The Cochise County Rock

Monthly Newsletter of the Sunsites Gem & Mineral Club

www.cochisecountyrock.org

“Finding and Grinding Rocks in Cochise County, Arizona since 1962”

October 2007

This issue edited by Paul McKnight

_______________________________________________________________

October Meeting is Monday the 8th

 

  Our October meeting will be Monday, October 8 at 7 pm at the Sunsites Community Center.  We are still negotiating the program, but some of the things on the agenda of the meeting include reports on last month’s field trip, a description of the October field trip, election of a nominating committee for the annual November elections and, of course, the rock raffle.

 

October Field Trip

 

It has been a couple of years since we went up Oak Creek into the foothills of the Chiricahuas  There has been a member request to go back there where we got Agate/Chalcedony plus some beautiful finely layered yard rocks from the creek.  The member making the request wants to dig out a nice yard rock that he located during the last trip.  So the October field trip will be Saturday, October 20.   At the intersection of 191 and 181 in Sunizona there is a parking lot at a now-closed restaurant.  The area is scenic enough that you may want to bring a picnic lunch.  We meet there at 9 am for a 9:15 departure.   The Oak creek road is appropriate for most vehicles.  No 4WD required.

 

 

September Field Trip Report

 

Five cars took the marble trip on the 22nd at the north end of the Dragoons.  In addition to some very nice marble, we found some Calcite or Selenite crystals scattered about the hillside above the marble pit.  Thanks to the engineering work on a v-shaped ravine crossing that was done prior to the trip, nobody got stuck crossing that difficult spot.  We did leave one of the vehicles, a 2 wheel drive pickup, at a parking area before the difficult spot.

 

  

September 2007 Minutes

Paul McKnight called the meeting to order at 7:15p.m.  He announced that tonight’s Rock Raffle would include five magazines and one book.  Anyone will have the choice of the books or rocks.

     The minutes as previously published were approved.  Walter gave the Treasurer report.  We show a $1,955.98 balance in the checking account, and $3066.18 for the Certificate of Deposit.  He noted that the budget looked better that expected because we had not purchased the saw for lapidary that was in the budget. Dick made a motion to accept the report as read.  Sue seconded the motion. Motion carried. 

     Paul reported that he and one of the members that missed the mine tour in Tombstone would be revisiting the mine on the 15th.  Anyone is welcome to join them, just let him know.  Everyone that attended commented that the tour was worth the trip.  The mine employed about 90 men when it was in production.   Sue suggested that samples for sale would make it better.

     Paul, Robbyn, and Henry then gave reports on Agate 2007.  A relaxed atmosphere was enjoyed along with many samples of agate, petrified wood, Luna gold & blue, along with Apache tears were available.  Wild Elk were visible in the evening, adding to their enjoyment.

     The September Field Trip will be to the west side of the Dragoon Mt. Accessible from Lizard Lane.  There is multi-colored marble available, some in large slab size.  Samples are on the table for viewing.  Several of the members worked on making the worst wash more passable the last few weeks.  It will still take 4-wheel drive clearance, short bed vehicles preferred.  Members without these type vehicles will be shuttled to the site.   We will meet at the intersection of Dragoon Rd and Lizard Lane at 9a.m.  There is a sign-up sheet for this trip. 

     Carol gave a report on the Turquoise Hunt in Bisbee on Oct 5&6.  The cost is $15/person, payable in advance by Credit Card.  Tickets will be sent to you, and presented the day of the hunt you choose.  Sue said she went before, and enjoyed the trip, but commented on small samples being few and far between.  Members will make reservations for themselves.   Reservations should be made ASAP as bus space was filling up fast. 

     Paul mentioned that our yearly election will be coming up soon, and we need to form a nominating committee by November.   We will have the Christmas party in December, and the new board will take over in January.  

    We did receive ads for calendars and rocks set out for members to view.  Robbyn reminded us of the Swap meet in Elfrida, and suggested we set up a table.  She is helping out, so will be available to get us a table.  It will be held behind the Cochise Community Health Center.  The HC club will have a table.  Set up time is starting at 7a.m., and the meet runs from 9 – 2.  We can call Robbyn for info, etc. at 642-2303.   Paul reminded us that we have a sign-up sheet for hospitality for the next couple meetings along with the field trip.   Dick mentioned that the community center was shut down for a short time this summer for renovations.  We now have central heat and air.  We adjourned for refreshments, will return for the raffle, and then welcome our speaker, Bob Mortimer.

                                                                 Respectfully,

                                                                  Carol A. Pontious

Forest Service Travel Management

 

(from a Forest Service web site)

 On November 9, 2005, the Forest Service published a "travel management" rule that requires each national forest and grassland in the country to identify and designate roads, trails and areas that are open to motor vehicle use. By September 2009 routes will be published in Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM). 

Once the designation process is complete, motor vehicle use off these routes and outside designated areas will be prohibited.  Designation will also include class of vehicles and, if appropriate, season of use.   

Under the new rule dispersed camping and day use will be handled differently than it has in the past.  The “300 foot” rule that currently applies to driving off roads for the purpose of camping and day-use activities under the Coronado National Forest’s Land Management Plan will no longer apply. 

Regional guidelines for dealing with motorized dispersed camping are currently being developed.  Under the new guidelines designating sites and the routes leading to them (spur roads) and roadside parking will be the preferred methods of accommodating this use.  Distance designations, such as our current 300 foot rule, may be considered for specific areas but will be the tool of last choice. 

The Coronado National Forest recently received approval from the Chief of the Forest Service to extend the target date for publishing our MVUM to 2009.  This will enable us to keep this process in sync with the revision of the Forest Land Management Plan.  We have already received many public comments related to travel management during our meetings for the forest plan revision. 

Over the next few years the Coronado National Forest will engage the public and coordinate with state, county, and tribal governments while we identify which routes should be designated and for which classes of motor vehicles, as well as where and how motorized dispersed camping will be accommodated. 

On December 16, 2006, we held our first open house for the Nogales and Santa Catalina Ranger Districts.  We received lots of information and comments from a diverse group.  In the future, we will hold similar open houses for the Safford, Sierra Vista, Nogales, and Douglas Ranger Districts.  Meeting dates will be posted on this website.  If you were not able to attend the December meeting, but would like to provide input, you may still do so. (Check the top of this page for information about the next public meeting.)

Changes to the Coronado National Forest’s transportation system must undergo an evaluation process called Travel Analysis, and are subject to National Environmental Policy Act analysis.  The following are a few of the factors that must be considered:   

  • Effects on soil, watershed, vegetation and other forest resources;
  • Effects on wildlife and significant disruption of wildlife habitats;
  • Conflicts between motor vehicle use and existing or proposed recreational uses of National Forest System lands;
  • Conflicts among different classes of motor vehicle uses of National Forest System lands or neighboring Federal lands
  • The agency’s ability to maintain the existing road system and any additional roads added. 

Our travel management decisions will depend on information about existing use patterns, user demand, natural resource effects and conditions, violation and accident patterns, and social and economic interactions.  Public participation is an important and necessary part of the process.  The first motor vehicle use maps we publish will be for the Nogales and Santa Catalina Ranger Districts.  The December 16 open house was one of the first steps in identifying what the future transportation system will look like on these ranger districts. 

For more information and to provide comments contact Laura White, Travel Management Coordinator:

Coronado National Forest
300 W. Congress
Tucson, AZ  85701

520-388-8419

 

 

Treasurers-Report July-September, 2007

 

A

B

C

D

1

Financial-Report  January 1 - September 30, 2007

 

 

 

2 

 

 

 

 

3 

 

 

 

 

4 

BALANCE SHEET

 

 

 

5 

 

 

 

 

6 

Assets

 

 

 

7 

Great Western Bank; Checking Account

1,939.98

 

 

8 

Great Western Bank; CD 3.72%

3,075.56

 

 

9 

Total Assets

5,015.54

 

 

10 

 

 

 

 

11 

Liabilities

 

 

 

12 

Fortune

-4,751.07

 

 

13 

Member Dues 2008

-10.00

 

 

14 

Total Liabilities

-4,761.07

 

 

15 

 

 

 

 

16 

Profit(+)

254.47

 

 

17 

 

 

 

 

18 

 

 

 

 

19 

 

 

 

 

20 

 

 

 

 

21 

STATEMENT OF INCOME

Actual

Budget

Difference

22

 

bookings

 

 

23 

Expenses

 

 

 

24 

PO Box rental

40.00

40.00

0.00

25

Stamps, mailings

23.55

80.00

-56.45

26

Copying, office supplies

49.66

75.00

-25.34

27

State Corporation Commission

10.00

10.00

0.00

28

Refreshments & Supplies

13.12

60.00

-46.88

29

Picnic

64.71

66.00

-1.29

30

Lapidary Supplies

124.96

1,100.00

-975.04

31

Christmas party

 

100.00

-100.00

32

Regional affiliation

 

275.00

-275.00

33

Community Center / Rent

120.00

90.00

30.00

34

Speaker honoraria

112.60

300.00

-187.40

35

Web site

65.69

100.00

-34.31

36

Sunsites Chamber of Commerce

25.00

25.00

0.00

37

Sunsites Community Association

 

25.00

-25.00

38

Field Trip Fees

154.00

184.00

-30.00

39

Miscellaneous

 

100.00

-100.00

40

Total Expenses

803.29

2,630.00

-1,826.71

41

 

 

 

 

42 

Income

 

 

 

43 

Member dues

-627.00

-730.00

103.00