[meteorite-list] 2007 WGMS Rock Show Recap

[MARK BOSTICK]

Hello all,

Thought I would post a little recap on how our local meteorite themed rock 
show went.

Show attendance was an all-time record, beating the last high by over 500 
people. Attendance to programs where 4-5 times the normal, Steve's was the 
most packed, standing room only, while the Kansas Meteorite Society 
presentation was a close second. We filled all the seats, Steve just had an 
overflow.  Usually only the first couple rows of seats have bodies in them.  
The common belief in the upped attendance, meteorites.

I sat as an expert during Steve’s and the KMS presentation, the later I was 
wearing my Renaissance costume, barely made it back in time, which seemed to 
entertain the general public.  I took my sword off ahead of time.

The McPherson Museum had a very nice display, and their curator, a man 
excited about meteorites and Nininger in his mid 20’s, was a pleasure to 
meet.  I am sure we will work with them in the future.

John Schooler and his wife had an extremely large selection of hard to find 
macro and micro mounts, as well as many fine minerals and fossils.  He also 
set up a very nice educational display. Check out his website if you have 
the time. (www.schoolersinc.com)

The Big Well was at the show the first three days. We formed a partnership 
with them to help make peridot from the pallasite meteorite the state 
gemstone.  The museum had since been collecting signatures and according to 
an e-mail dated the evening of the tornado (to fellow KMS member Jerry 
Calbert),  everything was going well on their end.  I have not heard from 
anyone since and hope no one was in the building when it was hit.

At the show we put a ballot box on our table, and were interviewed by a 
local television network, which made the evening news.

The Lake Afton Observatory , brought a nice collection of different Kansas 
meteorites along with samples of basic meteorite classes. There program went 
well.

Don Stimpson had a small display and sold samples of his meteorites.  He 
also had two meteorite postcards he made which I know will interest  some of 
you, such as Mike Jensen.  These had a circle on them like an old popular 
Meteor Crater postcard where Don put a piece of the meteorite….prices 
varied.

The KMS had a display including the Wichita meteorite.

In fact the show was such a success that we are likely going to squeeze 
meteorites into the next show as well.  We are thinking of going with the 
peridot gemstone theme for it….meaning could change anytime.

The Wichita Gem and Mineral Society in general has turned us into some of 
it's star members, we have led or have been a part of pretty much all public 
programs, advertisement, press releases and the like, since joining them.  
With the WGMS connections, the Kansas Meteorite Society has had a larger 
radio and television appearance, so this has been a win-win combination.

Thanks again to those that helped a little behind the scene and thanks to 
those that attended..

Mark Bostick
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita Gem and Mineral Society Member
Kansas Meteorite Society Founder
....and of course IMCA #3166