FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Jordi Fabre]

The new Tucson's Show Chairman, John Cesar sent to me the new 2010 banner ad. I published it below and I opened this thread to be used to publish everything that John or everybody related with this mega-show wish to add and promote the TGMS name and Show date.

Welcome here everything related with 2010 TGMS. FMF is extremely happy to help to promote this fantastic worlwide's mineralogical meeting point!

Jordi

[Peter Megaw]

Thanks for this Jordi. I'll use this as an opportunity to seek potential exhibitors for the TGMS Show...we're always interested in new collectors/collections or new localities to present to the collecting world. Especially gems and gem minerals this year! Interested folks, or those with recommendations for other museums or collectors should contact me. via TGMS or directly

Also a great time to once again put out the word on competitive exhibits, especially Junior Exhibitors...and remember to let them know that there are significant cash rewards...above and beyond the benefits gained from having the world's major collectors opine on your collection and give tips on how ti focus and/or improve your collection. Those looking for more information should contact Les Presmyk via TGMS or directly

[Peter]

Two problems for us Europeans is the rough handling of handluggage at airports, especially in the US where fragile specimens better not be brought after 9/11.

The risk of damage is already high just transporting these natural treasures.
Second the customs papers to be filled out, if any valuable minerals a carnet may be needed. On two occasions I used suchto exhibit in Tucson I did not get my money back because the customs at O Hare was CLOSED ON SUNDAYS!!! I was a student and needed even those 200 dollars back each time! (yes, second time I was re-routed via Chicago)

Would love to exhibit some European specimens in this category but fear it!

[Jesse Fisher]

Hello Peter,
I agree that traveling with mineral specimens on airlines is very difficult these days, particularly here in the US. I have never had problems with security at airports such as Munich, Frankfurt or London Heathrow when I try to carry on specimens in my hand luggage. Unfortunately, it is not the same here. The people who screen carry-on bags have absolute authority to say what you can carry on, regardless of whether it is on the "official" list of banned items. I was once told that a fluorite (and not a large one) was a "potential weapon" and was not allowed to board the aircraft with it. This truly limits what I am willing to bring with me to shows like Munich and Ste. Marie.

On the other hand, anything that can be considered an "uncut semi-precious gemstone" - and I think most mineral specimens can qualify - is allowed into the US duty-free. You should not have to pay anything to US customs to travel with them into the country.

Jesse

[Peter]

Hi Jesse
Indeed the US custom laws are much more intelligent than the European.
Of course there should not be any duty on mineral specimens but here it is treated as any other "merchandise" i.e. you need to find the classification. Crushed rock, cobble stone, gravel, schist and so on...... It really is time to classify bnatural mineral specimens as one category and of course there should be no tax on such items.
So, bringing a brazilian specimen for instance, boiught at thje Munich show into the US is no problem... it is bringing it back to my own collection in Europe that causes the problem!!!

[alfredo]

Although it is true that there is no customs duty (import tax) to be paid on rough stones entering the USA, that does NOT mean that U.S. Customs officers won't cause serious problems. They have broad discretionary powers to make your life miserable if they don't like your face, or their boss or spouse yelled at them that morning, or any other conceivable capricious reason. They can impound your rocks for a few days and make you pay a customs broker to get them released, for example - which might be on the Monday morning after the show is over (yes, that happened to at least two people I know), even when absolutely no tax payment is required by law! Or they are legally entitled to smash a specimen to check whether you might have hidden drugs inside it (unbelievable, I know, but it happened to me once). However, most of the time, collections enter the USA undamaged and without trouble.

Nevertheless, my advice to anyone thinking of displaying in the USA is to get the rocks transported well in advance of the set-up day. There are customs brokers in Tucson who are knowledgeable about the care of mineral specimens and, for about $200, they can receive shipments of minerals, do the paperwork, and hold the specimens for your arrival in Tucson, where they will even deliver them to your hotel.

[John Cesar]

The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show message board has been silent for too long. Now that I am back from vacation I can confirm that the I-10 highway construction is complete and all on-off ramps are open to the public. Even the acclaimed 4th Avenue underpass reconstruction has been completed. This allows the young at heart to jog from the Show to the hot spots on 4th avenue without tripping in the dark, dank old underpass. The City Fathers are still predicting the construction of a 500+ Sheraton Hotel in the Tucson Convention Centers future.



John Cesar
2010 Show Chairman

[Gail]

Construction...finished? YIPPPEEEE! It was not fun missing your exit and having to go on for milies and miles. Thanks for the update!

[robynahawk]

John or Jordi - would it be possible to get a full size copy of the TGMS banner for use on my blog? is there a website that is up and running with 2010 info?

Robyn Hawk
TucsonGemShow. blogspot. com

[Jordi Fabre]

Well, I requested to John Cesar a bigger image of the banner for FMF and I don't get it yet, so I assume that they are still working on it ;-)

Here you have the official website of the show: https://www.tgms.org/ and this is the website for the Hotel's Shows: https://www.mzexpos.com/arizona.htm

Jordi

[robynahawk]

Thanks Jordi!

Robyn

[BlueCapProductions]

I wanted to add an announcement to this board that I think will be a very exciting program for the 2010 Tucson show. We started the official announcement at the 2009 Denver Show so I couldn't say anything until now (I JUST returned from Denver this afternoon).

Daniel Trinchillo (Fine Minerals International) and I have been working on a program that will be the first of its kind in Tucson. For the 2010 show we have worked, and will continue to work, very closely with Dave Waisman (Westward Look Show) and the TGMS to present a new series of events that will be highlighting the mineral artists of our hobby.

There are two main events that will happen in 2010 and they are:

SUNDAY EVENING EVENT AT THE WESTWARD LOOK MINERAL SHOW
Feb 7, 2010
Each year the Westward Look Show hosts a special Sunday Evening Event where prominent members of our hobby are invited to present and discuss various topics. For 2010, four prominent mineral artists will take the stage to present their work and perspectives on mineral art. These four Master Artists will be Eberhard Equit, Hildegard Konighofer, Wendell Wilson and Susan Robinson.

In addition to this, prior to their presentation, we will turn the Sonoran Ballroom into a Mineral Artists' Gallery during the cocktail hour where many other mineral artists will have their work on display and be on hand to answer any questions.

TUCSON GEM AND MINERAL SHOW
Feb 11-14, 2010
At the TGMS' main show, we will be setting up a mineral art display gallery where original artwork from Eberhard, Hildegard, Wendell and Susan will be on display. In many cases, the original artwork will be displayed next to the actual mineral specimen. All four artists will also be on hand to answer any questions and this will go on throughout the show.

We will be announcing more details as the program develops via a webpage we have set up for this. You can visit the site at:
https://www.bluecapproductions.com/mineralartists
(link normalized by FMF)

You can download an electronic copy of the brochure we created for this event and you can also sign up for automatic email notifications. As we add artists to the Westward Look Cocktail Hour, we will be announcing them online and via email.

I hope all of you can make it to these very special events. It's quite possibly the only time we'll ever get all these artists together and the recognition and respect they deserve is long overdue.

Thanks for starting this topic Jordi and special thanks to Dave Waisman, Peter Megaw and John Cesar for their help and participation in making this historic event come alive.

-Bryan

[Jordi Fabre]

[Jim]

Hi Jordi,

Yes, I'm on it! I'll be working with Bryan Swoboda on making this happen. Let's hope we get great participation.

Thanks!

[robynahawk]

I just got this announcement from Robert James over at the International School of Gemology. He has a fun plan to get the students to get out and see a lot of different vendors - almost like a treasure hunt. This one benefits the student and the vendors:
_________________

The ISG Vendor Hunt!

At the ISG at Tucson 2010 event we are holding our First Annual ISG Vendor Hunt. This fun event will challenge our ISG community members and members of the Jewelers Ethics Association to go out and find you...the Tucson Vendors. The purpose is to get our folks out to the shows to find and meet you, and generate positive business relations for all.

Vendor Sign Up: It costs you nothing other than some business cards. To participate all you need do is be a vendor at one of the downtown Tucson shows, such as the AGTA, GJX, Pueblo Inn, Super 8.anywhere your booth is located....we will find you. To sign up just send your business information including contact name, address, products you offer, and show location to the: isg(at)schoolofgemology(dot)com

Our community members are going to get a list of all participating vendors and they will use the Colored Stone Tucson Show Guide to find you, and come meet you and get a business card from you. The contestants that meet the most registered vendors and turns in the most business contact cards will win great prizes.....and so will you, the vendors!

The vendors who get the most business cards into the hands of our ISG and JEA community members will also win great prizes. Here is a list of prizes so far this year:

Contestant Prizes:

Grand Prize: GemDialogue Color System, value $450
Second Prize: Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones Vol 3, by Gubelin and Koivula, value $300.00
Third Prize: 15.35ct rough AAA Bi-color Plush Sunstone dug by Robert James, value PRICELESS!
Fourth Prize: 25.45ctw. rough diamond necklace strand, value $275.00
Fifth Prize: 1.10ct octahedral diamond crystal value $250.00
Sixth Prize: NAJA Blue Diamond Paperweight value PRICELESS!
Seventh Prize: Through My Microscope hard cover edition by Robert James, value $69.95
Eighth Prize: 1 week subscription to the Auction Market Resource value $40.00

Vendor Prizes:

Grand Prize: Full ISG Registered Gemologist Appraiser Scholarship.
Second Prize: 28.93ct AAA Red Plush Sunstone from Double Eagle #16 Mine.
Third Prize: Full ISG Registered Gemologist Scholarship.

Winners will be announced at the ISG Reception that is free to the industry. The ISG Reception will be held at the Hotel Arizona on Saturday evening where everyone gets free BEvERages and food starting at 6pm until we float the keg. Cash bar and free wine also will be provided. Prizes will be awarded at 6:30pm at the ISG Reception.
-----------------------------------

I would really love to see the mineral dealers get involved in this to expose these Gemology students to the origins of the gems they are studying. They are only in Tucson from 2 Feb. to 7 Feb. 2010.

More info at: https://www.schoolofgemology.com/Tucson2010/Tucson2010SignUp.html
(link normalized by FMF)

Robyn Hawk