Friday, the 12^th of February 1999
Turquoise Ballroom, Convention Center, Tucson, AZ

Present:  Jean DeMouthePresident, Jeffrey PostVP, George HarlowSecretary, Anna DomitrovicTreasurer, Anthony Kampf, Virgil Lueth, Marc Wilson, Mark MauthnerNewsletter editor.

Pres. DeMouthe called the meeting to order at 12:03 PM.  .

Treas. Domitrovic distributed copies of the semi-annual financial report for SMMP, with her much-awaited email address:  adomitrovic@desertmuseum.org.  The sizable balance, in excess of $7,000, and changes in bank ownership, etc. was discussed.  It was agreed that, with signatures in hand, Anna would place a sizable fraction into a Money-Market Account.

Website-meister Kampf reported that the Web-site was functioning properly, though the LACMNH had changed the server location.  The idea of developing a list-server was discussed, to enhance the Societys role as a source of information and answers; presently, there is no list-service carried out through our site.

Pres. DeMouthe discussed the plight of the California State Mineral and Mining Museum in Mariposa, CA, which may have an imminent orphaned collection.  She is keeping her eye on it and would mention the issue at the General Meeting.

Lost/Stolen Specimens:  Bill Metropolis was not in attendance, but a report is to be delivered at the general meeting.

There was much discussion, following the discussion at Denvers meeting and John Sinkankas letter about wanting the help of a museum in getting a tax appraisal for his donation to that museum.  This issue will be introduced at the General Meeting by Marc Wilson and discussed by Jeffrey Post.

The topic of Publications was raised, that is, whether the Society should be publishing the results of its workshops or surveys for consumption by the Museum and collection communities.  An example is the report on the storage of radioactive minerals by Ellen Faller or the review of modern conservation practices by Dorothy Ettensohn.

The Meeting was adjourned 12:55 PM.

1:00 PM, 12 February 1999
Turquoise Ballroom, Convention Center, Tucson, AZ

President DeMouthe called the meeting to order at a few minutes past 1:00 PM.

Members responded to the Roll Call with personal self-introductions; See list of attendees below.

Minutes of Denver meeting on 9/18/98.  A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously adopted to dispense with a reading of the minutes.  (Minutes are on the Website)

Treasurers Report:  Anna Domitrovic delivered the semiannual financial report for SMMP, with her much-awaited email address:  adomitrovic@desertmuseum.org.  The sizable balance, in excess of $7,000, and changes in bank ownership, etc. was mentioned.  She said that, with Board approval, she would place a sizable fraction into a Money-Market Account.

SMMP Web Pages:  Tony reported that the SMMP Web Pages were functioning well with lists of the mission statement, officers, membership, meetings, minutes, etc.  Job notices are a recent addition to the web pages.  He reminded people of the past concerns over listings of email addresses and encouraged members to include their email addresses with their listings.  He reminded people to check out the Website and to make comments, suggestions, job notices, etc.

Dick Herd suggested that SMMP have a list server for queries with an archive of communications for those who did not want to be actively dunned with messages but wanted to see discussions at their own discretion.  There was some discussion about the pros, cons, and commitments required to carry out a listserver function.  Tony said he would be prepared to respond on it by the next meeting.

Orphan Collections:  Virgil mentioned that two institutions who had been cited in the past a potential problems now have new mineralogical positions:  Paula Newsome is looking after minerals at the Utah University of Natural History, and Angela Breithaupt has recently  accepted a similar position at the Cranbrook Institute.

Mark Mauthner stated that the Pacific Mineral Museum now has a contract to use and care for the mineral collection of the former M.Y. Williams Geological Museum at the University of British Columbia.

Newsletter:  Mark Mauthner, newsletter editor, invited contributions to the newsletternews, announcements, statements, etc.

Stolen Specimens:  No new announcements, see Website for most recent reports.

Education:  Jean spoke in lieu of Ginny Mast who was absent for a family emergency.  The SMMP exhibition on meteorites and meteorwrongs appeared to be received well, as have the others of recent years.  Because this is one of the Society activities with the highest profile and popularity, the committee wanted to insure that plans would be made for future exhibits at mineral shows.  Sphalerite had been suggested for Denver, as it was to be the show mineral.  The Committee entertains ideas, support, contributions to future exhibits.

Tax Issues: Marc Wilson introduced the topic of tax advisement by Museums with respect to gifts-in-kind, a continuation of the discussion at the meeting in Denver.  The issue was raised via a letter of complaint from John Sinkankas who wanted assistance in getting an appraisal from the museum that received his donation.  Jeffrey Post summarized the previous discussion and the immutable problem in the U.S.  The Federal tax authority (Internal Revenue Service) considers help by the receiving institution to be collusion (i.e., fraud).  The Smithsonians position, which is similar to that of other museums, is to provide a list of appraisers/services without indicating any preferences.  In further discussion it was agreed by Post and Harlow that by the next meeting they would prepare a list of appraisers/services in the U.S. who were qualified in the areas of minerals and gems.

NSF-funded Education at GIA:  Mary Johnson discussed at proposal for funding an educational project in the 4^th-8^th grade curriculum level called Rocks to Rings which would provide students with information on gem minerals and their transformation into gems.  The GIA is seeking assistance in creating an Advisory Committee to assist on this project.  A questionnaire was handed out, the text of which is presented below.

Request for input by Fluorescent Society:  Don Newsome discussed the problems and inadequacies of the commercially available UV lighting for displaying fluorescent minerals and invited input into the design of new lighting systems. He mentioned that technology permits long-lived systems which can be turned on and off repeatedly with high output in either or short- and long-wave.  However, the issue of size, power, costs, etc. need some feedback from the museum community.  Responses and queries should be addressed to UV Systems, 16605 127^th Ave. S.E., Renton, WA  98058  U.S.A.  email: uvsystems@aol.com  Web: http://www.uvsystems.com

New Business:  Jean DeMouthe announced the change in the editorship of the Societys Newsletter from Jim Hurlbut to Mark Mauthner at the Pacific Mineral Museum Society.  The president and members extended their thanks to Jim Hurlbut for his years of dedication to the newsletter.

Election of new Board Members:  Nominations for the Board included Susan Cowan, George Harlow, and Marc Wilson.  The secret ballots of the members present elected Susan, George, and Marc.

Election of Officers:  The board members went off into a huddle and returned with the news that the new President is Mark Mauthner; the other incumbent officers would continue in office.

Announcements:  Kay Robertson volunteered her services in deciphering German script, letters, and locations for eastern Europe.  Just send her photocopies of the text in question and she would respond.

Marc Wilson invited members to participate in the auction of specimens at the Carnegie Museums auction to support collections.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 PM

A post-meeting program on meteorites, to complement the Meteorites and Meteowrongs display was presented by Tim McCoy of the Smithsonian Institution.  Many thanks, Tim.