FIRST CLASS MI�ERS, I�C

Sunday, �ovember 8, 2009 at Doug and Janet Peercy in 29 Palms at 1:00 p.m.

Minutes of general membership meeting

OFFICER REPORTS:

President Doug Peercy opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. He thanked Steve and Sherri MacMillan for doing thecooking. Doug also thanked Janet for letting us use her home for the meeting.

Doug introduced guest speaker Jerry Hobbs from Public Lands for the People(PLP). Jerry Hobbs gave a talk outlining some ofthe goals of the PLP in reference to the lawsuit filed against the State of California. The lawsuit charges that when SB670 wassigned illegally prevents motorized mining, vacuum and suction dredging. The PLP's position on this is "Every US citizen orlegal resident has the right to choose to actively engage in mining,which stems from the 1866 and 1872 mining law, a grant of theUnited States Congress (Codified at 30 U.S.C. sections 21-54)." Jerry asked us to look at the literature he brought on this topic.Doug Peercy added that we should check it out and get involved.

Lee Hoffman announced the raffle that PLP was sponsoring to support this cause.

Vice President Susan Simmons thanked everyone for coming and thanked Doug and Janet for hosting the meeting. She reportedthat Dennis St. Aubin our Claims Director was not able to make the meeting but he would be getting a group together to surveyanother possible claim. The excursion would be November 22, 2009 for those interested in attending.

Treasurer Ron Gutierrez reported that our account was healthy. We paid for the gold we needed. The insurance was paid. Weare starting to receive funds/RSVPs for the Members Appreciation Dinner. And The Historical Society gave us a $200.00donation for our recent demonstration.

Secretary Collette Parliament didn't have anything to report.

Sgt-at- Arms Lee Hoffman asked us to pay attention.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

�ewsletter Chair Jon Carlson asked for pictures of the recent Rancho Jurupa joint camp-out to put in the newsletter.

Membership Chair Janet Peercy gave an update on our membership. She said she is revising the picture board. She asked us toremember to wear our name badges to help us remember names. She said the renewal cards are coming.

Travel Committee Chair Greg Herring reminded us of the up coming camp-out at our Humbug Claim.

Web-master Richard Crummett highlighted some of the web page in and outs. He said you can get the newsletter in color in itsentirety through the “members-only” link. He said we could put the newsletter on the main page of our website if we keep allpersonal information out of it, email addresses, phone numbers or any other not for the public information. He said Jon Carlson mails the newsletter in Black and White but on the web it's in color and you can click through to some of the interesting links hehas made available. (I've gone to some of them. Wonderful!!!! pictures, videos, articles).

Librarian Kate Bariteau said come to the library there are lots of books to browse through and check-out.

Claims Director Dennis St. Aubin wasn't in attendance.

Safety Committee Chair John Ziagos said we haven't lost anyone. President Doug Peercy reviewed the safety rules. Make thecalls to the safety chair and bring two cars if you can when out on excursions.

General Store Coordinator Anitra Ekstrom said she had a brain storm. She asked for written requests for sizes, colors, anditems that we would like to purchase. (Great idea, Anitra).

Banquet Coordinator Cathy Brandon updated us on the progress of the Members Appreciation Banquet. She asked us to get ourforms in quickly so we could give the caterer an accurate count. She said the banquet would have a luau theme and it was goingto be fun with raffles, door prizes and good food.

OLD BUSI�ESS

President Doug Peercy reminded the membership that we were looking for a larger enclosed trailer for the clubs equipment. Hetalked about the trailer we have getting too small for our needs. Past President Jim Wharff has been the keeper of that trailer andhas put a lot of time and work into it. The joint camp-out at Jurupa Park with the Valley Prospectors was discussed. There weremetal detecting hunts, scavenger hunts, and a chili cook-off, with Doug winning first place. Lots of fun by all. Our membersGreg, Susan and Michelle came away with some nice prizes.

�EW BUSI�ESS

Vice President Susan Simmons discussed the need the club has for a new equipment trailer, as discussed in our last newsletter.We are looking for an enclosed 6x10 trailer with a ramp to transport all of our equipment, including tables, tent, panningequipment and drywashers for demonstrations at schools and other community events. It was explained that our existing trailer isway too small to handle our equipment needs. There was a discussion on the amount to spend. There was a motion to purchase anenclosed trailer, with a maximum price of $3,000. A vote was taken. With no one opposing, the motion was carried.

Susan also explained needing to purchase gold for educational panning demos we host and the raffles we have at the meetings.We previously requested bids and the lowest price was from an existing member who was willing to offer a price substantiallybelow spot. The sale would save the club approximately $300 off current market values. There was a motion to purchase. A votewas taken and passed unanimously.

�ext General membership meeting January 23, 2010 at Knott Sky Park in 29 Palms at 1:00 p.m.

Come 30 minutes early for a metal detecting demo.

�ext Camp-out: February 13, 14, & 15 at our Middle Camp Claim. This is President’s Day weekend so most of us will bethere Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Orientation Tour of Middle Camp February 6. Meet at Joshua Tree National Monument Headquarters in 29 Palms at 8:00a.m.

�ew members voted in: Membership Chairman Janet Peercy gathered potential new members. After introductions the followingwere voted in as new members: James J. Hoeschen, Rob Hurstrom, Bob Ballinger, Jeremie Cox and Frank Pangersis. Welcometo all of you.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Collette Parliament, Secretary, FCM

SB 670 forcing California miners to venture north (article

reprinted from the Gold Prospectors Magazine) By Larry Brillhart

When California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 670 on August 6, recreationalgold miners began to look north to find their fortunes. But not everyone is happy with the

potential migration while businesses dependant on mining are enduring an economic crisis.

SB 670, which imposes a temporary moratorium on the granting of new suction dredgingpermits, is forcing Californians to travel to Oregon, Washington and Idaho to mine for gold.

Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski, however, wants to head his neighbors off at the pass.

The governor sent letters on Oct. 15 to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior SecretaryKen Salazar asking them to impose a mineral withdrawal on federal lands surrounding three

wilderness areas on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

According to the Associated Press, conservation groups hope to meld those areas andsurrounding parts of southwestern Oregon into one big wilderness covering 1 million acres - a

move endorsed by Kulongoski. Mining is already restricted on the wilderness areas, but themineral withdrawal would stop new claims in the areas surrounding them.

“With climate change increasing the pressures on plant and animal species, this area is a critical

lifeboat providing intact habitat over a range of elevations from north to south,” Kulongoskiwrote. “We are very concerned that the suction dredge miners are now heading for Oregon.”

As a result of a 2005 lawsuit filed by the Karuk tribe, the California Department of Fish and

Game (DFG) is undergoing a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review to study theeffects of dredge mining on fisheries. The DFG failed to complete the study by the July 2008

deadline. SB 670 created the dredge mining moratorium until the CEQA review and subsequentrule changes are complete.

SB 670 was introduced by California Senator Pat Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) on Feb. 27. Wiggins

recently announced she will not be running for re-election. She acknowledged she had faced

physical disabilities throughout her career. But she did not specifically address why she was not

seeking another term. Wiggins, through her staff, won’t comment, although she has needed

special assistance giving interviews to the media or participating in committee hearings,

according to the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.

Suction dredge mining is a process using a floating, gas-powered vacuum coupled to a sluice box

in river and stream channels. The miner vacuums up the river bottom and runs the sediment

through a mechanized sluice to separate out gold flakes. The sediment is then discharged into the

river.

A violation of the ban on in-stream suction dredge mining is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to

$1,000 in fines and six months in jail. Despite this risk, many miners continue to dredge.

Jerry Hobbs, President of Public Lands for the People (PLP), says SB 670 is about one thing, and

one thing only.

“This is not about protecting any species, it’s about money. Ninety percent of these rivers don’t

even have any salmon in it,” said Hobbs, who has already filed a lawsuit against the state. “My

position is, in our lawsuit, we’re saying the state cannot prohibit dredge mining. If we win that, I

don’t give a damn if the court issues a permit or not. We go dredge.”

The affect of SB 670 on miners varies, according to Hobbs.

“There are three ways miners are handling this,” Hobbs said. “Some have no intention of

violating the law. They’re not happy and they don’t understand it. A second group understands it

and is fighting it and then there are others who don’t give a damn and they’re still out there

dredging.”

Hobbs says many miners who continue dredging aren’t concerned about fines.

“A lot of hard-core miners are still (mining) There are no citations, no tickets,” Hobbs said.

“There’s no doubt in my mind, (SB 670) s a violation of people’s rights and the Constitution,

Even the forest service and the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) won’t touch it. Nobody’s

been cited. They know they’re in trouble because they’re violating the 5th and 14th Amendments

of the Constitution.”

Many businesses have been negatively impacted by the passage of the bill. Keene Engineering,

which manufacturers mining and prospecting equipment, is feeling the crunch.

“SB 670 has pretty much devastated our industry here on the West Coast,” said Patrick Keene,

owner of Keene Engineering in Chatsworth. “The Indians and the gaming interests in California

have influenced our lawmakers greatly with lots of money being poured into our legislators

through lobbyists and gaming interests. Unfortunately, Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill

unknowingly with an impact that would cost California nearly $100 million per year. It hasn’t

just affected us as a manufacturer, but it has affected 400 of our dealers across the United States.

Just the simple scare of SB 670 has stopped thousands of people from buying new dredges from

our dealers."

Keene is part of a third generation of gold prospectors who has been manufacturing gold mining

supplies for over 60 years. He saw the negative impact of SB 670 up close when he visited

Northern California.

“When I traveled to Northern California to go on my vacation, I had noticed for the first time

that most of the campgrounds were empty, that stores and restaurants were up for sale and that

the mining industry had a much larger impact than I anticipated,” he said. “Most of the town

stores, gas stations and shops in the gold mining areas were literally dropping off because the

additional blow to the economy had either crippled them or put them out of business.”

Keene hopes the PLP lawsuit against the state will lead to a restoration of miners’ rights.

“Hopefully, with the help of our lawsuit along with PLP, we can have the state of California

uphold laws which protect our freedoms and our livelihoods for our future generations,” he said.

“If we can get enough people to support PLP, as we do, we can win this lawsuit and send a

message to others who may wish to take away our freedom.”

Hobbs dismisses critics who claim suction dredging is disrupting the balance of nature.

“They can assert anything, but there aren’t any studies out there to back it,” Hobbs said. “There’s

no scientist who’s going to give you definite conclusions because they’ll lose funding for grants.

Science has become political, it isn’t scientific anymore. We’re dealing with a really crooked

period of history.”

Hobbs has concerns for his neighbors to the north if SB 670 isn’t overturned.

“If we can’t defeat this in California, it’s going to spread. It’s already started in Oregon and

Washington is next.”

The PLP and GPAA need your support. Visit the groups at plp2.org and goldprospectors.org.

Memberships in both organizations are strongly encouraged. Article from the GPAA website

Dec 2009.

CAMP OUT! CAMP OUT! CAMP OUT!

Feb. 6, 2010 (Sat) ORIENTATION TOUR TO MIDDLE CAMP ––

8:00 am departing from Joshua Tree

National Park Headquarters in 29 Palms. Great opportunity to tour the FCM’’s claim called

““Middle Camp”” in the remote Eagle Mountains. Four wheel drive vehicles recommended. Be

prepared to pay the Park entrance fee if you do not have an annual pass, as we will be driving

through the Park to access our claim. Come with lunch, plenty of water and a spare tire! This is

an all day event.

Feb 13, 14, 15, 2010 (Sat, Sun, Mon) –– CAMPOUT AT MIDDLE CAMP CLAIM:

This camp out is traditionally very well attended, so come for the weekend or just the day to

metal detect or dry wash with other FCM members. Beautiful, remote area of Eagle Mountains to

camp for the whole family. Sit around the campfire at night with other members. Four-wheel

drive highly recommended. President’s Day weekend so we’ll be staying until Monday.

2009 Annual Appreciation and Awards Banquet Sponsor

We thank the following indiviudals and companies for their generous contributions to our gathering:

AZ Desert Gold-www.azdesertgold.com

Carrows

Collette Parliament

D&K Detectors -www.dk-nugget.com

Desert Willow Golf Resort-www.desertwillow.com

Donna Parsons

Doug and Janet Peercy

Eddie and Cathy Brandon

Electroscopes by Thomas

Felix PayDirt

Garrett Metal Detectors-www.garrett.com

Gerry and Linda Reviea

Greg Herring

Home Depot

Jim McCulloch

Jim Wharff

John Crook

Jon Licher

Las Casita

Marilyn and Dave Wheatley

Marjorie ““Midge”” Seapy

Olive Garden

Philip Bonafede and Prospectors Depot -www.prospectorsdepot.com

Roadhouse Caféé

Scientific Engineering-Chuck Cummins - www.chuck2238@aol.com

Sheri Mitchell-Potts

Stater Bros

Sue and David Simmons

Ultimate Motors

Whites Metal Detectors- www.whiteselectronics.com

TRAVEL CORNER

By Greg Herring the Travel Guy

Rancho Jurupa Park Rendezvous, October 200

The end of Oct brought a gathering of prospectors to the middle of Riverside for fun and

festivities. The Valley Prospectors once again hosted the annual Rendezvous, bringing three

clubs together for treasure hunting and games. The site was a dusty and dirty one but it didn't

matter for this hardy group of wanna be strike-it-richers.

The FCM had a good showing with about a dozen members coming out. The FCM hosted the

panning competition again this year and it was a Valley member, who is also a FCM Member,

Kent Bryant, that took home the grand prize with a time hard to beat! ( yeah, I am not telling you

the time because I am over 50 and I can’t remember – but I know it was quick) And yours truly

took home 3rd place in the dry washing competition. The Trash Hunt on the first afternoon

proved to be a learning experience for some. I took Michele, my fiancé, out for the very first time

and showed her how to use a detector; she took third place!! Outstanding job!! We all had fun

during the two treasure hunts, with most of us bringing in much more in finds than the fee we

paid to enter the competition. The night hunt was particularly fun as they love to hide the coins

and tokens in pudding and strange things; making it a bit messy but fun none the less. The chili

cook-off on Saturday Night was great! Many varieties of chili were on hand by the great chili

chefs of the various clubs. It was our own President, Doug Peercy, that took home the first place

trophy. It was a good thing too, he was talking a lot of "bull"!

There wasn't much free time between events but there was enough to take a stroll through the

river. The massive rapids and strong current were fierce to fight as we made our way down

stream; ok, so there were 3 inches of calmly flowing water. It was a nice time for the President

and First Lady, and Michele and I. Did Jim Wharff, who was tagging along, go in the water? NO

WAY! He was afraid of the alligators and piranha, saying he needed to stay on the trail to ensure

we could find our way back, yeah right! His loss! We eventually got back after I lead the

wayward team on a misguided adventure through thick bamboo and riverside shrubs, barely

getting back in time for Doug to get his chili in the contest.

Anyway, we all had a wonderful time and we hope to see you there next year. And I hope to see

you all at the February Campout at our Middle Camp claim! It's the best gold producing claim we

have! Well, at least it has been for me! See the nuggets I have found there!

Happy Hunting Hey,,,, go on to the following page for some Photos!

GREG HERRI�G

Ken Bryant Winning Panning Competition Panning Competition Winners

FCM Campers Drywasher Compton Winners

Metal Detector Treasure / Coin hunt Competition

Known Placers Close To Our Claim In the Eagles

by Jerry Burnett

Around our Middle Camp Claim are a number of other gold placers that I and others

have gotten some nice gold nuggets from, either by drywashing or detecting. In case

you don't know about them, I'll give you a brief description of the ones that I know about

and their location.

1. Go North from Middle Camp (MC) to the fence line that crosses the wash. From

there walk about a half mile north to where the wash opens up and you'll come to the

Stone Cabin and adjoining placer. Way back I did some drywashing there, but the

detecting was more profitable. Lots of adits and coyote holes going down to bedrock so

somebody was doing fairly well back in the '30's and before.

2. Halfway up Stone Cabin wash there's another wash coming in from the West. We've

always called this one Virgin Wash because when we first worked it, it seemed to be

relatively unworked. A number of us got many nuggets there, mostly by detecting and a

little by drywashing.

3. Back to the main wash, go past the stone cabin and around the point to the right and

you come to a fair sized mine on the hillside. The wash that goes south from this mine

is one we have always called Mystery Wash, although the real Mystery mine is another

3/4 mile to the East. I've gotten 20 or so nuggets detecting there.

4. & 5. Going back closer to Middle Camp, Rattlesnake Flats is just on the big bend that

the wash make. The flat area was quite productive early on even though the numerous

hot rocks made it hard to detect. Over a couple of ounces of nuggets have been found

in the flat area. On the south side of the flat area is Rattlesnake Wash which was quite

productive for drywashing.

6. If you follow the Rattlesanke Wash up to the top, you'll come to Paradise Hill wire

gold placer. It was an amazing small placer that Keith Stinson and I discovered and

along with others we found hundreds of nuggets and very fine pieces of wire gold,

which is the rarest of all forms of gold. Not much left there to the best of my knowledge.

7. Middle Camp, our club claim, is best known for it's extensive drywashing. Both old

timers and new timers have found quite a bit of gold there. I did some of my earliest

drywashing there back in '70-73. I always got something and occasionally one over a

dwt.

8. As you drive into the last quarter mile to MC, you pass over a nice flat camping area,

which was in fact the campsite for the miners who worked the mine you see up on the

hillside. Going South from this flat area there is a road, visible in spots where the

ground is quite hard, and you can follow it up to Iron Rock Wash. The last two hundred

yards going up to the parking spot, the wash was quite brushy the last time I looked.

This placer was one of my earlie favorites for drywashing and I and others got many

ounces out of it. Detecting is about impossible due to the iron.

9. There is a faint road branching to the East off of the IRW road. It once went over to

the Cactus Mine Camp. You can follow the road most of the way until it gets bad and

then walk the rest of the way to the camp, about a quarter mile. It's an interesting camp

with a lot of artifacts around. Also a fine but rather steep trail starts here that goes up

the side of the mountain to the Cactus Mine. If you go south a few hundred yards from

the campsite you will come into the rugged Cactus Mine placer. All evidence of early

drywashing are gone in this narrow canyon, but we have found a surprising number of

nuggets along the sides and bedrock using our detectors.

10. Fair Placer. If you go pass the south turnoff that goes north to our MC where the

Park boundary sign is, and follow the Black Eagle Mine road another quarter mile or so

to the east, just after you have crossed the big wash there is a road going left up over

the hill and and north to the placer. There's a small mine up and the hillside, and the

wash below was heavily worked for many years. I went there many time since was so

easy to get to and I always got something but I never lucked out on anything big. Nice

camping spot. In the fall months we always had lots of Tarantulas for company.

11. Eagle Nest Placer. Sort of tough to get to, but this placer is on the top of the Eagles

about due East of Middle Camp. Tom Koch and BJ found it, and Tom got Miner of the

Year award for a fat nugget he go there. Gotta be more there for the young and stout

hearted. Take note 'cause Tom said it's a tough 5 mile round trip.

These are all distinct placers in a rather narrow three mile north-south strip. It doesn't

take much geologic knowledge to see that there could easily be another unfound placer

along this strip. People with detectors walked within feet of Area 51 and Paradise

placers before they were found. I feel sure that one of us prospecting.

Our next FCM meeting will be held SATURDAY, JA�UARY 23, 2010, at 1:00 pm

AT K�OTT’S SKY PARK I� 29 PALMS come 30 minutes early for a class in metal detecting

Directions to Knott’s Sky Park in 29 Palms from Yucca Valley:

1. Drive into 29 Palms on Hwy 62

2. When you pass Staters Brothers Supermarket on the right side, continue seven (7)

streets further.

3. The next street past the Carousel Family Restaurant will be El Sol Avenue,

turn right.

4. Proceed south on El Sol Avenue about 1 mile or so and the park will be

on your left. Watch for the yellow “FCM” pie plate signs in the road.

5. Turn into the parking area between the Baseball field and the Park.