Met March 2, 2026 at the Hall at 1204 30th Ave, Vernon BC, President Mike McKenzie opened the meeting at 7:00 PM. Note-taker
was Cal Olsson. 19 members were in attendance including two guests: Mike Kenlan from North Carolina and Tom Gerling from
local area. Attila Vasarhelyi moved minutes be accepted as read, seconded by karen McKenzie,
It was noted that the February birthdays were missed and we do appreciate these folks being bornas they have helped make the world a better place. Voted on and passed.
Correspondence (by Brenda Morrison):
Our BCPMA representative received an email letter from the president of the BCPMA outlineing benefits we received from BCPMA
membership.
Membership Report by Brenda Morrison:
14 families are currently paid up members in good standing.
14 Life timers in good standing
5 Honorary members in good standing..
Yearly dues are due in December. Dues are $20.00 per year per
family.
Treasurer’s Report (by Donna Smith):
Income………. $ Expenses…………….. $
Balance……………… (in the black)
Old Business Arising out of Last Meeting’s Minutes
The political liason and information will be included in with the meeting proper rather than after adjournment.
New Business:
1. Kim Creed moved we plan some outings for this season. Seconded by Cal Olsson. During discussion Rick indicated two event dates, July 18,2026 an outing to the Kettle River panning reserve and August 8, 2026; a Chili Cookoff at Rob Lus claim. Discussed voted on and passed.
2. Brent Zvonarich moved we have a scaled down Gold Panner’s social event on May 16th and 17th long weekend, at Enderby Riverside RV Park . Seconded by Karen McKenzie. For entertainment will have some activities used in placer prospecting and mining: gold rush, claim staking (non virtual) , dirt toss, metal detecting (Saturday night), learn to pan, etc.. Pot luck in camp kitchen on Saturday evening, live music perhaps. Discussed voted and
passed. Donna said there will be draw tickets for suitable table prizes (nuggets included) but not the big variety of coffee can raffle stuff. discussed, voted on and passed.
Presentation
Kim Creed using two pictoral chart sketches illustrated how the spring floods in the last few years has effected a change in prospecting and panning on Mission Creek at the ‘Marks corner’ area.It was an interesting and enlightening present.
Ken Montie demonstrated, his coin collection and How you can get started as well if you want to start a collection. Something substantial as opposed to crypto currency.
Kim Creed also put his glittering coin collection on display. It is well organized and coin values all researched. Kim is saving these for his grand kids and what a treasure they will have.
Announcements.
1. President mentioned that he wasn’t sure if we had a treasurer’s helper who could sign on the club account in case of emergency in case present treasurer wasn’t available.
Social Convener’s Report by Brenda Morrison:
Best Wishes for a happy birthday for March 2026 go out to: Mel Huzinga, Dan Hurd, Merv Mathers, Rita Dreier, Diane Fulbrook, and
Tring Panich.
Condolences go out to family and friends of Bill Alan at his passing.
Gold nugget door prize won by Kim Creed
50/50 draw won by Allan Sheredown ($32.50)
Political Liaison and Information Committee Report by Rick Peterson
Rick read out the email letter from president of BCPMA and explained how this activity benefited our group. The email letter is reprinted on appendix B of these minutes. For the benefit of some new members trying to get going on new claims,especially those with no internet acess to MTO, Rick explained what some of the ambiguous things in the work report referred to and answered questions. He also gave a ‘heads up’relative to staking a claim these days.
President Mike Mckenzie adjourned the meeting at 9:15 PM.
Appendix A;
……Vernon Placer Miners Assoc.…Mission Statement
1. Promote placer mining and prospecting
2. Use best practices available for placer prospecting and mining.
3. Respect nature; prospecting and mining in an environmentally sustainable way.
4. Support and encourage all those seeking a partial or complete living through placer
prospecting and mining activity.
5. Promoting recreational placer prospecting and mining with good fellowship
Appendix B
All my meetings are always for the BCPMA, if I’m talking with the Kamloops regional Director this affects Vernon and Shuswap associations. All the items reflect the entire province, quick fire permits, shifting over loaded applications to other regional office with less applications, pushing back on application fees, keeping our royalties the same because gold has quadrupled in price there for we are now paying 4 times as much.
I spent a great deal of time with the Smithers director advocating for the Atlin Association. I spent a great deal of time with the Prince George director advocating for central north west miners. Jason and I met with Burke, the new guy handling policy and reform, pushing back showing how much we pay in taxes annually. In 2021 we paid over$4,275,000, I got these numbers from government. I met with several AMEBC directors and staff talking about the BCPMA becoming a charter member which could also lead to them funding the BCPMA.
We met with Donna Myketa, Chief Gold Commissioner on issues concerning all miners such as not being able to use trail and road building and maintenance for Statements of work. We met with mines critic MLA Scott McKinnis bringing him up to speed on placer issues. Who is from the Kootenays.
I met with 2 people running for the BC Conservative leadership bring them up to speed on placer issues. I also met with at many other Conservative MLAs from around the province.
We met with ADM Kendra Johnston regarding permitting issues, quick fire testing permits, solutions too permitting applications, proof that placer pays millions in taxes and I use the only economic impact study done showing that the Cariboo interjects $122,000,000 into our local
economy.
I also met with Nini Long, executive director regional showing all the same stuff that placer pays huge taxes and interjects much needed revenue in all areas that have placer, pushing back on staffing issues for permitting inspectors.
I attended the BC Natural Resources Forum the week prior, I also had my BCPMA hat on then. I met with ADM Kendra Johnston as an introductory meeting with Nini Long, met with Chief Inspector of mines Herman Henning. I did an introductory meeting with Marnie Fraser, director for central west north region talking about issues north of the Cariboo. There were many more meetings to many to list here.
This conference cost the CMA $1400 and I was primarily doing BCPMA business. The CMA funded this. For 15 years since becoming president of the CMA we have funded every trip to Victoria lobbing with government, I always invited Bruce out of curiosity to the BCPMA.
I spent over 4 years and many trips to Victoria meeting with the ministry of Environment pushing back on water permits. We won getting testing permits fee free. I spent over 5 years working with the new application system which was supposed to speed up applications by
putting all the applications rolled into one process.
I have secured many meetings in Victoria with ministers, deputy ministers, and assistant deputy ministers and people in between.
I managed to get a meeting with the First Nations and Energy council which both Jason and Bruce were invited to, Jason attended. I furthered that up with a local operation tour and we gained their trust.
So, what I am saying is that the BCPMA has had a free ride funded completely by the CMA. I took off 2 weeks to attend both conferences. I am a volunteer so I am personally out of pocket $4,000 in lost wages.
One of the main reasons for me attending the Roundup conference was to discuss the BCPMA as a charter member and hopefully funding. This alone should warrant my expenses being covered.
Sorry for the long rant,
Rick Wittner, President