E.S.C.O.N.I.

Presidents Message 2006

January 2006 President’s Message

We hope the New Year finds everyone in good health and good spirits as we reminisce over some of the great activities of the past year and look forward to our future plans. Our club has prospered under the leadership of John Good and the rest of the board and the hard work of our study group chairs, but we face challenges ahead. We elected a new Board of Directors for 2006, but we currently have vacancies in the offices of 1st Vice President and Curator and we are still looking for someone to lead the Junior Group. (Not to mention, I need tutoring in Roberts’ rules of order.) Be sure to check out our web site (www.esconi.org) or the bulletin for more details.

Our holiday party had a great turn out last month at the Villa Nova Restaurant. The food was excellent and Dorothy Auler personalized the afternoon by creating special favors for everyone from her own collection. Then evening was topped off with our guest speaker, Dr. Thomas Carr from Carthage, who not only gave a memorable presentation on T-Rex, but even decided to join our club.

Although the snow is falling now, spring is around the corner and our annual March (18th,19th) Gem, Mineral and Fossil show could use your help. This year it will be chaired by John Good with help from David and Sheila Bergmann. The show is our big event so get the word out to all of your friends.

Interested in communicating your ideas and thoughts to our club members, other clubs, and even the World Wide Web? Submit articles to Jean Reynolds or John Good (jgood10481@aol.com).

Jim Fairchild, President         

February 2006              President’s Message

 

 

FeBURRRary is the month to get serious about our annual March (18th,19th) Gem, Mineral and Fossil show.  John Good along with David and Sheila Bergmann will be in charge.  Remember we are in a new building, SRC 2800, and we will need plenty of help on Saturday morning to set up.  Get your display ready and remember to reserve a display case if you need one.

 

PaleoFest at Rockford’s Burpee Museum.  Mark your calendar this month for the 18th and 19th, 10-5pm.  Not only will Burpee’s own Michael Henderson and Scott Williams be speaking, but take a look at their great line up:

  1. Jack Horner, PhD; new research on cranial growth of Triceratops; T-rex.
  2. Brent Breithaupt, U of Wyoming Geology Museum; Allosaurus discussion
  3. Darren Tanke, Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology: dinosaurs at the bottom of the sea discoveries.
  4. David Rudkin, Royal Ontario Museum:  invertebrate fossils of subartic Canada.
  5. Mary Higby Schweitzer, PhD, North Carolina State U.:  breakthrough work on micro-scopic soft tissue preservation.
  6. Virginia Naples, PhD, Northern Illinois U.: the big cats that once lived in North America.
  7. Steve Brusatte, U. of Chicago”: meat-eating dinosaurs that rivaled T-rex in size.
  8. Matthew Bonnan, PhD, Western Illinois U.:  sauropods   

 

Other important dates to plan ahead for include: 

  1. April—MAPS:  April 7th-9th
  2. May—CHICAGOLAND Rock and Mineral Show: May 27th-28th. 

 

If you have not already done so, remember to send in your annual dues for 2006 ($15) to our Membership Chairman Eileen Mizerk.      

 

 

Jim Fairchild, President

jimfairchild@comcast.net

 

 

March 2006              President’s Message

 

Special thanks to Dr. Philip Janney and Dr. Wendy Taylor, ESCONI member, for their presentations at our last meeting covering Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius.  Pompeii is said to be the most important archaeological site anywhere.  Catch the POMPEII EXHIBITION at the Field Museum until March 26th:  http://www.fieldmuseum.org/pompeii/about.asp .  Also, the cover of the February issue of Smithsonian features Pompeii and its story includes quotes from Dr. Philip Janney!

 

Donald Cronauer has recently organized a Girl Scout Program that enabled twenty 5th-6th grade girls to earn a “Paleontology Merit Badge.”  On February 18th   ESCONI members Shelia and Dave Bergman and John Good worked with Don to teach what a paleontologist does, how to become a paleontologist, and, of course, what those fossils from Illinois’ own Mazon Creek are all about. Steve Delaney put together the Mazon Creek program.  The girls obtained samples of brachiopods and Mazon Creek concretions.  There is an interest in carrying out the program again in the future.

 

Rob Sula is frequently found in our daily newspapers sharing his knowledge and expertise in the community.  Aside from managing the upcoming Argentinean Dinosaur exhibit at Scitech in Aurora, teaching courses in Paleontology and illustrating pre-historic life, Rob guides collectors around 11 ranches in South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska for Paleo Prospectors.  Paleo Prospectors give amateurs a chance to connect with the world of dinosaurs while still ensuring that scientifically important specimens end up in the right places.   

 

Eric Gyllenhaal, ESCONI member, conducts informal rock and fossil activities for children at Wonder Works, a children's museum in Oak Park, Illinois.  His Salt the Sandbox Web site, which lists various ESCONI events [http://www.saltthesandbox.org] tries to help parents support their kids' passionate interests in the world around them.  Eric has a Ph.D. in Paleontology and Stratigraphy from the University of Chicago and has spent 40 years in the museum field, starting at the age of 11 at a nature center.

Have you ever allowed your talents and interests to take you out of your daily routine to share with others just a taste of the excitement that you experience?  What makes your adrenaline surge?  Is it found in archaeology, paleontology, mineralogy, or some other related hobby?  We need people including kids to show and tell us how to do things at our ESCONI show or an upcoming meeting.  Do you wire wrap, cut, carve rocks of any kind?  Do you pound, melt, bend, roll or mix metals.  People want to know.  Come demonstrate it!  Even if you only have an hour or two we still need you.  Come share, learn, enjoy with fellow rockhounds.  What do you like the most in your collection?  Display it and you might find someone else who likes the same thing.

 

ESCONI SHOW:

 

ESCONI Gem-Mineral-Fossil Show is scheduled for March 18 and 19, 2006, in The College of DuPage Student Resource Center (SRC 2800, where the Flea Market was located during fall, 2005).  Setup for the show will be Saturday morning 6:00 to 11:00.  ESCONI will not have access to the SRC area on Friday.  Work and help is needed for the following: 

1)  SKIRTING TABLES:  before the show tape plastic skirts on tables,

2)  SILENT AUCTION:  help put out items and explain what they are and collect money; (donated materials are needed), 

3)  LIVE AUCTION:  a loud voice and a sales pitch is needed as you show off and describe specimens to the crowd; someone needs to hand out bid cards, write the item sold and to whom, and collect money; donated quality material is needed.. 

4)  DISTRIBUTE FLYERS:  libraries, schools, town or village…,

5)  BOOK SALE DONATIONS: we need fiction and non-fiction books, including paperbacks.

6)  DISPLAY CASES:  Set up display cases (Don’t forget to display something)

 

If you have any questions or would be available to help in any way contact show chairman John Good at 630-483-2363 or jgood10481@aol.com

 

Don’t forget your membership dues. Send in your annual dues for 2006 ($15) to our Membership Chairman Eileen Mizerk to avoid losing your newsletter and field trip privileges.

 

  1. MAPS FOSSIL EXPO is scheduled for April 7-9 at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill.   http://midamericapaleo.tripod.com/expo28.htm

 

  1. CHICAGOLAND ROCK AND MINERAL SHOW: is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, May 27 and 28, at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton, Illinois.  http://www.chicagolandgemshow.org/  

 

Jim Fairchild, President

jimfairchild@comcast.net

 

 April 2006 President’s Message


Thanks to your hard work the ESCONI Gem, Mineral, Fossil Show 2006 was a great success. The dealers were so pleased with the new location as well as the crowd this year that most of them have already confirmed for next years show. I could not begin to list all the people who worked so diligently to make this show work. Thank you all.

Jim Fairchild
jimfairchild@comcast.net 

A few dates to remember.

April 14, 2006 General Meeting
ESCONI member Brian Bardy
Author of 2 books and 12 articles on Illinois history, archaeology and folklore
Will be speaking about “Archaeology and Pioneer History of Lyons Township”

Plan Ahead

May 12, 2006 General Meeting
Dr. Peter Makovicky, Assistant Curator, Paleontology from the Field Museum


Plan Ahead

June 9, 2006 General Meeting
Richard Kissel from the Field Museum
Will be speaking about the new exhibit “Evolving Planet”


CHICAGOLAND ROCK AND MINERAL SHOW: is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, May 27 and 28, at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton, Illinois. http://www.chicagolandgemshow.org/ 
 

 

May 2006 President’s Message


The Chicagoland Gem and Mineral (CGMA) Show is coming up over the Memorial Day weekend at the Dupage County Fairgrounds. This year the 30th edition will run Saturday May 27 through May 28, with ticket sales at the entrance Saturday and Sunday and other tasks including the Kiddie Table. Exhibits and demonstrations are needed if you can set something up. Why not help out the show by displaying your skills and collections—Chicagoland Gem and Mineral will provide cases. Also, ESCONI member Rob Sula will be leading a tour at SciTech this month featuring the dinosaurs of Argentina and Antarctica. The tour will include over 20 exhibits including seven complete skeletons. The “only U.S. showing” of this exhibit is running form March 26 through September 4 so be sure to check it out. Discounted museum admission of $11 required.


• ESCONI GENERAL MEETING: Dr. Peter Makovicky, Assistant Currator, Paleontology from the Field Museum, May 12.

• FIELD TRIP: Rob Sula special tour on May 13 at 1pm. ($11) SciTech Hands On Museum, 18 W. Benton St., Aurora, IL, 630-859-3434, or visit http://scitech.mus.il.us/DA.htm .

• CHICAGOLAND ROCK AND MINERAL SHOW: is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, May 27 and 28, at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton, Illinois. http://www.chicagolandgemshow.org/

• ESCONI GENERAL MEETING: Richard Kissel from the Field Museum will be speaking about the new exhibit “Evolving Planet,” June 9. Visit the Field’s website on this new exhibit: http://www.fieldmuseum.org/evolvingplanet/ 


Be sure to check our website for any updates www.esconi.org

Jim Fairchild, President
jimfairchild@comcast.net 
 

 

June 2006 President’s Message


The Chicagoland Gem and Mineral (CGMA) Show was a great success over the Memorial Day weekend. Thanks to all who helped to make this another great show. As we get ready for our summer break I also want to express my thanks to the dedicated people who have been helping out with the study groups this year once again. THANK YOU!!!

Sadly, we will be losing two great members as Doctors Phil Janney and Wendy Taylor have both taken work at the University of Arizona and will be moving soon. Best of luck to the both of you, but we’ll definitely feel a great loss when you go.  Maybe Arizona will be a great field trip for us in the future….

June 21st marks the first day of summer. As you enjoy the summer remember to think about how you might be able to help the club next fall. There are plenty of opportunities for everyone to help in some way. Also, if you collect this summer, remember to bring your pictures, specimens, and stories to our next meeting which won’t be until September now. Have a great summer!


• ESCONI GENERAL MEETING: Richard Kissel from the Field Museum will be speaking about the new exhibit “Evolving Planet,” June 9. Visit the Field’s website on this new exhibit: http://www.fieldmuseum.org/evolvingplanet/ 


• SEPTEMBER GENERAL MEETING: Jim Holstein from the Field Museum will be speaking about the Green River Formation and the famous fossil fish September 8.


• FUTURE FIELD TRIPS: Lone Star Quarry, Oglesby, Illinois: Dates TBA
Illinois Cement Quarry, LaSalle, Illinois: Dates TBA. ESCONI is organizing trips to the above quarries with the help of John Catalani. Check the web site for details or contact John Good at 630-483-2363 for confirmation and reservations or e-mail at esconi-trips@comcast.net 

Be sure to check our website for any updates www.esconi.org.

Jim Fairchild, President
jimfairchild@comcast.net 
 

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