to be at the October meeting, as we will begin to make plans for our Annual Christmas Party.  The Pavillion at Warren Park has already been reserved and paid for. Saturday, December 9th will be the date.  Lots of ideas and preparations upcoming for this event.  Hope everyone has a great month, Oct. meeting, Saturday Oct. 14, Warren Park, 9:00 am.

Paulette

October '06

Hi Fellow Prospectors,

We had a really nice meeting this month.  The weather was decent and we had a great turnout.  October was the first month for the newly elected officers and everything went just fine. We want to thank Richard Allen and Patrick Kennedy for their past years of service to our club, couldn't have done it without you guy's, thanks a lot. We'd also like to welcome some new members to our club, Gary Shadle and his wife Ellen of St. Cloud, and Ken Baum of New Smyrna Beach.  We hope you enjoyed our meeting and hope to see you on a regular basis.

There was some talk about our Annual Christmas Party, and it will be held at Warren Park on Saturday, Dec. 9th at the Pavilion.  The pavilion has lots of tables and electrical outlets for our use, so that our PotLuck Dinner can be kept warm when needed. There will also be the Secret Santa gift exchange again this year and that is a lot of fun.  The pavilion will be decorated in holiday decor and Christmas tablecloths and there will be enough food to feed an army.

As I related at the October meeting, Ed Adamczyk suffered a major heart attack and ended up with a huge bypass.  Ed said he was doing a lot better, just a matter of time to get his strength back in his legs, and then he will be able to return to us.  Hopefully, he will be able to make it to our Christmas Party.  Anyway, you hang in there Ed, we're all pulling for you.

Before I forget, we are having a POT LUCK at our November meeting, it will be SOUP AND SANDWICH.  Let's see how many different soups and sandwiches we can come up with.  PLEASE, PLEASE email me with what you are going to bring so we won't end up with a lot of the same thing.  Meeting will be Saturday, Nov. 11th at 9:00 a.m. The club is furnishing Soda, Tea and Lemonade.

Our raffle this month was a 1.2 gr. Australian Nugget and was won by Richard Allen.  Everyone, Please be at this next meeting as we will be discussing and putting the final touches on for our Christmas Party.

Paulette