West Seattle Rock Club: Junior Award 2009

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West Seattle Rock Club - Junior Achievement Award 2009

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARD--2009
from Gary Buhr with a Point!
NFMS JUNIOR ROCKHOUNDS

July 2009

Holy Heat Wave Batman, we had the thermometer hit 93 degrees in Marysville by the the bay in May, very rare for that coastal community. When on those hot Field Trips drink plenty water to rehydrate after all the sweat of digging new treasures. If your schedule allows flexible digging times, you can beat the heat by working early in the day or later in the evening during all our daylight this time of year.

This will keep your cardio-vascular system happier by doing less cooling during high heat periods of the day. Sometimes when discovering treasures, Rockhounds hardly notice the heat because "crystal-fever" does seem to equalize the temperatures. Be safe and have fun finding your next "keeper". Proud to announce that there are two 2009 NFMS Junior Achievement Award Winners that will be honored at the Annual Banquet during the 2009 NFMS Annual Show and Convention in Billings, Montana this July 30, 31, August 1 and 2. A special Showtime because this Big Event will include the Annual AFMS Show as well. The two special Junior Winners are ALEX MILLER age 10 from West Seattle Rock Club and ALEXANDER CARRINGTON from Everett Rock and Gem Club. These two stars will also be highlighted in an upcoming edition of the Northwest Newsletter and your NFMS Website Juniors Page.

West Seattle Rock Club had their 43rd Annual Show called the "President's Gemboree" in May this year, which brought out many passionate participants of all ages. Besides hosting an active KIDS CORNER, many Junior Rockhounds placed neat displays of their treasures into the Show and delighted the public visitors.

Alex Miller age 10

Miles Durnwirth age 9

First photo is ALEX MILLER age 10 who has been in the West Seattle Rock Club for three years. ALEX displayed a case titled "Minerals and Optics" to show/demonstrate how light goes through minerals and what colors are formed. The specimens he utilized are quartz, jade, amethyst, calcite, copal, fluorite, labradorite, carnelian & moss agates, pyrite, petrified wood, satin spar, stibnite, tiger's eye, ulexite and bismuth. ALEX included sugar and salt that he referred to as "imposters". Why do you think he placed those two refined essences in his display? Stuck? Ask him!

The other pic is MILES DURNWIRTH age 9 and a member of the West Seattle Rock Club for two years. MILES displayed a case titled "State Rocks" from all over America. He has managed to collect 30 rocks from 30 states out of 50 in the USA. Although MILES has not visited each of the states to collect yet, he definitely plans to in the future. The Washington State Rock is Petrified Wood; his aunt has a ranch near Ginkgo Forest on the Columbia River where MILES self-collected his show specimen of petrified wood. His aunt's grandfather pulled out the petrified wood logs for the famed Ginkgo Museum near Vantage.

Junior Rockhounds who also placed displays, but missed the photographer included "ALEX" ALEXANDREA WALL age 15 who is also forever honored as the 2004 NFMS First Place Junior Achievement Award Winner! Her display was titled "Jewelry" and contained many kinds of lapidary arts, gemstones and her published article titled "Cabbing with Lyle" (Vogelpohl). You can imagine the detailed content of her well-organized 14 Step Process of making beautiful cabochons for necklaces that was listed in the fine display by ALEX WALL. MERLIN TOSH age 13 displayed a full case titled "Wire Wrapping" with lots of nice finished items like a gem tree, earrings, cabochon necklaces, even the wire on spools and the pliers for twisting. Gems used in his wire wrapped jewelry included Mexican lace agate, goldstone, white opal, jasper, amethyst, tiger's eye, agates, obsidian, amber, rose quartz, onyx and jet. All four Junior displays received a Blue Ribbon in the West Seattle Rock Club Junior Competition. It is almost AFMS/NFMS Showtime, is the Big Event on your calendar? PLEASE make a donation for our 2009 KIDS CORNER in Billings, we need polished stones, crystals, or whatever you can donate; Thank You Kindly for your consideration.