AFMS All American Club Award
Brecciated Agate, Image Credit: Lori Carter
(See more about this image below)
What is the
American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS)
All American Club Award?
The All American Club Award was established to encourage clubs to share their activities and expertise with other clubs within their respective regions and with the clubs of the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies. This was done by the seven regional federations and the AFMS in 1967. It was also meant to provide an organized approach to an historical record of a club’s activities, and provide a means for national recognition of these exceptional clubs.
The Award focuses on the efforts of each club to be a good neighbor, support other clubs and government initiatives, and provide an avenue of learning and growth for its members, among other things. Each report is read and judged for completeness and quality, as well as inclusion of those activities thought to make a well-rounded club. This is not a competition between clubs, but rather a competition of each club against a ‘national standard’, established by a committee of judges and regional chairmen.
The Award is broken into two categories: large clubs (100 members or more) and small clubs (less than 100 members). Junior clubs with five or more members can also submit entries. Gold, Silver and Bronze awards are given, based on a point-count system.
From the AFMS website 2021
About the image on this page
Brecciated Agate with Fortifications in Heal Fractures
This is a slice of an agate from Georgia. It formed, broke, then more agate filled in the fractures and made it a solid piece again. The breaking and re-healing is what makes it brecciated (pronounced breh-shee-ay-ted). Brecciated rock is not unusual, but to have bands of agate (fortifications) in the healed fractures is not common.
Image Credits: Lori Carter