Next Virtual Meeting will be Jan. 9th via YouTube at 7pm with Chris
DeLorey, AKA, Dr. Dino! As seen on Dinosaur Hunters!
Next Peace River Trip is scheduled for
Jan 23, 2021 - Check the
Field Trips page or
the
Calendar for details!
President's Message
Another Year, Come and Gone
One year ago today I was writing here about what a great
year we had lined up for TBFC. We began reaching out to
volunteers for FossilFest and we were announcing the great
speakers we would have for the monthly meetings. Like everyone else,
I had no idea that within about 90 days the entire
year would go to heck in a handbag. We made the most of
2020, and TBFC made it through with only some bumps and
bruises.
I made a joke at the end of the December meeting that,
“TBFC would not go quietly into the night...” And it won’t.
We won’t allow that, and more importantly, YOU won’t allow
that. The member’s support of TBFC has been overwhelming
since COVID slowed us all down. Membership has done well
throughout the virus. The online auction we held in November was
successful and the monthly virtual monthly meetings
have been well attended. I would estimate we have nearly as
many people in attendance for virtual meetings as we have
historically had in-person. Unfortunately, the simple turning
of a calendar page to 2021 doesn’t hit a reset button for society
vs. COVID.
As of now, the University of South Florida will not be opening
its campus to ad-hoc events in January. That will probably
continue through the end of the first semester in May of
2021. While I’ve considered holding meetings outdoors, I
have heard the voices of concern regarding any in person
gettogethers. For now, we will play it safe and have at least one
more virtual meeting. Getting into 2021 we will see what
protections the vaccines provide (if any and when) and how
our country deals with the virus in the New Year.
For now, we are moving forward with our plans to hold FossilFest
2021. It seems we will be able to work the show within the
guidelines the Florida State Fair Authority has required.
If those guidelines don’t change, maybe we can pull it off.
In spite of ourselves, 2021, here we come! TBFC fossil hunters,
this is our season! The water is low and the visibility is getting better
every day. Get off the couch
and into those rivers! We had
several good storms this year
to stir up the riverbeds and
expose more fossils and fossil
layers. Don’t think that you
have to be a SCUBA diver to
get in on this adventure. Some of the best fossils I’ve seen
were found by snorkelers and screen-washers. There are fossils to
be found!
Fred Hendershot will be running our monthly Peace River day
trip on January 23. But don’t wait for him, get out there on
your own. Join our Facebook page to connect with other fossil
hunters. Organize your own group hunt or canoe trip.
Meet at a boat ramp and walk in. I promise you that great
fossils await, you just have to get out there and find them. Be
safe, social distance, and take care of each other out there.
Fossil hunting season is
officially open in Florida! Be sure to renew your
permits!
Should COVID allow it, the next few months will be very busy
for TBFC. We will schedule virtual or in person meetings each
month. FossilFest 2021 is on the schedule, and we certainly
hope the Peace River Adventure can run. It will take all of the
TBFC tribe to pull it off.
Good and safe hunting to you! And happy New Year too!
Mike Searle
