September Club Meeting
2022-09-10 18:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our September meeting will be held in-person at the Creekside Community Center and will also be broadcast via Zoom. Our meeting will focus on club updates, annual show information, summer finds, and a tour of the Rock Shop located at our new meeting facility!
Here is the schedule:
6:00-6:30pm – Arrival/Socializing
6:30-7:30pm – Club Proceedings
7:30-8:30pm – Summer Finds and Rock Shop Tour
8:30-8:45pm – Wrap up/Clean up
*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 6pm, and we must vacate by 8:45pm.
Zoom Meeting Details:
Join Live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89732353303?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 897 3235 3303
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Please RSVP here.

Annual Rock, Gem, & Mineral Show
2022-09-24 10:00 - 2022-09-25 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Dairy Building, 1694 Judson Ave, St. Paul, MN, 55108, United States

October Club Meeting
2022-10-08 18:00 - 20:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our October meeting will be held in-person at the Creekside Community Center and will also be broadcast via Zoom. Our meeting will focus on club updates, annual show volunteer prizes, and a presentation on “Prospecting for Dinosaurs” by longtime club member Al Olson.
Here is the schedule:
6:00-6:30pm – Arrival/Socializing
6:30-7:30pm – Club Proceedings
7:30-8:30pm – Presentation
8:30-8:45pm – Wrap up/Clean up
*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 6pm, and we must vacate by 8:45pm.
Zoom Meeting Details:
Join Live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89732353303?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 897 3235 3303
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Please RSVP here.

November Club Meeting
2022-11-12 18:00 - 20:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our November meeting will be held in-person at the Creekside Community Center and will also be broadcast via Zoom.
Here is the schedule:
6:00-6:30pm – Arrival/Socializing
6:30-7:00pm – Club Proceedings
7:00-8:00pm – Presentation: Record of an Ancient Meteorite Impact Buried Beneath the Twin Cities, MN by Julia Steenberg, Geologist, Minnesota Geological Survey
8:00-8:30pm – Wrap up/Socializing
8:30-8:45pm – Clean up
*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 6pm, and we must vacate by 8:45pm.
Zoom Meeting Details:
Join Live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89732353303?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 897 3235 3303
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Please RSVP here.

December Club Meeting
2022-12-10 18:00 - 20:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our December meeting will be held in-person at the Creekside Community Center and will also be broadcast via Zoom. If you would like to participate in a gift exchange, please bring a wrapped $10-15 rock, mineral, or fossil themed gift for exchange.
Here is the schedule:
6:00-6:30pm – Arrival/Socializing
6:30-7:30pm – Club Proceedings
7:30-8:30pm – Show and Tell
8:30-8:45pm – Wrap Up/Clean up
*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 6pm, and we must vacate by 8:45pm.
Zoom Meeting Details:
Join Live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89732353303?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 897 3235 3303
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Please RSVP here.

January Club Meeting
2023-01-14 18:00 - 20:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our January meeting will include installment of the 2023 Board of Directors, BYO meal, and a couple of rock themed TED Talks. If you would like, please bring your own meal – the club will provide beverages (soda, coffee, water) and desserts. Here is the agenda for January 14th:
6:00-6:30pm – Arrival/Socializing
6:30-7:30pm – Club Proceedings
7:30-8:30pm – TED Talks/Socializing
8:30-8:45pm – Wrap Up/Clean up
*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 6pm, and we must vacate by 8:45pm.
Please RSVP here.
Zoom Meeting Details:
Join Live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89732353303?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 897 3235 3303
Passcode: [REDACTED]

February Club Meeting
2023-02-11 18:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our February meeting will include a presentation by Cara Santelli, Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Minnesota. She has served in a former role as a curator of the National Gems and Minerals Collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Cara will bring her experience and expertise to deliver a talk titled, “Minerals, microbes, and a healthy planet”. Here is the agenda for February 11th:
6:00-6:30pm – Arrival/Socializing
6:30-7:00pm – Club Proceedings
7:00-8:00pm – Presentation
8:00-8:30pm – Q&A/Wrap up/Socializing
*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 6pm, and we must vacate by 8:45pm.
Please RSVP here.
Zoom Meeting Details:
Join Live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89732353303?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 897 3235 3303
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Our March meeting will include Demonstration Night. If you are interested in demonstrating your skills, please let me know so I can prepare enough space for all those who wish to participate (email program@minnesotamineralclub.org). Examples of past demonstrations include: geode cutting with a lapidary saw, rock drilling, Alaskan fossil collection display and discussion, gemstone tree display and discussion, Columbian mineral display and discussion, quartz variety display and discussion, MN rock and mineral display and discussion, bismuth display and discussion, wire wrapping display and discussion, and more!
I look forward to seeing you soon!
Kind regards,
Ashley Bedard
Program Director

March Club Meeting
2023-03-11 18:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our March meeting will include Demonstration Night. If you are interested in demonstrating your skills, please let me know so I can prepare enough space for all those who wish to participate (email program@minnesotamineralclub.org). Examples of past demonstrations include: geode cutting with a lapidary saw, rock drilling, Alaskan fossil collection display and discussion, gemstone tree display and discussion, Columbian mineral display and discussion, quartz variety display and discussion, MN rock and mineral display and discussion, bismuth display and discussion, wire wrapping display and discussion, and more! Here is the agenda for March 11th:
6:00-6:30pm – Arrival/Socializing
6:30-7:00pm – Club Proceedings
7:00-8:00pm – Demonstrations
8:00-8:30pm – Wrap up/Socializing
*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 6pm, and we must vacate by 8:45pm.
Please RSVP here.
Zoom Meeting Details:
Join Live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89732353303?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 897 3235 3303
Passcode: [REDACTED]
I look forward to seeing you soon!
Kind regards,
Ashley Bedard
Program Director

April Club Meeting
2023-04-08 18:00 - 20:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our April 8th club meeting will include a presentation on “Fluorescent Minerals” by Chris Clemens, Chapter President of the Midwest Chapter Fluorescent Mineral Society. He will be presenting via Zoom and we will live stream the presentation at the in-person meeting.
Here is the agenda for April 8th:
6:00-6:30pm – Arrival/Socializing
6:30-7:00pm – Club Proceedings
7:00-8:00pm – Presentation on Fluorescent Minerals
8:00-8:30pm – Q&A/Wrap up/Socializing
*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 6pm, and we must vacate by 8:45pm.
Please RSVP here: April Meeting RSVP
Zoom Meeting Details:
Join Live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89732353303?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 897 3235 3303
Passcode: [REDACTED]
I look forward to seeing you soon!
Kind regards,
Ashley Bedard
Program Director

May Club Meeting and Annual Auction
2023-05-13 18:00 - 20:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our May Club meeting will include brief club proceedings and then we will jump right into our Annual Club Auction!
Our annual Club Auction is one of our biggest Club fundraising activities. We will have a “Live” auction segment to go along with the Silent Auction. The success of this event in the past has been thanks to the charitable donations of our friends and members.
Donations are greatly appreciated! We already have donations from Kingsley North, Hi-Tech Diamond, ZRS Fossils & Gifts and several club members!
Here is the schedule:
6:00-6:30pm – Arrival/Socializing, Donate, Receive Bidding Number
6:30-6:45pm – Club Proceedings
6:45-7:05pm – Round 1 Silent Auction Bidding
7:05-7:15pm – 3 to 5 Tables close, Live Auction Item Bidding
7:15-7:30pm – Round 2 Silent Auction Bidding
7:30-7:40pm – 3 to 5 Tables close, Live Auction Bidding
7:40-7:50pm – Round 3 Silent Auction Bidding
7:50-8:00pm – 3 to 5 Tables close, Live Auction Bidding
8:00-8:30pm – Pay and pick up items won
8:30-8:45pm – Wrap up/Clean up
Please RSVP here. You will have the opportunity to list any items you would like to donate so we can get an idea of the amount of space needed for items. If you have a donation, but are unable to attend the event, please contact Ashley to arrange pick up/drop off.
To make the donation process run smoothly, we encourage members to print bid sheets and fill out the following fields: “Donated by”, “Description of item”, and “Minimum Starting Bid”. MMC volunteers will assign a lot number at the silent auction. Click here for bid sheets.

If you would like to volunteer at the auction, please email Ashley at program@minnesotamineralclub.org.

We hope you can join us!
Kind regards,
Ashley Bedard
Program Director

September 2023 Club Meeting
2023-09-09 18:00 - 20:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our September meeting will be held in-person at the Creekside Community Center and will also be broadcast via Zoom. Our meeting will focus on club updates, annual show information, and summer finds. Bring your rockhounding finds from this summer and share your stories with members!
Here is the schedule:
6:00-6:30pm – Arrival/Socializing
6:30-7:30pm – Club Proceedings, Annual Show Information
7:30-8:30pm – Summer Finds
8:30-8:45pm – Wrap up/Clean up
*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 6pm, and we must vacate by 8:45pm.
Zoom Meeting Details:
Join Live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89732353303?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 897 3235 3303
Passcode: [REDACTED]
We hope you can join us!
Kind regards,
Ashley Bedard
Program Director
RSVP here.

October Club Meeting
2023-10-14 18:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
The October 14th meeting will include the “Find of the Year” contest. It has been several years, but it is back by popular demand! Please see meeting agenda and contest category details below:

Here is the agenda for October 14:
6:00-6:30pm – Arrival/Socializing/Setting up contest entries
6:30-7:00pm – Club Proceedings
7:00-7:45pm – Viewing and Voting on “Find of the Year”
7:45-8:00pm – Socializing (while votes are counted)
8:00-8:30pm – Winners announced/Wrap up

“Find of the Year” Contest – Categories and Details
*Note: All categories include only items that were found or made during the current year, and not purchased with the exception of the Urban Rockhounding category. You must be in-person to enter the contest.Categories for the “Find of the Year” are as follows:

Fossils & Artifacts: May be a fossil specimen (plant or animal), or rockhound related artifact item found in the current year. Artifact examples could be arrowheads, or native rock tools. Judging criteria for this category may include material age and condition.
Cabochons: May be of various material and designs, made in the current year. Judging criteria for this category may include Quality of Material, Workmanship, Design, and Composition.
Carving: May be of various material and designs, made in the current year. Judging criteria for this category may include Quality of Material, Workmanship, Design, and Composition.
Faceting: May be of any material, made in the current year. Judging criteria for this category may includeQuality of Material, Perfection of Facet Meets, and Quality of Polish.
Hand Wrought Jewelry: May be items intended for personal ornamentation and made of various materials and designs, made in the current year. Examples include wire wrapping, bead stringing, silversmithing, etc. Judging criteria for this category may include Workmanship and Design.
Lake Superior Agates: May be any Lake Superior Agate collected during the current year. Judging criteria for this category may include Size, Color, and Pattern.
Other Agates: May be any agate collected during the current year that are not LSA. Examples include Montana Moss, Bubble Gum, Fire, etc. Judging criteria for this category may include Size, Color, and Pattern.
Rocks & Minerals: May include any rock, mineral, or crystal collected during the current year. Judging criteria for this category may include Size, Rarity, and Perfection.
Open Lapidary: May be lapidary works of various materials and designs not covered by the Cabochons, Carving, Faceting, and Hand Wrought Jewelry categories that were made in the current year. Examples include spheres, eggs, intarsia, mosaics, etc. Judging criteria for this category may include Quality of Material, Workmanship, and Design.
Urban Rockhounding: May include items related to the rockhound hobby that were acquired during the current year at garage or rummage sales, thrift shops, etc. This does not include any items purchased at Rock Shows or Shops. Judging criteria for this category may include Material, Rarity, and Condition.
Kids: May include rocks, minerals, fossils, artifacts, lapidary, etc. that were found or made during the current year. Judging criteria for this category may include Material, Size, Color, Condition, Workmanship, and Design.
People’s Choice Award: May be any item in the contest.

All winners will receive a certificate and will be published in the November RRN.

*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 6pm, and we must vacate by 8:45pm.

Please RSVP here: October 2023 Meeting RSVP
Join Live via Zoom: *Please note if you join via Zoom, I will end the Zoom portion after giving Zoomers a view of the contest entries (around 7:15pm).
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89732353303?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 897 3235 3303
Passcode: [REDACTED]
I look forward to seeing you soon!
Ashley Bedard
Program Director

November 2023 Club Meeting
2023-11-11 18:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our November 11th meeting will include a presentation by Eric Moen on “The Magic of Faceting”.

Here is a list of remaining meetings for 2023:

November 11 – Club Meeting and Presentation by Eric Moen
December 9 – Club Meeting, Potluck, and Installation of 2024 Officers

Here is the agenda for November 11:
6:00-6:30pm – Arrival/Socializing
6:30-7:00pm – Club Business
7:00-8:00pm -Presentation
8:00-8:30pm – Wrap up/Socializing
8:30-8:45pm – Clean Up

*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 6pm, and we must vacate by 8:45pm.

Please RSVP here: November 2023 Meeting RSVP
**Please note, if you are interested in participating in the rock swap, you will be able to indicate that on the RSVP link above. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please see the details in the November RRN.
Join Live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89732353303?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 897 3235 3303
Passcode: [REDACTED]

I look forward to seeing you soon!
Ashley Bedard
Program Director

December 2023 Club Meeting
2023-12-09 18:00 - 20:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our December meeting will be held in-person at the Creekside Community Center and will also be broadcast via Zoom. Our program will include a potluck, installation of 2024 Officers, and a gift exchange. The potluck and gift exchange are voluntary. Feel free to bring a dish to share. If you would like to participate in the gift exchange, please bring a wrapped $10-15 rock, mineral, or fossil themed gift for exchange.

Here is the schedule:
6:00-6:30pm – Arrival/Socializing/Potluck
6:30-7:30pm – Club Proceedings/Installation of 2024 Officers
7:30-8:30pm – Potluck/Gift Exchange/Socializing
8:30-8:45pm – Wrap Up/Clean up
*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 6pm, and we must vacate by 8:45pm.
Please RSVP here: December 2023 Meeting RSVP

**Please note, if you are interested in participating in the rock swap, please contact John Porter at jpo636@gmail.com. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please see the details in the November RRN.
Join Live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89732353303?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 897 3235 3303
Passcode: [REDACTED]

I look forward to seeing you soon!
Ashley Bedard
Program Director

January 2024 Club Meeting and Presentation
2024-01-13 18:00 - 20:45 (America/Chicago) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our January meeting will be held in-person at the Creekside Community Center and will also be broadcast via Zoom. Our program will include regular club business and a presentation by Philip Persson from Persson Rare Minerals LLC in Golden, Colorado.

January Meeting Schedule:
6:00-6:30pm – Socializing/Member Rock Swap-Sale
6:30-7:00pm – Club Business
7:00-8:15pm – Presentation by Philip Persson
8:15-8:45pm – Socializing/Wrap up
*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 6pm, and we must vacate by 8:45pm.
Please RSVP here: January 2024 Meeting RSVP

**Please note, if you are interested in participating in the rock swap, please contact John Porter at jpo636@gmail.com. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please see the details in the November RRN.
Join Live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89732353303?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 845 1788 6198
Passcode: [REDACTED]

I look forward to seeing you soon!
Laura Pionek
Program Director

February 2024 Club Meeting and Presentation - The Paleo Discoveries of the Dinosaur Ridge by Erin LaCount
2024-02-10 18:00 - 20:45 (America/Chicago) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our February meeting will be held in-person at the Creekside Community Center and will also be broadcast via Zoom. Our program will include regular club business and a presentation on The Paleo Discoveries of the Dinosaur Ridge given by Erin LaCount, the Education Programs Director at Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison, Colorado.
February Meeting Schedule:

6:00-6:30pm – Socializing/Member Rock Swap-Sale
6:30-7:00pm – Club Business
7:00-8:15pm – Presentation: The Paleo Discoveries of the Dinosaur Ridge by Erin LaCount
8:15-8:45pm – Socializing/Wrap up
*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 6pm, and we must vacate by 8:45pm.

Please RSVP here: February 2024 Meeting RSVP

**Please note, if you are interested in participating in the rock swap, please contact John Porter at jpo636@gmail.com. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please see the details in the November RRN.
Join Live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3039416730?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 303 941 6730
Passcode: [REDACTED]

I look forward to seeing you soon!
Laura Pionek
Program Director

March 2024 Club Meeting and Demonstrations Night
2024-03-09 18:00 - 20:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our March meeting will include Demonstration Night. If you are interested in demonstrating your skills, please let me know so I can prepare enough space for all those who wish to participate (email program@minnesotamineralclub.org). Examples of past demonstrations include: geode cutting with a lapidary saw, rock drilling, Alaskan fossil collection display and discussion, gemstone tree display and discussion, Columbian mineral display and discussion, quartz variety display and discussion, MN rock and mineral display and discussion, bismuth display and discussion, wire wrapping display and discussion, and more! Here is the agenda for March 11th:
March Meeting Schedule:
6:00-6:30pm – Arrival/Socializing
6:30-7:00pm – Club Business
7:00-8:00pm – Demonstrations
8:00-8:30pm – Wrap up/Socializing
*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 6pm, and we must vacate by 8:45pm.
Please RSVP here: March 2024 Meeting RSVP

**Please note, if you are interested in participating in the rock swap, please contact John Porter at jpo636@gmail.com. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please see the details in the November RRN.
Join Live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3039416730?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 303 941 6730
Passcode: [REDACTED]

I look forward to seeing you soon!
Laura Pionek
Program Director

April 2024 Club Meeting and Presentation by The Agate Man!
2024-04-13 18:00 - 20:45 (America/Chicago) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
We are very excited to be welcoming The Agate Man to the Creekside Community Center. Lyndon D. Johnson will be bringing ~ 300lbs of specimens and sharing his knowledge of Lake Superior Agates and other Minnesota gems and minerals. Lyndon is well-known for the incredible agates he finds, including a 31-pound dendritic agate and his most recent find, a 21-pound brecciated agate! He is the author of Lake Superior Agates, What to Look For and has been featured on Minnesota Bound, Due North Outdoors and Pioneer PBS’ Landmarks – Minnesota Collections.
It is sure to be a fun and informative evening!

April Meeting Schedule:
6:00-6:30pm – Socializing/Member Rock Swap-Sale
6:30-7:00pm – Club Business
7:00-8:15pm – Presentation by the Agate Man
8:15-8:45pm – Socializing/Wrap up
*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 6pm, and we must vacate by 8:45pm.
Please RSVP here: April 2024 Meeting RSVP

**Please note, if you are interested in participating in the rock swap, please contact John Porter at jpo636@gmail.com. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please see the details in the November RRN.
Join Live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3039416730?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 303 941 6730
Passcode: [REDACTED]

I look forward to seeing you soon!
Laura Pionek
Program Director

May 2024 Club Meeting and Spring Auction
2024-05-11 18:00 - 20:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our May Club meeting will include brief club proceedings and then we will jump right into our Spring Auction (which means, yes… we are having more than one auction this year!)
Our club auctions are some of our biggest Club fundraising activities. We will have a “Live” auction segment to go along with the Silent Auction. The success of this event in the past has been thanks to the charitable donations of our friends and members.
CLICK here to view several piece of lapidary equipment that will be featured in the live auction.
Donations are greatly appreciated, so please reach out to program@minnesotamineralclub.org if you have donations or would like to suggest businesses for us to reach out to.
May Meeting and Annual Auction Schedule:6:00-6:30pm – Arrival/Socializing, Donate, Receive Bidding Number6:30-6:45pm – Club Business6:45-7:05pm – Round 1 Silent Auction Bidding7:05-7:15pm – 3 to 5 Tables close, Live Auction Item Bidding7:15-7:30pm – Round 2 Silent Auction Bidding7:30-7:40pm – 3 to 5 Tables close, Live Auction Bidding7:40-7:50pm – Round 3 Silent Auction Bidding7:50-8:00pm – 3 to 5 Tables close, Live Auction Bidding8:00-8:30pm – Pay and pick up items won8:30-8:45pm – Wrap up/Clean up

Please May Meeting and Auction RSVP.
You will have the opportunity to list any items you would like to donate so we can get an idea of the amount of space needed for items. If you have a donation, but are unable to attend the event, please contact Ashley to arrange pick up/drop off.
To make the donation process run smoothly, we encourage members to print bid sheets and fill out the following fields: “Donated by”, “Description of item”, and “Minimum Starting Bid”. MMC volunteers will assign a lot number at the silent auction. Click here to download Bid Sheets.

If you would like to volunteer at the auction, please email Laura at program@minnesotamineralclub.org.

We hope you can join us!
Cheers,Laura PionekProgram Director

September 2024 Club Meeting and Presentation by NASA Space Ambassador
2024-09-14 14:30 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
We are thrilled to announce we will be having a guest speaker from NASA’s Space Ambassador program. Kevin Cole is an Assistant Professor of Earth Science and Astronomy in the Math/Science Department of Harper College and his talk, titled “DART, Hera, and Planetary Defense”, will educate us on planetary defense and the threat of potentially harmful asteroid impacts. He has been involved in meteorite analysis and classification (using the electron-probe micro-analyzer at the University of Illinois-Chicago) for the Planetary Studies Foundation. In addition, he holds a position as a public lecturer for the Cernan Earth and Space Center, Triton College. Prior to that, Kevin was a Staff Scientist for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) where he participated in advanced planetary mission concept analyses under various NASA contracts.

September Meeting Schedule:2:30-3:00pm – Socializing/Member Rock Swap-Sale3:00-3:30pm – Club Proceedings3:30-4:30pm – Guest Speaker: Kevin Cole, NASA Space Ambassador “DART, Hera, and Planetary Defense”4:30-5:00pm – Socializing/Wrap up

*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 2:30pm, and we must vacate by 5:00pm.

Please RSVP here: September 2024 Meeting RSVP

**Please note, if you are interested in participating in the rock swap, please contact John Porter at jpo636@gmail.com. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please see the details in the latest RRN.

Zoom Meeting Details:Join Live via Zoom:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3039416730?pwd=[REDACTED] ID: 303 941 6730Passcode: [REDACTED]
We hope you can join us!
Cheers,Laura PionekProgram Director

October 2024 Club Meeting
2024-10-12 14:30 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our October Club meeting will include brief club proceedings and then Ben Chorn will treat us to a great presentation on Montana Moss Agates
We are very excited to welcome our own Ben Chorn to teach us about the amazing Moss Agates from Montana. Ben is professional Geologist licensed in Illinois and Minnesota, He got his a bachelors in Geology and in Business Management from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana. He went on to earn his MS in Geology from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Ben travels to Montana every year to unearth more incredible moss agates. He is also a key volunteer in the Minnesota Mineral Club, being an instrumental contributor to the clubs success for many years.
October Meeting Schedule:2:30-3:00pm – Socializing/Member Rock Swap-Sale3:00-3:30pm – Club Proceedings3:30-4:30pm – Guest Speaker: Ben Chorn “Moss Agates from Montana”4:30-5:00pm – Socializing/Wrap up
Please RSVP here:October Meeting RSVP.

**Please note, if you are interested in participating in the rock swap, please contact John Porter at jpo636@gmail.com. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please see the details in the latest RRN.

Zoom Meeting Details:
Join Live via Zoom:
https://zoom.us/meeting/84329591949?amp_device_id=71977fb3-c1a5-46f2-bcb4-a6eca138b97a

Meeting ID: 303 941 6730
Passcode: [REDACTED]
We hope you can join us!
Cheers,Laura PionekProgram Director

November 2024 Club Meeting Sharing Finds + Find of the Year Contest
2024-11-09 14:30 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
In our November meeting we will be running our 2nd Annual “Find of the Year” contest as well as sharing our summer finds, so bring your rockhounding finds from this summer and share your stories with members and be ready to vote on the stellar finds of the 2024 season! Please see meeting agenda and contest category details below. We will additionally do our normal club updates and share information about the 2024 Annual Show.
The meeting will be held in-person at the Creekside Community Center and will also be broadcast via Zoom.

September Meeting Schedule:2:30-2:45pm – Arrival/Socializing2:45-3:15pm – Club Proceedings, Annual Show Information3:15-4:15pm – Summer Finds Viewing and Voting on “Find of the Year”4:15-4:30pm – Socializing (while votes are counted)4:30-5:00pm – Winners announced/Wrap up
“Find of the Year” Contest – Categories and Details*Note: All categories include only items that were found or made during the current year, and not purchased with the exception of the Urban Rockhounding category. You must be in-person to enter the contest. Categories for the “Find of the Year” are as follows:

Fossils & Artifacts: May be a fossil specimen (plant or animal), or rockhound related artifact item found in the current year. Artifact examples could be arrowheads, or native rock tools. Judging criteria for this category may include material age and condition.
Cabochons: May be of various material and designs, made in the current year. Judging criteria for this category may include Quality of Material, Workmanship, Design, and Composition.
Carving: May be of various material and designs, made in the current year. Judging criteria for this category may include Quality of Material, Workmanship, Design, and Composition.
Faceting: May be of any material, made in the current year. Judging criteria for this category may includeQuality of Material, Perfection of Facet Meets, and Quality of Polish.
Hand Wrought Jewelry: May be items intended for personal ornamentation and made of various materials and designs, made in the current year. Examples include wire wrapping, bead stringing, silversmithing, etc. Judging criteria for this category may include Workmanship and Design.
Lake Superior Agates: May be any Lake Superior Agate collected during the current year. Judging criteria for this category may include Size, Color, and Pattern.
Other Agates: May be any agate collected during the current year that are not LSA. Examples include Montana Moss, Bubble Gum, Fire, etc. Judging criteria for this category may include Size, Color, and Pattern.
Rocks & Minerals: May include any rock, mineral, or crystal collected during the current year. Judging criteria for this category may include Size, Rarity, and Perfection.
Open Lapidary: May be lapidary works of various materials and designs not covered by the Cabochons, Carving, Faceting, and Hand Wrought Jewelry categories that were made in the current year. Examples include spheres, eggs, intarsia, mosaics, etc. Judging criteria for this category may include Quality of Material, Workmanship, and Design.
Urban Rockhounding: May include items related to the rockhound hobby that were acquired during the current year at garage or rummage sales, thrift shops, etc. This does not include any items purchased at Rock Shows or Shops. Judging criteria for this category may include Material, Rarity, and Condition.
Kids: May include rocks, minerals, fossils, artifacts, lapidary, etc. that were found or made during the current year. Judging criteria for this category may include Material, Size, Color, Condition, Workmanship, and Design.
People’s Choice Award: May be any item in the contest.

All winners will receive a certificate and will be published in the November 2024 RRN.

*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 2:30pm, and we must vacate by 5:00pm.
Please RSVP here: November 2024 Meeting RSVP

Join Live via Zoom:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3039416730?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 303 941 6730Passcode: [REDACTED]

I look forward to seeing you soon!Laura PionekProgram Director

December 2024 Club Meeting, 2025 Officer Installment + Holiday Potluck
2024-12-14 14:30 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our December meeting will be held in-person at the Creekside Community Center and will also be broadcast via Zoom. Our program will include a potluck, installation of 2025 Officers, and a gift exchange. The potluck and gift exchange are voluntary. Feel free to bring a dish to share. If you would like to participate in the gift exchange, please bring a wrapped $10-15 rock, mineral, or fossil themed gift for exchange.

Here is the schedule:

2:30-3:00pm – Arrival/Socializing/Potluck3:00-3:45pm – Club Proceedings/Installation of 2025 Officers3:45-4:45pm – Potluck/Gift Exchange/Socializing4:45-5:00pm – Wrap Up/Clean up

*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 2:30pm, and we must vacate by 5:00pm.

Please RSVP here: December 2024 Meeting RSVP

**Please note, if you are interested in participating in the rock swap, please contact John Porter at jpo636@gmail.com. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please see the details in the November RRN.

Join Live via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3039416730?pwd=[REDACTED] ID: 303 941 6730Passcode: [REDACTED]

I look forward to seeing you soon!Laura PionekProgram Director

January 2025 Club Meeting
2025-01-11 14:30 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Our first club meeting of 2025 is scheduled for Saturday, January 11 at 2:30 PM in the Shakopee Community Center. Please plan to attend because there is much important club business that needs your input.

Here is the meeting schedule:2:30 – 3:00 PM Socializing and Member Rock Sales3:00 – 4:00 PM Club Business including swearing-in of 2025 Board members, conversion to 501(c)(3) nonprofit, presentation and approval of 2025 budget, discussion about potential new meeting home, and door prize drawings4:00 -4:30 PM Discuss future program ideas and gather member input4:30 – 5:00 PM Meeting wrap-up and meeting room clean-up (the club is responsible for vacuuming, cleaning tables and chairs and putting them away)

As always, our January meeting will be held in person and online.

Join Live via Zoom: https://www.zoom.us/meeting/87357191133?meetingMasterEventId=czw5QkYTYSBkHsCqdDy7w&amp_device_id=cdada48f-01c6-4181-841c-875bf167567fMeeting ID: 873 5719 1133 Passcode: [REDACTED]

*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 2:30pm, and we must vacate by 5:00pm.

ZOOM ONLY February 2025 Club Meeting
2025-02-08 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
The BOD has voted to cancel the IN-PERSON portion of the club meeting on Saturday, February 8, 2025 due to the incoming storm. Member safety is a top priority.The meeting will proceed as scheduled via ZOOM.Because we are in mid transition from Mail Chimp to Mail Poet - those who have confirmed will receive this notification 2 times - sorry for the inconvenience!

Our February 2025 club meeting is scheduled for Saturday, February 8th at 2:30 PM ON ZOOM ONLY.We have a great presentation lined up for our meeting! Dr. Bill Cordua will be presenting via zoom on The Rock Elm Meteor Impact Structure, Pierce County, WI: discovery and geology. The Rock Elm structure has been recognized as a geological anomaly for over a century. Known for gold and diamond finds, it has attracted the attention of prospectors, charlatans and scientists. The program focuses on how science has unraveled this feature’s fascinating origin and history. Dr. Bill Cordua is a retired professor from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls where he taught geology for 40 years. He has published many technical articles and written over hundreds of articles for the general public on geology. This includes a monthly column for the Minnesota Mineral Club newsletter. Dr. Cordua is in the education division of the Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame and has received the Katherine Greacen Nelson Award honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to the earth sciences in Wisconsin.

Here is the meeting schedule:2:30 – 3:00 PM Socializing3:00 – 3:15 PM Club Business3:15 – 4:30 PM Presentation by Dr. Bill Cordua titled “The Rock Elm Meteor Impact Structure, Pierce County, WI: discovery and geology.”

Join Live via Zoom: https://www.zoom.us/meeting/87357191133?meetingMasterEventId=czw5QkYTYSBkHsCqdDy7w&amp_device_id=cdada48f-01c6-4181-841c-875bf167567fMeeting ID: 873 5719 1133 Passcode: [REDACTED]

*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 2:00pm, and we must vacate by 5:00pm.

March 2025 Club Meeting
2025-03-08 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | MN
MMC March 2025 Meeting Saturday, March 8, 2025 @ 1:00pm

Happy Late Winter Rockhounds!(Spring arrives on March 20 – Yay!)

The March club meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 8th at 1:00 PM in the Shakopee Community Center. NOTE: THIS IS A DIFFERENT TIME THAN USUAL DUE TO OTHER EVENTS AT SHAKOPEE

Here is the meeting schedule:1:00 – 1:30 PM Socializing and Member Rock Sales1:30 – 2:00 PM Club Business Meeting2:00 – 3:30 PM Program: The Geology and Mining History of Utah by Jeremy FullerDoor Prizes3:30 – 4:00 PM Meeting wrap-up and meeting room clean-up

As always, our March meeting will be held in person and online.

Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/83462485005?pwd=[REDACTED] ID: 834 6248 5005Passcode: [REDACTED]

*Please note that we are not able to enter the meeting space until 1:00pm, and we must vacate by 4:00pm.**Also note, if you are interested in participating in the Member Rock Sale, please contact John Porter at jpo636@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Respectfully,

JohnMMC Program Director

MMC Juniors March Meeting
2025-03-16 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Zoom Meeting
We are so excited to be kicking off the MMC Juniors series in 2025 with our first MMC Juniors meeting on March 16th from 2-4pm. At our first meeting, we will get to know each other, learn about what the badge program entails and then get into a guided activity. Meetings will all be virtual at this time, so join us on zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85427477031?pwd=[REDACTED]

All kids participating in the program will receive a Future Rockhounds of America (FRA) Membership Patch.

The first badge we will work on earning together is the Rocks & Minerals badge. Each kiddo will need to complete 3 activities in the FRA curriculum related to this badge.

If you would like to check out the activity options for earning the Rocks & Minerals badge, check it out here: https://www.juniors.amfed.org/fra-badge-program/the-badges/rocks-minerals. Kids are welcome to work through the activities on their own. The club sessions will afford the opportunity to work through two activities (the minimum requirement for a badge) over the course of two MMC Juniors meetings. Additionally, the RRN will feature instructions for doing an activity at home. Thus, over the course of two months, kids should be able to earn a badge using our guided meetings & RRN content.

When a kiddo completes the minimum three activities, a badge completion form can be completed and sent in to juniors@minnesotamineralclub.org and MMC will certify that FRA send the badge out to your family.

April 2025 Club Meeting
2025-04-12 14:30 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
April is Auction time at the Minnesota Mineral Club!

Our first live auction of the year, featuring our favorite auctioneer, Dan Bissonnette, will highlight our April 12th meeting at the Shakopee Community Center. All who plan to attend and bid are encouraged to pre-register. This will save you time when you arrive. To pre-register, email John Porter at jpo636@gmail.com to request a bid paddle. You will receive a confirmation email. Then simply show up on April 12th , pick up the bid paddle with your name attached and have fun. We plan to auction off 60 – 70 items from a collection that was donated to the club. These were collected in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s and many include a file card with theitems’ information.Here is the Zoom information for those planning to attend via computer or phone.Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/81778814582?pwd=[REDACTED] ID: 817 7881 4582Passcode: [REDACTED]

A few notes about upcoming programs:

May’s meeting will be “Demonstration Day.” Want to demonstrate? Contact John Porter.

September’s meeting will feature an introduction to the new Clubhouse as well as highlights from 2025 club field trips.

October will be our “Find of the Year” contest.

November will be the club’s major Fall Auction (we need and appreciate your item donations).

December is the club’s 80th Anniversary and will feature a banquet and memories from past years.

Hope to see you at the April auction.

MMC Juniors April Meeting
2025-04-27 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | MN
Our next MMC Juniors meeting will be held on April 27, 2025 at 2:00pm. As a reminder, the meeting will be virtual only and you can find the zoom link below.

At our next meeting we will be exploring Mineral Identification and each kiddo will learn how we use various tests to determine what a mineral is. We will be sending each kid their own set of minerals AND the supplies necessary to do the testing, so we can all walk through mineral identification together on the call. Please complete the form (link below) by April 1, 2025 so we can get these in the mail to you!

Register & Get the Kit!

Zoom:

Minnesota Mineral Club is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: MMC Juniors MeetingTime: Apr 27, 2025 02:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/83190549123?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 831 9054 9123Passcode: [REDACTED]

May 2025 Club Meeting
2025-05-10 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Shakopee Community Center, 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Event information coming soon!
