Program Review:

At our December 11, 2006 meeting we got to enjoy each others' company, as we dined, talked, and bid on auction items many members brought in for sale.

There was lasagna, snacks, desserts, and beverges upon which to feast.   Smorgasbord is a better word.

We set up seven tables of flats of minerals, fossils, jewelry, and lapidary work--and most everything went fast.  Karissa presided with a new tack on auctioneering.  She announced that one table at a time would shut down to bidding--but she would not divulge which one.  This kept bidding active and intense--better than eBay, in my opinion.

We shared stories, and caught up on each others' hobby interests over the past month, recounting field trip finds, lapidary and jewelry projects, and the like.

Tim Hearns brought in some cool dino footprints he had collected in New Mexico.  You can guess that several of our fellow fossil enthusiasts snapped them up fast.

Karissa brought in some cabs she made.  Arthur's girlfriend, April, sent in some earrings she had crafted, while Arthur sold all of his mineral specimens.   Tim and I both got stupendous Fluorite crystals from Arthur.  We hope to be seeing more from Arthur, as he intends to devote some time to developing his dealer ambitions.

Experienced dealers, Eric Meier, Gene Hartstein, and Alex Kane brought in a good range of materials for the venue.  Wayne Urion's offerings were snapped up, as well.

Many other members participated as sellers, too.

From my eye, everyone seemed to be jolly, and had a good time.  The successful bid winners went  home with handfuls of beautiful specimens for their collections.

Clean up went fast with many hands at work.

Happy Holidays, Everyone.

See you in January,

--Ken :-)

Our Silent Auction
	Eric's table has fossils & minerals		Bob Todd settles up with the Sbriglias
	Arthur and Tom discuss a specimen		Sophie peruses Tim's Dino prints
	The bidding continues...		Two tables lit up for bidding
	More goodies up for bid		Carl and Alex in friendly discussion
	More partying		Arthur's table
	Karissa's Table Note the Green & Orange Hedenbergite, which is December's Mineral-of-the-Month
			Wayne examines one of Arthur's Fluorite crystals
	Super-macro shot for Tracy (I did this to demonstrate my camera) What mineral is this? Why it's 'Wheatthinite', of course		Members "milling around" and bidding