General Membership Meeting of the Vernon Placer Miners Club
Met November 4, 2025 at the Hall at 1204 30th Ave, Vernon BC, President Mike McKenzie opened the meeting at 7:13 PM. Note-taker was Cal Olsson. 12 members were in attendance. Louie Yonkman moved minutes be accepted as read, seconded by Tom Stanbrook, voted on and passed.
Correspondence (by Donna Smith): Away on medical leave ***UPDATE doing fine, just bad case of flue bug
Membership Report by Brenda Morrison:
2 families are currently paid up members in good standing.
13 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
Louie Yonkman said he has 20 pails of washed ,cleaned gravel stored out of the way at his place.
New Business:
1. We need to buy some more gold for doing the learn to pan and other events next year ***UPDATE- Ken Montie has some to sell the club.
2. The Christmas dinner will be on December 2nd this year. Come hour early, 6 pm for meeting and dinner will start at 7. Bring same gender present,as you are (optional).Present(under 20$) Dinner is ‘potluck’ with roast chicken and ham provided. Get in touch with Karen McKenzie about what to bring if you didn’t use sign up sheet.***UPDATE- Donna is back in control again, keep in touch with her just like usual.
Must be a family member of(paid up)good standing club member for the xmas dinner.
3. Louie Yonkman moved pay $200.00 to the British Columbia Placer Miners Association for our annual dues. This to be paid at the Annual General Meeting in Kamloops this month. Also cover travelling expenses of our representative.Seconded by Cindy Rachwalski. Discussed, voted on and passed. ***UPDATE- Donna sent $200 for BCPMA but will pay rick the $75 expenses at the Chritmas meeting.
Presentation
Ken Montie demonstrated how to clean up your raw gold. Divide it up by mesh size or weight and get it ready for sale, making jewellery,specimen or for looking at.
Announcements.
1. Nugget from Ken Montie for nugget draw Mike paid $20.00 toward cost of nugget. Mike Covered it by paying $20.00 toward his family annual membership dues. Ken used the $20.00 to pay for his family’s annual dues membership. So $40.00 cost of nugget was paid for.
2. We will be having a nugget draw at Christmas party.
***Donna will be bringing a couple of steaks for a bit of a meat draw
Social Convener’s Report by Brenda Morrison:
Best Wishes for a happy birthday for November 2025 go out to:
Ryan Courtmanche, Reg Crane, Mark Paniib, Johnathon Paul, Dave Pourier, Marilyn Allen
Condolences to Donna Smith on her four and a half wait at Emergency at Vernon hospital.
Gold nugget door prize won by Cal Olsson
50/50 draw won by Louie Yonkman ($15.00)
President Mike Mckenzie adjourned the meeting at 8:20 PM.
Political Liaison and Information Committee Report by Rick Peterson
Maybe because the public servants are over their strike now.
There is a BCPMA general meeting coming up in Kamloops in November 22 at the Coast hotel in Kamloops, 1250 Rogers Way, Kamloops BC.
First part with members of the umbrella group and hope fully second part with Govt. Official.
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 fellowshi