GPAA / LDMA Membership Questions?

[nuggethunting]

Hello All,

Friend of mine mentioned the GPAA or LDMA outings and campsites are at a all time low. He said the last outing only had like 7 members the first day. I remember when the GPAA was a huge club, just curious if anyone know anymore solid details on the club or direction they are going? I know it's not like the "Buzzard" days, I doubt anyone could feel his shoes.

[Uncle Ron]

Just got the latest issue of the GPAA magazine yesterday and it has the most advertising pages it ever has had ... So much it was almost wierd ...So they must be doing something right, at least for their ad income ... From comments I've heard, members are not happy with new rules and regulations nor with the club caretakers, at least in Stanton ... Cheers, Unc

[Ridge Runner]

Rob

This covers it. They are mining the miners.

I'm a member and have been off and on from 91 like other clubs. I don't know just maybe they having trouble getting stories. I've written some years back for them but they need to get out and find them. Come and find the prospectors and nugget hunters at work to get their story.

Ads make more money and nothing out. The end of GPAA ended with the old man.

Chuck Anders

[Ridge Runner]

On three different main forums we have I see so many stories to be written. One is saying I found my

first nugget and you have the virgin nugget hunter saying I've dug all this trash. Even he she has a story to tell. I know we get all excited about the big nuggets but that one gramer is just important if that's the only thing you found all week.

Maybe what I say here will ring loud in the ears of the power that be and then it may be less ads. I know ads pay the bills and I read them to find new toys coming on the market.

Good subject you started Rob.

Chuck Anders

[nuggethunting]

Hey Guys,

I'm not here to take sides on what might or might not be going on with the club, but have heard more stuff the last couple of years than I have ever in the past. I know when Buzzard was still around, his passion and personal charisma really kept the club running strong. I have heard stories about the carekeepers, but don't know them personally to voice any opinion on them. I guess I'm somewhat fortunate enough to know where to prospect beyond any club claims.

I have seen a huge reduction in attendance in the GPAA Gold Shows as I have been a vendor for many years and the price skyrocket on booths.

[Ugbomb510]

Well... California and Oregon aren't to nice to members. As soon as I joined dredging was banned. People wont pay or join when BLM and everyone else sees it as an almost criminal act.

[AZNuggetBob]

JMO but I think as big as they are and as much money as their raking in they should have more patented claims without all the fed BS. AzNuggetBob

[oldies1955]

JMO but I think as big as they are and as much money as their raking in they should have more patented claims without all the fed BS. AzNuggetBob

Thats what I was thinking also Bob.

If your raking in the $$ pass it on to new claims and new ground.

Unless its getting gobbled up in the buracracy and lining peoples pockets............not good.

Tom H.

[Chrisman91]

I was a GPAA member for 3 years before deciding not to renew. I drywashed, sluiced, highbanked, panned, and detected scores of their claims here in the southwest and didn't find enough gold to even move my scale off of zero. The club's claims have been tremendously hammered and new claims are few and far between. And then when I was told that in order for me to get a copy of the new color claim guide book when it came out (after already being a member for 3 years) that I had to renew with at least a two year membership, I was gone. Just like a lot of the people involved in the selling of prospecting related equipment, they make you feel like you actually mean something to them as long as you are spending money. Once you have no need to spend money anymore, they have no need for you. Maybe it's just me, but when I pick a dealer, company, brand, etc. to spend my money with, I do it based on how I am treated as a customer and as a person. If they just treat me like a human ATM machine, or show no interest in helping once my money is spent on them, then I have no use for them. This is exactly how I felt with GPAA.

Plus, I had questions the first two years and sent over 10 emails in that time and never received a single response. And these were important questions regarding their claims and new land closures! And yes, the fact that the rules and regs are getting out of hand here in California plays a part in why I don't join many clubs anymore. It is getting harder for us to prospect legally, yet the clubs are still charging $40-$75 per year with $100 initiation fees. Why pay out $500 a year for clubs when we are being cut off from the land and minerals.

My parents were GPAA members when I was a kid so I thought it would be cool to join as an adult....but it is nothing like it used to be for sure. Just my $0.02.

[howard farris]

I was a member and stayed at Stanton and really enjoyed it. The following year they had no space and I said I would dry camp until there was an opening if I could ged water for the rv and use the dump station and was told rather rudely NO. Then they lost the Boothill part of the camp as it was closed due to not having permits. I was getting nothing in return for me dues and maintance fees so didn't renew. I stayed up in Yarnell at a rv park and used Weaver and Ynot claims to detect on Good friendly folks at both of those and reasonable fees. If you get nothing for your money you ain't gonna stay.

[Gold Seeker]

I also think that everything started going downhill with the GPAA after George's death, but it was still a good organization for many years after his passing, but in the past several years and especially after they had a big change in management staff, it is no longer what is was and I doubt it will ever be again!

Most all of the GPAA claims aren't even owned by the GPAA, many of the claims are own by GPAA members that allow the GPAA members to use their claim/s and the GPAA pays the fees for the claim/s, sorta a lease if you will.

The LDMA does own the LDMA properties, but from what I'm hearing even the LDMA is going downhill fast.

[Ridge Runner]

Well I got the May/June issue of Gold Prospectors mag. today. What I see is one page after another of ads. You find the stories all have large pictures to cover most of the page. I do believe that at this rate GPAA is on a down hill slide. The cause could be that a prospector in California is so limited on what one can do.

I hope I'm wrong being we need all the support to our hobby are your way of making a living we can get. They are asking for people that has a story to send it in.

Chuck Anders

[nuggethunting]

Hello All,

Anyone hear how the GPAA Gold Show went in Las Vegas this last weekend? Hopefully they had a good turnout. The last couple shows here in Arizona were much lower than previous years.

[Chrisman91]

Rob,

A friend of mine who sets up a booth every year at those shows told me that from his perspective it seemed like the attendance had dropped probably 30% to 35% or more over last year for the whole weekend. He sells gold, gems, minerals, and arts and crafts, so he usually does very well at the shows. He said this year he recouped his costs and only had a few hundred dollars profit. Significantly lower than previous years.

This is HIS interpretation of the turnout so please don't take it as cold hard facts. Hope this helps.

Chris

[Ridge Runner]

Here in Texas at one time we had a lot of Treasure show with lots of dealers. I haven't seen any shows here in a long time. I know the last one I was at didn't have many dealers. I guess they didn't make enough money back to cover their cost.

The prospector and treasure hunter may be a dying breed by the restrictions put on us.

Chuck Anders

[hendo]

I have worked the Las Vegas show for last 8 years, and it's been getting worse and worse every year. It was probobly down 50% from 8 years ago. Hendo

[nuggethunting]

Hello All,

Personally, I love doing the shows, but it comes down to at some point if you're just spinning your wheels or if it's worth the effort. Since my specialty is mostly electronic prospecting items, the GPAA show is not the biggest outlet for that. Over the last ten years, I've seen more people walk out with gold pans, scoops, books and smaller misc. items. It's not the best market place for selling high end metal detectors. I've sold a lot of books and smaller items, but with the prices of the booths increasing each year, it's tough to break even. Last year in Mesa I had over 6 booths for $700. The last day, Sunday, they had a raffle that lasted for over an hour and no one could even visit my booth. I wasn't very happy about this, as people were walking into my booth, using my chairs to sit down during the raffle.

My question is, the GPAA have a huge booth in front of the building, why block everyone's spot they paid for and keep their spot open and flowing. I know the answer .....

[azblackbird]

Wait until the price of gold jumps to $2000 an ounce. The shows will be jam packed. Speaking for myself, I've only ever been to one gold show. It was a few years ago when gold was approaching $1900 an ounce. You could say I was a little bit excited at the thoughts of becoming a gold mining millionaire. The place (Mesa convention center) was packed and there was a line to get in. I spent several hours BS'ing with the various vendors trying to learn about their products. Since I was more or less just getting into the hobby, the only thing I ended up buying was Chris Ralph's book. So far that's the only gold related book I've ever bought.

I figured before going balls to the walls and buying all kinds of expensive equipment, it would be more prudent to learn through Chris's book, just exactly what kind of equipment I should have for the areas I would most likely be prospecting. Unfortunately, I'm probably a gold equipment dealers worst nightmare, as I rarely if ever buy anything new. With that said, all equipment I've so far accumulated over the years, I either bought off CraigsLIst, or from members of various different gold forums. 9 out of 10 times, when I purchase a piece of equipment, invariably the guy usually includes a few gold related books and DVD's, so no need to buy anymore of them either.

Now that I pretty much have all the equipment I'll probably ever need, there's no more reason (speaking for myself) to attend any more gold shows. Sorry dealers and promoters...

[oregon bob]

It seems like the GPAA is communicating with us less. The articles in the magazine are generally less informative and have less depth to them. There are fewer original articles. I think they make one new Gold Fever program about every two years, but I haven't seen anything in the magazine indicating the show has been canceled. I can only watch so many reruns. The new web site is an abomination. And I have no idea where the GPAA is going in the future. When my current membership runs out I won't be renewing.

Bob

[nuggethunting]

Hey Guys,

Personally, that is the reason I have always supported the ICMJ (International California Mining Journal) for the last 20 years. They have always had the best articles, less advertising and a good classified section. The GPAA in my opinion has come so commercialized over the years with less informative articles, dropping good article contributors and pushing the damn Alaska trip!!

The GPAA magazine as far as color and such is great, just the information has dropped over the years.

Hopefully someone involved in the GPAA up higher might read some of this information and take it to heart. The club and organization in general is great for the hobby, but it sure has changed.

[hardrock mark]

I got into prospecting many years back. I think it was

In my blood. Picking up a gpaa magazine 25 years back got the blood flowing. Always had the yearning to give it a try thanks to the

Pictures and stories. Gpaa may not be for advanced prospectors as much but for newbies it's a good start. Icmj is a great publication and may be for those who have taken the next step. My bro writes for both and enjoy the pics and stories in both. Hopefully they fall into as many hands and possible as we are a dying breed. Hope all the negative thoughts about them are for the best. Personally this hobby does great things for me. I have great freinds and great memories. Thank you gpaa for trying to get the gold fever message out.

Mark Greyshock

Good luck to a those that get out in these great mountains and deserts.

[Ridge Runner]

Hi Mark

I got into prospecting long before the GPAA came to be. The trouble with me I'm a on off again prospector and that's because of where I live. This TV show you have about the guys prospecting in Greenland well I've been there and done that. I was in the Air force and station there for a year. I do know some of what can be found there but you have to deal with the weather that can kill. You think you could live in a two hundred mile per hour wind. I was down in a valley and it blow for three day at 175 MPH and up on the mountain around us it got over two hundred.

Like you said we are a dying breed and I don't want to see any mag. that has to do with our hobby go under. This month I'll turn 73 and I guess I'm a dying breed in more than one way.Ha Ha

Chuck Anders

[julianmines]

My wife and I joined back in 1991. We we on our honeymoon in Lake Tahoe and on our way home we stopped by Italian bar. They were having a outing that weekend and Gorege Massie was there.

There were lot of nice people and everyone was having a good time. That following week we drove to Fallbrook Ca. and met with George and Jake Hartwick, some of you might remember Jake, we

signed up that day with a $100 down $25 a month no interest . They told us that there annual LDMA dinner was that next weekend so my wife and I went. It was held at the Red Lion inn in Ontaio ca. that year. George Massie went around to all the tables and greeted you and we were introduced at that meeting as the newest members. Woody Caldwell read the minutes of the last meeting and they voted on other matters of the club. They had LDMA dinners ever year for a a while even after George died . His wife Wilma keep tabs on things and the sons. When she passed away thats when things started to slide like a LDMA dinner not ever year but years apart and it did not cost them much because be it you wife or guest would cost $20 in the early years to $40 that last dinner in 2012. Then you had Tom And Perry's cat fight and Perry quits and retires. The Gpaa and Ldma was taken over by Tom. He starts by firing loyal people like Ken Rucker after he breaks his leg working for them on a outing.

Everbody liked Ken and he was from the same mold as George Massie. Then he puts his son Branden as president of the Gpaa. You put someone with no experience at the top,look at our country.

Instead of a Facebook picture with a gold pan Branden picture is in a new convertible BMW with ray ban sunglasses on with his hair blowing back. Then last year they sold the Outdoor Channel for over

$200 million. Tom and Perry had the most stock way over 50% so they made about $80 million each. I have no problem with making money, thats why america is so great. The problem is in the early days of the outdoor channel they almost went broke but they contacted LDMA and GPAA members and asked to buy stock to keep the Outdoor Channel afloat and members did come through. Now when I ask if there is a

LDMA dinner this year it's like pulling teeth and they give us members that made them wealthy the finger.

[hardrock mark]

Yep money has a way of doing that, makes them fat and lazy in general. The dream no longer often lives when the money comes in. Kinda what makes me not bitter about not having money. I think I am more happy out in the desert or mountains then in a mansion living fat.

This is a good thread for the gpaa dudes to see. Cause I hope the dream

Lives to spark that gold fever and outdoors in as many as it can!!!

Mark Greyshock

[nuggethunting]

Hey Guys,

I can only hope that the GPAA and LDMA can make a comeback. We need big organizations that have some money and power to defend us against all "Anti-Mining / Smaller Miner" agencies out there.