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INTRODUCTION

• Preserve and spread knowledge of gold prospecting, history, methods and opportunities among interested parties.
• Promote a family-oriented organization.
• Help educate the public on proper recreational prospecting methods and to have members that are good stewards of the lands and streams.
• Promote recreational prospecting to youth by providing educational programs and materials that foster an awareness of and appreciation for Virginia’s gold prospecting history.
• Work with local, state and federal governments on better recreational prospecting laws and regulations.
• Promote safety for persons and property in connection with gold prospecting.

INFORMATION ABOUT VA-EGPA:

• OFFICERS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

  Bob Stowe, President
  Telephone 540-948-6689
  Email BobandSandy@gct21.net

  Dale Wilson, Vice President
  Telephone 434-665-8969
  Email Dale677@cs.com

  Sandy Stowe, Secretary-Treasurer
  Telephone 540-948-6689
  Email BobandSandy@gct21.net

• DUES

  VA-EGPA organization requires no dues to receive meeting newsletters and announcements. To be a VOTING member, there is a $10 single or $15 family yearly membership fee, along with the requirement to attend at least 1 meeting during the past 12 month period. We raise money by holding raffles, 50/25-25 chances, selling or auctioning donated prospecting items, receiving donations (of either time or money), etc. Your support of any of these fund raising activities (or contribution of your talents or resources) would not only be appreciated by all of the members but ultimately will benefit all members in reaching our common goals for this club.

• ALL ARE WELCOME!

  Please feel free to bring along to the meetings any prospecting buddies of yours, family members especially your children or friends that want to find out more about prospecting. VA-EGPA meetings are open to ALL those interested in prospecting !

• SUGGESTIONS AND QUESTIONS

  Please remember, your suggestions, thoughts, ideas, information for the club meetings, monthly newsl.etters, etc. are ALWAYS welcome. We do not ever want to forget that the main goals of the VA-EGPA are to not only promote the hobby/recreation of Gold Prospecting but to also make it more enjoyable and rewarding for those already involved. Even if you think that whatever you have to contribute is unimportant, believe me, if it has anything to do with prospecting, you can count on the others being interested in what you have to say! You can email your club related suggestions and questions to the VA-EGPA Secretary. Please send your gold mining questions to the VA-EGPA President.

• PROSPECTING IN VIRGINIA

  Please keep in mind that with a few exceptions, most gold bearing areas in Virginia are located on Private Property ! We do not want to create a bad image of recreational prospectors in Virginia not to mention the fact of having to face a judge for Trespassing charges ! ALWAYS get permission from the property owner BEFORE starting your prospecting activities on private property ! Also, if you have a place that you have permission to prospect on, PLEASE show your appreciation to the property owner by not "trashing" his place. Remember, if you bring it in (bottles, soda cans, paper bags, etc.) take it out. Leave the property in the same if not better condition than when you first came there. Then, for sure, you'll be welcome to come back.

• HOW TO JOIN VA-EGPA:

  There is no fee to join VA-EGPA and get the meeting announcements. Please send the following information to the VA-EGPA Secretary:
  

  • Name
    
  • Snail mail address
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  Here is a printable VA-EGPA membership application if you want to snail mail your membership information.

• MEETINGS AND NEWSLETTER:

  VA-EGPA meetings are held on the 4th Saturday of each month, except for December when there is no meeting.

  Click on the date to read that Newsletter:

  • July 26, 2008, Saturday 10 AM at the Buckingham County Park picnic shelter—details and directions are given at start of Report.
  • June 28, 2008, Saturday 10 AM at the EGPA property—details and directions are given at end of Report.
  • May 19, 2008: Saturday 9 AM at the Lovin Gold Mining Supplies Store, 1082 Main St. (Rt 15), downtown Dillwyn. This date was a change in our regular date.
  • April 26, 2008: Saturday 10 AM at the Lovin Gold Mining Supplies Store, 1082 Main St (Rt 15), downtown Dillwyn.

• SOME VA GOLD LINKS:

  • Virgina Chapter of Eastern Gold Prospectors Association home page.
  • Gold Mining in Virginia from the The History of Gold by A.B.J. Hammett, Chapter VIII, 1966.
  • Gold in Virginia Virginia Division of Mineral Resources (DMR), Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.
  • Roadside Geology of Virginia (Roadside Geology Series) by Keith Frye, David Alt (Editor), Donald W. Hyndman (Editor) (1986)
  • Gold in Virginia by Palmer C. Sweet, 1980, 77 pages, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, Publication 19, $5.50, P.O. Box 3667 Charlottesville, VA 22903, Telephone : (804) 951-6340 FAX : (804) 951-6365, Office Hours : 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Mon - Fri.
  • Maps And Publications Virginia Department of Mineral Resources.
  • Selected VA Gold Publications available from the VA DMR.
  • Fairfax Gold Fever by Walter A. Goetz, 1984, 35 pages, includes bibliography, available for $6.50 postpaid from Walter Goetz, 9107 Kirkdale Road, Bethesda, MD 20817, phone (301) 530-7462.
  • Prospecting for Gold Near Washington, DC. Detailed information on gold prospecting and gold mining in Virginia and Maryland, especially near Washington, DC.

• SOME OTHER GOLD LINKS:

  • Headquarters of Eastern Gold Prospectors Association home page.
  • New York Chapter of Eastern Gold Prospectors Association home page.
  • Pennsylvania Chapter of Eastern Gold Prospectors Association home page.
  • South Central Pennsylvania Chapter of Eastern Gold Prospectors Association home page.
  • Newsgroup: alt.mining.recreational. and its FAQ. (warning: newsgroups often contain pornography and spam)
  • Tom Ashworth's Prospector's Cache with great links and forums.
  • ICMJ The Premier Magazine for Miners and Prospectors.