Rock Talk February 2025

St Lucie County Rock & Gem Club
Meeting Minutes January 26, 2025
La Buona Vita Club, 8601 S Federal Hwy., Port St. Lucie, FL 34952
Combined Executive Board & General Meeting Minutes

Attendance was taken and will be attached to the final minutes.

A quorum having been established, the meeting was called to order by President MoiraLynn Mefein at 2:00 pm.

The president apologized about the lack of a Zoom connection, explaining there had been no information received. Jennifer Wilkes volunteered to be back up Zoom hostess going forward.

Minutes Approval

Corrections to November meeting minutes that estimated costs of repair to roof at $6,000, not $60,000 and septic repair estimated at $8-10,000 not $80-100,000. Scott Turner motioned to accept changes, MeriJo Theobald seconded the motion. The motion passed.

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Wendy Mathisen announced December revenue at $5500. Expenses (taxes, stipends, web page design) cost $5106. She also stated that the initial payment for the Annual Show in October 2025 has been paid.

The Treasurer’s report also noted that the budget to be voted on in February include a change in the accountant’s fee (increase) and notification that current insurance will not renew so a new insurance company is being sought.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

2025 Show Committee Report

MeriJo is continuing as annual Show Chairman for 2025. She announced the following dates:

• Setup, Friday, October 17
• Show: Saturday and Sunday October 18 and 19

Vendor info is being sent out. September 15 will be the absolute cut-off date for vendor registration, including Club members. Those with show-related questions can find information at [email protected].

Meri Jo specifically requested that we put together a team of volunteers to work together on details of the Show. Additional suggestions include:

• Monthly Zoom meetings with the Show team
• Raffle table set up closer to ticket sales to maximize exposure
• Requesting one item per class to be donated for raffle
• Requesting a donation from each vendor to fund hourly raffles to increase sales
• Requesting local business donations of a gift basket or other type of donation sponsorship to increase awareness and sales
• Tee shirts and other club items for retail sale are actively being looked into

Southeast Federation

Southeast Federation dues have been paid. Their next event, the Rockhound Round-up, is in Live Oak on February 28^th. If Club members wish to sell there, the cost of a 10 x 20 space is$50. Vendors must provide their own tables and chairs. They may choose to sell for the entire weekend or for a shorter time.

Registrar

Registrar Terry Kaye reports we need to fill classes! Each One Reach one! Session 2 begins Monday March 17th, and ends on May 10th. Members are urged to consider holding pop-up classes. They can call Terry for information about available time slots.

Workshop and Building

Bob Hanson and Wendy installed a new toilet in the workshop restroom. They were loudly thanked by members at the meeting.

Lockers have been installed and secured in the front room. We will have a raffle prior to each session, offering lockers, each for $20, to use during the entire class session. Only one person was interested in bidding for a locker for the remainder of Session 1, so there was no need for a raffle. Kathy Jenkins paid $10 for a locker on the second row.

We were reminded that safety is always essential. MoiraLynn reported that a member recently told her of finding chairs blocking the workshop exits and of seeing a bottle of mineral oil left near one of the kilns.

Membership

Kathy Jenkins reported that we still have members who have not renewed for 2025. She is contacting former members, and encouraging them to rejoin. Our Volunteer Coordinators will be asked to follow up, as well.

Newsletter

MoiraLynn is continuing as the newsletter editor and invited all members to submit information and photos to be included.

Webmaster

Wendy has previewed the new website, along with all the teachers, They are in agreement that the changes mark a great improvement and should help attract new members, while providing new and improved resources for those who are already active in the Club. The Rock Talk will be on the website, as well as an interactive blog that will showcase our Club!

Volunteer Coordinators

Melinda Cunningham and Carolyn Bishop are continuing in this role. Although the Show is their biggest project, a task list, phone tree list, and members best-communication choice (email, phone, text) list are in the works.

Zoom Coordinator

There was no zoom information available prior to this meeting. MoiraLynn will speak with the current Zoom coordinator, Diane Carroll. Jennifer Wilkes volunteered to be back up Zoom hostess going forward.

Policies and Procedures Document

Kathy Jenkins is reviewing existing documents. MoiraLynn has asked her to coordinate the effort to finalize the document.

Skills Certification

Skill certification and tool/machine checklists are requested from each teacher, specific to their class. We can then cross-reference the information. This should increase both knowledge and safety for students and instructors.

We also have a goal of making QR-coded videos and other training materials that can be added to our web site, making them available to all members.

Old Business

Teacher’s meeting questions were discussed.

• Discount to $99 for 2nd or more classes per session? Kathy Jenkins motioned for all current fees to stay as is, based on the minimal difference. Meri Jo seconded. The No-Change motion passed.
• Full stipend to be paid for one or more students per class? It will remain the teacher’s choice as to whether to hold a class for less than three students. However the motion was made to pay the full stipend, regardless of the number of students. The motion was made by Kathy Jenkins and seconded by Bob Hanson. The motion passed.
• It was noted that all students, including those taking free classes, must pay laboratory and/or consumables fees for any class they attend.

There was some discussion of ways to promote the Club.

New rack card to be designed

• Scott working on internal and external YouTube videos
• Would love ideas and great news to showcase on the New Website Coming soon
• Cocoa Village Merritt Island show March 1^st – hand out Club information brochures.

 
New Business

MoiraLynn shared her goals: visibility to increase show participation, double our membership, sharing newsletter to editors and calendar resources, and recruiting Community Ambassadors for our club.

Christmas Party reservation for December 7 at La Buona Vita has been made. Questions remain over whether we should stay there or consider gathering at a restaurant. An alternative was also suggested: to stay at La Buona Vita, but have the meal catered. We are looking into various options.

We would like to create a “Trailer Czar” position and committee to inventory all contents of the trailer and to identify all stored items that are directly relevant to the annual show. This would make set-up for the show much more efficient.

LauraKay Whitaker-Darvil talked about the Martin County Open Studio Tour, scheduled for March 1^st and 2^nd. She brought brochures and left additional ones to be taken to the workshop. She also announced the upcoming Women’s Art exhibition at the Bailey Gallery in Hobe Sound, running February 14^th till March 28^th. She has many items on display and for sale at the gallery.

Wendy Mathisen announced that she was informed that Steve Scales has passed away. She brought a condolence card for members to sign, so that it could be sent to his widow.

We repeated the information that a “Meet and Greet” for new and current members scheduled for Sunday Feb 2 from 2-4 at the Workshop. Tailgating encouraged. Come visit and share!

The meeting adjourned at 4 p.m.