MIDWEST HISTORICAL RESEARCH SOCIETY

CHICAGO ILLINOIS

FOUNDED IN 1968

“PRESERVING THE PAST FOR THE FUTURE”

TRASH TO TREASURE

February, 2010

 

MEMBER OF THE FEDERATION OF METAL DETECTOR AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL CLUBS

 

         OFFICERS:                                                                                                                       COMMITTEES:

     PRESIDENT:   PAT ANDERSON        630-906-0618                                                            EDITOR: LYNN ROMA

     VICE PRESIDENT: HOWIE ROMA 847-749-3731                                                              PUBLISHER: HOWIE ROMA

     TREASURER: GENE ZSCHERNITZ 847-299-4122                                                              LIBRARIAN: PAT ANDERSON

     RECORDING SEC'Y: LEONA TATMAN 630-307-7323                                                       HUNTMASTER: RON GUINAZZO

     CORRESP. SEC’Y: DORIS PATITZ 773-583-4284                                                               PUBLIC RELATIONS: LARRY HOEFT

     SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: BOB MISKIEWICZ                                                                       FOM TABLE: RICH GUNZY

                                                                                                                                                  WEBMASTER: RON GUINAZZO

     DIRECTORS:                                                                                                                       HOSPITALITY: JOHN FITZPATRICK

    LYNN ROMA 847-749-3731                                                                                                  CHRISTMAS PARTY: LEONA TATMAN

    HERB DODGE 773-622-9553                                                                                                PICNIC: JUAN FRAGOSA

    RON GUINAZZO   773-320-7569                                                                                          NOMINATIONS : JIM PALMENO

    BRENDA GUNZY 708-535-7019

 

     FOR CLUB INFORMATION CALL … PAT ANDERSON-630-906-0618 or HOWIE ROMA 847-749-3731 -MAILING ADDRESS: DORIS PATITZ AT 4638 N.      FRANCISCO,  CHICAGO IL. 60625   EDITOR: LYNN ROMA 710 s. ELMHURST RD. MT. PROSPECT IL. 60056 E-MAIL HOWIEP77@AOL.COM    847-749-3731.

     ATTENTION BULLETIN EDITORS: YOU MAY PRINT ANY ARTICLE FROM THIS NEWSLETTER, PLEASE GIVE CREDIT TO MHRS AND THE AUTHOR.

     MHRS WEB PAGE ADDRESS WWW.MHRSDETECTING.COM  E-MAIL CONTACT rpg61@msn.com

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ATTENDANCE FOR JANUARY MEETING: 44 MEMBERS 4 GUESTS

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FEBRUARY PROGRAM: USE OF GPS & TOPO MAPS FOR TREASURE HUNTING. Do you know how to maximize the utilization of your GPS in treasure hunting? Come to the meeting to find out! Pat requests that all members bring in there GPS units to the meeting for show and tell.

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“CODE OF ETHICS”

NEVER LEAVE HOLES! This is a cardinal rule and MUST be strictly observed! Use a small tool to recover your target NEVER a shovel. Replace all dirt and tamp down turf leaving ground level. Remove ALL objects you find, including junk…wear a nail apron or jacket with large pockets. Dispose of all unwanted refuse properly. REMEMBER THE HOBBY YOU SAVE, MAY BE YOUR OWN!

 

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THE PRESIDENTS SCOOP:

            It's still cold......It just seems like winter won't let go of its grip.  But that's OK, we have plenty to do.  It's also a great time to check out our equipment, make repairs and in general just shine everything up.  It's also a great time to do some research.  The February  Program will cover one of those "How To" research topics.  The program will explore how we can use a handheld GPS in combination with a USGS Topo Map to find those long forgotten treasure sites.  So if you own a handheld GPS, feel free to bring it to the meeting and show it off, it should be a lot of fun and hopefully it will be warm enough for us to go outside and fire a couple of them up.  I'm bringing mine and I hope to see a good variety at the meeting.

            Some Board Meeting Highlights: As of the February Board meeting, our paid membership count stood at 79 with just a handful of people left to contact.  That's good news.  Gene and Doris are shaking the bushes to find the remaining lost members.  We also completed a first pass at the budget and should have it finalized soon.  Gene also finished up the FMDAC list and the submission is in progress.  I'm also happy to report that we have two members that have come forward expressing interest in the Historian Chair.  Hopefully by the time of the Membership meeting we will be in position to announce Historian Co-Chairs.  And finally, we are still searching for a Webmaster.  If you have experience with maintaining a website, the club is in need of your skills.  Give it a shot,

            Concerning Our  Constitution:  Once again I have reviewed the MHRS Constitution with regard to the number of directors.  It's still not crystal clear to me, but my latest interpretation is a requirement for a total of four directors of which one of the four is the immediate Past President.  So that left us one short.  During the board meeting, Lynn Roma nominated Brenda Gunzy for the position of Director.  The nomination was seconded by me and Brenda accepted the nomination.  A separate email  polling of Executive Board was conducted for the purpose of confirmation.  The poll was unanimous in the affirmative and Brenda has been confirmed.  On behalf of the MHRS Board I extend congrats to Brenda.  The Board also agreed that an in depth review of the Constitution and the By-Laws will be conducted this year for the purpose of developing an updated proposal for consideration by the membership.  Looks like a great job for a new director.  Constitutional stuff can get pretty messy.  Welcome aboard Brenda.

            In closing I would ask that we keep Howie Roma in our thoughts and prayers.  Howie has a surgery scheduled for this month and on behalf of the club, I extend my best wishes to him and Lynn for a successful outcome and a speedy recovery.  So that's it for this edition.  I'm ready for a thaw.  Hopefully we'll get one soon so we can get back to the joyous work of loading up the Find of the Month table.  Let's get out there and make it happen.  See you soon and good luck hunting.

PAT ANDERSON
PRESIDENT MHRS

 

REMEMBER THE NEXT MEMBERSHIP MEETING IS  FEBRUARY 28, 2010.  And for all of you who have not paid your dues yet, see GENE ZCHERNITZ at the meeting.  

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FINDS OF THE YEAR WINNERS:

GOLD/PLATINUM:                          SILVER & OTHER:
1.  Ron Guinazzo, 18k Ruby/Garnet ring                 1. Lech Rembarz,Bracelet
2.  Jesus Pulido Sr. 10k Gold ring w/Blue stone        2. Ron Guinazzo, Frank Buck Ring
3.  Ron Guinazzo, 14k Gold Rose ring                    3. Ron Guinazzo, Silver Cross & Chain

 

COINS BEFORE 1910:                     COINS AFTER 1910:
1.  Jesus Pulido Sr. 1853 3 Cent piece                 1. Jim Palmeno, 1911D Barber half
2.  Jim Palmeno, 18540 Half Dime                       2. Jim Palmeno, 1917S Standing Lib half
3.  Jim Palmeno, 1877 Quarter                          3. Bill Staehley, 1915 Barber Dime

 

ARTIFACTS:                               EXONUMIA:
1.  Mike Ganzer, Lead Soldier                                  1. Joe Labedzki, 1833 Jackson token
2.  Jim Palmeno, Big Key                                 2. Ron Guinazzo, 1898 Dog Tag
3.  Jim Palmeno, 1921 Chauffer Badge                  3. Jim Palmeno, 1904 World's Fair token

 

MULTIPLES:                                 PEEK & SEEK:
1.  Doris Patitz, 1914 Quarter 1911 Wheat etal       1. Guadalupe Pulido, $100 dollar bill
2.  Jim Palmeno, 5 Indian Head Cents                   2. Ashley Kundert, 1926 Silver Dollar
3.  Mike Ganzer, Toy Cars                               3. Ron Guinazzo, 6 rings 1 penednnt

 

JIM PALMENO is the "BIG" winner with 1 first place, 4 second places and 3 third places. Coming in second was RON GUINAZZO with 1 first place, 2 second places and 3 third places. And in third place was JESUS PULIDO SR. with 1 first place and 1 second place.  There were a lot of good finds this year and everyone was a winner, all nine winners received a prize.  A silver dollar for every first place winner, 2 raffle tickets for every second place and 1 ticket for every third place. So you see it pays to bring in your "goodies" for the FOM TABLE each month, you could be a double winner because, each month the first place winners receive a raffle ticket, and only first place winners are eligible for the FINDS OF THE YEAR TABLE in January.


"YOU CANNOT HOPE TO ENJOY THE HARVEST WITHOUT FIRST LABORING IN THE FIELD."
              AUTHUR UNKNOWN

So get out those detectors, clean them up, and get ready for the spring thaw!  And DIG, DIG,DIG.   Remember you can't win if you don't put those finds on the table, let's give those
top guys a run for their money this year.  The snow can't last forever!


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FYI:

 

MINI-HUNTS: At GENE ZCHERNITZ'S suggestion, we are trying to plan a few MINI-HUNT get-togethers for any member who would like to join us, weather permitting.  Any suggestions as to when or where to go would be greatly appreciated.
            The club used to do this, but has gotten away from it in the past few years, and GENE would like to see this practice revised.  Getting out six and "hunting" with others sounds like a lot of fun, and you could learn a lot about our hobby from people who have been pursuing it a lot longer then you.
            What do you think?  Are you willing to try a MINI-HUNT sometime, maybe after a meeting or on a sunny Saturday afternoon?  Let us know!  Contact GENE or any of the other officers or board members, or speak up at the next meeting.  LET'S TALK ABOUT IT!

WEB-MASTER NEEDED:  The club is in need of an EXPERIENCED WEB-PERSON.  Someone who can take over the club website, who can receive and send out the club Newsletter when E-mailed from the Editor who is not very computer savvy. (That would be me!)
            We need a website to reflect our image as a great club that anyone would want to join, and one that our members can turn to for updated information.  RON  has done a great job, but has been having a lot of computer problems and getting a bit frustrated, we need someone to pick RON'S  brains and work with him,  to help put together and maintain a great website to show off our club.
            Are you that person?  If so, please contact RON GUINAZZO or PAT ANDERSON ASAP.
MHRS NEEDS YOU!

MARCH PROGRAM:  Get ready for MARCH MADNESS!  Bring in all of those found, dug, detected or just collected,  LUCKY CHARMS,  RELIGIOUS MEDALS ETC. SPORTS/EVENT PINS for show and tell.  Join the fun and show off your "goodies"!  Remember, due to Palm Sunday falling on the 4th Sunday in March, the meeting will be MARCH 21, 2010  same time, same place.

HOWARD BINS:  Howard Bins has been found alive and well and living in GEORGETOWN TEXAS!  He moved there before the holidays and didn't get a chance to say good-bye to anyone.  He sends his good wishes for a great new year  to everyone, and promises to get in touch as soon as his phone and new computer are set up.  We wish Howard the best of luck, and will miss him at the club. 

THE PENNY PROJECT:  HOWIE ROMA is still collecting all of those dirty grimy dug pennies, and also all of that shinny pocket change, for the clubs pet project THE PENNY PROJECT.  Lets help the Firemen send a kid to camp, it gets more expensive every year, and is needed more every  year.  Help put a smile on a kids face, that hasn't got a lot to smile about.  Please bring in those pennies, and anything else you might want to donate, it really goes for a good cause.  Hopefully we will be presenting a nice check to the FIREMEN'S ALLIANCE in April for our 2008/2009 project.


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FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK:

 

            Another season has began for the club and it's members, with a new President, new officers and board members, and a new resolve to make our club the best it can be.  The Board met in January to set the new calendar (published in last months Newsletter) and to talk about what we want to accomplish for the upcoming year.
            As usual there will be lots of opportunities for you as a member to voice your opinions, and to volunteer for programs, hunts, and other club activities.  If we are going to full fill our dreams of a bigger and better year for the club, everyone will have to pitch in and help in any way you can.  Its never to late to VOLUNTEER, what can you do to help?
            The Olympics will soon be over, the Valentines have all been sent, and Spring is just around the corner, no matter what that stupid little groundhog says.  And we will at last be able to get out to the parks and beaches and to all of those coveted :"hunting" spots.  Soon the FOM table will be loaded with the best  finds in the Chicagoland  area.  Who will be the next "Treasure Hunter of the Year"?  Remember no matter how great your find, if its not on the table, you can't get points.  So put those finds up every month and give your friends a chance to see what you can do with that detector!
            Your Newsletter will remain the same, except I would hope to have more member input, articles and ideas.  We will still have the old Needle in the Haystack, look for your hidden 2010 membership number hidden somewhere in this Newsletter.  News from the new President, the monthly FOM and facts and information on the FYI pages.  Don't forget, you can always sell some of that "treasure" on our members only Classified Ads page too.  I hope you enjoy your Newsletter this year, any comments and suggestions are always welcome!
                                                                                                               LYNN ROMA, EDITOR 

 

FOM RESUMES THIS MONTH:

Remember, according to the new rules put in effect last year, only those items found since the last meeting you attended are eligible for the FOM.  A brief reminder, for new and old members alike.   You may only submit one entry per category, please make sure your find is in the right place, when in doubt always check with RICH GUNZY our FOM expert and table guru! All entries must have been found by the member entering them, (no trades, or purchases, however cheap they were are eligible).  Entries must be in place on the Finds table BEFORE the meeting begins.  Play fair, only those items found this year that meets eligibility are permitted, not something you found years ago, or picked up at a garage sale etc. are eligible.  All first place winners will receive a free raffle ticket, and the pride of telling the story of when and where you found it. The challenge is on.  Can you beat those ever present winners from the past? There is only one way, bring in your finds, put them on the table, even if you think it's not so great, you will be surprised at what other people think and vote on.  Let's see a lot of new names in the winners circle this year.  Those points add up to select the TREASURE HUNTER OF THE YEAR.  and it could be you!  GOOD LUCK AND GOOD HUNTING FOR 2010.

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FYI:

TREASURY REDEEMS DIRTY, SHREDDED, BURNED MONEY:

          The U.S. Treasury Department's Mutilated Currency Division has a job that's often smelly and more challenging than a huge crossword puzzle. You probably haven't heard about it unless you have lost cash, usually through fire, flood, exposure to chemicals, rodent or insect infestation or deterioration from being buried.
            Each year, the Treasury exchanges unusable currency for new money.  It fields about 30,000 claims and redeems about $30 million every year to some very relieved people.
            In one case, a farmer dropped his wallet in a field and a cow ate it.  He slaughtered the cow and sent its stomach to the Mutilated Currency Division.  Though identifying the money was not a pleasant task, the farmer got his $600. back in the form of a check.
            In another case, a dog had eaten a lady's money, and it ultimately came out the other end in pieces.  Identifying the pieces was smelly detective work, but she got her money back.
            Money buried in a dry climate can petrify, making it difficult to pry apart to determine denominations.  Money buried in wet climates can turn into a mass resembling oatmeal.  The Treasury has tactics to identify the bills and will redeem them.  Sometimes the sender has to sign an affidavit for a claim.  
            Note that if you have currency that is damaged, but more than half of the dollar is intact, any bank will exchange it for new money.
ARTICILE SUBMITTED BY LARRY HOEFT:

 

HOW MUCH IS THAT "LOOSE" CHANGE WORTH?


This information comes from The Michigan Treasure Hunters Club newsletter, of November 2001.

Nine out of ten Americans throw their loose change into a coin jar or a container--How much is it worth?  Americans have cashed in more then $3 million in loose change using Coins to Cash machines.  Most found money started out as pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters routinely tossed into a coin jar or Piggy Bank.  To help consumers gauge how much money might be in their coin jar, Coinstar, which maintains a network of more than 8,500 machines in 20 leading chains across the U.S. has added a feature to its Web site (www.coinstar.com) that helps consumers estimate a container's value based on its size and a average coin mix of 22% silver and 78% pennies.  For example:  1 gallon = $160.95   32oz. = $40.24 and an 8oz container would give you $10.08.
 
Editors note:
Howie takes our Penny Project  coins to our bank, where it is counted for free.  Coinstar charges a fee of 8.9% for what you put through their machines.  But it would be interesting to check out these amounts,  anyone have a 1 gallon container of coins to count?

We finally have a new 2010 MEMBERSHIP ROSTER, if you would like one come to the February meeting and pick one up. 


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CLASSIFIED ADS FOR MEMBERS ONLY:


       This is your page, your chance to sell that unusual or unwanted item, or find that one piece of whatever to add to your collection.  Just let me know   before the next Newsletter deadline, and your ad will appear here.  All ads will run for three issues, then be deleted or rerun at your request.  At the end of each ad will be the month/year of your final ad.


WANTED:  PULL TABS---see JOHN FITZPATRICK who will now be collecting these little tabs for charity, thanks John.

WANTED:   CAMPBELL SOUP LABELS FOR EDUCATION will be collected by LARRY HOEFT.  Please bring these much appreciated labels to the next meeting.

WANTED:     State  ATLAS/GAZETTEERS for IOWA, N.MEXICO, ARIZONA , CALIF.or any other state.  The older the better.  Contact BILL POPOWSKI 630-272-0913 (3/10)


WANTED:     SHEILA CALDWELL recently joined the club and would like someone to hunt with.  She is new to the hobby and needs some guidance and tips on how to use her detector.  Please email Sheila at smilesunnyside@yahoo.com Sheila lives in the Evanston area.

FOR SALE:    FISHER F75 Practically new. $800. contact HOWIE ROMA 847-749-3731  (3/10)

FOR SALE:    GARRETT ACE 250 w/6x9 Pro Performance and 9x12 Pro coil plus headphones, carrying case, probe and digger.  $200.00  contact BILL STAEHELY  630-464-2656  (4/10)

NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE WILL BE SATURDAY MARCH 6, 2010:  ANY ARTICLES WRITTEN  BY MEMBERS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

FEB:        28:       Regular membership meeting:           
                              Program:  GPS (What do you do with it?)
MARCH:   3:      Board meeting
                   21:     Regular membership meeting:  3RD Sunday due to Palm Sunday         
                              Program: LUCKY CHARMS,  RELIGIOUS MEDALS, SPORTS/EVENT PINS.
ETC

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MIDWEST HISTORICAL RESEARCH SOCIETY

 

MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND PROGRAM

ST. ALBANS CHURCH, 6240 N AVONDALE

CHICAGO, IL. 60631

WHEN:  SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2010

TIME:    12:00PM  .

PROGRAM: GPS & TOPO MAP READING

 

The club meets the 4th Sunday of each month,

at 12:00p.m. unless otherwise notified.

 

VISITORS WELCOME!

 

MEMBERSHIP DUES: $25 PER YEAR

PLUS $15. INITIATION FEE FIRST YEAR.

New members dues paid after the Fall hunt will be

for the following year. Membership includes all

club functions, meetings, and monthly Newsletter.

TRASH to TREASURE

MIDWEST HISTORICAL RESEARCH SOCIETY

4638 N. FRANCISCO

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60624

 

NEXT MEETING SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2010

ST. ALBANS CHURCH 6240 N. AVONDALE, CHICAGO IL.

 

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