As many of you now know, McDaniel Insurance Services has taken on some new responsibilities on behalf of CFMS and we thank the many wonderful members who have worked with our office to make the transition go smoothly!
We are now working directly with the member clubs and societies to schedule coverage for premises liability. We also are working with the clubs and societies to add optional coverage such as property coverage and the new Directors and Officers Management Liability coverage. As is the past, we will continue to serve your needs for certificates of insurance and the adding of coverage for events that will have 300 or more in attendance. Details of all the coverage and all application forms are available on the CFMS website and you can also call our office with questions.
We are particularly pleased with the Directors and Officers Program that we have been able to negotiate for the Federation and its member organizations. We are also pleased with the participation level we have seen. It is a good beginning for a strong and stable program.
We are also pleased to announce that we will be able to continue to add clubs to the D&O program after the inception date of October 16th. Please feel free to call us for additional details.
Regarding the premises liability, we have found that there is some confusion about just what premises liability is and why it is so important to 'cover this exposure' so I thought I would explore that in today's message.
The concept of premises liability, as opposed to the 'operations' portion of the General Liability, is that it covers liability (legal responsibility) for a premises for which you are responsible by virtue of the fact that you own, rent (or have provided for your use) on an exclusive ongoing basis. If you rent a venue for an event or once a month for meetings, that would not be considered exclusive use nor ongoing use. If, however, you do have exclusive ongoing use of a space, you can be presumed to have primary oversight of maintenance and management. Legal precedent gives you the primary legal responsibility for any bodily injury at that premises. Since the CFMS General Liability is intended to cover clubs for their normal operations (meetings, field trips, etc.) and assumes that clubs do not have any 'premises exposure', coverage for premises liability can only be obtained by scheduling the location on the policy. Please give me a call if you would like to discuss this further.
Another concern I have been hearing concerns pricing. Of course, prices are up everywhere, especially in insurance. The impacts of national disasters on reinsurers are passed on to everyone who purchases any insurance. The amount of insurance available in the world has decreased relative to the demand for insurance. Insurance companies may compete for the very lowest risk clients but they will look to all other clients to 'help them raise their reserves' (translate that as 'pay higher prices'). One of the big advantages of a statewide program such as the one that CFMS has, is the pricing. If a club were to try to obtain comparable coverage on its own 'stand alone' policy, they would find premiums starting at about $1200 for a club without a premises or special events or property coverage.
We look forward to keeping you informed regarding your insurance coverage in future editions of the CFMS newsletter!
TAX ADVISOR NEWS
REGISTRY OF CHARITABLE TRUSTS:
By Mike Kokinos, Tax Advisor
Within the California Attorney General Office, there is a unit called the Registry of Charitable Trusts. It is the job of this unit to keep track of all organizations whose assets in the event of dissolution must go to another charitable non-profit organization. The unit also audits organizations to ensure that excessive compensation is not paid and that expenditures support the primary purposes of the organization.
In the past couple of months, I have had contact with three societies that have not registered with the Registry of Charitable Trusts. All societies exempt from tax under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) should be registered and have been issued a CT number. The Registry has been lenient in accepting current registration for organizations that should have registered a few years ago.
If your society does not have a CT number and/or has never filed the Form RRF-1 with the Attorney General, I cannot emphasis enough the need to do so. The process and forms needed to register can be found on the Attorney General website (caag.state.ca.us). Recently a $25.00 fee for the initial filing of the Form RRF-1 was implemented. I recommend the completed Form and the $25.00 fee is included with the registration package.
I will be pleased to assist any society in preparing the package or answering questions.
IRS ISSUES:
The Internal Revenue Service sponsors a nationwide tax forum every year. This September four of the 21 seminars involved non-profit organizations. Discussions were held on the preparation of Form 990 and the new Form 1023 (application for charitable tax exemption). The most informative part, for me, was discussions with the IRS presenters after the sessions.
They reinforced the need to file Form 990 or 990EZ if the Service mails you the forms even though gross receipts are less than the $25,000 threshold. The presenter confirmed that about half the forms 990 filed are prepared incorrectly.
For those societies desiring to change from the current exemption, (many societies have 501(c)(4) exemption) to 501(c)(3) the Form 1023 application for exemption in most cases is now easier to prepare. I have recently assisted two societies in the preparation of the new form. I believe the form puts emphasis on compensation of directors, officers, members and contractors and fund raising using professional organizations. To the best of my knowledge neither of these issues affect our societies. Some of the questions try to ensure that the operations do not have inurement issues.
Back to School: Connecting with Young Minds
By Jim Brace-Thompson, Juniors Activities Chair
With a new school year now underway, does your club or society have an outreach program that sends members into the classroom to spread the word about our hobby and the earth sciences to eager young faces and minds? If not, the latest (November) issue of Rock & Gem magazine provides a terrific article by Larry G. Field that can get you started. Larry has a lifetime of experience that he's shared in classrooms with school kids since the late 1960s. In his article, he brings this vast experience to bear in leading you step-by-step through the whole process, from how to make an initial contact at a school, to preparing for a talk, to the actual presentation and follow-up.
Larry's suggestions include straightforward, common sense tips and how to convert that common sense into educationally charged pedagogy that will be valued and sought after by teachers seeking to enliven their classrooms with a guest speaker. I especially like his advice to involve the teacher in the planning and outlining of your presentation to ensure it incorporates elements from the state curriculum so that you provide a talk with true educational value, not just entertainment for a diverting morning or afternoon hour. He also provides invaluable advice on how to organize and then save programs to tailor them for future presentations rather than having to start from scratch each time.
I also appreciate his advice to involve the audience with a true conversation and questions and with captivating demonstrations that bring in student assistants rather than a straight, stiff and formal lecture. To motivate students to volunteer to assist in a demo or to raise questions, Larry gives gifts as rewards, such as tumble-polished semi-precious stones, fossils, crystals, etc., all "gift-wrapped" in newspaper to arouse curiosity and attention as each item is unwrapped. As a "take-away" gift that will provide educational value long after he leaves the classroom, Larry provides resource collections to teacher and students alike, with 12 pieces in each collection. He provides terrific advice on how to economically build and store the many specimens needed for such collections.
If you don't subscribe to Rock & Gem but are interested in engaging in educational outreach, I encourage you to buy a copy of the November issue from the newsstand or borrow one from a friend. In it, you'll find that Larry G. Field knows how to educate young minds while-as always-having fun!
All American Club Awards Program
By Dot Beachler, Chair, All American Club Committee
Forms for next year's entries (based upon 2005 activities) have been altered and finalized by the AFMS committee. These changes are minor when compared to last year's forms. Hopefully, these additions will answer questions that have arisen from some of the clubs.
There are no changes in club categories, supporting evidence or 100 sheet maximum. All remain the same.
The goal is to make the forms easier for the clubs in hopes that more can enter. Remember this is a record of your club's activities for the past year and is a history for all club members to enjoy.
These new forms are available now on the Federation website, or by mail if requested. Send requests to:
Dot Beachler
89 Buckskin Lane
Rolling Hills Estates, Ca. 90274
Earth Sciences
By Cal Clason, Chair, Earth Science Studies
After an extended period of not having to write these monthly Bulletin reports it seems rather strange to be doing it again. A big thanks to Jack Williams for doing an excellent job of keeping everyone informed. He should also be commended for his actions as coordinator for Camp Paradise. When at the close of the sessions you see approximately 100 people with huge smiles you can assume that things must have gone well. Much of that due to the outstanding Instructors who so willingly give of their time and talents to make each session a new experience. Our show and tell sessions on Friday afternoon are a phenomenal display of imagination, design and talent, or as some years ago Wayne Mills aptly stated, "A concentration of over achievers." I can't help but agree with him.
I will probably regret even mentioning this, but I feel that it is important.
As of now nothing has changed! The property (Camp Paradise) is being sold to a different group and presently is in Escrow. When this process is completed I'm in hopes of meeting with the new owners to come to a mutual agreement on our continued use of the Camp. In discussions with the Camp Manager CFMS is very high on their list of desirable tenants. We are tentatively making plans for Seminars September 10 - 16 and September 17 - 23, 2006. Again, I would like to stress that as of now nothing has changed and the ESS Committee will work under that assumption until a more definitive direction is established.
On to other things, namely Zzyzx! Preparations are well underway for the 2006 edition. Elsewhere in this News Letter the application form will be found, and although it seems redundant, I again urge everyone who is interested to apply early. We are limited to about 60 people and it fills up fast. Our only recourse is to establish a waiting list. We will again feature Tom Burchard - Lapidary, Margaret Kalaczyk - Soft Stone Carving, Lois Allmen & Mary Ann Anderson - Silver Fabrication, Dale Nichols - Wire Wrap, Francis Pedneau - Field Trips. Not yet fully decided whether to have a class on Polymer Clay or Precious Metal Clay. And as always, good food and lot's of it. All this will take place March 19 through 26, 2006. Hope to see you there.
Camp Paradise Report
By Jack Williams, Camp Paradise Coordinator
And yet another year of happy campers at Camp Paradise. We had a total of 103 registered students over the two-week period, with 16 of them staying for the two weeks. I am also happy to say no one was left out, we had room for you too if you would only have got that application and sent it in. It is such a rewarding experience to see so many friends enjoying this hobby; to try new mediums and techniques in the arts of jewelry and stone work, to the results and failures in learning and to go on to success, I find such a pleasure to see.
To all of those who did attend, and filled out the evaluation forms, the committee thanks you. We are constantly changing the Earth Science Program in order to improve its function and to provide an enjoyable service.
Tell your friends about us if you have been to Camp Paradise. If you have not been, think about coming next year - you will be glad you did.
CFMS Rules Committee Report
By Dee Holland, Chair, Rules Committee
I attended the AFMS Uniform Rules Meeting in St. Louis as the CFMS Representative. Ruth Bailey sat in with me as the second chair, as Norvie Enns was unable to attend.
There were two rules changes proposed:
Jim Hurlbut of Rocky Mt. proposed a reduction of minimum number of specimens for Novices and Juniors. The Intarsia section was one of the areas Jim mentioned in particular. After discussion, which included "with less specimens or pieces, the judges would identify that this was a junior or novice case", it was determined that this suggestion would take rewriting of the rule book, with a separate section for novices and juniors. The question was raised as to whether we should just change the intarsia rules. No decision was reached.
Barbara Jacobsen of Northwest brought forth a proposal from a member of the Northwest Federation regarding "showmanship." During the discussion, it was pointed out that much of the desired wording was already covered in the AFMS Guidelines for Exhibitors and Guidelines for Judges. This proposal would have restricted the judges by breaking down the showmanship section in to finer definition. The motion failed.
Betty James of Southeast made a proposal that rules be drawn up for beading and the making of original beads. Jim Hurlbut of Rocky Mt. will take her proposal to the Bead Society of Denver and see if they can write a proposal. Jim Robinson of Southeast said the Southeast Beaders would like some input. In the past there has been interest within the CFMS regarding a beading section in the rules. If anyone would like to contact me with their thoughts and proposals, please contact me and I will be in contact with Jim Hurlbut.
It was noted that on the Mineral List the following minerals were misspelled: "smaltite" and "hydrozincite." These will be corrected when the new mineral list is put out. A committee was formed to rewrite and correct the list. If you have any questions regarding this list, please contact me and I will forward them to the committee.
Bob Carlson of Rocky Mountain Federation had his most recent regional judges and clerk's list. He urged the regional Rules Chair give him an up-dated list with addresses and emails. This new list has been compiled by me and has been sent to Bob.
Sue MacInnes, Eastern urged that there be a standard entry form for competitive exhibits at national and regional conventions. She will draw up a model and circulate it for comments. I will be in contact with Sue on this matter.
It was a pleasure representing the CFMS at the AFMS Uniform Rules meeting. As noted above there are some important things in the works. The CFMS Rules Committee will keep you all informed.
Wildacres AFMS
Judging Training Program
By Dee Holland, Chair, Rules Committee
In 2002 at Port Townsend, WA; I made a proposal to the AFMS Directors asking that the AFMS Endowment Fund pay tuition, board and room at the Eastern Federation's Wildacres for one person from each federation and a current Uniform Rules Committee person to attend the Judging Class at Wildacres. This class is the only one in the U.S. Upon completion, the judge is certified by the Eastern Federation.
This was done because there was a need to see that all the judges throughout all the regional federations be on the same page as to viewing and judging exhibits. And also following the rulebook when judging. It was clear to me that many judges had forgotten the rules and were judging from memory, not from the current rulebook. The AFMS Rules Book has changes almost every year and in many cases people were using books from many years past.
The first year the class had Norvie Enns as CFMS Rules Committee person, and Pat LaRue as AFMS Uniform Rules Chair. Also in attendance were Bural LaRue and Shirley Leeson. I attended as AFMS Ad Hoc Chairman. The second year Ruth Bailey attended, and once again I was in attendance along with Shirley. This current third year Colleen McGann attended. And we have the class approved for one more year, 2006.
What this class has done is help each one attending get a clearer picture of their job when they are judging. With people from all the regions there we have had discussions regarding past discrepancies in judging. It was found that at the regional level, in the past there were times when the judging really didn't help the competitor understand what could be done to improve the exhibit. There were points taken off and no written explanation. I hope this is a thing of the past. All Uniform Rules people are instructing the judges that if a point is taken off, then a written explanation must be included on the score sheet. The instructor, Jay Bowman, has been teaching the class for a number of years and his philosophy is "You are not a judge, YOU ARE A TEACHER." This is something I, personally, adhere to and have tried this year to put this into effect here in the California Federation.
I will be evaluating this program and making a recommendation as to whether this will become a permanent program for the AFMS at the AFMS Director's meeting in Nashville in August, 2006.
My hope is that we can do something like this at the regional level here in California. A judges and exhibitors class at one of the current earth science studies locations could be arranged if there is sufficient interest. A CFMS accreditation program for Judges and Clerks could be done on the same level as the Eastern Federation. I have attended the Eastern Federation's Judges Training workshop at Wildacres for the past five years and have assisted Jay Bowman in the teaching process.
Looking for Some Past Newsletters
By Shirley Leeson, Historian
After going through many of the CFMS Newsletters, I have found that I am missing the following Newsletters:
February 1979
November 2004
September 2005
Now for those of you who don't know we travel a great deal and have to have the mail transferred between La Mesa, California and Tendoy, Idaho - the U.S. Post office doesn't like to hold mail and only forward first class mail. The Newsletters and bulletins are in the category that doesn't fit their profile. If my normal mailman is on the route he puts the mail aside and gives it to me when I return. If there is a new person (they usually use my route for new people) they don't keep the second and third class mail. So the November 2004 and September 2005 CFMS Newsletters fell into this abyss.
If any of you or your club members have these copies and would like to donate them to the Historian's File, please bring them to the Fall Business meeting. I know the February 1979 will be a tough one, but someone might find it in their club files.
Thanks in advance.
Civics 101
(See "Doubling our Profits and Winning Friends in the October Issue")
By Stephen Blocksage, Publicity/Public Relations Committee
In the past I have written about corporate and business sponsorship for your club's activities and seeking friend to assist in underwriting your clubs fund raising activity. This article is directed towards your community, city, township, county or whatever is the appropriate level of government that has the best capacity to assist your club in a similar manner to the business sponsorship. Many communities have Chambers of Commerce; bigger communities have Convention Bureaus and other forms of government meant to stimulate commerce within the community. It is not inappropriate to seek the aid of these government entities for assistance. After all, your club is a civic plus an outlet for those who desire places to spend their spare time. Just as having the many more well known altruistic organizations in the community such as: the Rotary Club, Masons, Toastmasters, IOOF, ELKS, Moose and many other such groups, yours has merit as well and ought to be recognized and accomplish much good.
There is a fine line however between recognition and lobbying. While the search to be known and appreciated should never stop the line should be drawn when we begin to request and require items from any form of government. Such lobbying can and will put our not for profit tax status in jeopardy. We need to keep our contacts simple such as this is: where we meet and the time and date, this what we do and this is who we serve in the community. When it comes to asking for assistance in fund raising there should never be a question as to our purpose, that of simply raising sufficient funds to take care of our needs with any possible excess going to funds intended to assist the community as a whole.
With this in mind and remembering that any event that draws business to a community in any form, except illegal, is always welcomed on the civic arena. Opportunities to hear from government in the form of booths supporting police, fire, search and rescue, local medical services, and community groups should be welcome additions to our rock shows. On this basis it is wise to involve local government in any way you can get them to support your enterprise as long as the government entity wins you will win. In some cases where city and county facilities were denied to rock clubs a simple get together where a civic project was fostered. Often these civic activities are places where for the purposes of public relations your club has a booth with a banner perhaps selling grab bags or running a gold panning demonstration. In my Community there are several such opportunities per year: the city days parade, the annual parks and recreation celebration, the business fair, and even the jobs fair all these public exposures costing nothing to enter except the cost of 10' by 10' pop up canopy some chairs and white board and a banner with the club logo and information on it professionally done.
Other groups will be holding their fairs such as the local quilt guild show, art association show, dog show, Cajun Festival, Christmas Boutiques and even the Gay Festival are all places that for a small entry fee will serve as public relations and money making venues. Our club is invited to schools, churches and other civic groups to both be seen and to make money. Typically in single day event the club raises from $300-500.00 dollars and more for the work of several members. If you are able to do these in your community and neighboring communities the need for the big show may be lessoned. This has the added benefit of advertising your club by handing out business cards or flyers for you next show it even might add to your membership roster.
The city should be able to keep you updated on when these contact points in your community are taking place and may even offer assistance to help you get into queue at these events. I have heard about even closer relationships between clubs where the city will in effect offer sponsorship and facilities at reduced or no cost to the club. Again inviting the mayor, or council people, the head of recreation, public relations head or any body else who can be a good friend to your club from the city. If there is a local museum, donate to it, donate earth sciences books to local schools, donate Rock and Gem to local nursing homes, recreation centers etc. Above all remember your place in the community, never surrender it, you belong and have great value so be valuable to your community.
Promote Rockhounding
With The Rockhound Sticker™
By Richard Pankey, Publicity/Public Relations Committee
Since the Rockhound Sticker™ was introduced at the CFMS show in Placerville, CA and at the AFMS show in Port Townsend, WA in July 2002, I see it on many vehicles at shows and other rockhound events and occasionally just driving down the highway. The rockhound sticker was a project of the CFMS Publicity and Public Relations Committee to promote rockhounding and help rockhounds to easily identify one another. In addition to the CFMS Newsletter and many local club bulletin, the Sticker has been reported and promoted in Rock & Gem and the AFMS Newsletter and has received wide acceptances throughout the US and Canada. At the November 2002 Directors' meeting in Visalia, CA, the CFMS Directors voted to recognize the Rockhound Sticker and design as the "official" symbol for rockhounding. To date close to 22,000 stickers have been sold throughout the United States and Canada. We hope that all rockhounds, collectors, field trippers, rock clubs and rock enthusiasts will support the Rockhound Sticker program.
But based on the number of Sticker sold to date there are a lot of CFMS rockhounds that don't have their sticker yet. CFMS has nearly 10,000 members. Do you have and display your Rockhound Sticker? Why not? They are easy to get. I would hope that all CFMS clubs/societies would have a supply of Stickers to give or sell to their members.
Now there is a new, little Rockhound Sticker that promises to have many uses for all rockhounds. It became available the first of this year and is selling fast.
The new sticker is the same bright, attention getting yellow with the black rock hammer as the 3 and a half-inch version, but is only one inch in diameter. This new sticker is inexpensive and can be used in many ways by rockhounds and by rock clubs. They stick easily and well to clothing, hats, paper and even rocks. They are great for an award for completion of a junior's activity at your show or meetings; a simple "pin" for shirt or hat to identify oneself as a rockhound. Stick one on a slab for case favors, or on a nice polished rock for a grab bag or on the "Wheel-Of Fortune" table.
However, one of the best and most important uses may be the one that came out of a discussion at the SCRIBE meeting in January at Quartzsite. It occurred to me "what better way to identify that our letters are from a rockhound than to put a sticker on the envelope and letter of all of our correspondences to our representatives and government agencies." The bright color will attract attention, immediately identify that the letter is from a concerned rockhound, add impact to our message, and it will be remembered.
The new little Rockhound Sticker is a fun, inexpensive way to promote rockhounding and to identify yourself as a rockhound, and your correspondences as being from a rockhound. I have started using them in addition to my return address labels on mail to other rockhound and clubs. I plan to give them out to kids at rock swaps, at talks to youth groups, at shows, and anywhere else to attract attention and promote our hobby. That is the purpose of the Rockhound Sticker - to identify and promote. Since this new sticker was introduced in January, over 30,000 have been sold
Watch for the Rockhound Sticker wherever rockhounds might be found - at gem and mineral shows, at craft fairs, at the side of the road in potential collecting areas, in campgrounds and fairgrounds. If you see a sticker stop and say hello or toot your horn and wave as you drive by.
To get the new, little Rockhound Sticker and other Rockhound emblem items for yourself or your club contact Frank Mullaney:
5705 Begonia Dr.
San Jose, CA 95124-6535
Ph.: 408-266-1791
E-mail: rockyfiv@aol.com
Frank also has many other items with the Rockhound Sticker emblem: patches, coffee cups, key chains, pins, flashers, mouse pads, clocks, tee shirts and more. He can make just about anything with the Rockhound Sticker emblem on it. Contact Frank for prices and details.
Get your Rockhound Sticker to promote rockhounding.
