Archive for the ‘Newsletters’ Category
NUGGET NEWS FEBRUARY 2012
Posted by Kathe | Filed under Newsletters
Hey everyone,
I hope everyone had a good Holiday Season. Many members have said that the Christmas Party was again a huge success. I want to thank everyone whom helped out with the party; especially Anita and Joe Adams. I am told they came through with excellent meat and cheese trays again this year. I was unable to attend because I chose to take care of Buck in his final days and ‘thank you’ seems a small phrase for the appreciation I feel for those whom did my duties for me; but those words will have to do: Thank You so very much.
Many of you know that Buck died January 20, 2012. His family will be hosting a celebration of his life on February 19 at 12:00 noon and anyone who would like to attend is invited. The Service will be at the Mobile Home Estates club house; address is 5761 Old Redwood Hwy, Santa Rosa, Ca. I will have directions at the meeting if you need them. The plan is for a BBQ, and if you would like to bring a side dish it will be appreciated. Buck was a member of the Gold Diggers since its start; being a part of the club helped to keep him going. He loved you guys, he loved the friendships, and he loved that each of you were different. Your friendship brought him great joy, and a purpose in life after he got so sick.
I am told that there will be two outings to Bear River this year. Frank Madsen has again ‘let his fingers do the walking’ and endured the phone torture to secure the campground for us. The first outing will be on August 13 (Monday) through August 16 (Thursday). The second outing will be October 5th (Friday) through October 8th (Monday). I think James will be giving more information at the meetings.
Also, the meeting will be held in the North Room for the next few months. It’s still in the Veteran’s Building but in the smaller room. Times are still the same: 7:00 PM until around 9:00 PM.
Since I was unable to attend the December and January meetings, I have no more news, BUT I DO have jokes!!!!!!!
A private school was recently faced with a unique problem. A number of 12 year old girls had begun to use lipstick. This in itself was okay; the problem was that after they applied the lipstick they began ‘blotting’ their lips on the bathroom mirrors, leaving dozens of lip prints. Every night the maintenance people would remove the lip prints only to have the girls cover the surfaces again the next day. Finally the principal decided something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance people. She explained that the lipstick was causing major work for the custodians each night (you can imagine the bored yawns from the little princesses). So to get their attention the principal asked one of the maintenance people to demonstrate the work it took to clean the mirrors. The expressions of the girls changed from boredom to horror as the custodian took a long handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet several times, and scrubbed the mirror with it. Since then there have been no lip prints on the mirrors. There are teachers…….and there are educators!
See you at the meeting, February 15, 2012, North Room at the Sonoma County Veteran’s Bldg, 7:00 to 9:00 PM.
Kathe
SRGD Holiday Party
Posted by Kathe | Filed under EVENTS, Newsletters
Who is invited? All Santa Rosa Gold Diggers, past & present, their family and friends; anyone interested in ‘checking us out’.
When and where? Wednesday, December 21 at 7:00PM at the Sonoma County Veteran’s Memorial Bldg on Maple Avenue in Santa Rosa.
What’s happening? Dinner, a short meeting, show-and-tell and a big raffle.
What to wear? As always, what you want to wear.
What to bring? Besides yourself, bring something edible that you want to share, like a side dish, or a main dish; bring a salad, finger food, snack food. Bring MY personal favorite: DESSERT.
Does it have to be home-made? No! Many of us don’t have the time or the inclination to create something from our own kitchen; ‘store-bought’ is fine.
Does it cost anything to attend? Nope, just your choice to come and have a good time with good people. If you’re new to our meetings, you do not have to join the club. No pressure, but if you like us, you’re welcome to join us. Or check out a few more meetings before you decide.
Agenda: We’ll have dinner first, then a short meeting followed by show-and-tell. Then we’ll have the raffle.
There will be gifts on the tables for you.
You can go back to the buffet tables as many times as you like, but try to remember on your first time through that there are people behind you; try to leave some for the rest of us, but don’t go without.
Other “stuff’ FYI: Members often donate something to the raffle. If you have something you would like to donate, we give free raffle tickets for donations. We have had members donate homemade beverages, (as well as store-bought), works of art, unique handmade items, crystals, foods, camping and panning gear; make it something YOU would like to win and we’ll be happy.
I hope you, your family, and your friends are able to join us on December 21st at 7:00 PM. We’ll look for you.
Happy Holidays!
Kathe
November 2011 Nugget News
Posted by Kathe | Filed under Newsletters
It’s time again to remind you the monthly meeting will be this Wednesday, November 16th at 7 PM, Veteran’s Memorial Building, on Maple Avenue across from the Main Pavilion of the SoCo Fairgrounds.
AND, before I forget, I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving, and hope you have things for which you are truly thankful, especially in these hard times.
In the last newsletter I mentioned that I had been interviewed by a reporter from the Bohemian, a semi-local news paper. From what I have heard, he did a great job describing our club. I missed the edition, but have heard it was well written. James is supposed to bring a copy to the meeting, and I would ask anyone with a copy to please bring it to share with other members. By the way, the reporter’s name is Joe Rosen and he is very interesting, honest and intelligent.
The meeting last month was again full of interesting people and news. We had a good showing from the Gem & Mineral Show, and I again thank Randy, Charlie, and Lance for the effort they expended. I have heard from event planners and guests alike that our booth was one of the hi-lights of the show. Way to go, guys!
James Conrad and a few others went looking for new “outing” spots last month. James (and friends) will share the information at the upcoming meeting.
David Yoch reminded me that the Christmas Party is NEXT month! I will be either asking for, or appointing, ’volunteers’ to help put it together. And, Pick-Of-The-Litter has again donated a box of ‘goodies’ to put out as gifts from Santa. Many of our members frequent the thrift store, and it is their way of thanking us for the loyality.
October meeting minutes: We had several new people come to the meeting. James welcomed them and asked a little about each person. Cecil Perkins spoke about his visit to Roaring Camp and Murphy. Mike Clark spoke about the American River, El Toro Rd, and water levels. James Conrad spoke about Yankee Jim Rd, the water levels, and mosquitoes . Frank Maytus spoke about his claim, the North Fork of the Yuba, and how much gold he found in a little over 4 hours. Some of the members saw Laith when they went to Coloma; he joined them for a while and they had a good reunion. We discussed having an outing at the American River Campground. Next topic at the meeting was the success of the Gem & Mineral show; Randy talked about his experience as the “master-of-ceremonies’ along with Charlie Cockle. They seemed to have had fun teaching the spectators how to pan gold. Bill Lieberman spoke of getting a group together and having an outing near Coloma on the American since he has found gold there. James Conrad wants to have impromptu outings each month. By impromptu I mean the “hey, let’s all go to————– this month”. Not something that is planned months in advance but the ‘throw your gear in your car and let’s go’ type of outing. So if anyone has suggestions for places to go and or when to go, please talk about it at the meeting. Roger talked about the raffle, and upcoming special raffles. Ben still has t-shirts; if you want to special order anything you can talk with him about it. Our ‘resident technical engineer’ ( as we call him) Dan Hougan brought his machine and showed it at break. When we came back from the break, Frank Maytus and James Conrad brought up hi-banking, dredges, rules and regulations; the Fish and Game, water quality, booming, suction, the Big Catch-22′s, and hands and pans. We had the raffle after which Rose Klemenok read us a funny story. A BIG thanks to Rose! It’s nice to end the meetings with a smile and a chuckle. The meeting was adjourned.
Here’s hoping to see everyone at the November 16th meeting. Those of you who don’t come anymore really are missed. That means you too Joe! Please think about coming to the Christmas Party.
Jokes sent by members:
In light of the rising frequency of Human/Grizzly Bear conflicts, the Montana Dept of Fish & Game is advising hikers, hunters, and fisherman to take extra precautions and keep alert for bears while in the field. They advise that you wear noisy bells on your clothing so as to not startle bears . They also advise you to carry pepper spray with you in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. You should be able to recognize the difference between Black Bear and Grizzly Bear scat (poop). Black Bear scat is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur, while Grizzly scat is larger, has bells in it and smells like pepper spray. :):):):(
In this life I’m a woman, but in my next life I’d like to come back as a bear. When you’re a bear, you get to hibernate. You do NOTHING but sleep for six months. I could deal with that! Before you hibernate, you’re supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that, too! When you’re a girl bear, you birth your children (who are about the size of walnuts) while you are sleeping, and wake to partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs. I could DEFINITELY deal with that. If you’re a mama-bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them, too. I could deal with that! If you’re a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you have hairy legs and excess body fat. Yup, I’m gonna be a bear when I come back!!!!
Of all the blonde jokes, THIS one actually makes sense! A guy takes his blonde girlfriend to her first football game. They have great seats right behind the team’s bench. After the game, he asks her how she liked it. “Oh, I really liked it, especially the tight pants and all the big muscles. But I just couldn’t understand why they were killing each other over 25 cents!” Dumbfounded, her boyfriend asked, “What do you mean, 25 cents?” “Well, they flipped a coin, one team got it and then the rest of the game, all they kept screaming was….’Get the Quarterback! Get the Quarterback!’ I’m like ….’HELLOOOOOO? It’s only 25 cents!!!!!”
See you at the meeting!
Kathe
Nugget News September 2011
Posted by Kathe | Filed under Newsletters
It’s once again time to remind you of the coming meeting, and to briefly review the ’minutes’ from our August 2011 meeting. September’s meeting will be held in the Lodge Room of the Sonoma Co. Veteran’s Bldg on Wednesday Sept 21 at 7:00 pm. James Conrad (and Traci) will again be selling Hot Dogs, so come early, enjoy “dinner with friends”, and help solve world problems; all before the regular meeting.
Last month’s meeting was full of energy (for wont of a better word); we had more new people and a lot of group discussion and participation. Some of the topics were the upcoming Gem and Mineral Show in October, new camping sites to check out, sharing outing experiences, the Dredge Moratorium and ways around it, and the annual Bear River outing on the weekend after the meeting.
Roger discussed the future of the Raffle, and what to expect in the prize category; more silver and more useful equipment so you can find your own nuggets. Thanks to everyone for participating in the raffles. It’s a fun way to help keep the club a-float; donating with a chance to win prizes too. Speaking about the raffle, James Conrad put together some “kits” for use when hunting gold, so be sure to check them out. He’s quite inventive. They’ll be displayed with the other prizes.
Remember: bring a guest(guests) and receive a raffle ticket . That goes for bring refreshments too: bring food or drinks to share and receive a free ticket. Same thing for the raffle: donate something to the raffle and receive a ticket for your donation BUT….with the raffle, the prize must be something you yourself would like to win.
Frank Maytus gave information about Morris Flat and changes there. James Conrad spoke about high water and the dangers of flooding, possible camping spots and the difficulties in getting reservations. He again asked for suggestions for outings, and new spots to hold these outings. Randy Ricci talked about finding gold at Roaring Camp; Bill Lieberman and Norman Shriver talked about their finds at El Dorado; Danny and Stacy Laborin went to Bear River and Danny regaled us with his stories and that guy CAN tell a story.
Danny Laborin talked about the slippery moss growing on the rocks beneath the water’s surface and asked for suggestions to counter this hazard. Some of the suggestions given were carpet soles or diving shoes. My favorite was putting cotton thigh-hi’s over your shoes. Apparently the heavy cotton socks help grip the rocks while somewhat displacing the moss.
At this month’s meeting I will have the information concerning the Gem & Mineral Show, the free passes, and the schedules for those of you whom volunteered to help with our booth.
We will be having a ‘guest speaker’ at the meeting, and she’ll be sharing a different kind of information. Patty’s father collected what she calls “mining artifacts”. He died in August and she will be bringing photos and items for show and tell. Her father was a member of the Treasure Hunters in Santa Clara County and also a member of an evidence recovery team for law enforcement. Apparently he had at least three metal detectors (one has never been used) as well as ” a huge collection: mining hats, bird cages (for the birds used to detect poisonous gases), candle sticks, carbide lamps, and more mining artifacts”. Some of these items will be for sale so if you are interested in hearing about this man and his collecting career, or if you may want to make a purchase, be sure to come to the meeting! If you are unable to make the meeting but want more information about this man and his collections, let me know and I will pass the info to Patty.
See you at the meeting, Kathe
An 88 year old man named Charlie enjoyed living at the assisted-living home, especially after 84 year old Gertrude moved into the same building. After a few short months Charlie was deeply in love! After much hesitation, the day came for Charlie to make his move. In the crowded dining room, Charlie got down on his knees next to Gertrude’s table and said loudly ,”I have three things to ask you honey!” As the entire room became quiet, Gertrude smiled sweetly and said “Alright.” Charlie said, “First, will you marry me?” Gertrude excitedly said, “Yes!” Everyone in the room applauded and cheered. After several seconds, Gertrude prodded, “What were the other 2 questions, Charlie?” Charlie said, ” What was your name again? And will you help me get back up?”
The Smith’s were unable to conceive a child, so they decided to use a surrogate father to start their family. On the day the proxy father was to arrive, Mr Smith kissed his wife goodbye, and said, “Well, I’m off now. The man should be here soon.” Half an hour later, by chance, a door-to-door baby photographer happened to ring the Smith’s doorbell, hoping to make a sale. “Good morning, ma’am, I’ve come to….” Before he could finish, Mrs Smith cut in, embarrassed, “No need to explain! I know why you are here. I have been expecting you.” “Have you really?” said the photographer. “well, that’s good! Did you know babies are my specialty” ”Well, that’s what my husband and I were hoping! Please come in and have a seat” blushed the wife. After a moment, still blushing, the wife asked, “Well, where do we start?” ” You just leave everything to me! I usually try two in the tub, one on the couch, perhaps a couple on the bed; and sometimes the living room floor is fun! You can really spread out there,” the photographer enthused. “The bath tub? The living room floor? No wonder it didn’t work out for Harry and me!” “Well Ma’am, none of us can guarantee a good one every time. But if we try several different positions, and I shoot from six or seven angles, I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the results!” ”My! That’s a lot!” “Ma’am, in my line of work. a man has to take his time. I’d love to be in and out in 5 minutes, but I’m sure you’d be disappointed with that!” “Don’t I know it!” replied Mrs Smith. The man opened his briefcase and pulled out a portfolio of his baby pictures. “This was done on top of a bus” he bragged. “OH MY GOSH!” exclaimed Mrs Smith, grasping her throat. ” And these twins turned out especially well, considering that their mother was so difficult to work with.” “She was difficult?” asked Mrs Smith “Extremely so” replied the man. “I finally had to take her to the park to get things done right! People were crowding around five and six deep to get a good look!” “Five and six deep?” squeaked Mrs Smith. “Yes!” replied the photographer. “And for more than three hours too! The mother was constantly squealing and yelling….I could hardly concentrate, and when darkness approached, I had to rush my shots! Finally, when the squirrels began nibbling on my equipment, I just had to pack it all in!” “You mean they actually chewed on your , err, umm, equipment?” “Yes, ma’am, it is all true! Now, if we could get started, I’ll set up my tripod and we can get to work right away! I’m excited to get started!” “TRIPOD?” “Oh, yes, ma’am. I need to use a tripod to rest my Canon on; it’s much too big and heavy to be held in the hand very long.” Mrs. Smith fainted.
Nugget News August 2011
Posted by Kathe | Filed under Newsletters
Hey everyone!
At the July meeting, after James welcomed everyone, we covered several topics: the SB670 bill and the ramifications of the riders passing; Booming and gravity sluicing; the upcoming picnic; our new business cards and another banner (THANK YOU TRACI!!!!) who to purchase t-shirts from (that would be Ben Conrad); Charlie Cockle suggested a booth at the Sonoma County Fair next year; we discussed the prices of gold and silver, and had general information sharing . I want to remind you: If you bring a guest to the meetings, you will now get a free raffle ticket for each person you bring who might be interested in joining us, or learning more about us. If you bring yourself, (and you’re new to us) let me know and you will also get a ticket.
The gem and Mineral Show is coming up, and they want to know if we want a booth again this year. James will bring it up at the meeting this Wednesday, August 17 so let him know then please.
On a sad note, we learned that Martha Vander Heide had a massive M.I. on the afternoon of our last meeting (July 20). Martha was making brownies for the meeting, started to not feel well, laid down, and died. Martha was a long time member of the Gold Diggers, and she was quite a woman. Her honesty, good cheer, and quick wit will be missed by those who knew her.
The picnic was held at Pennegrove Park on Sunday July 24th. Although we deviated ‘way far away’ from the schedule, it was a fun, pleasant day. I thought I would miss it this year with Buck being so sick, but he decided HE wasn’t going to miss it and we did indeed get to attend. I sincerely thank everyone for all the help and the thoughtfulness and concern you shared. I went to the picnic stressed , “workin’ my last nerve” and within minutes I was happy, more relaxed, and really glad to be around you. I hope everyone else had the good time I had. Ed Babin was the over-all winner of the Food event. The Cook-Off was way less serious this year, but it was just as fun as last year. AND, Rose Fisher, thank you so much for all the prizes you donated.
Don’t forget the annual Bear River outing is August 19th through the 22nd. Have a good time, and if you need directions, I do have maps; ask for one at the meeting Wednesday.
I have only one joke this time, but it goes with all the rules, regulations, and general issues we deal with…… so enjoy. ( And please remember, it’s a joke. You will only be offended if you want to be.)
NEWS FLASH from the Oroville Mercury Register in Oroville, California (my old home town)
A woman from San Francisco, who happened to be a ‘tree-hugger’, a liberal Democrat, and an anti-hunter, purchased a piece of timberland along the Feather River Canyon, bordering Native American land. There was a HUGE tree one of the highest points of her newly purchased land, and since she wanted a good view of the natural splendor of her private property, she decided to climb this tree. As she neared the top, she suddenly encountered a Spotted Owl, which attacked her out of instinct. In her haste to escape, the woman slid down the tree to the ground, getting man splinters in her crotch on the way down. In considerable pain, she hurried down the Feather River Canyon to the local ER in Oroville to seek aid. When the doctor came into the exam room, she stated that SHE was an environmentalist, a DEMOCRAT, AND an anti-hunter, a member in good standing with PETA. Only then did she begin to explain how she came to get all the splinters. The doctor listened to her story with seeming great interest and patience and then told her to wait in the exam room and he would see if he could help her. He left, and she waited THREE LONG HOURS before the doctor re-appeared. The woman angrily demanded with much arrogance, “Where have you been, and WHAT took you so long!!??” The doctor, he just smiled, and said, “Well, I had to get PERMISSION from the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, AND the Bureau of Indian Affairs before I could remove ‘OLD GROWTH TIMBER’ from a ‘RECREATIONAL AREA’ so close to a ‘WASTE TREATMENT FACILITY’.” He paused, then added, “I’m sorry……, but due to the recently passed Obama Care program, they turned me down. I’m now trying to con tact our attorney so we can make a formal appeal to the Seventh United States Court of Appeals in hopes of getting you properly cared for, in a timely manner, at tax payer’s expense.”
Hope to see you at the meeting. And I have NOTHING against Democrats, tree-huggers, or anyone in the joke; it’s just that….. a joke.
Take care,
Kathe
July Nugget News
Posted by Kathe | Filed under Newsletters
Hey everyone,
First and most important (at least to ME): The July meeting will be on Wednesday the 20th, at 7:00 p.m. It is still at the Veteran’s Memorial Building here in Santa Rosa, across from the Main Pavilion of the Sonoma County Fair Grounds. James and Traci will be selling a variety of Hot Dogs in the parking lot before the meeting, so have dinner with us and help finance club activities too.
Secondly, our annual picnic will be the weekend after the meeting: July 24th, at the Pennegrove Park. This is a Sunday. I realize some members go to church so maybe you can have your “picnic clothes” in the car; make a quick-change and head to the park. We have the park from 9:00 a.m. until the evening, so please bring your game equipment, metal detectors, and food. The club supplies the main fare, but we ask you to bring a side dish to share. We will have the annual cook-off with three categories again this year. Last year the whole cook-off competition was a lot of fun, and there was much good natured bantering and jesting. Let’s make it even more fun this year. I want to add that last year Rose Fisher provided many wonderful prizes for us, and again we thank you Rose. This is a family and friends picnic; even if you are not yet a member, please join us.
I am going to skim over the June meeting because I have information about the picnic that I want to provide. If you have questions, see me at the meeting or picnic. James welcomed the new people. The subject of the SB670 came up again, which brought up the use of gravity dredging. Members were interested in what gravity dredging is, and Overton Greene explained it and made excellent suggestions on its use. Many members added “stuff” and it was a good information bearing discussion. We announced the Picnic, and again thanked everyone for participating last year. Renting the Sebastopol Grange Building was again brought up. We will be checking into this facility and give the club a chance to decide on moving at a future date. We have to give SoCo at LEAST 3 months notice before cancelling our lease with them, and I want to have all the important information to present to the club members before even asking for a re-vote. As it stands, we voted to stay and we raised the dues $10 to enable us to stay where we are; I want to be able to present all facts before it’s brought up again. Sincere thanks to the members whom have spent their time and energy looking for a suitable place for our meetings. Your dedication is very much appreciated by all, even if we don’t always show it. 
:);) =) =) James asked for “gold stories”. Bill Lieberman spoke about some of the outings he’s taken with the East Bay club. James and Frank went to Shirttail. Suggestions for metal detector outing were made, and an outing was arranged. Roger discussed the Raffle and using old silver coins as prizes. He also discussed the special auction for a 54 grain nugget to be raffled in August. We discussed the need for fund-raisers and getting the existence of our club out there to more people. Traci showed a banner she got off the internet for the cost of shipping; members want more of these banners. Traci was asked to research this further. James called for the break, and when we came back, Rose told one of her funny jokes. James showed his “invention” for ‘catching’ gold. We had the raffle and the meeting was adjourned.
About the picnic: The date is Sunday July 24th, 2011 at the Pennegrove Park. There is a huge area for games, and a huge ‘eating’ area complete with tables and BBQ pits, a kids play area, bathrooms, and 110-V hook-up. The club supplies the charcoal, meat, eating utensils, napkins, etc; we supply drinks and some rolls, along with condiments. We ask you to bring ANY side dish, or drinks, or dessert that you can share with a family gathering. Watermelons would be great. There will be a three-category food contest. The categories are desserts, side dishes, and all around favorite. There will be the annual metal detector contest. You need to see Roger to get the rules and any other info about the detecting contest, including the sign-up fees. I am coordinating most of the picnic so any volunteers will be MOST APPRECIATED! Last year, even with the mix-ups (MAJOR) everyone pitched in and we had a really good time. This picnic is open to friends and family; please join us. The only ‘entrance fee’ is a food or drink to share. It does not have to be enough to feed 50 people; just bring something to share. It’s a little like the “Stone Soup” fable: a little sharing makes a large amount of food and a good community feeling. Directions: (Okay, maybe I am not the best person to give directions, as Frank Madsen can attest! but I’ll try) Coming NORTH on HWY 101 take the Old Redwood Hwy exit. It’s across from the Cattleman’s Restaurant. Stay right, going east (north-east?) DO NOT go up and over the hwy. It is 1.7 miles to the stop light. You turn right at the light onto Main Street. You should see the Fire Station on the right after you turn. Just beyond the Fire Station is a road to the right that leads into the Park. ( OKAY, I am trying to read the map someone drew for me, and I am more confused than usual!) According to the map, if you are coming from the Santa Rosa area, or North of Pennegrove, you take Hwy 101 south, exit at Old Redwood hwy, and go up and over the freeway (east). Follow Old Redwood to the light; turn right onto Main, and just passed the Fire Station you will see a road to the right leading to the Park. I will put out markers to help direct you to the Park. I will also provide the map at the meeting. I would go down Petaluma Hill Road, passed the Sonoma State Campus, thru Pennegrove, and turn left on the road leading to the Park, but since I have lived here since the dinosaurs I know where to go but not the names of the streets. ANYWAY, enuff about that. We will be covering this and more at the Wednesday meeting; if you can’t attend the meeting but want to come to the picnic, call someone from the club and we’ll get the info you need.
The jokes were sent by Dick Sibbet and Jolene Dusseau; I hope you enjoy them as I did. Thanks to both of you.
Two horses were walking back to the paddock after a day of training. One horse said to the other, “I can’t understand why we’re so slow. We come from good stock, we have the best food and great trainers, yet we come in dead last in every single race.” A dog running alongside the horses overheard and said, “I know what your problem is. I’ve seen you two race, and it looks to me as if you take off at the start really fast. You use up all your energy at the beginning and have nothing left. What you should do is pace yourselves, and when the other horses have tired themselves out, put in a spurt of energy. You’re sure to win. What do you think about that?” The two horses looked at each other and exclaimed, “WOW! A talking dog!”
A man asked an old rich man how he made his fortune. The guy fingered his vest and said, ” Well, son, it was 1932 in the depths of the Great Depression. I was down to my last nickel. I invested that nickel in an apple. I spent the day polishing the apple, and at the end of the day I sold the apple for ten cents. The next morning, I invested those ten cents in two apples. I spent the day polishing those two apples and sold them at the end of the day for 20 cents. I continued this system for a month, by the end of which I had accumulated a fortune of a little over $3.00. Then my wife’s father died and left us two million dollars.”
A man asked a trainer in the gym: “I want to impress that beautiful woman; which machine should I use?” The trainer replied, “Use the ATM outside the gym!!!”
Speaking of exercise, here’s an exercise for people over fifty:
Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sid4es and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, then relax. Each day you’ll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags. Then try 50-lb potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I’M AT THIS LEVEL) After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.
See you at the meeting on Wednesday.
Take care,
Kathe
NUGGET NEWS FOR JUNE 2011
Posted by Kathe | Filed under Newsletters
Hey again!
I want to start by telling you that the SB670 extension passed the first leg of its journey to Gov. Brown’s desk by 2, that’s TWO, votes!! WE NEED TO WRITE letters and stop this bill before the next vote! I have three web sites that you can go on and state your opinions and comments if you have a computer and are not a snail-mail person, but do something! PLP has sent me information and they’re pleading for our help; it’s really to help US, the people who want to use dredges for more than lawn ornaments. Do something about this issue! PLEASE!
Ok now; off the soap box.
Remember that membership fees are due this month; since the County raised the rates from $105.00 a meeting to $137.50 we AGAIN had to raise the dues. Single is now $35.00 and family is $40.00 a year. Those of you whom have already paid the $30 and $35 fees will not be re-billed, and if anyone has trouble paying their dues, please let me know and we’ll work it out. I will keep all discussions confidential.
James Conrad is also raising the rates for the hot dogs he will be selling at the meetings; seems he is barely breaking even on $2.00 a dog. Since the whole purpose of the sale is to raise money for the club, he needs to increase the price to $3.00 a dog. Please remember, the hot dogs he provides are excellent quality; they’re not those scrawny dogs but the good, fat ones.
At the meeting last month there was a lot of discussion about dredging, and reasons for the ban. One of the major reasons is Mercury. Call Frank Matyus for more information on the Mercury and what to say about it in your letters.
Bill Lieberman talked about “booming”, explaining what it is and the regulations that go with it.
Several members went looking for gold and shared their stories. Although the water was WAY up, it seems everyone had a good time.
At previous meetings, Charlie Cockle had mentioned local spots that were said to have gold, and how he was going to check out those places. He let us know that he’s found some gold in Fairfax.
Frank Matyus brought a metal detector and gave demos on how to use it at the break. Frank has also asked me to let you know that he is selling his business, and if you are interested, see him at the meeting this Wednesday night, or give him a call.
James Conrad suggested more metal detector outings, and one was planned for Salmon Creek the following Sunday. Hopefully we’ll hear about it at this meeting.
Lance Thompson donated some copper nuggets he won on the internet. THANK YOU Lance! You are so appreciated!
Rose Klemenok again had us in stitches with jokes. It’s good to finish a meeting with a smile. Thanks to Rosa for her care and thoughtfulness.
I hear from Jolene Dusseau often, and she keeps us up-to-date on Doug. The mercury chelating is a long process and makes a person almost as sick as the mercury. Jolene is an amazing woman, and I am thankful to hear from her. I’ll keep you updated on Doug; see me at the meeting.
This is a short letter, but I’ve been busy playing Nellie Nurse again. I hope to have more time next month. And thanks for the jokes you’ve been sending.
Here’s hoping to see you at the meeting this Wednesday night, 6:00 in the parking lot for ‘Hot Dogs by James’, or at the meeting at 7:00 pm, Lodge Room of the Vet’s Memorial Bldg here in Santa Rosa, California. And, AGAIN, I’ll remind you that by bring food to share at the break gets you a free raffle ticket. Participate in the Show & Tell, and get a free ticket. Donate something YOU would want to win in the raffle, and receive a free ticket. But most important, join us and help keep our club strong and a great place to be.
JOKES sent by members:
Linda B., 23, was visiting her in-laws and while there, went to a nearby market to pick up groceries. Later, her husband noticed her sitting in her car in the driveway with the windows rolled up, her eyes closed, and both hands behind her head. He became concerned and walked out to the car. He noticed that Linda’s eyes were now open and she looked very strange. He asked if she was okay, and Linda replied that she had been shot in the back of her head and had been holding her brains in for over an hour. The husband called paramedics, who broke into the car because the doors were locked and Linda refused to remove her hands from her head to unlock them. When they finally got in, they found that Linda had a wad of bread dough on the back of her head. A Pillsbury biscuit canister had exploded from the heat, making a loud noise that sounded like a gunshot, and a wad of the dough hit her in the back of the head. When she reached back to find out what it was, she felt the dough and thought it was her brains. She initially passed out, but quickly recovered. Linda is BLONDE.
A blonde lady was driving about 2 hours from San Diego when she was flagged down by a man whose truck had broken down. The man walked up to the car and asked, “Are you going to San Diego?” “Sure, do you need a lift?” asked the blonde. “Not for me. I’ll be spending the next 3 hours fixing my truck, but I’ve got 2 Chimpanzees in the back and they need to go to the San Diego Zoo. They’re already stressed so I don’t want to keep them on the road all day. Could you possibly take them to the zoo for me? I’ll give you $100 for your trouble.” “I’d be happy to!” said the blonde. So the Chimps were put in the back seat, the seat belts fastened, and off they went. Five hours later, the truck driver was driving through the heart of San Diego when suddenly he was horrified! There was the blonde, walking down the street holding hands with the two chimps, much to the amusement of a big crowd. He pulled off the road, and ran over to the blonde. “What the HELL are you doing here?” he demanded. “I gave you $100 to take these chimps to the zoo!” “Yes, I know you did,” said the blonde, “but we had money left over, so now we’re going to Sea World!”
SHAMPOO ALERT!!!!!
As was conditioning my hair this morning in the shower, I took the time to read the shampoo bottle. I am in SHOCK! The shampoo I use in the shower that runs down my ENTIRE body says “for extra volume and body”! Seriously! Why have I not noticed this before? NOW I understand why I am so full-figured! Tomorrow I am going to start using “DAWN” dish soap! It says right on the label “dissolves fat that is otherwise difficult to remove!” It pays to read labels, my friends!
See you at the meeting!
Jim and Maryann, where are you???????
Have fun!
Kathe
SRGD
NUGGET NEWS APRIL 2011
Posted by Kathe | Filed under Newsletters
Hello again,
We had a different, energy-filled meeting in March. Not a bad thing, just different. James Conrad opened the meeting by telling us about a conversation he had with Danny Laborin. Apparently Danny has commitments that prevent him from devoting the time needed to be the president of our club, so he asked James Conrad to take over for him as president . A motion was made, seconded, and voted on; James is now our president and no longer the vice-president. Several comments and suggestions were made on office elections, perks for “officers”, etc. After much discussion, we nominated, and elected, Randy Ricci as the vice-president.
Just to make sure everyone understands the ‘rules’ in place at this time for Board-member elections and their perks: we hold elections every two years. The Board members are exempt from dues for their term on the Board, ‘tho most go ahead and pay the yearly dues. Board meetings are held monthly (or less) and decisions are then brought to the members for ratification. Board meetings can be called at any time if the need arises. Usually those attending these meetings are the Board members, but sometimes other members come to give information needed to make comprehensive decisions. Only the Board members can vote on issues at these Board meetings. Also, the club usually pays for an extra large pizza, and a pitcher of soft drinks; again most times the Board members contribute to the cost of the meal. (It’s a perk for the Board to have Pizza since these people give up their time and evenings to attend to Board matters.) To prevent a tie-vote on issues, we have an un-even number of Board members. If a Board member is unable to attend a Board meeting, a phone vote is accepted on large issues. Brian Benn is the designated “tie breaker” if it comes to a stalemate. We try hard to make sure all views and opinions are heard and debated before bringing the issues to the membership. The club members still have the ability to decline our decisions or to request further information. It’s not a dictatorship, and it would seem that the majority of the issues are settled in a way that the members approve. It is encouraging when we are asked to re-think our decisions; it lets us know that you as members are involved. I realize that this is a simplification, but I am trying to provide insight so everyone knows what the Board is and what we provide; there’s more to the job than sitting at the front table during the meetings. Now, back to the March meeting………..
James has a lot of energy and he enjoys sharing his knowledge, so he gave us an overview of the things he would like to accomplish for the club. His energy and enthusiasm was contagious, and there was a lot of group participation.
Ben Conrad brought an order of T-shirts. He sold them for $10, and let us know that we can special order sweatshirts, jackets, etc. There will be more shirts available at the April meeting. THANK YOU BEN for taking care of us even though you are so busy.
James asked about visitors and/or new members. We had a couple of new members, and one ” new/ old” member; he belonged to the club when it was held on Jennings Ave, left for a while, and is back with us again.
Bill Lieberman and Dick Sibbert talked about the Gold Show they attended. They shared a lot of interesting information with us.
James talked about the high prices of gasoline and diesel and a suggestion of car-pooling. He noted that many of us have lots of ‘stuff’ we need to bring to outings, but asked that we at least think about car-pooling.
The Public Hearing to be held in Sacramento on March 29th was also discussed. I have had several e-mails about this Hearing, and am hoping to have a lot of information at the upcoming meeting on Wednesday, April 20th. Come find out what’s happening with our right to dredge.
Rose Klemenok read an article on dredging being permitted from July 2012 to January 2013; there will only be 4000 permits issued. This touched off more discussions on the proposals offered; i.e. snow in November, December and January, high water, etc. Rose made several copies to share with members. Thank you so much Rose for continuing to keep us updated on things that relate to us. I also need to apologize to Rose and the club; Rose sent me information that the club could have benefitted from, and I lost it before I could print it. I most sincerely apologize to everyone.
Frank Maytus spoke about the Endangered Species Act and how it is being used, sometimes erroneously, to prevent the use of public lands, AND private lands. He had good information about the REAL results of studies and alternatives. He spoke about dredges, mercury in the water, cause and effect. He shared a lot of information and answered questions from the audience. James then joined in and told about the dredge he made from the 1994 regulation alternatives. He said he’ll be providing more info as he builds and tests. We then had the break, and there was A LOT of continued discussion. It’s nice to see members getting involved in the issues again; it’s like we’re waking up from a long winter sleep! (Maybe that’s just me; I AM as grouchy as a bear!!!)
Frank Maytus again reminded us of the need to write letters. We need to let our representatives in the State Government system know that we DO NOT APPROVE! We need to remind them every day if necessary, to get back our right to dredge. We can’t hope that someone else will do it for us. If you will write the letters, (and they do not have to be long letters) we can vote that the club pay the postage. It’s not expensive, and it sure is worth the 44 cents to state your case. Please write, even just a note; we’ll figure out to whom to send it, and get it mailed.
One of the ideas James has to increase member interaction and raise money is a “Tail Gate’ party; he’ll bring his BBQ and roast hot dogs before the meetings. I believe the cost will be $2.00, and he states they will be quality ‘dogs. If you don’t want to fix dinner you can grab a dog from James and put your money toward our club, effectively killing two birds with one stone. His lady Staci will be helping plan and execute the menu. They are also planning a pancake breakfast for the outings, and have quite a list of hot cake flavors to try on you.
Frank Robinson showed us his abalone pearl, shaped like a tooth, and the Boy Scout pin he found in the street.
I have also been asked to find out who has the club owned book “THE ROAR OF THE MONITOR. Several members have asked to see the book, and some asked to borrow it. Will the person using the book please: either bring it to the April meeting, or let us know you still have it? Thanks.
Now, here are some jokes sent to me……….If you don’t like off-color jokes, read no further
Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking by the hospital swimming pool, Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end, where he sank to the bottom and stayed. Edna, seeing that Ralph couldn’t swim, promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom, grabbed him, and pulled him to the surface, then out of the pool. When the Head Director became aware of Edna’s heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered Edna to be mentally stable. When the Director went to Edna to tell her the news, she said, “Edna, I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is you’re being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of a person you love…. I have concluded that your act displays a sound mindedness. The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he’s dead.” Edna replied, “He didn’t hang himself, you silly!! I put him there to dry! Now how soon can I go home?
Louella Bobbit, sister of the infamous Lorena Bobbitt, is said to have been arrested for allegedly attempting to perform the same act on her husband as her famous sister had done several years ago. Sources revealed Louella was not as accurate as her sister Lorena though. She allegedly missed the target and stabbed her husband in the upper thigh, causing severe muscle and tendon damage. The husband is in serious but stable condition. Louella has been charged not with a felony, but a misdeweiner.
A blonde was stopped by a police officer for speeding. The officer asked her very nicely if he could see her Driver’s License. She replied in a huff, ” I WISH you guys would get your act together! Just yesterday you take away my license, and then today, you expect me to show it to you!”
Okay, since I make fun of myself, PLEEEZE do not get upset when I razz brunettes!
Blonde’s revenge jokes: What’s black, blue, and brown and laying in a ditch? A brunette who’s told one too many blonde jokes.
Why are so many blonde jokes one-liners? So brunettes can remember them.
What do you call a brunette in a room full of blondes? Invisible.
What do you call a good looking man with a brunette? A hostage.
Why didn’t savages scalp brunettes? The hair from a buffalo’s behind was prettier.
Why are brunettes so proud of their hair? It matches their mustache. 
;);)
From the Best Smart-ass answers of 2010: A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at a grocery store but couldn’t find one big enough for her family. She asked the stock boy, “Do these turkeys get any bigger?” The boy replied, “No m’am, they’re dead!!”
It was mealtime on an airline flight. “Would you like dinner? ” the flight attendant asked John. ” What are my choices?” replied John. ” Yes, or no” she answered.
See you at the meeting, April 20, 2011. We’ll have lots of new information for you, so please plan to be there. As most of you know, the meeting starts at 7:00 pm in the Lodge Room. Bring something for show and tell and get a free raffle ticket. Bring food or drinks to share and receive a raffle ticket. Bring guests if you’d like; there is no charge to visit. No obligation to join our club. There will be Hot Dogs by James in the parking area before the meeting, so come early. Check our web page for updates and events. If you have questions or something to share, there’s an open forum during the meeting. Bring your thoughts, your questions, your answers, but most important, bring your selves. See you then.
Kathe Close
SRGD
PS!!!! I NEED JOKES!!!!!!
March 2011 Nugget News
Posted by Kathe | Filed under Newsletters
Hey everyone,
It’s time for the Santa Rosa Gold Diggers meeting: March 16, 2011, 7:00pm, Vet’s Memorial Building here in Santa Rosa, across from the Main Pavilion entrance of the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Guests and/or visitors are welcome, and there is no fee or charge to check us out. Everyone is welcome.
I was unable to attend the February meeting, but Stacy Laborin took the minutes of the meeting. Danny opened the meeting by welcoming everyone. He thanked everyone for all the help they give and the things they do to make the club a success .
We had one new-comer named Ken.
Someone brought a large piece of gold for Show-and-Tell. Found south of Richfield (Stanton) it weighted 7.51 grams.
James Conrad talked about gold mining regulations and meeting a miner who talked about his gold panning skills. James also read the email from Jolene Dusseau talking about Doug’s health issues and the devastating effects of mercury poisoning. We can’t emphasize enough the dangers of mercury poisoning, and the problems associated with it.
Rose Klemenok told a really funny story, and then Jerry gave a demonstration about weighing quartz and seeing how much gold is inside.
The break was taken at 7:40 pm with refreshments provided by the club. ( I want to take this time to remind you that if you bring food or drinks for the break you receive a free raffle ticket. )
When we came back from the break Danny talked about the PLP fight and how your opinion is important to him. He wants you to call him with your opinion. Then on to the Raffle. (Thank you Stacy for taking the minutes for me!!)
I received a phone call from the publisher of the ICMJ. He asked me to make sure all of you know about the 3-DAY SUMMIT being presented in Placerville April 23 through April 25, 2011. I hadn’t heard about these shows before, but this sounds like something everyone should consider. The difference this year is that along with the lectures on Saturday and Sunday, they are having a hands-on in-field training day too. It’s seven and a half hours of learning, and you keep what you find. I have flyers about the event sent to me by Scott Harn. He said that the first two days are vendors and lecturers, but he’s pretty excited about the added day of teaching. They will have 14 instructors, they’ve made arrangements with a mine owner , and you can keep what you find. The day-class cost is $10 if you subscribe to ICMJs Prospecting /Mining journal, and $35 for non-subscribers. I will bring the flyers and you can decide if it’s for you.
Frank Maytus gave me some additional info on high-banking. I was supposed to give it to you at the February meeting, but since I wasn’t there, I will bring it this Wednesday.
See you at the meeting. Come early and solve world problems before the meeting. If I don’t see you at the meeting, have a good St Patrick’s Day. Don’t forget to turn your clocks forward Sunday the 13th for Daylight Saving’s; have a happy first day of Spring, and enjoy World Water Day!(????)
UPDATE: James Conrad sent me an email about the t-shirts Ben told him we’ll have shirts at the meeting, so bring your money. T-shirts will be sold for $10. See Ben before the meeting or at the break.
Jokes submitted by members:
A woman was leaving a convenience store with her purchases when she noticed a most unusual funeral procession on its way to the nearby cemetery. There were the usual long black cars following not one, but 2 hearses, and behind the autos was a solitary woman dressed in black walking a pit bull on a leash. Behind her, a short distance back, were about 300 woman walking single file. The shopper was so curious that she respectfully approached the solitary woman with the dog and said, “I am so sorry for your loss, and I know this is bad timing, but I have never, ever seen a funeral like this! Whose funeral is it?” “My husband’s” replied the woman. “What happened to him? asked the shopper. The woman replied, “My dog attacked and killed him.” The shopper inquired further, “Well, who is in the second hearse?” The widow answered, “My mother-in-law. She was trying to help my husband when the dog turned on her and killed her too.” A poignant and thoughtful moment passed before the shopper asked, “May I borrow your dog?” To which the widow replied, “Get in line.”
Two businessmen were sitting down for a break in their soon-to-be-open new store. Being from San Francisco, they viewed themselves as savvy and a ‘cut-above’. As yet, the store wasn’t ready, with only a few shelves set up. One man said to the other, “I bet any minute now, some old- timer red-neck is going to come by, put his face to the window, and ask what we’re selling!” No sooner were the words out of his mouth when, sure enough, a curious old red-neck walked to the window, peeked in, and asked, “What’r ya sellin’ here?” One of the businessmen replied sarcastically, “We’re selling assholes.” Without skipping a beat, the old-timer said, “Must be doing real good….. there’s only two left.”
A flight attendant was stationed at the departure gate to check tickets. As a man approached, she extended her hand for his ticket and he opened his trench coat and flashed her. Without missing a beat, she said, “Sir, I need to see your TICKET, not your STUB.”
A teacher reminded her class of tomorrow’s final exam. ” I won’t tolerate any excuses for you not being here tomorrow. I might consider a nuclear attack or a serious personal injury, illness, or a death in your immediate family, but that’s it; no other excuses whatsoever!” A smart-assed student raised his hand and asked, “What would you say if tomorrow I said I was suffering from complete and utter sexual exhaustion?” The entire class was reduced to laughing and snickering. When silence was restored, the teacher smiled knowingly at the student, shook her head and sweetly said, “Well, I guess you’d have to write the exam with your OTHER hand.”
I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some reason, took my order first. “I’ll have the steak, very rare, please.” He asked,” Aren’t you worried about the mad cow?” “Nah, she can order for herself” And that’s when the fight started
My wife and I were at her high school reunion, and she kept staring at a drunken man slamming his drinks at a nearby table. I asked her, “Do you know him?” “Yes” she sighed, ” He’s my old boyfriend…I understand he started drinking right after I broke up with him years ago, and I heard he hasn’t been sober since!” “MY GOD!” I said, “Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?” And that’s when the fight started……..
When the lawn mower broke, my wife started hinting that I should fix it. But somehow, I always had something more important to do. So she thought she had a clever way to make her point. When I got home from fishing one day, I found her in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors. I watched her for a few moments and then went into the house. I came out again and handed her a toothbrush. I said, “When you finish cutting the grass you might as well sweep the driveway.” The doc says I’ll walk again, but I’ll always have a limp.
Take care ,
Kathe
SRGD
Dangers of Mercury Poisoning
Posted by Kathe | Filed under EVENTS, Metal Detectors, Newsletters, Uncategorized
This is an excerpt from an e-mail Jolene Dusseau sent me Feb 15, 2011. She had much more to say about the dangers of Mercury Poisoning when I spoke to by phone, but this is the gist of it. Please research, and use extreme care, when using this substance.
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“Back at you for the Valentine. Good talking with you last night but sorry about the news about Buck. Tell him to keep up the good attitude.
Then the news about Doug wasn’t good either. It is VERY important that everyone understands how bad this problem is, and can become, as it is in his cells, bones, tissues, organs, and brain. A word of warning: the VA doctors don’t and won’t recognize it as a problem. He (Doug) had been going there for 3-4 years and they were trying everything but the right thing. They were treating him for Parkinson’s and Dementia. The Heavy Metal Hair Test proved it to be mercury toxins due to environment and possibly self-inflected. Please be very careful when handling that stuff.
Do you remember playing with it as a kid and thought it was fun?
Thanks for the info.
Bye for now. Give our best to everyone at the next meeting. Keep the Newsletter coming as he enjoys reading them.
Doug and Jolene”
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Jolene stressed the warning about the terrible side-effects this poisoning can bring. She said Doug has tremors, mini seizures, lethargy, memory loss, hyperventilation with blinding eye and head pain. The chelating process it long and uncomfortable.
So when using mercury to reclaim gold, always do so with open ventilation, and wear gloves. Question where the fish you eat came from; Doug eats approx. 2.5 – 3.0 pounds of fish a week.
Jolene doesn’t want anyone else to suffer what Doug, and she by extension, have had to endure. Try something else and use merc as a last resort. And think about others in your home or community who may become poisoned by your use of this substance.
Thank you, Kathe