Category: Monthly meeting

Marikò Cappello (4th Feb, 2019)

Our February talk, “The benefits of living near a Volcano”, was given by Marikò Cappello of the UVic School of Earth and Ocean Sciences. Marikò does research in Earth history and geochronology and has a BSc in Geological Sciences from the University of Bologna. She is currently working on a project that aims to introduce new time constraints on the Ordovician-Silurian boundary.

Marikò has family living near Mt. Etna in Italy. Her presentation included engaging video of what day-to-day life feels like when the sky is continuously dropping ash and volcanic pebbles.

Marikò also brought samples of the different kinds of rock produced by a volcano for hands-on identification. She is an engaging and energetic speaker, and we thank her for her time.

Allana pointed out that our club stone, Dallasite, is a volcanic Breccia, and gave Marikò a piece as a gift.

To see a sample of slides from Marikò’s presentation click below.

At the AGM Brian MacMillan was presented with Dallasite-face wrist watch and Giles LeBrun was presented with a Dallasite-face pocket watch for their years of service to the club.  The watches were made by club member Doug Smith.

Click the pictures below to see them larger as a slideshow.

Also, at the annual general meeting the new committee for 2019 were elected, and our new executive are:

	Elected Positions
	President  Allana Shilito		Past President  Vanessa Steffens
	Treasurer David Jackson		Vice President Leni Gagnon
	Membership  Margaret Braithwaite assisted by Debbie Frank		Secretary Sarah Hamilton
	Member at Large John Anderson		Member at Large Yvan Gagnon
	Member at Large Brian McMillan		Member at Large Debbie Frank
	Appointed Positions
	Laphound News Editor  Gary Brooke		Librarian Kathryn Hawkins
	Field Trips Giles LeBrun		Meeting Events Nick Aktarian
	Program Coordinator Position vacant arranges guest speaker for Monday meetings		Social Committee Susannah Anderson
	Show Chairman  Allana Shillito		Social Committee Barb McKenzie
	Workshop Brian McMillan		Senior Island Zone Representative  David Jackson
	Workshop Doug McLeod		Intermediate Island Zone Representative  Sarah Hamilton
	Webmaster Becci Simmons		Junior Island Zone Representative Doug McLeod

If you need to contact any of the above, please log into the Members Only area for contact information.

Brian Robillard (7th Jan, 2019)

Our January talk was on the topic of “Micrometeorites” and was given by Brian Robilliard, a VLMS member.

His talk covered several ingenious methods for collecting micrometeorites at home, how to identify them once collected and how to store them.  As a complementary display, Leni Gagnon brought some of her meteorite specimen collection. 

To see a sample of slides from Brian’s presentation click below.

The Annual Club Auction was held last Monday.  It was, as ever, very well attended.  Any member can put a rock-related item up for sale: rocks, minerals, tools, books related to rocks. 15% of the sale price goes to the club. Check the video and the slide show below to get an idea of what was on offer.

Nick was our auctioneer and Giles curated the lots.

 

Click on the photos to see bigger images as a slideshow.

 

Bill gave a dynamic presentation on the equipment needed and considerations for safety when going rock hunting in the big outdoors.

Bill provided handouts to every attendee of equipment lists. You can download your own copy of the Safety Equipment lists for outdoor trips here.

Bill entertained and informed us using anecdotes from his time as a  Paramedic for 35 years and 10 years RCMP Aux/Constable. illustrating the necessity and many inventive uses of the items on the lists.

• Nick Aktarian – faceted topaz
• Joel Weinstein – heirloom jewellery
• Brian Mc Millan and Rose Marie Spicher – rock tumbling powders
• Gilles Lebrun – microscope
• John and Susannah Andersen – slabs for sale

Click on the photos to see bigger images as a slideshow.