CENTRAL VIRGINIA GOLD PROSPECTORS Our next meeting will be on January 20, 2007 at 10:00 AM, 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. REPORT ON DECEMBER 9. 2006 MEETING The meeting was called to order by President Ben Vaughan— About 40 members and guests were in attendance and were welcomed by Ben. It was a little cool in the meeting room so things started to proceed rapidly. Ben announced that a gold nugget was being awarded as a door prize—this was great incentive for everyone to sign the attendance sheet. Ben introduced the officers to all the new people. The first item for discussion was that we are already looking for volunteers to help with the events we will be participating in next season, especially Field Days of the Past, which will be in September. Ben announced that we are now officially a 501©(3) corporation. If the club would ever dissolve, any club assets would have to be turned over to another non-profit organization of our choice. Of course, this is a highly unlikely happening but thought we would mention it. Our membership list has expanded to almost 500 members. We are growing and things are happening. The Treasurer’s Report and Secretary’s Report were given. Ben pointed out the display board of photographs that were taken at the first junior club gold prospecting meeting in Greene County. This is the type of activity we need to participate in to maintain our non-profit status. If you have any suggestions for educational activities we might do, let us know. Next, we discussed sponsorship of a prospective new member who can’t attend one of our regular meetings: In addition to paying the land fee and registering with one of the club officers, the new member must agree to participate in several workdays. These workdays will be announced and include such things as collecting litter, marking boundaries, helping at festivals, etc. We need to show that we are actually concerned about the environment and conservation. Such things as retrieving mercury, lead and litter from the waterways are good examples of this. We discussed requiring members to contribute one day (1) of assistance to the club for different projects. This would be for members who participate in the leased land project. This idea was tabled for the time being—and will be fully discussed at the January and February meetings and a final decision will be made at the March meeting. A discussion was conducted on what the members think about the leased properties 2 through 7. We need your input so we can decide whether to renew the leases on any or all of these properties. We are going to have forms available to be completed by members about each of the separate properties. (You won’t have to tell us if you find the big one or exactly where). No. 1 property—at big oak tree look for sign about not driving on that road, foot traffic only during wet weather. We are always looking for new properties so if you know of anything, let us know. Also please remember that if you are on any of the properties where prospecting is permitted during hunting season, wear your BLAZE ORANGE. Remember to strictly adhere to the property boundaries for the leased properties. All of this is outlined in the Guide that was given to the land fee participants. Ben showed a project Jack Wyatt is working on for use at the festivals. It is a demonstration of a flowing stream and how the gold flows in the stream. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DREDGING: We withdrew our blanket permit from VMRC. The problem is the liability the club encounters if any member doesn’t follow the rules. There is a $25,000.00 fine associated with that. Instead, we have presented a proposed amendment to the Virginia State Legialators to allow for recreational dredging using up to a 4” dredge. There is a POSSIBILITY of this happening early in 2007. This would eliminate the need for individual permits for anything less than 4 inches. At the January 20th meeting, we will have a discussion on “Creek Ettiquette” and also using a classifier and sluice box. At the March meeting we will have a discussion of what we can and cannot do at the properties and a complete review of the membership requirements, etc. The meeting was then adjourned, the raffle drawings were held. Also the door prize gold nugget ticket was drawn. Wanda Seay was the lucky winner of that nice nugget. We will be doing another nugget as a door prize at the January meeting. We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !! Hope to see you on January 20th at the first meeting of the new year 2007.