IMCA Insights – February 2009
Third Annual IMCA Dinner in Tucson
by Maria Haas

With so many rocks to see and things to do during the Tucson show and I am humbled by the fact we had such a nice turnout at the IMCA dinner this year.

La Fuente Restaurant, sporting new hot pink paint
(Photo by Keith Vasquez)

This is the second year where I've driven down from my home 211 miles North to the Tucson Show. When I lived in Michigan I took for granted that a short airplane ride could have me in the midst of all of those rocks by noon.

The IMCA consists of members from 34 countries and we had members from five countries (Eduardo from Argentina, Erich and Sylvia from Austria, Patrick from Canada, Morton and Mrs. Bilet from Norway) and guests from two other countries (Doug Dawn from Mexico and Bruno Fectay from France) attend the dinner. Add to that the members who traveled within the US from as far East as New Jersey and Northwest from Washington, we had a nice global sampling of members.

Carol Falls, Bob Falls, Eduardo Jawerbaum, Doug Dawn, Maria Haas,
Patrick Herrmann, Bruno Fectay, John Higgins, Sylvia Haiderer,
Erich Haiderer (Photo by Keith Vasquez)

We were honored to have Rik and Dolores Hill as our guests this year. As you can see, meteorites and asteroids were well represented at that corner of the table.

Adam and Zann, Rik Hill, Dolores Hill, Larry Lebofsky, Don Edwards,
Jim Shorten (Photo by Keith Vasquez)

Don Edwards, Larry Atkins, Jim Shorten
(Photo by Keith Vasquez)

Fredric Stephan, Bill Jensen, Mike Jensen, Leigh Anne Del Ray,
Leigh Anne’s boyfriend Dave (Photo by Keith Vasquez)

Morton and Mrs. Bilet, and Bob Falls
(Photo by Leigh Anne Del Ray)

Steve Arnold and WELCOME BACK to rejoining member Bob Holmes
(Photo by Keith Vasquez)

Patrick Herrmann, Bruno Fectay, John Higgins, Sylvia Haiderer
(Photo by Maria Haas)

Bill Jensen, Maria Haas, and Erich Haiderer
(Photo by Keith Vasquez)

Doug Dawn, Eduardo Jawerbaum, and Steve Arnold
(Photo by Leigh Anne Del Ray)

Adam Hupe, Zann, Rik and Dolores Hill
(Photo by Keith Vasquez)

Leigh Anne Del Ray, Dave, Fredric Stephan, Mike Jensen
(Photo by Keith Vasquez)

The door prizes this year were awarded to Bill Jensen, Morton Bilet and Adam Hupe, who each won a table arrangement and specially selected Sikhote Alin meteorites.

Bill Jensen, winner of a ripped and oriented Sikhote-Alin
(Photo by Leigh Anne Del Ray)

When I reflect back each year after the Tucson Show the first thing that comes to mind is how much I laugh. Yes, the meteorites and rocks and minerals and fossils are great but the real reason I go every year is because of the incredible people I am honored to call “friends”.

Thank you to Keith Vasquez and Leigh Anne Del Ray, our photographers this year, and to all of you who took the time to join us. I look forward to meeting more of you and if you are traveling to the Tucson show in 2010, it would be our pleasure if joined us for dinner. All are welcome.

Maria Haas
Treasurer to the Stars

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