The Raft River Rockhounds together with the BC Lapidary Society are hosting Rendezvous 2012, a gathering for BC rockhounders. There are currently 35 rockhound clubs in B.C., boasting a total of 1800 members.
The Rendezvous will be held May 18 - 21, 2012, at the Clearwater SportsPlex. The Event is open to the Public, on May 19 and 20, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. There will be a Mini Show, and vendors from B.C. and Alberta. There will also be rock and mineral display cases with numerous stones from B.C. and all over the world.
The Rendezvous will also have demonstrations of rock polishing, and how to make jewelry, just to name a few. There will be information booths set up for Yellowhead Mining, the District of Clearwater and the Raft River Rockhounds. Admission is by donation only.
If you would like to participate in the whole weekend, you are required to have a membership, which you can purchase from the Raft River Rockhounds, so that you are covered for insurance purposes. The Rendezvous will begin with registration on Friday night; Saturday and Sunday there will be field trips within the Clearwater area, and we look forward to taking our guests out to enjoy our beautiful area, looking for stones, minerals and gold panning.
Saturday night is the rock auction, with some amazing stones and minerals from all over the world. Sunday evening there will be a dinner for members that will be held at the KOA banquet room, followed by the annual general meeting for the Society, and will finish up with the a pancake breakfast Monday morning, which will also be held at the KOA.
The Rockhounds thank the District of Clearwater and Dave and Anna from the KOA / Clearwater Valley Resort for all their support.
Raft River Rockounds now also have their own club house located at On Call Industrial site in Blackpool. Meetings are every third Saturday at 1 p.m. New members are always welcome. Membership fees are $30 per individual, or $50 per family. The Rockhounds offer a friendly club, that hosts a few socials, field trips to hunt for minerals and stones and to gain knowledge of Clearwater and the surrounding area.
They will be hosting courses this fall on faceting, rock polishing, beading, and more; thanks to Denny Patrick for his donation to the Club of three rock tumblers / grinding supplies, rock polisher and a rock cutter.
The club will polish rocks for non-members for a fee.
The annual Raft River Rockhounds Canada Day Club Show will be held on July 1 from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., at the Country Inn and Blue Loon Grill grounds in Clearwater. The group has teamed-up with the Aboriginal Sharing Centre and the Blue Loon Grill, and will have numerous events, vendors, and local entertainment all lined up for this year’s event. If you are interested in participating in the Club Show; or would like more information or wish to join call Fay McCracken at 250-674-2700, or Dave Cooper at 250-587-6213, or email: raftriverrockhounds@gmail.com