PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE December 2022
Greeting members,
We are now on the approach to the February 2023 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show for our general membership meeting, FM National Board meeting and the FM Mineral Symposium. All of which has required much planning by numerous people. We will also be announcing at the Board meeting the winners of the best article of the year for the Mineralogical Record, Rocks & Minerals, Mineral News and our newcomer journal Elements. Add to this the two educational display awards that FM makes at the Tucson Show and we are quite busy.
The chapters meanwhile are in various stages of re-emerging from Covid cautiousness. The Pennsylvania and Pacific Northwest chapters have both held symposium this year and Colorado may possibly have their first symposium after Covid in the Summer 2023. The New Mexico Mineral Symposium also held its in-person symposium this past November. Next year, the Rochester Mineral Symposium will also restart its in-person meeting.
The newsletter will also have the speaker schedule for the FM-MSA-TGMS mineral symposium, the time and place for the General Membership meeting and the FM National Board meeting, which once again will be a combination physical meeting with zoom attendees. Chapter president’s can either be their representative or appoint someone as to represent their chapter.
As is required, the National board needs to elect four at-large directors every year. It is from this pool of 12 at-large directors that the four executive positions must be filled according to the bylaws – These positions are President, Vice-president, Secretary, and Treasurer. The nominating committee has been active and we have one new candidate and 4 returning directors up for re-election. This year we have to replace the secretary and next year the President. Please vote, I would be thrilled to see 50% of our members vote by email or snail mail.. The results of the voting for the next four at-large directors will be announced at the board, as well as voting for executive officers.
With the field data or mineral collecting season over in many parts of North America, analysis, cleaning and display activities will play a stronger focus during the colder, indoor months. I have several analysis projects in the works focusing on rare-earth metamict minerals, and my ongoing Crystal Peak project. I wish you success on your projects and perhaps we will see your presentations.
Mark Ivan Jacobson