The New Hampshire Geological Society is approaching the end of it's second year. Achievements include a total membership of over 120, quarterly dinner meetings with guest speakers, annual field trips, the formation of four committees, and the publication of a newsletter. With the election of officers scheduled for October 1992, it is time for the Society to establish goals for next year.
As the outgoing President, I would like to share with you my vision for 1993:
You may have other ideas and goals for the New Hampshire Geological Society. Please make your thoughts known to the Board of Directors. Your support and involvement is needed for the Society to continue to be an active and viable organization.
I wish to thank the Board of Directors, committee members, and all members of the Society for making my term as President both a rewarding and enjoyable experience.
Another summer field trip and cookout has come and gone! This year's weather finally cooperated and 48 NHGS members, family and guests met for a tour of the Gilford ring-dike complex. Excellent exposures of Albany quartz syenite and Winnepesauke quartz diorite were observed. Following the roadside field trip, a cookout was held at the Ellacoya State Park on beautiful Lake Winnepesauke. No one left the cookout on an empty stomach. Copious quantities of lobster, shrimp, chicken/beef shish-kabob, salad and the trimmings were the staple of the day! Rumors are already flying about an early summer field trip in 1993 to the summit of Mt. Washington via the Cog Railroad! Suggestions are welcomed--please contact Gary Smith with any ideas concerning possible future field trips (617) 933-3210.
The concept of certifying or registering professional geologists in the State of New Hampshire has been pursued with varying intensity for at least the last 4 years by a number of people and groups. Two surveys have been completed, the results of which suggest there is generally strong support for the idea. In the last survey in 1991, all 57 respondents from approximately 100 questionaires were in favor of either registration or certification.
To make the concept a reality will take a concerted effort by the geologic constituency of New Hampshire. If you are interested and have the time to make this concept a reality, please call Garret Graaskamp at (603) 224-5511. I would be especially interested in talking with anyone who could take the lead for this effort as my available time has been significantly reduced.
The views expressed above are those of the author. The New Hampshire Geological Society has no position with regard to the issue of professional registration or certification of geologists.
Systematic quadrangle mapping of the bedrock geology of New Hampshire was started in 1932 by Prof. Marland P. Billings of Harvard and his graduate students. Their work in tracing the fossiliferous formations of the Littleton quadrangle southward and eastward into their high grade metamorphic counterparts was a major breakthrough in the study of metamorphic rocks in New England. As a graduate student at the University of Minnesota I had read C. H. Hitchcock's Geology of New Hampshire and, in preparation for doing a thesis in the Moosilauke quadrangle, I had studied the petrography of the suite of 100 representative samples he had collected and given to the University. In 1932, on learning of Marland's plans to extend his mapping to this area, I started using his stratigraphy to map the Rumney quadrangle. Fieldwork was finished in 1936 and Ph.D. thesis in 1937.
Marland, with A. B. Cleaves (a paleontologist) and his other assistants, mapped the Littleton and Moosilauke quadrangles. These assistants went on to map the Franconia (C. R. Williams), Mt. Cube (J. B. Hadley), Plymouth (C. B. Moke), Mascoma (C. A. Chapman), Percy (R. W. Chapman), and Cardigan (L. Kingsley and K. Fowler Lund) quadrangles. Each year Marland and his group would visit my area to make sure our maps matched and a result Marland acted as a reviewer of my work for my professors at Minnesota. In addition he prepared my map for publication by the State.
Profs. J. W. Goldthwait and Harold Bannerman of Dartmouth were instrumental in arranging for the N. H. Highway Department to print the first colored bedrock maps. I have been told that the Commissioner was so pleased with Goldthwait's earlier gravel survey that when Goldthwait said publishing of the bedrock maps would help, the Commissioner came up with the money. Responsibility for publication of the map was later transferred to the Planning and Development Commission and then to the Department of Resources and Economic Development.
As geologists, we owe a great debt to Marland Billings for having the foresight and energy to carry out his life-time program of mapping in New Hampshire. Without his influence over the years the new map of the State could not have been prepared!
Our membership is growing! Since our last report, the Society has grown from 117 active members to 126 members. Let us welcome our new members.
The membership is made up of individuals from around the United States and represents government, industry, academia, private citizens, and the consulting industry. As reported earlier, the membership is largely comprised of individuals working in the environmental and hydrogeological fields. The membership committee consists of two persons: Raymond Talkington and William Gibbons. Although we have made a modest gain in membership over the past several months, let's all take an active role in promoting the Society in order to attract new members.
Contact Ray Talkington at (508) 465-1822 for membership application forms or further information about either the Society or the membership committee.
This Slate of Candidates has been prepared from the nominations received by the elections committee, whose members are James Griswold, Michael Metcalf and Mike Burke. Write-in votes will also be accepted for the offices of President and Secretary. The current officers of the Society are:
Three drill-site geologists were monitoring an oil well. They had just pulled out the drill stem when one of them accidentally dropped a wrench down the drill hole. They spent three weeks trying to fish the wrench out of the hole, and when they finally did get it out, the Project Manager showed up. He asked "Why are there three of you here, and who is responsible for the delay?"
The geologist holding the wrench said "I am."
The Project Manager responded "You're FIRED!!"
"Guess I don't need this wrench anymore," the now-unemployed geologist said as he dropped the wrench back down the hole.
The fall meeting of the New Hampshire Geological Society will be held on Thursday, October 8, 1992 (Cash Bar @ 6, Dinner @ 7), at the Cat and Fiddle Restaurant, 118 Manchester Street in Concord (US 3 south off I-93, Exit 13). For more information contact Joanne McLaughlin at (603) 224-7979.
As the Society's annual meeting, this meeting will feature Elections of Officers. A slate of candidates has been prepared from nominations received by the elections committee, and is published elsewhere inside this issue of The Granite State Geologist. The Society is a member organization, and your vote in these important elections is encouraged.
The scheduled dates for upcoming meetings of the Society in 1993 are January 14, April 8, June 10, with a field trip and picnic on August 7. Mark your calendars!
The Geological Society of Maine will be holding a joint meeting with the Maine Mineral Resources Association on Friday, November 6, 1992, at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. The focus of the meeting will be on metal exploration and mining in Maine, with talks strictly on geology and exploration. Five speakers are lined up for afternoon sessions beginning at 1:30 pm. An evening program has not yet been decided upon. Advance reservations will be required for dinner in the Bowdoin College cafeteria ($8.75). For more information, contact Olcott Gates at (207) 882-6436, P.O. Box 234, Wiscasset, ME 04578.
Geodes, the student geology club at Keene State College would like to have individuals employed in geologically-related fields visit and explain the types of work they do, perhaps in a "careers day." If you might be interested in sharing your experience with some enthusiastic students, please contact Sarah Farina at (603) 827-3030, PO Box 84, Keene, NH 03431. Students at other colleges would also be welcome to participate.
If you have an item or event that you would like to have included in a future issues of The Granite State Geologist, please contact Tim Allen at (603) 358-2571, Science Division-Geology, Keene State College, 229 Main St., Keene, NH 03431-4183, FAX (603) 358-2257.
Last Modified August 23, 1995
The Granite State Geologist, newsletter of the
New Hampshire Geological Society
copyright ©1995 New Hampshire Geological Society
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