Coming up on
January 18, 2014:
A very special family event for NCFC members that will include a raffle for prizes,
a fossil display competition with prizes awarded,
Fossil Identification Program for the public,
and a delicious "members only & members' guests" potluck buffet meal.
You really don't want to miss this fun event!
The Annual Awards Banquet
Saturday, January 18, 2014
9:30-10:30 AM Fossil Display Setup
10:30 AM Meeting followed by the Banquet
11:15 Voting followed by Award Presentations
12 Noon - 3:00 PM Public Viewing of Fossil Displays
&
1:00 - 3:00 PM Fossil Identification Program for the public
The Rocky River Nature Center
24000 Valley Parkway, North Olmsted, Ohio
440 734-6660
Directions for those coming from the East Side: Travel West on Interstate 480, Exit at Clague Road, proceed South on Clague Road, continue past Brookpark Road, Turn right onto Mastick Road (stay on Mastick only a short distance), Turn left onto Shephard Lane, Turn Right onto Valley Parkway, The Rocky River Nature Center will be a short distance ahead on the right side of the Valley Parkway.
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Fossil Display Setup: All setting up of fossil displays must be completed by 10:30 AM at which time the display area will be cleared and locked. Late entries will not be accepted. Plan to arrive early enough to allow sufficient time to set up your fossil displays. It is permissible to drive your car right up to the door in the circular driveway in front of the Rocky River Nature Center. However, as soon as you unload your displays, you must move your vehicle to the parking area to allow others to pull up to unload their displays. Even though the display area will be monitored, your fossils should be displayed in a LOCKED glass or plexiglass covered case to protect them and prevent theft during the public viewing. No food or drinks will be allowed in the Fossil Display Room. Donna Cole will be in charge of advising members as to where and how they should set up their fossil displays for the competition. She will also assign a number to each individual entry.
All NCFC members are encouraged to enter the display contest. Members who do not wish to enter the competition are also encouraged to create fossil displays for others to simply enjoy.
The fossil display serves 2 purposes:
First, it provides an educational opportunity for our members. Our members can learn about fossils and their identification by seeing what other members have found. Also, displayed fossils alert our club members to fossils they should "be on the lookout for" at certain collecting sites.
Secondly, we are granted use of the auditorium at the Rocky River Nature Center for that day in exchange for providing a fossil display for the public. The display will be open to the public from 12:00 Noon until 3:00 PM. All club members who display their fossils should plan on staying till 3:00 PM.
Space is limited, so please try to keep displays to a reasonable size. Arrange your fossils in close proximity, in other words; pack them in tight to save space, especially if your display is large. Also, please make an effort to identify and label your fossils whenever possible.
There will be 8 "regular" and 2 "special" display categories. More than one entry is allowed per member. The winner of each category will receive a certificate and a "museum quality" fossil reproduction created by one of our very own members, Glen Kuban.
Fossils and displays that won awards in past years are ineligible for competition. Members are welcome to present these fossils in an educational, non-competitive display.
It is very important to remember that the fossils entered in the following 8 "regular" categories must all come from the same collection site and must have been collected during the calendar year "2013". There are also two special categories. We also encourage members to bring unrestricted non-competitive displays for the for the benefit of the club and the public - space permitting. Fossils collected prior to the year 2013, and then finally prepped during the year 2013, are not elegible for the following 8 display categories:
1. Best Collection - Novice (a novice is one who has been a NCFC member for 3 years or less, the novice
category can only be won once, after winning, the competitor is no longer a novice,
and the entry must contain only specimens collected in 2013 from a single site)
2. Best Collection - 2013 Club Trip (entry must contain only specimens collected in 2013 from a single site)
3. Best Collection - 2013 Non-Club Trip (entry must contain only specimens collected in 2013 from a single site)
4. Best Collection - 2013 Youth (ages 13 or under - entry must contain only specimens collected in 2013 from a
single site)
5. Best Fossil - 2013 Club Trip (entry must be a specimen collected in 2013, the fossil can be displayed alone or
displayed in a collection of any other category, and only one Best Fossil can be
entered by each member in each of the 2 best fossil categories)
6. Best Fossil - 2013 Non-Club Trip (entry must be a specimen collected in 2013, the fossil can be displayed
alone or displayed in a collection of any other category, only one Best Fossil
can be entered by each member in each of the 2 best fossil categories)
7. Best Paleo Art - Adult (age 14 or older, entry may be an artwork created in any year)
8. Best Paleo Art - Youth (age 13 or younger, entry may be an artwork created in any year)
There will be 2 "special" display categories. Collections entered in these 2 categories may contain fossils collected in past years. Fossils entered in these 2 categories are not limited those collected in 2013. The 2 "special" categories are:
1. Best Collection - Common Theme (collection may be a composite of fossils from multiple sites under a
designated theme, it may contain specimens from past years, individual
fossils collected prior to 2013 are not eligible for the best fossil categories
listed above)
2. Best Collection - Open Competition (collection of fossils from a single site, it may contain specimens from past
years, individual fossils collected prior to 2013 are not eligible for the best
fossil categories listed above)
Voting: Each entry is entered under a category. All displays entered will have a number. The ballot sheet has the categories and a space to write one number next to each category. Members will vote by picking and writing the number of the entry that they feel is the best in each category.
Because of the complexity of the voting and the knowledge needed to judge the entries, there is an age limit for voting. All those voting must be 10 years of age and older.
The Dots: The Best Fossil - Club Trip will have a red dot with the number on it. The Best Fossil - Non Club Trip will have a yellow dot with a number on it. A Best Fossil entry could be a single fossil within a displayed collection or it might be displayed all by itself. When a Best Fossil is displayed within a collection it probably will not have the same number as the entered collection because the Best Fossil category is a separate category. To vote for a Best Fossil one must walk around the room and look at all the fossils with a colored dot attached.
The Banquet: The Banquet is a "members only & members guests" potluck buffet meal. All members are asked to contribute a main or side dish, and/or a dessert. The amount of food you bring should be sufficient to feed your personal party, plus a little more. The club will provide a ham, coffee, beverages, cups, and place settings.
Door Prizes & Raffle: Please donate fossils or fossil related items for door prizes. Door Prize Tickets will be distributed to all members. The fund-raiser raffle prizes include those fossils pictured below:
Click on the images above to enlarge
The "Extreme Fossil Roadshow": The Rocky River Nature Center has asked NCFC members to conduct a Fossil Identification Program for the public. This has been entitled the "Extreme Fossil Roadshow", and will be promoted in the Emerald Necklace Newsletter. This identification event will take place in the Display Room from 1 PM to 3 PM.
Please donate fossils to the Rocky River Nature Center: The nature center hands them out free to visitors. This inspires visitors and encourages them to develop an interest in fossils and Paleontology. A handful or small box will do. Take donations to the front desk when you arrive at the banquet. The assistants at the main desk will gladly accept them.
