Orlando Florida GPAA - 2017 Meetings

January and Feburary 2017 - None

April 2017 Newsletter Editor Janice Bosscher, Secretary of Orlando Chapter of G.P.A.A.

What a busy month for our chapter! But it was all covered in our chapter meeting minutes:

April 8, 2017, Warren Park in Orlando, FL Chapter Meetings minutes

Chris called the meeting to order at 10:10 am. Chris mentioned that Les P.s sister passed away, and to please remember Les and Ann P. in your thoughts and prayers.

April 1 was our fossil hunt…no fooling! 8 members assembled at the Peace River in Wauchulla. Woody showed some of his finds. Everyone had a good time…myself included….I even got in the water!

The biggest discussion was on the upcoming “dig” on April 28 and 29 at Lucky Strike at Vein Mountain in Marion, N. C. $50 per active participant is asked for today, or if not attending this meeting, please let us know. We also need to know if you will be camping or not, in order to reserve spaces. (Camping fees are discounted with a group and the fee depends on the number of campers.) We are also collecting, up at camp, $25.00 each person (participant and non-participant) for food. This includes five meals and you are responsible for your main course grill able for Saturday night. Steve M. has set up a fantastic menu. At Sunday morning breakfast the gold will be divided and distributed. The following page was given to members at this meeting by the events committee. Many hours were spent “redesigning” our outings protocol by Steve M, events chair, Chris M and the committee. Please read this over and the notes will continue.

All the items on this sheet were discussed, voted on and approved. Please note that the biggest difference is your team doing digging to clean up and drying of gold. The shifts are 9am to 1pm and 1pm to 5pm The weights will be recorded on a community board as they come in. Right now we have 10 paid people,3 cubes available Friday and Saturday 2 cubes as well as 3 scales.. If you cannot be at the Sunday morning breakfast for your draw…you must designate someone to pick it up for you.

Steve and Les are going up the 23rd and 24th to check out Thermal City. They need at least 3-4 people total to help run the Trommel for $120.00 rental.

Debbie C. is interested in going to the Garnet mine on Thursday afternoon.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 am with Woody winning the raffle. (Because I held his tickets.!)

May and June 2017 - None

July 2017 Newsletter Editor Janice Bosscher, Secretary of Orlando Chapter of G.P.A.A.

July notes:

The July chapter meeting was held at Warren Park in Orlando on July 8, 2017. Vice President Eddie Cater opened the meeting in absence of President Chris Maggio. New member Joe Gallo was welcomed as well as seeing the Cassadays back.

I mentioned that I am trying something different to take minutes…that hopefully I can read a bit better.

Upcoming Outing: please see the next page for details. Notes from Events chair Steve Mattes.

Old Business: Dick and Ann Wickes and Dave and Toni Kinney are in Alaska on Kinney’s claim. They have had a few bumps in the road, but are doing okay. We discussed that the Warren Park pavilion should be rented for the Christmas party on December 9.

New Business: There is a new Florida G.P.A. A. chapter forming in the Tampa area. There is also a new state director, Tim Leibel and Facebook page: Florida GPAA/LDMA News. This was posted by Tim:

Ok, we have all been waiting for it. The date of the first meeting of the new Tampa Florida Chapter of the GPAA is July 22nd. Meeting time is 9 in the morning, at Veterans Memorial Park, 3602 Highway 301, Tampa, FL, 33619. Refreshments will be served. We also will be having a few give aways for the First meeting of the new Central Florida chapter. If anyone has any questions contact me at DiggersFlGOLDScouts@tampabay.rr.com. Or you can contact me here and I will help you connect with David. I am excited about this.

Woody suggested that we have chapter or Florida GPAA pins made for exchange. Pat Rose knew of a place that makes them.

Eddie thanked Woody for always volunteering by bringing beverages, the flag and the banner…and buckets. Thank you, Woody!

Raffle tickets for the gold concentrates were sold, and then won by Claudette Fox.

The next meeting is August 12, the week after the “dig”.

PLEASE NOTIFY STEVE IMMEDIATELY IF YOU PLAN ON ATTENDING OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. While drinking water will be available at the work sites, you are responsible for your own. beverages at meals and in between! Morning crew cleanup will begin right after lunch break and the gold spilt will again be at Sunday breakfast. Remember your $$$$$$$.

After our meeting Saturday, Eddie, Woody and Debbie were sitting at a picnic table near the parking lot, when Debbie was suddenly bitten…but not by Woody or Eddie. Debbie was stung by a Florida Puss Caterpillar and received instant burning pain. Woody killed the creature at the time, and Deb and said they were falling from the trees in Loud Mine, GA also. This is a picture of what it looks like, and they like to jump from trees at least in the spring and fall, but sometimes…. After researching it, and looking at Deb’s blistered hand, these critters leave poisonous barbs in your skin. Ice, baking soda, white vinegar can all be used, but you must get the barbs out. U of F suggests tape over the sting, and to replace often to remove the barbs. Deb wants all of you to be on the look out for these because she does not want anybody to go through what she did. It took 16 hours for Deb to feel better. Another hint?... If you go to a clinic or E.R…try to take the critter with you…otherwise they just think you are looking for pain meds. So happy you are feeling better, Deb!

Florida Puss Caterpillar

And now, three handy products for the dig, or backyard adventures in cleaning gold:

1. Jet Dry…yes, the stuff you put in the dishwasher. Breaks down the viscosity of the water and dry your gold.

2. Ocean Potion Aloe Lotion…made with Aloe, Tea tree oil, and cocoa butter, right here in Florida. Smells wonderful, non-greasy. Helps heal sunburn, chapped skin, etc.

3. Chiggerex…miracle salve introduced to me by Kinney’s. If ever you feel your fore arms itchy, especially after leaning on a picnic table, apply this. This smells like nutmeg and is availabe at Walmart by the bandaids.

Current Issue

August 2017 Newsletter Editor Janice Bosscher, Secretary of Orlando Chapter of G.P.A.A.

August 12 Meeting Notes:

In absence of President Chris Maggio, Dick Codding, our Treasurer called the meeting to order at 10:05 am. Our meeting started on a somber note because of word we received a few days earlier that our Vice President and Prospector Extraordinaire Eddie Carter passed away. Eddie had attended the August dig at Lucky Strike and had been scheduled for foot surgery. The family requested that in Lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to Dogs for Veterans program. A motion was made and seconded that our chapter send $100.00 in Eddie Carter’s name. The vote was unanimous passed to do so.

While we mourn Eddie, we rejoice with the Foxes in an “all clear” from cancer. Les P. is recovering from knee surgery. Dan H. is interested in a ride to our next dig.

I thanked everyone for their support in trying to keep communications open in our club. I receive some very kind and encouraging emails from our members.

Bob Gaebler, our Webmaster is renewing and updating our web site. A motion was made and seconded that we fund the monies needed for this project. Again, everyone agreed to this.

Steve Mathes, our Event Chair gave a report of our August dig at Lucky Strike.

Apparently the gold was very fine, like flour gold, but attendees had a good time. This moved into discussion for the purposed dig the weekend of October 20 and 21 at Lucky Strike, with $100 proposed fee to rent the wash plant. Many of the members who were on the August dig suggested that the wash plant would blow away the four gold up there. A motion was made, seconded and passed that we not rent the wash plant. About six people were interested in attending, but people were interested in the GPAA Gold Show in Concord, N.C. the following weekend.

While we were discussing this, Cathie Carter and her sister Susie walked up. Cathie presented a sluice that Eddie recently won to our club. We all took some time to talk with, and hug on Cathie and Susie. After a few minutes, we gathered in a circle around the flag for a moment of silence in memory of Eddie. The moment of silence was concluded by singing “Taps”.

Christmas Party should be December 9, probably at Warren Park, but that has to be confirmed, as well as the October dig.

Deb C. presented a few options to our digs. One was to try Loud Mine again…in fact gold concentrates can be purchased at Grissom mines as well as areas around Loud. She also presented the idea of going to the Fort Drum Crystal Mine (near Okeechobee) and for $6000 going through the tailings. Deb was thanked for her research.

Claudette won the raffle.

The nest meeting will be a potluck on September 9.The meeting was adjourned at 11:13am.

However, on September 5, after consulting with President Chris Maggio, I sent the following email out:

IMPORTANT Orlando GPAA Chapter

We have received word that a lady named Irma has intentions of crashing our meeting Saturday. At the very least, she will be doing a fast and furious rain dance with her windy skirts. We believe in safety first and want to avoid becoming her dance partner. Therefore, we ask that you avoid Warren Park on Saturday.

Please stay safe, we will be in touch soon.

God Bless,

Janice Bosscher, Orlando GPAA Secretary

Calendar for the remaining of 2017:

Regular meeting
Dig?
Gold Show
Regular meeting
Christmas Party

October 14
October 20-22?
October 28. 29
November 11
December 9

Warren Park
Lucky Strike?
Concord, N.C.
Warren Park
Warren Park?

Given that there are only two months to our December meeting, and that is the meeting where we elect our officers……please give thought to running for an office. If you nominate someone, please talk to them, or at least warn them that you are doing so! All offices are open for bids!

In Memory of Eddie Carter

TAPS

Day is done,
Gone the sun,
From the hills,
From the dales,
From the sky!
All is well,
Safely rest.
God is nigh.