Thank You For Serving!

2018 Board of Directors

Your 2018 SPMA Board of Directors: Past President Ed Farley, Senior Director Joe Johanek, Junior Director Joan Rufner, President John Schotsch, Treasurer Brian Winter, and Vice President John Troseth. Thank you for dedicating your time to our association.

ASSAY NEWSLETTER - Now Available On-Line!

Click the link to view and read your latest ASSAY, with full color pictures. Assay Newsletter-July 2018 Adobe Reader is required to view the file. If you don't have Adobe Reader you can download and intall it using this link. Adobe Reader

June 1st to July 4th San Diego County Fair at Del Mar

Our biggest fundraiser each year is our annual booth at the Del Mar Fair, now called the San Diego County Fair at Del Mar. The money we raise each summer at this event helps pay the fees on our mining claims. Throughout June, the Fair will be open everyday EXCEPT Mondays and Tuesdays. Each day is divided into three shifts. SPMA members who work six shifts or more receive a Fair Credential (Free Pass) and an SPMA T-Shirt. For more info please call Brian Winter, (619) 787-8458.

July 22nd - Cajon Pass (Blue Cut) Sluicing Outing

Come join the fun of sluicing at Cajon Pass. Brian Winter will be leading a Group Outing to Cajon Pass on Sunday July 22nd for a gold pan and sluicing demonstration. This will be informative for the New and perspective members, as well as the novice members. He will be meeting people at the Walmart parking lot at 7A.M. off of Areo Dr in San Diego. The next meeting point will be at the J C Penny parking lot in Escondido off of Bear Valley Pkwy, Exit 27 at or about 7:30-7:45. The last meeting point will be at the Jack in the Box parking lot, Exit 119 Sierra Ave./ Lytle Creek Rec., about 9:30 A.M. This is the last chance for getting food, water, restrooms and gas.

From there, head east to the Kenwood Exit 124. Stay in the right lane/ Truck lane to exit. Make a left turn at the stop sign, and a right turn at the next stop sign on Historic Rte. 66. Go about 5 miles and the Bluecut Memorial will be on the left side of the road. Plenty of parking space. If you miss the Kenwood Exit, go about 3 mile and get off of at the Cleghorn Fire Rd. Exit 129. Make a left turn at stop sign, and another left turn onto Historic Rte. 66, and go about 3 miles and the Memorial will be on the right side of the road. Bring an EXTRA PAIR OF SHOES & SOCKS, along with a TOWEL, drinking water, and lunch. If you have any questions, call Brian Winter at 619-787-8458 for info.

July 28th - SPMA Picnic at East Vacation Isle / Ski Beach

Come and enjoy the food and fun of the annual SPMA picnic. The cost is $7 per person, unless you pre-pay then it's only $5. Reservations must be received by July 21st to receive the discount. Print out one of these forms and make your reservation today. PicnicForm-PDF OR PicnicForm-JPEG.

General Meetings, 3rd Tuesday of the month

Our next general meeting will be held at 6:30 PM at the VFW Post Hall in Lemon Grove.

Imperial Valley Meetings

The Imperial Valley Chapter meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 9:00 AM, at the Potholes Claim, except during the summer. For more info please contact Jim Perkey via email.

SPMA Board Meetings, 2nd Monday of each month

Our monthly SPMA Board of Directors meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 PM in the Gem & Mineral Building, Spanish Village, Balboa Park. All members are welcome to attend.

Our NEW Email Claim Use Form is now available

We now have two types of claim forms, a Mail-in Claim Form. and an Email Claim Form. Just click the links for each to check them out. We hope that by making the forms quick and easy to use, more people will send them in. Collecting these Claim Use Forms is important because it shows the BLM that we are actually using our claims. It also shows that we are being responsible stewards of the land. Hauling away old trash and filling in dangerous holes also shows that we're pretty good people to have around. When we apply for new claims, the BLM takes all of this into account.

Share Your Photos on our website

SPMA members are encouraged to add photos to our photo page slide shows. There are two ways to do this, you can simply email them to Tom, or you can upload them to the SPMA PhotoBucket account. Our slide shows originate from that account. Prints and gift items can be ordered from PhotoBucket. For the PhotoBucket login passwords and other details please contact Tom Heffernan via email.

Gold fever still alive with local prospecting groups

Check out this recent Union-Tribune article by Gary Warth. He tagged along with trip leader Lee Darling on an SPMA outing to our Potholes claim in early April. Just click the links and enjoy!  Article and slide show.  If the links should break, here's a PDF copy.

PEW Environment Group

It's time you knew what the PEW Environment Group is up to and how they are lobbying to change the laws that regulate prospecting and mining. Download their 38-page booklet and read their own literature. PEW Environment Booklet.

Dinner is Served!

If you're attending your first SPMA meeting you should know that pizza, snacks, and beverages are available at all our meetings at very reasonable prices.