Field Trip

On our way back from Minnesota we stopped in McPherson, KS for their Gem & Mineral Show, May 5-7, 2000. We wore our vests and Maggie wore her bandanna. We were greeted with open arms. Met a lot of nice people. The show was held in the 4H building at the fairgrounds. They have large showcases built into the walls. Camping was free at the fairgrounds in a nice grassy area. There were about 6 vendors in the building and seven or eight more in the parking lot. They had a lot of rough at reasonable prices. We had a wonderful time and plan to go again next year. -Dee & Frank Whitney

The bluebonnets of Texas were still in bloom when four Chaparral Rockhounds - Howie and I, Carol Syska, and Pauline Whisenhunt - traveled to the Fort Worth/SCFMS Gem & Mineral Show, May 5-7, 2000. We enjoyed seeing many fami-liar faces. There were 56 educational exhibits, 5 of which were competitive. Howie received a red ribbon on his exhibit. He also judged a jewelry exhibit. I set up a non-competitive exhibit of doublets. An added attraction was a big cat show in the adjacent building - it was the cat's meow! -Doris Whiting

Five RV's left Roswell,Friday, May 26, 2000, headed for the Lubbock G & MS Show. Everyone carried exhibits for the show. The rockhounds were Whitings, Pauline and I, Whitneys, Crockers, and Yonis And Yonie. Yonis and Yonie fell behind with engine overheating problems. At the DQ in Plains we were met by the Gays. As we continued on our way, Jean realized that she had left her purse in the DQ. Arriving in Lubbock, she called and learned that DQ had it and would hold it until Monday. My CB quit working, so Pauline and I missed out on all the good gossip on the way over. We were set up in camp and had all the exhibits in place before Yonis and Yonie arrived, late, but in time for the good meal by Fins & Hens.

Saturday morning all but the Whitings left camp early for scouting the many garage sales for all those items "we just couldn't live without"! Most of us found something. We even visited a. Chinese food store which carried items unknown to most of us. Interesting. Some returned directly to the show and others stopped at McDonald's for D & R.

On return to my RV, I had to call a locksmith because I had left my keys inside. Although service was promised within 30 minutes, nothing happened for over an hour. Another call revealled that my call had been routed to Midland. The locksmith then arrived in less than 15 minutes.

Saturday evening many of us went to dinner at the Olive Garden after enjoying a terrific happy hour of fun and fellowship in Whitings' trailer. Some members of the Lubbock club joined us along with Perky and Marian Perkins and Clem and Sally Hamilton. Sally's brother, Bill, and Yonis' sister also joined us. The evenings were pleasant enough that we all sat outside in the grassy area and had great fellowship.

Sunday morning we all enjoyed coffee and doughnuts during a great Rollin' Rock Club meeting. The auction took in over $300. Keith Harmon of Tyler, TX got the high bid on Reggie--He will take him to the show in Arlington soon for resale.

There were 115 exhibits, 14 dealers, a silent auction, and a great carving demo by Morgan Norris, brother of RW Norris from Hobbs. Three awards were given out for the great exhibits: one for the most interesting by a club member; one for the most interesting from out-of-town(Guess who won this one! That's right - our own club "food" case which was set up by Doris Whiting!); and the third to the entire Plainview Club for their 24 great exhibits, all in their new, identical cases.

There were exhibits from Midland, Big Springs, Roswell, Plainview, Abilene and Lubbock.

Hopefully, this gives you an Idea of the fun and great fellowship to be had on such trips, as well as the great things to be seen and the education it is possible to receive by studying all the exhibits and all the dealers' wares.(Not to mention picking the brains of fellow rockhounds. -Ed) The Lubbock show is one of the greatest!! -Carol Syska