Pacific NW Friends of Mineralogy 35th annual Symposium

"Minerals of Africa" is the theme of the 35th Annual Pacific Northwest chapter of Friends of Mineralogy Symposium to be held at the Red Lion Inn at Kelso, WA on Oct 16-18, 2009. Kelso is about 40 miles north of Portland, OR. on I-5. I'm told reservations are a little ahead of last year at this same time.

Some of the speakers include Rock Currier, John Schneider, Geroge Gerhold, and Steve Ouderkirk. There will be four "main floor" dealers and a host of satellite dealers in rooms just down the hall.

See the brochure at [www.pnwfm.org]

Hope to see some of you there.

Will see you all there Ed.

Linda Smith
Rock Mama and Boogie Boarding Grandma

Starts this Friday!!!!

I've just hijacked Bart's computer while waiting for the Seattle traffic to clear and for Bart to make a thin section. I'll be in Kelso in a few hours and Bart is threatening to come down tonight. See you all soon.
Rob Woodside

Hi Everyone,

I attended the Symposium this last weekend and must say, I really had a great time. The people, the presentations and the displays, all were 100% top-notch! The displays especially so this year, my goodness were there some unbelievable things shown by the gang! Awesome and unfortunately, un-documented, at least by me. I very much hope that someone out there took some photos!

I imagine others will chime in to share their experiences, but for me, I had a great time!

I did stop for some collecting, unfortunately, while I did mange a pocket, it was so scrappy that I left it in the quarry for others to find. Darn! Still, it was really great to get out!

All the very best,

John

In spite of the Seattle traffic, the displays, talks and dealers all had good material. Thanks very much to all who organised this. That was a lot of hard work and the result was greatly appreciated. As with all good shows it is a great pleasure to see old friends and to meet new ones. By Sunday I was surprised to find that this might be the first time that I didn't buy any rocks!!! Then I found a couple of impressive Vietnamese Humites for $25. Now I have to figure out if they really are. The humite group are sods to sort out, but that's the fun!!!

Ditto on what Rob said!! The symposium was great as usual as were the speakers. Unlike Rob, I bought rocks--it was my better than the "shopping mall" experience! It was nice to see familiar faces and to also meet new ones.

Linda Smith
Rock Mama and Boogie Boarding Grandma

Ditto for me too.
A great show and lots of good times late at night talking with friends.
Sorry didn't get a lot of time to speak with you there, Linda...maybe at UBC?