14 Spreading Our Wings:1960-1969 Throughout the 60’s, members connued to exhibit their craſts and collecons at the annual show, the Minne- sota State Fair and Midwest Federaon Events, oſten bringing home trophies and best of show ribbons. Beginning in late 1962, selected individual Club members were invited to set up educaonal exhibits at regular Club meengs. Members could also request space to sell/swap materials before and aſter each meeng. The Science Museum of Minnesota offered locked cases for Club members to provide rotang displays of rocks, minerals and fossils from 1960 through 1967. Special projects during the sixes include construcon of a porta- ble long wave fluorescent display, co-sponsoring a series of lectures on geology with the Geological Society of Minne- sota and collecng/donang used postage stamps for Church World Service to deliver tons of food to needy families and orphanages abroad. Club members also provided bracelets and bolo es to young paents at the Gillee Hospital for Crippled Children. In 1965, the struggle between those who wanted to sell at shows and others who preferred the very popular exhibing without sales finally came to a vote and a small group leſt the Club to form a new club. Meanwhile, the Club had an extensive history of helping new clubs get organized, with eight clubs formed during the fiſties and an addion- al four clubs organized during the sixes and four more during the early sevenes. Two of the Club’s driving forces during this period were Imogene “Jean” Dahlberg and her husband Bernhard “Bill” Dahlberg. As the Midwest Federaon State Director for Minnesota, Jean helped organize Minnesota clubs, worked with her husband on several regional shows/convenons and led the effort to name a state gemstone. She encouraged the State Tourism Department to share the story of Minnesota rocks and minerals to the rock hobbyists of the naon. In 1969, Jean and members of the Club realized a long-held dream when the MN State Legislature adopted the Lake Superior Agate as the state gemstone (see page 15). The Club donated a Lake Superior Agate specimen to the Secretary of State. The Club awarded her an Honorary Life Membership in 1969 in recognion of her efforts and the Midwest Federaon awarded her Honorary Member status in 1980 for her work in organizing Minnesota clubs and securing the agate gemstone recognion. In the Club’s earliest days, Jean was a strong voice in advocang to form a new Club aſter World War II and served as our first Secretary. She later served as Program Chair and then became the first female President of the Club in 1963. Her forte was all things jade. She also wrote numerous geology arcles for Conservaon magazine as well as the Rock Rustler’s News. Jean’s husband Bill served as the Club’s first Publicity Chair and newsleer Editor and later served as Treasur- er. He was known for his gemstone reproducons of nostalgic items from the “good old days.” He also served as the Treasurer, and then Secretary of the Midwest Federaon. He was named an Honorary Member of the Club in 1972 as part of the Founders group. The decade ended with a biersweet loss of the Club’s first president William (Bill) Bingham. He devoted over a quarter century teaching motorized lapidary arts skills, refining lapidary equipment, encouraging exhibing, stand- ardizing exhibit expectaons, and contribung to the success of the Minnesota Mineral Club. Clifford & Lucille Marn Cliff Marn served as Club President in 1967. As a sphere maker, he thought the Club should have a sphere collecon that could be entered into regional compeon and used at exhibits. The inial collecon consisted of 34 spheres, including three that he made. Lucille was a key member of the Hospitality and Banquet Commiees for many years, working behind the scenes to make everyone feel welcomed. They be- came Honorary Members in 2001. MMC Sphere Collection (See Appendix C for a list of spheres)