FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Jolyon Ralph]

(Thank you Jordi for permission to post here)

As you may or may not have heard, mindat.org is organizing it's first international conference this July, in Poland, and I'd like to encourage you all to come!

Firstly, in case you were concerned, the whole event is being run in English - so those (like me) with poor language skills need not be overly concerned.

The event is timed to coincide with the town's annual mineral-themed festival, with mineral shows, exhibitions, live music, town fair selling local goods and food, and tens of thousands of visitors. A wonderful atmosphere - see my report on mindat.org for last year's event. - https://www.mindat.org/article.php/967/XIII+Lw%C3%B3weckie+Lato+Agatowe+-+Updated

Our conference has three days of field trips, including collecting at the famous Strzegom granite quarries - with wonderful cavities containing smoky quartz, epidote, stilbite, chabazite, fluorite and more...

And the conference has presentations aimed at all levels - we keep the heavy scientific topics to short presentations on the saturday morning. It's aimed primarily at collectors, although students of earth sciences will of course find it tremendously useful.

And we have workshops, including most significantly a workshop from Jeff Scovil on mineral photography. If you thought that a world renowned mineral photographer such as Jeff would never reveal his secrets - you're wrong! He will, and he's surprisingly eager to help you make the best photos you can of your specimens.

Add to this social events every evening and the opportunity to meet like-minded collectors from Europe and around the world. This is the first mindat conference, but it's also a one-off. The unique combination of events and opportunities at this conference mean that it's really something you should not miss!

Location: Lwowek Slaski, Lower Silesia, Poland
Dates: July 10th-17th (full program, you can come only for part if you wish)
Nearest Airport: Wroclaw, Poland. - Shuttle bus from airport available. Or drive from Dresden, Germany (2 - 2.5hrs) or from Berlin (under 4 hours)

Read our website for more information: https://www.mindat.org/conference.php

[Jordi Fabre]

[Tomasz Praszkier]

Already about 100 people registered from many countries - from Australia, through Hong Kong, Germany, Austria, Norway, France, Canada, USA etc.
During event there will be 2 mineral shows.

Tomek

[Montanpark]

Tomek,
make sure that the shuttle service will work fine ;) .. we booked accomodation today at Villa Gardens in Boleslaw .. seems to be a bit outside the centre of town. And get the Vodka cold!

Cheers and see you there
Roger

[Tomasz Praszkier]

Roger,

Do not be afraid for vodka - it is already waiting in refrigerators!

Tomek

[Jesse Fisher]

I shall not be afraid for vodka, but of it! But I am sure there will be much piwo, also?

[Jordi Fabre]

[ERA Triano]

It is so exciting to hear about it. I'm sure that many people will go an have a great time, and for those of us who have to stay home, I'm counting on you all to share lots of photos and articles during & after.

Meanwhile, it is always good to have reminders of upcoming events, so those of us who print the club newsletters can include more updates. You never know who will be reading, eh? :-)

[ERA Triano]

Tom, will there be a special edition of Minerals about the conference?

[Tomasz Praszkier]

There will be not "special" edition of Minerals but second issue will be ready on Sainte Marie Show which is 3 weeks before Conference.

Tomek

[ERA Triano]

That sounds good too. Thanks. :-)

[Jordi Fabre]