We had our best general members meeting in years at Tucson in February, but I still feel like I did last year when New Year resolutions roll around:  I don't think either I or FM quite lived up to our potential.

Our regular projects are all still active.  We didn't provide significant financial support for worthwhile causes as we did in 2004, but we did offer moral backing for a good cause with our letter to the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences urging appropriate deaccession of their important collection.  Some say we may have had an impact; as far as I know the issue still hasn't been finally resolved.

The localities index project is more active than it was a few years ago, and some of our chapters have been very busy.  The annual joint symposium on the Saturday of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show has become a little shorter over the past few years, but there are some great speakers lined up to talk about Canada (see schedule in the newsletter, page 4).  I do know from past experience that our annual magazine and educational case awards are much appreciated by authors/displayers, and our own FM case at the Tucson show is good publicity.

On the other hand, attempts to "rejuvenate" FM without changing its essential character have not gone far.  Some good ideas turn out to be impractical.  Other proposals suffer from a problem common to many "volunteer" groups: nobody to follow through.

What can you do? First and foremost, please attend the annual meeting and social (see announcement) and give us some ideas.  More importantly, jump in and work on a project for a year or two.  Also at the meeting perhaps you can get ideas to take back to your chapters to boost their activities and membership.

Second, please vote and mail in the ballots in this newsletter for a minor change to our bylaws, giving us the flexibility to schedule our Tucson meetings as needed, and for FM Board members.  It is an inexpensive gesture in time and money to at least send in a ballot, page 7, and avoid having a shameful number of votes received.  Want more choice?  Volunteer to be on the board or to undertake some of our projects.

Third, attend the symposium at the Tucson show February 11th.  It only lasts a couple of hours, you can come and go as you like, and you will learn something interesting and useful.  The schedule appears in the newsletter, page 4, and TGMS will post the location (room) at the show.

Fourth, if you display at the show, please consider an educational aspect to your case.  It makes the cases much more meaningful.  AND, make up a little token or sign to note you are a member of Friends of Mineralogy, citing the chapter if appropriate, for your case.  We are considering a standardized label/sign/thingamabob we could get made up for members who want them.

I look forward to seeing you at the meeting!

Bill Dameron, President - December 2005