Welcome

Please read the following from President Sharon Foster

Meetings: Well it looks like we are back to meeting at the Wellington Fair Building. The Fair Building has sent out some guide lines that will need to be followed.

Wellington Fair Building

Please Read!

“Any interaction with the public poses an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19. People who show no symptoms can spread COVID-19 if they are infected. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. The CDC advises that older adults and people of any age who have underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19. By visiting the Wellington Fair Building you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19. It is also the responsibility of the renter to sanitize all surfaces touched. You also need to follow all social distancing protocols and limit the number of individuals in the building to 50 or less. Details on cleaning: We will have table racks by July 1st and at that time, all tables will be kept on the rack. You will need to set up the tables you are going to use, sanitize and then return to the racks. Also need to clean any surfaces you touch (kitchen, chairs, frig, bathrooms, etc.). Sweep the floor and spot mop any spills. Vacuum carpet. Please let us know if you have any questions. We will all have to work on this together as we do not know the new normal yet. Thank you for your patience. Majority of these decisions are based on health department and insurance company.”

No matter how you found us we are glad you came and we hope we can help you with your interest with the would of prospecting.

First a little about us. We have been around since 2003 with Doug Foster and Tom Gabriel starting the club, it originally met in Smithville, Mo. where it quickly outgrew the meeting place. The club is a Chapter of a nationally known organization called "Gold Prospectors Association of America" or GPAA. There is a sister organization called "The Lost Dutchman Mining Association" or LDMA.

Since we are a chapter of GPAA we have adopted the suggested basic constitution put out by GPAA. Therefore our officers and board member are required to members of GPAA to hold office or to vote in elections. You DO Not have to be a GPAA member to belong to our chapter.

But the benefits is great to be a member.

You may have noticed there are at least two or more raffles going on before the meeting. One is run by the chapter and may also include a 50/50, and a large item raffle. Since there are NO Dues this is how we pay for the meeting place, food and other items needed to run a large fun loving club.

We also have a store that is run by our Treasurer Robert Quick. This is also a fund raiser but is mainly there for the convenience of the club members. You may buy anything from T-Shirts, panning bags and gold prospecting tools in the store.

The other raffle is run by "The Mining Rights Chairman" Melvin Altis who uses the money collected in this raffle to send to organizations like American Mining Rights Association or "AMRA" and the Eastern Oregon Mining Association for use in their Legal Department to fight anti-mining laws and lawsuits.

Both Raffles rely on members to donate items to the raffles. These items do not have to be new or related to prospecting. In the past we have some very interesting items.

What to do at the meeting! PARTICIPATE!

1. When you get there hopefully about 30-45 minutes early the first thing to do is to sign in with the Secretary Erma Altis if you are new or if you are a member the secretary has two sign in sheets. Also if you change your address, phone number or email please make sure to give it to the secretary Erma Altis. Plus let her know if you are a member of GPAA or LDMA.

2. (a) If you have any items for the raffles donate them now. The mining rights raffle has a special raffle every month just for people who donate to that raffle. Then you will receive one special ticket for that donation.

(b) Buy some raffle tickets this is how we support the chapter and pay the bills.

About Us-We are here to have a great time!

April 13th, 2019 at Wellington, MO. just a few of our members

Our Goals for Show Me Gold Prospectors!

Show Me Gold Prospectors is a chapter of Gold Prospectors Association of America (GPAA).

On May 3rd, 2003 Show Me Gold Prospectors was founded by a group of prospectors who shared similar interest and goals.

*Our Goals*

* Share the hobby of prospecting with others.*

-We all enjoy prospecting for different reasons. As a chapter we always look forward to sharing our hobby with others.-

* Help educate the public on the benefits of

recreational mining*

-There are many benefits to recreational mining.

So, it's important for us as a group to educate

the public on these benefits.-

*Attend functions and hold group outings. This will allow for members & any potential members to learn about & practice

the hobby of prospecting.*

*Hold regularly scheduled meetings to share concerns and knowledge on issues related to the hobby of gold prospecting.*

*Find additional locations in

Missouri for everyone to go prospecting*

*Expand our network of prospecting friends.*

*We also share the hobby of metal detecting.*

More information about our club!

Our chapter has no dues. It is solely self-supporting through raffles held at each meeting. You do not need to be a member of the GPAA to join our chapter; only to vote on chapter issues or hold a chapter office. Our chapter welcomes new members! We have over 200 members on our roster from all over Missouri, Kansas, and Iowa. Most of ours meeting we have about

60+ people in attendance.

There are enough experienced members to

help those who are just starting out in the

hobby of gold prospecting and metal detecting.

Meeting Location and Food!

Show Me Gold Prospectors meetings are held in Wellington, MO. Our home base meeting place is the Wellington Fair Board building in Wellington, MO. The Fair Board building is located on the NE. corner of the square in the town of Wellington, MO north of 24 Highway on to 131, at the roundabout, to 109 E 4th street next to City Hall by the Park. We normally meet the second Saturday of each month at 11:00 am. with a potluck lunch, the main course is provide by the club, and salads and deserts are donated by the members. We eat at 11:00 am the meeting starts around 12:00 noon. There is always plenty of free coffee and ice tea. Snacks are often brought by members as well. Please bring your own soft drinks or beverages. So come early to visit everyone. In November our meeting changes to the first Saturday of the month at 11:00 am. Our November meeting is the last meeting of the year, with a all gold raffle give away. Members and non members are welcome to take part in this by purchasing raffle tickets. October and December we do NOT have a meeting.

Officers and Board Members

Officers 2021

President: Sharon Foster 816-695-1620

sharonfoster55@sbcglobal.net

Vice President: James Myers

prospector68@centurylink.net

Secretary: Erma Altis

goldstar1776@fairpoint.net

Treasurer: Robert Quick

moses1108@sbcglobal.net

Outings Director: D.W. Dishman

koda@embarqmail.com

Board Members 2021

Doug Foster:

sharonfoster55@sbcglobal.net

Melvin Altis

maltis@fairpoint.net

Joyce VanSickle:

k9shep1@yahoo.com

Roenna Johnston:

roennajohnston@gmail.com

Walter Kirk:

walter1343@gmail.com

Gold Prospectors Association of America

Missouri State Director: Doug Foster

816-686-3457

A Few of the Charter Members

These are a few of the Charter Members of Show Me Gold at our meeting April 10th, 2021.

Judy Thompson, Doug Foster, Tom Thompson, Tom Gabriel, Steve Wolak, Sharon Foster and Shirley Kephart. The club would like to thank them for starting the Show Me Gold Prospectors.

Our first meeting on May 3, 2003, 77 people met in Smithville. In June

2003 we elected officers and voted on club name. Eighteenth anniversary

coming up soon. Shirley Kephart