Emergency Update:
Peace River “Mini” Adventure: Apr. 29, 2023 - IS CANCELLED due to toxic Blue-Green Algea Bloom

TBFC Season 2022-2023 updates:
Next Club Meeting is May 6, 2023 @ 7pm EDT in the USF Behavioral Science Room #103 (In-Person) with Dr. Douglas Jones!

Next Peace River Monthly Trip: May 13, 2023 - check Blue-Green Algea situation - if the bloom is still going, this will be Cancelled (Paid, Active Members only and water levels permitting) - Zolfo Springs Guage
Next CEMEX Center Hill Trip: May 17, 2023 (Paid, Active Members only. Limit 20 People)
Next Brooksville Trip: May 24, 2023 (Paid, Active Members only. Limit 20 People)
Check the Field Trips page or the Calendar for details!

President's Message

2022-2023 Season

2022-2023 Season Comes to an End, Almost!

It feels like just yesterday that we were busy making plans to start TBFC’s season, and just like that, it’s nearly over. We had hoped to get things completely back to normal (post COVID), and we almost succeeded. FossilFest came off without a hitch (thanks to all of you). Hurricane Ian did foil our plans to hold a full-blown Peace River Adventure, but, there’s always next season. There are still plenty of events left before TBFC takes a much deserved summer hiatus.

If you’re new to TBFC you may not know that we shut down for the summer. TBFC will host our end of the season dinner on June 10, but there will be no regular monthly meetings held in June, July, or August. This will be your last edition of the Chronicles (newsletter) for this season, so be sure to check the calendar and field trip pages for TBFC’s remaining events. !

Read the Chronicles each month (Members Only), check the calendar here on the TBFC website, and follow us on Facebook. Also, please be very cautious while venturing out into the rivers and creeks. There’s nothing in those rivers worth dying for.

Closed for Summer

Our season comes to an end. As I have reported to you many times in the past, it is an honor and a privilege to serve and represent the Tampa Bay Fossil Club and its many fine members.

I want to thank the great support staff behind me in the Officers, Directors, and many of you members who volunteer to help TBFC excel to the exceptional level it has in both the public and scientific communities. Without all of you, none of what TBFC accomplishes each season would be possible.

Thanks for the adventure TBFC!

Good Hunting,

Mike Searle

Announcements

May. 6, 2023
"A Natural History Museum for the 21st Century" presented by
Dr. Douglas Jones, Director of the Florida Museum of Natural History
7PM IN-PERSON CLUB MEETING at the USF Behavioral Science Room #103

Dr. Douglas Jones is Director of the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. Located on the campus of the University of Florida, the Florida Museum of Natural History is one of the most comprehensive university-based natural history museums in the U.S. with over 40 million specimens and artifacts in its permanent collections.

Dr. Jones received his Ph.D. in 1980 from Princeton University. He has been a curator of paleontology at the Museum since 1985 and is also a professor in the Departments of Geological Sciences and Biology at UF. Dr. Jones has authored over 150 scientific and technical papers and edited several books, including most recently, The Geology of Florida. He is past president of the Board of Directors of the Florida Association of Museums (FAM), the Association of Science Museum Directors (ASMD) and was Chairman of the Board of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) which represents the 30,000+ museums in the USA. He also serves on the boards of several scientific societies, foundations and cultural organizations.

Tampa Bay Fossil Chronicles

Hopefully you’ve noticed that TBFC has stepped up its game with the newsletter each month. In addition to all of our regular contributors, we’ve added two new recurring articles this season. “In Touch with Inverts” by Rob Carlson was added in September. Recently added, “Paleo Analysis” by Steve Vicari. Each month Steve will be discussing interesting prehistoric fauna and how they relate to extant species.

Please check out all of the articles in each issue. Only TBFC members receive the Chronicles, we don’t post it online or on Facebook.

Be sure to renew your Fossil Permits!