ON THE ROCKS

Eye on Happenings

- BOB JONES

This month’s column could be entitled “The Latest News” as it will touch on several subjects, including shows, museums, and an upcoming mineral retreat.

Every year the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies (EFMLS) holds a wonderful training and educational retreat in North Carolina. The setting is ideal. The location is ideal. The personnel who teach the courses are the best. This retreat is an opportunity for any member of a club affiliated with the EFMLS to immerse themselves in a week-long mineral experience.

With a wide variety of classes to choose from, a field trip offered one day, and daily lectures on minerals, this is a golden opportunity for rockhounds to enjoy and learn more about our hobby while getting to know collectors from all over the east.

What I find amazing is the cost of this week-long retreat. If you vacationed on your own for a week of rockhounding and stayed in a hotel, the cost of such a week would be several times more than what this retreat costs per person. On vacation, you get no training or lectures, but at Wildacres Retreat you get it all. The low cost is because it is a non-profit facility that caters only to non-profit organizations, a win-win situation.

I know so much about Wildacres because on May 18-24, I will be the Lecturer in Residence for the tenth time! My usual schedule during retreat week is to give a talk each morning, except for the field trip day. Depending on the schedule, I may also do an evening presentation or two. I always have plenty of back up talks, just in case. Some years, I’ve given as many as nine talks during the week, but this time around, I’m scheduled for six formal talks.