To mail or not to mail That is the Question
That question, it seems, is being asked by a larger and larger number of rock clubs. In the last two weeks I have had one newsletter editor tell me that they are going to stop sending out exchange newsletters, another is going to start send a newsletter out every three months, and one that is not going to mail newsletters at all, all for the same reason, the cost of postage. I do not want to see exchange newsletters become a thing of the past, nor does the rockhound community. They are too valuable a resource to be lost.
I think there is a solution that can be utilized by most if not all clubs. Why not send your newsletter by e-mail?
We e-mailed just under half of our January 2003 newsletter, and I have already received two e-mail exchange newsletters back from other clubs who think the idea is great.
My club purchased Adobe Acrobat 5 which we use to converts our newsletter into a .pdf file. The advantage of a .pdf file is that it converts any program into a format that can be read with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader which comes installed on most computers. Any web site you visit that has downloadable information, the information is in .pdf format and there is a link to the free reader. Web sites use the .pdf format because the information they provide can not be altered, there by safeguarding their information. My club uses MS Publisher to produce our newsletter, other clubs use MS Word. The Adobe Acrobat 5 program will convert both programs including graphics into the
.pdf format.
We estimate that we will pay for the program in 16 months on just the postage savings. An easier way to figure the cost of the program is, it works out to about 550 newsletters, e-mailed rather than mailed, to pay for the program, that's at .37 cents per newsletter, right now. How many newsletters do you mail right now? How many do the Federations mail each month?
What are the pro's and con's of sending your newsletter as an e-mail vs. mailing?
On the plus side:
1> Your newsletters arrive in one piece, no torn pages, no plastic sacks from the Post Office (for the newsletters in pieces). We had three of those in one month.
2> For most clubs initially they would probably save slightly less than half of their postage alone. This doesn't include printer supplier, paper, etc.
3> The newsletters don't get lost.
4> They arrive sooner.
5> They can be saved on your home computer for future reference.
6> The information can not be changed or tampered with in the .pdf format.
On the minus side:
1> The cost of the Adobe Acrobat 5 program. We purchased our copy for just over $200. Go to any of the office supply stores and it will cost you $250.
2> Some large clubs, like the Federations, mail using a bulk rate. This could affect them.
3> You will still have to mail some of your newsletters.
For further information visit the following web sites:
The Adobe Acrobat web site at:
http://www.adobe.com
For software buying web sites look at:
http://www.pricegrabber.com
http://www.pricescan.com
http://www.price.com
These all compare prices from different outlets. The one we chose had no tax and free shipping.
Frank & Darlene Hart Posthuma
Editors, Marysville Rock and Gem Club, Inc.
Member NFMS
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ROCK COLLECTING GUIDE
Oregon & Washington
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
GENERAL INFORMATION:
A wide variety of rocks, minerals, and
semi-precious gemstones is available for collecting on 16 million
acres of lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in
Oregon and Washington. Most BLM lands are open to rock collecting,
and some areas, such as the Glass Buttes obsidian area in our
Prineville District and a public sunstone area in our Lakeview
District, have been specifically set aside for this purpose.
Collectors should note that there are some restrictions and a BLM
permit may be required, depending on the amount of material you
collect, how you collect it, where or when you collect, and whether
the material will be used commercially. The following information is
provided for the public to be used as a general guide for collecting
on BLM lands in Oregon and Washington.
COLLECTING LIMITS & PERMITS: An individual can collect
a reasonable amount of rocks and minerals from BLM lands, but a
permit or fee may be required if certain amounts are exceeded, as
described below. Note: Collecting limits for petrified wood are
slightly different. |
PETRIFIED WOOD: Collecting petrified wood is free up to 25
pounds per day, plus one piece, but no more than 250 pounds per year.
Pooling of quotas among two or more people to obtain pieces over 250 pounds is prohibited. A permit is needed for amounts over these
limits.REMAINS. ARTIFACTS. AND FOSSILS: The excavation, collection
or destruction of any human remains and archaeological or historical
materials located on Federal land is illegal and prohibited by
Federal and State laws. This includes: skeletal materials,
arrowheads, flakes, pottery or potsherds, mats, rock art, old bottles, and pieces of equipment or buildings. Any human remains
should be left intact and reported to Federal or State authorities
immediately. A permit is needed for collecting vertebrate fossils,
but not for common invertebrate fossils.MINING CLAIMS: Collecting rocks, minerals or semi-precious
gemstones on mining claims is not advised without the mining
claimants consent because the claimant has a legal right to the
minerals on the claim, including gemstones. Although mining claims
should be marked with posts or markers, not all mining claims can be
easily identified in the field. Check with the nearest BLM office to
find out if there are any mining claims to watch out for in the area
from which you want to collect. Many commonly collected rocks such as
chert, petrified wood, obsidian, and cinders are not subject to
mining claim location, even though people some times mistakenly stake
mining claims for these minerals anyway.
ROCK STOCKPILES: Some BLM rock quarries have stockpiles of
crushed rock in them that have been purchased by BLM specifically for
road-maintenance work. Removing this stockpiled material is
prohibited and considered theft of Federal property.
CLOSED OR RESTRICTED AREAS: Although most BLM lands are
open to collecting, some areas such as campgrounds, cultural and
historic sites, and natural areas are off limits to collecting. Other
types of closures or restrictions, some of which are seasonal,
include fire, wildlife, road use, wilderness, and Wilderness Study
Areas. Check with the local BLM office for more detailed information
before starting out on your collecting excursion.
OTHER THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN COLLECTING:
1. Know whose property you are on.
2. Get permission to collect on private property.
3. Limit your excavation depth to four feet from the original
ground surface.
4.Fill in any holes that you have dug.
5.Leave the area and all gates as you found them.
6.Find out if there are any fire restrictions in effect.
7.Stay out of old mines.
MAPS AND OTHER INFORMATION: You should contact either the
nearest BLM office for more detailed information about specific
collecting sites or our Portland office listed below for the
addresses and phone numbers of the various BLM field offices. Many bookstores and rock shops may also have information or sell books and
maps that can help you find other privately owned collecting areas.U.S. Bureau of Land Management Offices In Oregon.:
Baker City, Bums, North Bend, Eugene, Lakeview, Klamath Falls, Salem, Tillamook, Medford, Portland, Prineville, Roseburg, Vale.
U.S. Bureau of Land Management Offices In Washington.:
Spokane and Wenatchee.
Please help preserve our heritage. Report any suspicious activity that may involve the theft or vandalism of any remains, artifacts, or fossils to any BLM office.
February 2000 |
A Reasonable Daily Collecting Amount
- fits into the trunk of a car or,
- is a partial pickup truck load and,
- weighs less than 250 lbs.,
- and the material is for non-commercial use.
| No fee or BLM permit is required. |
More Than a Reasonable Daily Collecting Amount
- is a full pickup truck load or,
- involves more than one trip (or partial load) and,
- weighs more than 250 lbs.,
- or the material is for commercial use,
- or explosives or power equipment is used.
| Fee and BLM permit are required.
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Kalama Green Mt. Washington State Rules
Kalama Site Access Information
Longview Fiber has sent the (Washington State Mineral Council) WSMC a set of rules to be followed
while on their property. This applies to the Kalama area as well
as the rest of Longview Fibre land.
Longview Fiber Rules While On Company Property
1.) All members will enter through the gate at the same time. Their
names and vehicle license numbers will be recorded. They will then be
signed out as they leave the property.
2.) Vehicles must stay on rocked roads only.
3.) No Digging in any creeks or channels, whether they contain water or
are dry. No dirt is to be placed so that it may get in to the creeks.
4.) No Fires at any time or for any reason.
5.) No Smoking during travel or while working.
6.) No camping.
7.) Anyone found digging in a Creek will be escorted off the property.
Please be sure to follow these simple rules while on Longview Fiber
property. Doing so will help ensure rockhounds’ continued access
Update: 11/18/03
Longview Fiber has provided the WSMC with some additional guidelines for access to the Kalama area:
For safety reasons, Longview Fiber requests all rock
hounding recreational users of the Kalama Green Mountain area to
get permission before going onto their property. In the summertime they
generally close their land to recreational use due to FIRE hazard. Also
they may be working the land and at that time there would be no access
to the general public. All who take a group must have permission from
Denny Mohan of Longview Fiber.
Thanks for your help
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Judge Redden Ruling
July 2005
The extra water for the spills came from the excess water in Idaho and from the dams on the lower Snake River. The water termed excess was more water than needed for irrigation not excess water that dams could not hold. Nobody knows what will happen in future years or if they will be forced to use irrigation water for the Salmon.
Here are some figures if the dams go or stay.
If dams are breached shipping costs for grain will increase 28%, irrigators loss of land in Washington alone would be 31,000 acres at a cost of 14 million a year. Electric mills would go up at least 12%; long term jobs a loss of 1500. Economic impact 300 million annually for a 100 years not much for a 400 billion economy. Silt from the dams at least three years before clear water runs at a loss of fish undetermined.
If the dams stay reservoirs water for irrigation unknown irrigation may take 1million acre-feet of water drying up 643,000-3.2 million acres in Idaho alone costing 45-210 million dollars a year. Electric bills could go up with the loss of water Idaho power customers could go up $70 a month. Shipping will need to dredge the river at Lewiston and the mouth of the Columbia this is being done now.
How does this affect rockhounds? This affects the economy, the cost of electricity, bread, gas, sugar, and farm subsidies. It will affect access the time of year we can use public lands. With the drying up of lands fire will increase taking away access.
Having the Judicial Branch making the rules we lose our Republic and a way of life we have had 200 for years. Apathy will not keep our way of life we need to be involved, write or call our congressmen to keep our freedom and way of life.
The ocean temperature dropping 4 degrees caused the record runs of Salmon. El Nino currants are back raising the temperature of the ocean.
The warming of the climate is predicted to bring more moisture to the Northwest not in winter snow but in rain. This will give grasses more time to grow changing fire patterns.
Sweetwater, Wyoming has a new opal find in about a three square mile area. This is fire opal. It should be exciting to see new material come on line.
A new website for research was requested by congressmen www.opencrs.com. This site gives a chance to see reports given to congressman. This gives us a chance to be ahead of the action not trying to catch up. At this time there is over 8,000 reports on the site. It seems to be easy to navigate through.
Chris Blickfeldt
grumpies1@quixnet.net
Public Lands Access Chairman
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