VIRGINIA CHAPTER of the EASTERN GOLD PROSPECTORS ASSOCIATION Report on May 17, 2008 Meeting The next meeting of VA-EGPA will be June 28th at 10:00 Location: EGPA property—details and directions are given at end of Report The May 17th meeting was called to order by Chapter President Bob Stowe. There were approximately 30 members and guests present. Bob began the meeting by thanking some of our members for their donations of nuggets and cash. The Secretary gave the report on the April meeting and then proceeded with the Treasurer’s report. She advised everyone that the paperwork to incorporate the Chapter is being completed and also a checking account is being established. The membership was also informed of the purchase of a digital recorder making it possible to transfer the entire proceedings of each meeting to a CD so there will be a permanent record of club business. The monthly Meeting Reports are only a basic outline of what happens at the meetings. The CDs will be available for any Chapter member to review. There was a discussion as to how many and who should be authorized to sign club checks and whether we should obtain credit/debit cards for use when conducting club business. There was a motion that all officers be able to sign checks and have credit/debit cards—this was seconded and approved. Bob then turned the meeting over to one of the By-Laws Committee members. Everyone was provided with a copy of the proposed By-Laws. The proposed By-Laws were then reviewed for comment and approval or disapproval of each section. There was extensive discussion with certain changes being approved by the members in attendance. The By-Laws incorporating the changes will be presented for final approval at the June meeting. When the final By-Laws are approved, each member will be provided a copy. Also any new members who subsequently join, will be given a copy of the By-Laws. The purchase of gold and what type of raffles the club will have was then brought up for discussion. It was decided that we would raffle 2 nuggets, 1 bag of concentrates and have a 50-25-25 drawing at each meeting. It was agreed that we would go ahead and purchase enough nuggets for the next 2 or 3 meetings, depending on the cost. It was also approved that the club would sell t-shirts and hats. We will need to design a logo for the club and proceed with getting shirts and hats printed. Be thinking about what you would like to see as the club logo and this will be discussed at the upcoming meeting. The club will not be selling prospecting equipment. We will also be asking for ideas on any fund-raising activities we could have—such as panning contests and having an entry fee, etc. The list giving the dates for upcoming meetings was passed out. Remember that except for there being no meeting in December, all meetings will be on the 4th Saturday of the month. There are enough people signed-up to pursue holding another Miner’s Safety Class. When a date and time for this is finalized, it will be announced. The raffle drawings for the gold nuggets and bag of concentrate were then held and the lucky winners were very pleased. The meeting was adjourned. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hope everyone has a happy and safe Memorial Day holiday. Remember the reason for the holiday. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SEE NEXT PAGE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT UPCOMING MEETING The next meeting of VA-EGPA will be June 28th beginning at 10AM. This meeting will be held at the EGPA property. After the meeting, for EGPA members there will be a common dig (Saturday and Sunday). Saturday evening there will be a dinner of hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken, etc. The common dig will be all day Saturday and ˝ day Sunday with the divide and draw being at 1PM on Sunday. For non-EGPA members, you can pay a $20 guest fee which includes both days of the common dig and dinner. If you plan on participating in the event, please let Ben or Kathy know at Ben@lovingold.com or call 877-615-3935. There will be an area for camping vehicles and a porta-john. DIRECTIONS: From Route 15—2 miles north of Dillwyn, turn on route 631, go for 3.5 miles and turn right onto route 682 and go for 1.2 miles—route 682 becomes 617. Watch for houses numbered 867 and 873, turn right in driveway and follow dirt drive to camp area. There will be signs from route 15 to camp area. From Route 20 take route 617 and go 1 mile—look for drive on left between house Nos. 873 and 867—follow to camp area. Signs will also be posted from route 20.