We
changed the location of the show in March
2008. We are returned to the MCC-Business
& Technology Campus Exhibit
Hall at 1775 Universal
Avenue in Kansas City, MO. This is the location
of the old KC Market Center where we had
held our shows for many years prior to our
move to the KCI Expo Center. Metropolitan
Community Colleges bought the old Market
Center and renovated it top to bottom and
we're making the move closer to the center
of the City.
As
always there was a wide variety of retail
dealers selling a wonderful assortment
of rocks and minerals, fossils, lapidary
work, jewelry and gemstones, beads and beading
supplies, lapidary equipment and supplies...the
list is just too long to cover completely!
A wholesale
area will be in operation where
those with valid tax ID's in the gem, mineral,
beading, and jewelry trades can purchase
products and supplies.
This
show is eagerly anticipated by thousands of
area residents as one of the premier shows
in the mid-west. Visitors will see special
displays of rocks and minerals,
lapidary work of all kinds, live
demonstrations
of lapidary, bead making and jewelry
fabrication techniques. Static displays include
fossils and fossil identification, club-member
displays, and a special area for children.
We
also had a large non-retail Swap Area
and special displays for schools. Friday is
the day that educators
and youth leaders bring their students
and youth groups on field trips, and each
day there will be lectures
and slide presentations that visitors can
attend.
Each day
valuable door prizes will be given away to
lucky show visitors and on Saturday night,
after the show closes, a public auction
of donated items from our retail and wholesale
dealers will be held. On Sunday several silent
auctions will be held during the show.
All auction proceeds go to the Association's
Scholarship Fund. Several scholarship
recipients benefit from the proceeds of this
year's show auctions.