ANN MEISTER & KEITH HARSHBARGER HAVE LOST EVERYTHING!

Ann Meister, past president of the Mineralogical Society of Southern California (MSSC), has lost both her home and her late father's (Gus Meister) home in the Eaton Fire. Both Gus and Ann devoted many years to the MSSC. Ann also worked on the Rock Currier Collection after Rock died. I have spoken with Ann and she says that everything is gone, and especially painful is the loss of the mineral and book collections. Ann's Utah mineral collection, particularly of Apex Mine azurite/malachite specimens was unsurpassed. She is in complete shock and is at a loss as to what to do. To compound matters, Ann is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer and has had her last round cancelled due to the fire emergency. She doesn't know when she will be able to reschedule. Currently she is staying with friends. Gus Meister was President of California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS), awarded the CFMS Golden Bear Award for service to the federation and was also involved in the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS). He was also the designer of the Meister trimmer which many of us still use to this day. The Meister family devoted themselves to all aspects of mineral collecting.

Keith Harshbarger worked for Rock Currier's Jewel Tunnel Imports for many years - you may recognize him from all of the mineral shows. He was also an active member of MSSC and had a fabulous pseudomorph collection. He wrote a definitive article on pseudomorphs for mindat.org that is still used as a reference today. His home was also completely destroyed and he was not able to salvage anything. He is currently staying with friends. Dona Leicht is trying to reach out to him directly.

This fund is to help them in anyway possible. Both Ann and Keith retired but are now facing an immensely difficult challenge: how to rebuild their lives in the face of total destruction. If you, in any way, can help out, it would be greatly appreciated. Any contribution is welcome.

Please pass this on to anyone you know who might be able to help. Thank you!

This fundraiser has been put together by Mary FongWalker, Dona Leicht, and other mineral collecting friends who know both Ann & Keith from MSSC and Rock Currier days. The funds will be divided equally, with 50% going to Ann Meister and 50% going to Keith Harshbarger. They left their homes with nothing and these funds will give them some help. This is the least we can do for our fellow mineral collectors who have given so much to our hobby.