April 18, 2009

Meeting held 4/18/2009 at the west Salem fire hall, note this meeting was moved from it’s regular meeting date of 4/11/2009 because the fire hall was in use that day by the firemen for other items that weekend.

 There were 102 people present at the meeting.

Meeting came to order shortly before noon. Items of discussion were as follows:

• The East Cost Gold Prospectors have secured the first dredging permit for recreational prospectors of PA. It is good for there one property over by York, PA. You must be a member of there origination which is different than that of the GPAA. Specifics that were mentioned is that you are able to use up to a 4” dredge. No other information at this moment was presented at the club like if even as member of the EGPA are they going to bill you extra to dredge to help offset the cost of the permit from the state?. The one chapter’s website has the following: http://www.paprospector.org/ has this for there March 2009 minutes of the meeting :”Rick Atkins spoke about dredging in PA=After April 7^th EGPA will have the permit in PA. The maximum size will be a 4 inch dredge. Larger size is considered commercial. High banking must be set up in the stream, not on a bank. Dredging can be done between March 1^st and November 1^st,  yearly. The permit is for a three- year period. This is considered a pilot permit and the state will be observing what we will be doing over that time before issuing another permit.”
   
• Next weekend (4/25/2009) there will be a work party. If your able to come and help please do. Things that usually happen during a work part weekend can be but are not limited to: Clearing any brush from the campsites, clearing out of dead trees, fixing the roads that may have washed away over the winter, anything that comes up that needs done, etc.
   
• Outing committee: There will be a trip to the Herkimer mine in New York next month (May 15^th, 2009) Contact Chris Kelly (724-516-3372) driving arangements. The currnet plan is to go to “Ace of diamonds”  Adult price 8$/person, children 3$/each, camping at the mine is 15$/per 2 people, each after is 1$. If you want electric $4/night (not sure if for RV or tents also). Will be leaving May 15th at 5pm or 6pm (if everyone agrees to the time) contact Chris by the next meeting. Regarless of if you signed up at this meeting call Chris for updates about this. Leaving time and possible car pooling may happen. So please call Chris to keep up with what is going on about the trip.
   
• There is a high banker for sale, I’m waiting for specifics about it so I can post it: cost, size, etc. UPDATE: 4/24/2009 – I was notified that the high banker was sold already.
   
• It was talked about having the Pot Luck Lunch before the meeting.
   
• The club is looking for someone to take over the pop concession at the meetings. See Calvin if you are interested in chandelling the pop concession.