Spring River Gem & Mineral Club Awards Members for Outstanding Services

Each year the Spring River Gem & Mineral Club awards an individual/couple who have contributed something special by their service to the club.

The 2025 recipients of the Rockhound of the Year are Carla and Michaei Quataert, who live in Salem, AR. During their 20 years of membership to the SRGMC, they have acted as officers, given presentations, attended field trips, and donated a television set on which power point presentations can be shown. They are quick to volunteer to help wherever they are needed. They have shared their enthusiasm for the club and faithfully attended meetings.

Michael and Carla retired to Arkansas 30 years ago. “I worked in Colorado in a molybdenum mine, and that really spurred my interest in rocks. It was great to find a rock club near us,” said Michael, Carla designs and crafts jewelry with cabochons, which are gemstones that have been shaped and polished. She is also a watercolor artist, and
draws her inspiration from their large flower gardens. Michael carves wooden whimsical castles, houses, villages, and has recently branched out into rock carving.

Paul Grindol, who lives in Cherokee Village, joined the SRGMC in 2007. He received two awards.: One, for Distinguished Service, and another, as Club Mineralogist. Throughout the years in the SRGMC, Paul has served as President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Auditor, has led field trips and attended them, given presentations, besides pitching in when help is needed. At one time, because a scheduled speaker suddenly could not show, Paul only had 10 minutes notice to prepare a program to present to the club.

Paul has been involved in rock clubs and lapidary work since 1970. Paul has identified mineral specimens for a museum. He is a veritable encyclopedia when it comes to rocks and minerals; he is the club “go-to” guy when identification is needed.

The Spring River Gem & Mineral Club meets March to December at Thunderbird Center in Cherokee Village and features a live presentation each month. Programs are always given by experts in their fields. Dues are $15 a year for a single person, $25 for a couple/family living at the same address. SRGMC has dues because it has expenses. For a single person, the dues amount to $1.50 per meeting. For further information call /text 870-847-3109.