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Thank you to all our sponsors who support us in our educational mission!
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MONTHLY MEETING NOTICE
The February meeting of KMGS will be held at the Pewaukee Public Library on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 6:30 PM.
Please join us!
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Letter from President
Tim Perrin
Happy Valentine’s Day! Speaking of that, are you or your friends and family members looking for that perfect gift that says I love you? How about some KMGS raffle tickets paired with a date night set of tickets to our first ever Wine Tasting VIP night on Friday night of our upcoming show in March? No flowers that just die or candy that we don’t need or can’t really have. At the same time you are helping support the club and our short and long term education mission as outlined in our sponsor brochure. Now there is a gift pairing that says I love you and warms the heart.
February finds our over a dozen show committee chairman busy putting the final touches on the upcoming show March 6, 7 & 8th2026. Thank you to all of our committee chairman and their helpers, it is through their hard work year around that makes our show great.
If you have not received your raffle ticket packet yet please contact one of the board members to get it.
Tim Perrin
KMGS 2026 President
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Program
Mary Nettesheim
February program will feature a trip to 3 mammoth sites in Ashfall NE & The Fossil Agate Beds in Scotts Bluff NE.
Upcoming Events!
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We Love Minerals!
Saturday, February 14th, 2026
10:30am - 11:30am
Hartford Jack Russell Memorial Library
100 Park Ave, Hartford, WI 53027
We are calling all our rockhounds together to meet Mary Nettesheim, one of KMGS's experts on minerals. Mary has a spectacular mineral collection to show you and she wants you to know how to identify them and how they are used in everyday things. If you love minerals or if you're just curious about what they are, you won't want to miss this opportunity to pick the brain of a mineral expert. You're gonna LOVE it!
Registration closes Monday, February 9th
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5th Annual Darwin Day will be held on February 14th, 2026 (Valentines Day) from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
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February 18-2026 Mary Nettesheim will give an instruction program on 3 Mammoth Sites in Ashfall, Nebraska.
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March Friday 6, 7, & 8 is the KMGS Show. Friday VIP Nite will be the Pre-show Sale and Wine Tasting. Saturday and Sunday will feature club displays, demonstrations and Kids Zone, plus an expanded Fluorescent area! Mark your calendars, and please consider volunteering some time to help setup, takedown or help during the show. Sign up sheets will be at the February meeting.
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March 18 - General Meeting - Will be Show Wrap up
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April 15-2026 James Van Erden will be presenting a program on his mining experiences.
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1-21-2026 KMGS January Minutes
(1)Meeting Called to Order at 6:45 pm., by President Tim Perrin.
(2)The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the 28 members in attendance.
(3)As the group snacked on Meat Balls Veggies, and Deserts, Mary Nettesheim ran a video featuring Doug Moore and his presentation on magnified photographs of Agates from across the globe.
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UW-Milwaukee Geosciences Department presents:
Saturday, February 14, 2026
10:00am–3:00pm Open House (View schedule)
Lapham Hall, Room 168
FREE! All ages welcome!
Darwin Day is a public outreach event celebrating the life and times of one of the most brilliant and influential Victorian naturalists, Charles R. Darwin. This event is free and open to guests of all ages. Many wonderful geological and biological specimens will be available to observe, with volunteers on hand to explain their fascinating histories.
Learn more!
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Memorials
We extend our sincere gratitude for the donation in memory of
Michael Riesch
The KMGS has received a Donation of $35.00 from Janet & Daniel Glime.
Whether given in memory of a loved one or in support of our educational mission, your donation strengthens our ability to inspire curiosity, foster scientific understanding, and build a community connected to the wonders of the earth sciences and natural world.
We are grateful for your generosity.
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Jr. Rockhounds Treated to a Behind the Scenes Look at Local Geology Museum
The Thomas A. Greene Geological Museum located in Lapham Hall on the UW-Milwaukee campus is truly a local treasure! KMGS members and guests gathered at the museum on Saturday, January 10th for an in-depth tour of the collection. Our docents, Brett and Jake, walked us through the collection of minerals, rocks and fossils amassed by Thomas Arnold Greene (1827 – 1894), a prolific naturalist, avocational geologist and local Milwaukee pharmacist.
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Upcoming Junior Rockhounds Events
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We Love Minerals!
Saturday, February 14th, 2026
10:30am - 11:30am
Hartford Jack Russell Memorial Library
100 Park Ave, Hartford, WI 53027
We are calling all our rockhounds together to meet Mary Nettesheim, one of KMGS's experts on minerals. Mary has a spectacular mineral collection to show you and she wants you to know how to identify them and how they are used in everyday things. If you love minerals or if you're just curious about what they are, you won't want to miss this opportunity to pick the brain of a mineral expert. You're gonna LOVE it!
Registration closes Monday, February 9th
Register Here!
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2026 Youth Earth Science Showcase
Here's your chance to SHOW YOUR STUFF!
Once again we are planning for the club's biggest event of the year and we want our youth members and guests to be a part of it!
Kettle Moraine Geological Society invites youth of all ages to show your stuff in our Earth Science Showcase at the annual KMGS Rock and Gem show!
All showcase participants receive Show Bucks to spend with any vendor at the show. Best in show in two categories wins Bonus Show Bucks!
You do not need to be a member to participate, so invite your friends!
Participants Must Register by February 23rd, 2026.
Follow this link for more details and to register today!
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SPREADING T H E L O V E
OF ROCKS!
Kettle Moraine Geological Society introduces the KMGS Jr. Rockhounds Club! We’re bringing our junior rock lovers together and gearing up for some rock-tacular fun!
As a Jr. Rockhounds Club Member you can:
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Enjoy monthly meetings, presentations, activities and field trips
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Earn badges, scholarships and awards
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Display at the annual KMGS Rock and Gem show
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Planning your 2026 vacation?
Keep these AFMS Rock Shows in mind!
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Want to Learn a specific type of lapidary skill?? Check out these workshops offered in 2026, at the three most popular schools:
EFMLS Wildacres 1st Session, May 11-17, 2026. See www.efmls.org for details and registration.
SFMS William Holland, June 7-12, 2026. See www.southeastfed.org for details and registration.
CFMS Camp Paradise, August 16-29, 2026. See www.cfms.org for details and registration.
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Rock & Gem Magazine burst on the scene in 1971 with the goal of serving the needs and goals of anyone with an interest in rocks, gems, minerals, fossils and general lapidary.
This is the official magazine of the AFMS (American Federation of Mineralogical Societies) and has a wealth of information about our hobby. Yes, it is a subscription based magazine, with gorgeous photography and informative and well-researched articles about gemstones, lapidary, fossils and minerals, including info about digs, mines, and a comprehensive Rock Show Calendar.
HOWEVER there are many articles on the website that are free to read as well. Take advantage of this wealth of free information!
Subscribe to the FREE Rock & Gem weekly newsletter
There is also a FREE Rock & Gem weekly newsletter AND a Kids Magazine that is also FREE. https://www.rockngem.com/flipbook/Best_of_Fabulous_Fluorescents/
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It’s time to spread the word about the 2026 March Show!
While we advertise the show in various places, in newsletters, and social media, still the most effective way to get the word out is by ‘word of mouth’. We count on our membership to spread the word about the show far and wide! Please consider adding the jpg image about the show to your emails, facebook page, instagram, Pinterest and anywhere else you live in the digital world. You can download an image from the JPG button, or download a pdf of the flyer you can print out yourself.
Thanks for your support!
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THE LAST WORD
See you all at the Pewaukee Public Library, February 18 , 2026 at 6:30PM
Please send all comments, submissions and ideas for articles to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ori-anna and Regina, Co-editors
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The Kettle Moraine Geological Society (KMGS) was organized in 1960 for the purpose of gathering and disseminating knowledge of geology and the earth sciences.
Our meetings are held at the Pewaukee Public Library on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM. Guests are always welcome. Persons interested in becoming members can obtain an application form from any of the officers. Visit our website at www.kmgsrocks.com and like us on facebook.
The Kettle Krier is the official publication of KMGS and is published each month. Articles for publication must be submitted no later than the second weekend of the month prior to publication.
KMGS is a member of the Midwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies.
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2026 OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
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PRESIDENT
Tim Perrin
VICE-PRESIDENT
Ashley Adair
TREASURER
Don Shervey
Dave Derrick, DEPUTY
SECRETARY
John Rettler
KETTLE KRIER
Regina Kapta, EDITOR
Ori-Anna Ramsey, DEPUTY EDITOR
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TECH/WEBSITE
Javier Benitez
SHOW COMMITTEE
John Rettler, CHAIR
Tim Perrin, CO-CHAIR
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Mary Nettesheim
FIELD TRIP COMMITTEE
POSITION OPEN
SUNSHINE COMMITTEE
Marlene Ilecki
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EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Mike Andrysczyk
JR. ROCKHOUNDS COORDINATOR
Ori-Anna Ramsey
TRUSTEES
Regina Kapta,
Trustee-ad-Litem
Javier Benitez, PAST PRESIDENT
NOMINATION COMMITTEE
Mary Nettesheim
Dave Elftman
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