CENTRAL VIRGINIA GOLD PROSPECTORS IMPORTANT: There will be no meeting in November. Our next meeting will be on December 9th, 10:00 AM at Small Country Campground, Louisa, Virginia. DIRECTIONS: From Richmond Area: Interstate 64 to exit 143 (Rt.208-North)...go 2.5 miles and turn LEFT at small sign onto 640 and go 150 yards and turn RIGHT at small sign on 649. Go 2 miles (bearing left on 649) into Small Country Campground. Campground entrance will be on the right. As you drive up the dirt road, pavilion is on right. From Harrisonburg Area: Route 33 East- go through Ruckersville, Barboursville and Gordonsville to Trevillians-at intersection of Routes 33 and 22 turn left onto Route 22 then take immediate RIGHT onto Rote 613 - go to Route 649 and turn LEFT - go 2 miles (bearing left on 649) into Small Country Campground. From Manassas Area: South on Route 29 to Route 15 South. Take 15 South through Orange to Gordonsville - turn LEFT onto Route 33 - take 33 to Trevillians - turn LEFT onto Route 22 and immediately turn RIGHT onto Route 613 - go to Route 649 and turn LEFT. Go 2 miles (bearing left on 649) into Small Country Campground. The January, February and March meetings will be held on the 3rd Saturday of each month. These meetings will also be at the Small Country Campground. ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````` REPORT ON OCTOBER 21. 2006 MEETING The October 21st meeting was called to order by the club president, Ben Vaughan—new members and guests were welcomed. The Treasurer’s and Secretary’s reports were given. Total membership numbers were also given—as many of you know, the club has grown dramatically in the last several years. REPORT ON GOLD SHOW IN LYNCHBURG: Ben reported on how pleased he was with the number of our members who volunteered to help with the set-up and take-down of the exhibits for the show and also the members who worked our booth. They did a great job signing-up new members and explaining the objectives of our club. He also thanked Jerry and Sandra Bond for the use of their rocker box. As a gesture of appreciation, a number of the volunteers all went out to dinner at the end of the show. We were also given some giveaways for participating and helping GPAA. Thanks to all the volunteers for their hard work.!! It helped make the event a success. Our newly painted trailer was taken to the show and made quite an impression. The club’s Vice President John did a great job with the design and getting it painted. ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` There are a number of festivals and events we are considering participating in next year. Please keep this in mind as it requires members to volunteer their assistance. We are also considering forming a committee to handle the details of these events. ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` BUCKINGHAM PROPERTIES: We are locked out of property no. 3. This is temporary and we are working on getting this straightened out. Remember that the season for hunting with dogs begins on November 17th and runs through the 1st Saturday in January. During this period we have SUNDAY ONLY access to properties 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. Properties 4 and 7 can be accessed at any time. Land Use Fees were discussed. The following was agreed upon by the members present at the meeting. Any member who has not fully paid the land fee will not be allowed to participate in next year’s land fee sign-up until this is settled by paying in full for this season. In other words, those not paying the full fee for this year cannot register for next year unless the full amount is paid for the back year and then the total amount will have to be paid up front for the next year (March 2007 through February 2008). A new procedure for the land fees was agreed upon and was immediately instituted.. The amount will be pro-rated depending on when you begin participating. The fee from now through February is $25.00. There was additional discussion about having to be present at a meeting to pay the land fee and sign the liability release form. It was finally decided that a prospective member can register for the land use fee procedure at other times than at a regularly scheduled meeting. The first rule for this is that the prospective member must be sponsored by a current member. This will entail the member vouching for the prospective member and being responsible for his conduct. The sponsoring member and the prospective member must register with one of the club officers. A list of Rules of Conduct is going to be drawn up for distribution to land fee participants. This is for the benefit of all participating members and it will be enforced. ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` YEAR ROUND MEETINGS: It was voted on and approved that we will have meetings all year—December 9, 2006, January 20, 2007, February 17, 2007 and March 17, 2007. Also, the September 2007 meeting date will be the 2nd Saturday rather than the 3rd Saturday because of our participating in several festivals. A finalized meeting schedule will be provided. We are hoping to have some programs and demonstrations at the winter meetings. At the December meeting there will be a panning demo and also a panning contest. ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` DREDGING PERMITS: There are approximately 18 individual dredging permits that have been issued. To date there has been no final word on the blanket permit for the club. If you would like to file an individual permit, let us know if you need help. Regarding the dredging issue, a letter has been sent to Virginia Representative Harvey Morgan about the enactment of legislation permitting recreational dredging. If this can be instituted, it would eliminate the need for individual permits. ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES: A report was given about the Junior Gold Prospecting Club that was formed in Greene County. Four of our members attended their first meeting. We also donated some equipment and supplies to them. ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ELECTION OF OFFICERS: The nomination and election process was held in accordance with our by-laws and GUESS WHAT—Ben Vaughan, John Schlabach, Bob Stowe and Sandy Stowe are still the officers by acclamation. President: Ben Vaughan (434)983-7062 Bevs23061@yahoo.com Vice President: John Schlabach (540)949-4741 Weas1000@aol.com Secretary: Sandy Stowe (540)948-6689 BobandSandy@gct21.net Treasurer: Bob Stowe (540)948-668 BobandSandy@gct21.net ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Last, but certainly not least, the drawing was held for the ounce nugget. The lucky winner was Jack Wyatt. Buddy Albert won the quarter ounce reef gold nugget for selling the most raffle tickets. ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` CLASSIFIED Pop-up camper for rent, able to place at any of leased properties-contact Robin Adair at (540)752-4354 email: robin.adair@prgrp.com or Ben Vaughan at (434)983- 7062 email: BEVS23061@yahoo.com. Concentrate--Bags of Buckingham concentrate for sale--guaranteed gold--$10 bag + shipping. Contact Ben Vaughan at (434)983-7062 or email: BEVS23061@yahoo.com. If you have an item pertaining to gold prospecting that you would like listed in our newsletter, let us know.