Clarence and Cindy and Adelma Kaiser show off some gold they mined at K-15A using a home-made high-banker.  Look for the full story in next month’s newsletter!

  We worked pay-dirt for 4 months

As most of our subscribers are aware, California has placed a temporary moratorium on suction dredging until the State completes an update of the Environmental Impact Statement which supports our suction dredge regulations.  The process is already well underway.  We have created a special page on our web site so you can follow the progress if you are interested.  While the process is moving along, we do not expect it to be completed in time for the 2010 dredging season in California.  So we have identified around 40 miles of  suction dredging opportunity in Southern Oregon for our members who prefer this type of gold prospecting (see below).

The moratorium on suction dredging in California  only stops suction dredging within California’s active waterways. It does not have anything to do with the other types of prospecting or mining that we do. Unaffected prospecting activities include panning, sniping & vack-mining, sluicing & high-banking, electronic prospecting and other types of prospecting that do not use a suction nozzle within an active stream, river or creek. It also does not affect our group weekend projects.

There are no seasons imposed upon these other types of mining activity. In other words, you can do them at any time of the year.

Please be advised that these other types of mining activity along New 49’er properties are subject to a strict set of Surface Mining Operational Guidelines.

Fantastic Prize Blowout; Here are the Winners!

            Fantastic Prize Blowout!

1.  Daniel Cutshall: Grand prize trip to Alaska from Roger Larson
2. Richard Godbey: Minelab Eureka metal detector by Steve Herschbach
3. North American Miners Association: Garrett Infinium metal detector by Garrett
4. Raymond Powell: Keene 3-inch Combo High-banker by Keene Engineering
5. Jem Payne: Blue BowlKkit donated by Frank Sullivan, Pioneer Mining
6. Frank & Catherine Omstead: Whites (slightly used) GMT Metal detector by Dan Robinson
7. Terry Stednick: 3-inch Proline Combo High-banker by Jeff Kuykendall at Proline
8. Eric J Poos: Micro Sluice 2 by Martin Hach at Micro Sluice Gold Products
9. William Finnegan: BuckABilly Sluice donated by Bill & Shelley Webb
10. Tom Chambers: BuckABilly Sluice donated by Bill & Shelley Webb
11. James Newell: 2-speed Mechanical Winch with Honda motor and high-speed winder donated by Michael Dunn
12. Jerry Van Myden: Extraordinary Platter, created by Lonnie Harris McDowall “Old man panning”
13. Tom Chambers: HystWare Computer Software program for windows
14. Raymond Perry: Bazooka Gold Trap donated by Bazooka Gold Company
15. Alexander Anderson: New H2 Odyssey wet suit donated by Gary Standefer
16. Steve Trent: Beautiful Hand-made Pendent donated by JoAnne McClure
17. Daniel Cutshall: 25-troy ounce silver bar with Whites emblem on it, by Whites Electronics
18. Trent Pierce: 1-ounce silver round by Mr. Anonymous
19. Prospectors Club of Southern California: 1-ounce silver round
20. Flint Stearns: 1-ounce silver round
21. Gary Standefer: 1-ounce silver round
22. Randy Green: 1-ounce silver round
23. John Morone: 1-ounce silver round
24. Willamette Valley Miners: 1-ounce silver round
25. Judy Shirey: 1-ounce silver round
26. George R Skog: 1-ounce silver round
27. Del Miller: 1-ounce silver round
28. Ray Creson: Certificate for Wines Camp Gold Mining Trip, donated by Dave Rutan of Oregon
29. Gene & Diana Clayton: Certificate for Wines Camp Gold Mining Trip, donated by Dave Rutan of Oregon
30. Jerry Van Muyden: Certificate for Wines Camp Gold Mining Trip, donated by Dave Rutan of Oregon
31. Kenneth Payne: 10-inch Blue Gold Pan with instructions donated by Bill Lamica
32. Julius Stegman: 10" Blue Gold Pan with instructions donated by Bill Lamica
33. Brandon Rinehart: 10" Blue Gold Pan with instructions donated by Bill Lamica
34. Bela & Barb Kovacs: 10" Blue Gold Pan with instructions donated by Bill Lamica
35. Randy Green: 10" Blue Gold Pan with instructions donated by Bill Lamica
36. George Skog: 10" Blue Gold Pan with instructions donated by Bill Lamica
37. Dave Thomas: 10" Blue Gold Pan with instructions donated by Bill Lamica
38. Myrna Karns: Certificate for Rachel Dunn's fabulous Chocolates
39. Bela & Barb Kovacs: 18th Century Collectable Coin from Stan Meager
40. Paul Hillery: Beautiful Gold Nugget Picture called "Sierra Gold" by William Lundeen
41. Ron Griffin: $50 Gift Certificate for the Miner’s Cache by Chip Hess
42. Bill Jonsson: 10" Blue Gold Pan with instructions donated by Bill Lamica
43. Jan Stromme: 10" Blue Gold Pan with instructions donated by Bill Lamica
44. Frank Mastrilli: 10" Blue Gold Pan with instructions donated by Bill Lamica

Congratulations to all of our winners!

We Raised $33,536 for Industry Defense!

Here is how our legal fund did during this latest fund raiser (between 7 July 09 and January 4 2010):

We brought in a total of $33,536.70 to the legal fund.  We expended $34,241.45 directly to legal and lobbying expenses (this means only to attorneys and lobbyists).

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you loyal supporters out there who have been helping us keep up the good fight -- and also all of the venders and individuals who contributed prizes to our drawing.

We should all pause for a moment and give ourselves a pat on the back for doing a great job. We are still in the game!

On a more sober note, our legal fund contains $1,128.18 as I write this newsletter, and we owe $11,224.03 for past legal services to our attorneys. Our legal expenses will continue.  So I encourage everyone to please keep helping us to pay our specialists.  

Even though we are not yet advertising the next fund-raiser, our girls will automatically create prize tickets in your name (for the next prize drawing) for all contributions that we receive (this began immediately after the drawing was completed on 4 January).

I met with Jim Yerby a few days ago, and he says we are already off to a good start in bringing in new prizes for the next drawing.

In addition to that, long-time highly-supportive member, Steve Kleszyk, has organized a “Pound of Gold for the Legal Fund” campaign on our Internet Message forum.  So far, we have brought in nearly 3 ounces of gold.  Likely, we will use some or all of the gold received in this program as prizes in the next big legal fund-raiser.

Thanks for whatever you can do to help us continue to pay the legal and lobbying specialists who are defending our industry!

2010 Winter & Spring Show Schedule

All members are invited and encouraged to participate in our booth at the following shows. We have a lot of fun. Doing these shows allows us to share some quality time together outside of Happy Camp.

A big thank you goes out to Mike Belza, Mike & Rachel Dunn, Sean Hart and Shawn Higbee -- all who helped in our booth at the GPAA gold show in Lancaster (California) on 16 & 17 January."

If you can work a day or two into helping us, please contact Montine or Myrna in our office so we can schedule and plan on your help. Montine or Myrna can be reached at (530) 493-2012.

February13 & 14, 2010: Arizona State Fairgrounds (602-257-7118) Phoenix, Arizona

February 20 & 21, 2010: Fresno Fairgrounds (559-650-3247) Fresno, California

March 20 & 21, 2010: Puyallup Fair and Events Center (253-845-1771) Puyallup, Washington

March 27 & 28, 2010: Oregon State Fair Center (503-947-3247) Salem, Oregon

April 17 & 18, 2010: South Point Hotel and Casino (702-797-8052) Las Vegas, Nevada 

We Have Suction Dredge Opportunities in Oregon

  Finding high-grade gold on the Rogue River!

Oregon’s annual suction dredge permit presently costs $25 per year for both residents and non-residents.

We struck high-grade gold on our dredge sampling project along the Rogue River. So you will be hearing much more from us during the next few months about how we intend to support our members who wish to operate your dredges over there. We are in the process of printing maps and an Access Guide for all members who wish to suction dredge during the 2010 season. Members are invited to contact our office for more information.

Meanwhile, as you know, we continue to have the best high-banking opportunities anywhere -- along the Klamath River in Northern California for members who prefer prospecting for gold above the water.

High-banking

Getting a lot of gold!