November 2008 newsletter

THE SHOW IS OVER!! Can you believe it, this past October meeting brought the last of getting to view the displays and feasting our eyes on all the awesome finds our members unearth each month. Yes, sad to say, the Show & tell is over for 2008. Congratulations to all the monthly prize winners throughout the past seven months that shared your finds with everyone. The Show & Tell and Coin shooter contests are a great addition to our club’s list of activities and I am sure offers much incentive to get out and swing that coil, to many of us whenever we can. Our method of judging the displays each month using volunteers not having displays has always seemed to work out pretty well. Occasionally, suggestions have been made as to other possible ways to select judges, but most either would make judging a mandatory obligation requiring everyone to take a turn or possibly put a burden on a select few members. Both of these ideas, would either require people to judge that have displays or exclude members from actually having displays Allowing all members present to vote via secret ballots would probably take up a considerable amount of time, both in voting and counting ballots. So, the voluntary method we have used for years seems to work the best. Granted, sometimes finding volunteers on occasion seems a bit hard but then other times it is quite easy. Judging is fun and most are glad to have given it a try. Thanks to Paula LaStrapes and Bob Brown for volunteering this past month, great job!

Congratulations to our Treasure Hunter of the Year, Joe Novosat and runners up, Red Craft and Dan Bollinger. Joe Novosat also was Coin shooter of the year with Clair Klingensmith coming in second. Way to go guys, great job to each of you and all our members that participated. Reminder: At the November meeting is the Find of the Year contest and all members are eligible. Just bring in your two best finds since the Oct. 2007 meeting thru this past Oct. 2008 meeting. Whatever you bring, if values are attached, they must be authenticated by a reputable source in writing. Judging will be done by secret ballot of all members present. This has always been a fun contest. Also, details and decisions will be made at this meeting for our upcoming Christmas Party in Dec. 2009 dues are being accepted and of course, and the Gold Coin Drawing is also a December meeting event we all look forward to. If you are not sure if you are eligible, check with Terry as anyone can be depending on the ticket drawing totals. I am pleased to say we will once again have four Gold Coins in the drawing along with 2008 Silver Eagles going to the runners up. Thanks to Larry Leathers for the great deal he made and allowing us once again to have four Gold Coins in the drawing.

Well, Fall is upon us with Winter just around the corner. This is a great time of year to go detecting. Use caution when hunting in wooded areas as the hunters are out there. Bright reflective clothing is a great idea. Day Glo orange is the best and most department stores have vests available that are very reasonable in price. Good luck, good health and swing that coil often.

OPENING

Jack Barrett called the meeting to order at 7:10 P.M., followed by the pledge to the flag and a moment of silence for the troops.

GREETING

30 members and guests

MINUTES

Jim Hindman read the September meeting minutes. Motion to accept was made by Red Craft, seconded by Vic Kamer.

STRIP TICKET

WINNER

Terry Taylor #332

HUNTS

For 2009, Treasure Week will be held in New Stanton, PA at the Fox Den Camp Ground. It will be held the second week of July. More information to follow.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Balance as of October 16, 2008 was $818.27.

Payments: $14.43 to Harry Niemeyer for Newsletter.

Purchase 4 gold coins for $216.00. Motion to accept was made by Henry Theil, seconded by Donna Theil.

Motion to purchase 6 silver halves & 10 silver dollars was made by Joe Guerre, seconded by Henry Theil.

FMDAC NEWS

Next hunt will be in Kansas City.

RAFFLE TICKETS

Thanks to Kathleen Bollinger for selling the 50/50 tickets.

$57 donated for the 50/50 raffle--winner--Rich Potochny.

Vic's Silver Drawing--$43 donated--winner--Russell Patz.

DISPLAYS

Judges: Paula LaStrapes & Bob Brown

BEST DISPLAY--Dan Bollinger--Renovo PA, class ring, 3 silver coins, a silver charm.

BEST COIN--Joe Novastat--1899 half dollar.

BEST JEWELRY--Vic Kamer--14kt ring

BEST ARTIFACT--Red Craft--German Badge

OLDEST COIN--Jim Hindman--1846 large cent

MOST SILVER--Henry Thiel--5 silver coins

CONSOLATION WINNER--Larry Leathers

Treasure Hunter of the Year--Joe Novastat-140 pts.

Second-Red Craft-135 pts., Third-Dan Bollinger-125 pts.

Coin Shooter of the Year-Joe Novastat-3,553 coins

Second-Clair Klingensmith-1920 coins, Third-Larry Leathers-1371 coins.

Congratulations to all Our Winners!

MOTION TO ADJOURN

Bob Brown made the motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Harry VanRipper..

After a vote at Whispering Hills Campground this July by the hunters and their families Treasure Week 2009 will be held Fox Den Acres Campground in New Staunton, PA July 11^th thru the 19^th.

The Treasure Week committee met several times and researched sites to move the long standing event due to the price rises facing the hunters at Whispering Hills.

Fox Den Acres has given the group special rates and most of the hunters will be grouped in the same area of the campground. The FMDAC will again be sponsoring a day. For more info, they can contact Jill & Carl McFeeders. Flyers will be going out soon.

I have added a new page to the FMDAC Site. It is a Google Map that shows all FMDAC Member Clubs. This map will allow you to zoom in on a specific area by double clicking in that area. You can also click on each clubs push pin to get specific information on that club. I built this webpage based on the information that I have. If for some reason there is a club missing or the information is not correct please let me know. If a club has an email address or webpage they would like listed please email that information to me.

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter Hunt was held on October 26th in Lancaster, PA. There were 53 people who attended. There was $1400 worth of clad halves and a little over $2200 in silver dimes and 40% half dollars. There were tokens for $500 worth of prizes, which was donated by the Chapter. There were two hunts and in the second hunt, which was the main hunt, they were still hunting a half an hour after it began. It was a beautiful, sunny day and many people commented that they liked digging all the targets, kind of like the old days. Several Butler club members were in attendance.

Please go to the website and check out the new forum. Why not make a post, tell us about yourself and your experiences metal detecting.

11-12-2008

Boobie seems to be doing great, I hope to get there to visit him after he gets settled in. Last night he was in good spirits, you would have never known he had this ordeal ahead of him.
Red Craft & I went over to see him and we spent a couple hours visiting, drinking coffee, eating the cake that Carolyn set out for us and planning our detecting trips for the springtime.
With prayers and our support I am sure Boobie is going to be ready to detect by springtime.
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Carolyn & Boobie were at the hospital 5:30 am and with all that waiting and worrying Carolyn took the time to go out to the parking lot to sit in her car to call me.
That’s how special of a lady she is.

Boobie’s operation was finished an hour ago. She has not seen him yet as he has another hour or so in recovery and than we will know more.
The operation was about 4 1/2 hours long. The Doc’s said it went very well. They put in two rods, a bunch of pins and did some other things. He has a lot of arthritis in his back which will cause some pain but that leg pain will be gone. That’s about all his wife could tell me at this time.

Sunday while I was on the way to Ohio I called Boobies wife to check on him

She was getting ready to go to the hospital. She said Boobie was in Physical Therapy at that time and when he gets done she will be bringing him home. He is up and using a walker. I asked when I could come over and see him or call him (I live @ 15 - 20 minutes away). She asked if I would wait about 2 or 3 days until he gets settled in and gets some much needed sleep.

It seems he was having a tough time sleeping on the hospital bed. So I will not try to reach him until Wednesday unless he calls me first.

Anyway she does say he is improving daily and he is up and using a walker.

He still will have to spend a lot of time in bed; I suspect that the walker is for special short usage times only.

I received a message on my answering machine from Boobie. he is home and doing pretty good but he feels exhausted and tired. He says he will not be on the phone or the PC for several days. I will call him around Wednesday and get an update for the meeting.

A special thanks to Pete Bennett for helping me with the website while Boobie is recovering.

Petee is heading for sunny Florida this Sunday . We wish him a safe journey and many treasurers.

Things that work out for the best
People that make my life soar
Events that make me smile
These are the things I am thankful for

Colors of the leaves on the trees
Clouds and a clear blue sky
Birds that sing in the morning
And a love that makes you sigh

Family and friends above all
Have always been there it seems
Through the good and bad times
They've helped me follow my dreams

You may ask, What am I thankful for?
The only answer I can give
I am thankful everyday
For the wonderful life I live

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