[meteorite-list] [IMCA] The End of n Era - California Fall

From: Greg Hupe <gmhupe_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 3 May 2012 08:24:15 -0700
Message-ID: <8AA9C39A-7034-42D8-BF50-7F9702DC9598_at_centurylink.net>

Hey All,

For me personally, and I can comfortably say for my immediate partners here, we are being educated about local history and current events as much as we are informing locals about 'meteors', 'meteorites' and this particular meteorite. Most all locals (99%) that I have met are more than warm and wonderful people, very interested in this current event in an already historical area. I have many photos to share later that are on my regular camera and only post to Facebook occasional 'meteor/meteorite'-related images from my cell phone, mostly the signs as I find them a fun challenge for us to communicate with the property owners, several of which we eventually have gained access to those no access sign property meant for non-locals. A little time talking and educating folks does wonders instead of just assuming one can just walk onto anyones land to do as they please. I heard of one incident on about the second dat after the event of two well-known hunters being 'detained' with drawn guns by local police after be
ing called by a neighbor about trespassers, turned out later the property owner had given them permission to hunt. I would hope my neighbor would do the same thing to protect my property!

I really love this place, except for the poison oak. In fact, I have already made plans to prospect for gold with two different property owners in the near future... How cool is that?! :)

Best Regards,
Greg Hupe

On May 3, 2012, at 12:05 AM, "Richard A. Kowalski" <kowalski at lpl.arizona.edu> wrote:

> On 5/2/2012 11:07 PM, Count Deiro wrote:
>> Hi Richard,
>>
>> You misunderstood my argument. I'm stating that prices will go up for no other reason than hordes of ordinary folks are looking for and finding what they have been told is a rarity "worth more than diamonds". No matter that a 10 kilo individual may be found tomorrow and the rock prove to be an H5 chondrite.
>
> Thanks for your calm reply. See below.
>
>>
>> And I'm saying, that our asking to hunt these now forever enlightened folk's property for what has been labeled and popularized as "treasure", will deny us access to strewn fields. Witness Greg Hupe's just posted photos from California of hand lettered signs saying "No Meteorite Hunters".
>
> I guess I'm looking at the owner's property rights over the potential scientific and financial gain. I've seen a lot of people whining about private property being restricted. Its THEIR land and can do anything they want with it. After the excitement goes away and the collector market settles out, some reasonable professional hunter may someday be able to educate the owners of the value of finding the stones in a scientific manner and search their land, but seeing what circuses all falls seem to have acquired recently no matter where they are in the world, is as I see it a much bigger problem in many respects. I fear any way you look at things, all falls have suddenly become hugely expensive. The science never realized is much more important and the most valuable thing being lost now.
>
> OTOH, I "shared" the photo of Greg Hupe with the little girl who found a meteorite and sold it for her family because they needed the funds on my Facebook wall. I have absolutely no doubt Greg gave her more than the appropriate market price for this type of material. I have great respect for Greg both as a person and as a hunter/dealer/trader.
>
> This photo is heart-warming.
>
>
>>
>> I'm not railing...I and many others knew it would happen in this day of instant communication and celebrity. It was a bit different in Nininger's era of snail mail and face to face contact. Hell...I didn't know the difference between a meteor and a meteorite three years ago. Now, with all that's available to me on line with a couple of key strokes...I'm a smart ass.
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Count Deiro
>> IMCA 3536
>
>
> Thanks for the clarification. I misread your message and appreciate the explanation. My problem with this is I have seen a lot of people complaining about the owners as if they owe anyone anything. Though my space in the city is small, I'm not sure I'd let anyone on my land if a fall occurred over Tucson, seeing how unappreciated the access to it seems to be regarded by some. I hope I do not offend those
>
> Thanks again for providing a point of discussion that is insightful.
>
> This event might be a teaching moment for the meteorite community and the IMCA.
>
> I recently checked the IMCA member list after neglecting it for some time and was surprised to see how large it has grown.
>
> Welcome to all the new members!
>
> I suppose it is logical to believe that there are enough members worldwide that one or more IMCA members are arriving at the scene of most reasonably large or recorded falls in most places around the globe today, if not immediately within a few months.
>
> It seems that simple IMCA sanctioned education sheets about meteorite falls, including why recording of scientific information is important before any sale but shouldn't preclude sales if legal, maybe comments about common values in the market, would be helpful for hunting members to hand out to the locals. Possibly even leaving them alongside these dreaded "No Trespassing" signs would be more helpful than face to face, at least initially?
>
> It would be helpful for the IMCA to have some it's senior and most experienced hunters to maybe put together a sheet of recommended practices for IMCA members who hunt falls and are dealing with "suddenly wealthy and highly suspicious" locals. How to talk to the media isn't a bad one to have available too. I think we have a few media experts and others who have spent a lot of time both in front of and behind the cameras that could help with that.
>
> If there is any time a member has more public contact and impact with the non-collecting community than just about any other is right when the rocks fall from their skies. I suspect a little guidance from the experienced gurus at IMCA could be very helpful to all involved.
>
> Translated into major languages, such sheets could be used just about anywhere.
>
> Cheers Guido. Cheers all.
>
>
>
> Richard Kowalski
> IMCA 1081
>
Received on Thu 03 May 2012 11:24:15 AM PDT