EFMLS ANNUAL CONVENTION MARCH 5, 6, 7, 2010 Stanton (Newark/Christiana) Delaware Welcome to Delaware, the First State The Delaware Mineralogical Society invites you to join us at our 47th Annual GEM MINERAL & FOSSIL SHOW held in conjunction with the 60th EFMLS Annual Convention, in Stanton/Newark/Christiana, Delaware, just south of Wilmington. Our club is honored to host the convention and we look forward to all the excitement and camaraderie that comes with the convention. The theme of the DMS show is “50 Years, 50 States”, which alludes to our club’s celebration of 50 years as an incorporated mineral society. Our show has a reputation of having excellent exhibits and displays of minerals, gems and fossils. Hopefully this year we will see specimens from many or all of the 50 States. Christiana, Delaware, borders on the port of Wilmington, our largest city. We are located about 30 miles from Philadelphia and can be reached by air travel, Interstate 95, Amtrak, and by boat. Our area has a full range of amenities, such as modest to premium lodgings, great local and starred eating establishments, and entertainment from museums to nightlife. Special, and close by, points of interest are featured on the last page of this information segment. National and natural history abounds throughout northern Delaware and nearby Pennsylvania. Various historic sites mark the events and places on the founding of our nation, all within about 30 miles of our show. The Show Our Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show takes place at Delaware Technical & Community College, just off Interstate 95, Stanton Exit, and less than _ mile from the Hilton Wilmington/Christiana, our convention hotel. Show hours are Saturday, 10-6 and Sunday 11-5. The show has 19 dealers, featuring minerals, fossils, gems, beads, jewelry and jewelrymaking tools and supplies and lapidary items. We have educational exhibits, a large fluorescent mineral display, and lapidary demonstrations. Our junior booth offers tons of specimens and rough at rock bottom prices. We have a raffle, door prizes, a cafeteria, and ample free parking. Exhibits The Delaware Mineralogical Society has always had outstanding exhibits at our shows. To see previous years’ displays, go to our website <www.delminsociety.net> and click on the March 6,7 show box. We have pictures all the way back to 2004. You are welcome to display at our show and we have included competitive and non-competitive applications. DMS has a limited number of display cases available. Bring your own or use one of ours. First come, first serve. Displays can be set up on Friday evening or early Saturday. Please let us know when you intend to set up your exhibit. Convention Hotel Except for the DMS Show itself, all EFMLS convention activities are at the Hilton Wilmington/Christiana Hotel. The hotel is located less than one mile from I-95, and 30 miles south of the Philadelphia International Airport. Hotel amenities include a swimming pool, fitness center, spa tub, Brasserie Grille, and Hunt Club Lounge. The hotel also offers room service, a business center, concierge assistance, valet parking (fee applies), and free self-parking. All rooms feature high speed internet access, cable TV, in-room movies, coffee makers, voicemail, desks, individual climate control, irons and ironing boards, and hairdryers. The room rate for either 2 doubles or 1 king is $99 plus tax. EFMLS attendees should secure their reservations via a major credit card ASAP and prior to February 3, 2010. The Hilton has guaranteed us a block of rooms until February 3. After that date, the rooms are not guaranteed. Late decisions on attending may result in your having to stay at another motel. The Hilton is very nice. Mention the Delaware Mineral Society when you make your reservations in order to receive the reduced room rate. The toll free number is 1-800-348-3133. The address of the Hilton Wilmington/Christiana is 100 Continental Drive, Newark DE 19713, 302-454-1500. Driving Directions: From the North (Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey): Follow Interstate 95 South to Delaware Exit 4B (Stanton Metroform). Bear right at the top of the exit ramp and proceed to Churchmen’s Road (Route 58) to the fifth traffic light. Turn left at the fifth light onto Continental Drive. The Hilton Wilmington/Christiana is the first driveway on the left. From the South (Baltimore, Washington, DC): Follow Interstate 95 North to Delaware. Take Delaware exit 4B (Route 7 North). Stay in the right-hand lane and proceed to exit 166 (Churchman’s Road/Churchman’s Crossing). Turn right at the bottom of the exit ramp (1st traffic light) and follow Route 58 west to the 4th traffic light and make a left onto Continental Drive. The Hilton Wilmington/Christiana is the first driveway on the left. Convention Activities Friday, March 5, 2010 3:00 – 4:00 pm – Cracker Barrel Meeting and Convention Registration in the Le Chameleon Room of the Hotel. Name badges which will admit you to the show if you’ve registered and will identify your choice of entree for the Saturday night banquet will be distributed. The Cracker Barrel is an informal discussion of issues without the usual parliamentary procedure of the annual meeting. Assorted soft drinks and bottle water will be served. 4:30 – 7:00 pm – Dinner, dutch treat. Nearby restaurants include: The Brasserie (on site) Red Lobster Border Café (Mexican) Michaels Applebees Bugaboo Creek Steak House Olive Garden All the off site choices are within a few miles of the Hilton Site. 7:30 – 10:00 pm – EFMLS Annual Meeting in the Le Chameleon Room of the Hotel. Registration begins at 7:00 pm. Assorted cookies, brownies, soft drinks, bottled water and coffee served. Saturday, March 6, 2010 10:00 am – The 47th Annual Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show opens at the Delaware Technical & Community College within a few mile of the Hilton. Your name badge is your admittance to the show. 6:00 – 7:00 pm – Happy Hour cash bar at the Le Chameleon room at the Hilton. 7:00 – 10:00 pm – Awards Banquet at the Le Chameleon Room. Cost is $40 per person. The dinner will include a tossed salad with house dressing and your choice of one entrée: Prime Rib of Beef Au Jus Horseradish Cream (we must have a minimum of 20 reservations for this entrée) Mediterranean Rockfish Roasted Tomatoes, Capers Olive Oil and White Wine Sauteed Breast of Chicken with Spinach and Pine Nuts Tomatoes, Roasted Red Pepper Coulis Dessert: Lemon Layer Cake along with Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, Assorted Sodas and Gourmet Tea. Please indicate on the registration form the number of dinner tickets you want and your choice of entrée. Your name badge must be worn since it indicates your entrée choice. In addition to great food, there will also be presentation of awards, a special guest speaker, and installation of new officers as well as a surprise or two. Sunday, March 7, 2010 8:00 am – Editors Breakfast in Parlor 184 of the Hilton. Cost is $24 per person. Food served will be a Fresh Fruit Display, Assorted Cold Cereals, Bakery Fresh Muffins and Fruit Danishes, Biscuits, Bagels, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Sausage and Breakfast Potatoes. Please indicate the number of breakfast tickets you wish on the registration form. 11:00 am – 5pm – DMS Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show. Deadlines and Money IMPORTANT! Hilton room reservations – February 3, 2010 Registration deadline – February 17, 2010 Deadline for exhibits – February 20, 2010 If you have any questions, please contact: Alex Kane Assistant Show Chairman 610-274-8228 e-mail: <aandmkane2@gmail.com> or Matt Charsky 703-522-7415 e-mail <charsky.matthew@epa.gov> Things to do and see while visiting Delaware: Longwood Gardens – The World’s Premier Horticultural Showcase *** 1,050 acres of indoor and outdoor gardens, woodlands, and meadows. Kennett Square, Pa – 14 miles from Christiana Hilton. <www.longwoodgardens.org> Brandywine River Museum - Unparalleled collection of works by three generations of Wyeths.Chadds Ford, PA – 21 miles from Christiana Hilton <www.brandywinemuseum.org> Chadds Ford Winery - Pennsylvania’s premier wineryChadds Ford, PA – 21 miles from Christiana Hilton <www.thebrandywine.com/attractions/chaddsfordwinery.html> Hagley Museum and Library - Hagley is the site of the gunpowder works founded by E. I. du Pont in 1802 on the banks of the Brandywine River. 11 miles from Christiana Hilton. <www.hagley.lib.de.us/info.html> Olde New Castle - Historic town established in 1651 with many old houses and fine restaurants. 6 miles from Christiana Hilton <www.thebrandywine.com/go/historic_new_castle.html> Delaware Park Casino - Slot machines and restaurants 1 mile from Christiana Hilton <www.delawarepark.com> Christiana Mall - Tax free shopping with over 130 stores. 1 mile from Christiana Hilton. <www.shopchristianamall.com> *** These three sites are within 5 miles of each other. We look forward to welcoming you and your friends to a wonderful weekend in Delaware. Convention registration and exhibitor forms are below. All forms may be duplicated as needed. To download PDF forms, please click the following links: Convention Registration Form Competitive Exhibit Form Non-competitive Exhibit Form Information Sheet Link to club website: http://www.delminsociety.net/