HISTORY
M.J.R.R.C.
MID-JERSEY RESEARCH & RECOVERY CLUB
FOUNDED APRIL, 1979
MEMBER: FEDERATION METAL DETECTOR & ARCHEOLOGICAL CLUBS, INC.
In April of 1998 our club celebrated it's nineteenth anniversary. How did it
get started? What have we done? What is our future?
The club really got it's start in 1978 when Ron Womer was metal detecting at
Steinert Park in Lambertville, he met a fellow detectorist. One of the topics
they discussed was detector clubs. At that time, there weren't any located
in the Trenton area. Ron had never belonged to any kind of club due to his
work schedule. He thought it would be a good idea to start a detector club
as suggested by the other detectorist. This person was none other than
Dick Stout, who later founded the Federation.
Ron read a series of articles by Glen Carson in "WESTERN AND EASTERN
TREASURES" magazine concerning the starting of clubs. Armed with information
from this and other sources, he placed ads in magazines and local newspapers.
He invited replies from others who might have an interest in joining a
detecting club. Some of those who replied were Joe Antrello ( a friend of
Dick Stout), Joe Parks from the South Jersey Club and Frank O'keefe. The
firstmeetings took place in either Ron's or Dick's home. Then in April of
1979, they held the first official meeting at the Divine Word Seminary.
The originalmembers were Ron Womer, Dick Stout, Joe Antrello, Joe Parks,
Frank O'keefe, Mike Amico, Phil Hanson and Joe Baranyi. Joe Baranyi arranged
for us to use the PBA HALL which we still use today.
How were our By-Laws created? Ron got copies of the by-laws from some other
clubs to give us an idea how to begin. Over the years, the by-laws written
in 1979 have remained essentially the same.
Where did our logo originate? Even before the first meeting, Ron realized
that at some later date we would want a logo. He fashioned a basic design
from an after shave label that caught his attention. The colors were chosen
using information he read concerning magazine advertising and product labels.
Joe antrello helped put the finishing touches on the logo, which we still
use today for our patches, hats, T-shirts, stationery and newsletter. When
the club first started, Ron even made up a few T-shirts using colored
markers.
Getting new members, especially for a new club is always hard. Trying not
to miss any chance for new members, Ron hopped on his motorcycle in the
spring of 1979. Where did he go? To Gropp's lake where the dam had burst.
He tacked up signs inviting anyone who had an interest in joining a metal
detecting club to contact him. By the end of 1979, our membership totaled
18 compared to the December 1991 total of 73 full members, 1 lifetime and
1 honorary, 22 of the 72 members were women, 3 children and 48 men.
Who have our officers been?
1979 to 1981 = Pres. Ron Womer; Secy. Phil Hanson; Treas. Mike Amico
1982 = Pres. Ron Womer; Secy. John Komendat; Treas. Mike Amico
1983 & 1984 = Pres. Ron Womer; secy. John Komendat; Treas. Murry Tuckman
1985 = Pres. Phil Hanson; Secy. Mary Malko; Treas. Murry Tuckman
1986 = Pres. Phil Hanson; Secy. Terry Warner; Treas. Ron Coons
1987 = Pres. Phil Hanson; Secy. Keith Warner; Treas. Anne Malko
1988 = Pres. Phil Womer; V.P. Lccy Mancini; Secy. Amy Maruso
Treas. Anne Malko
1989 = Pres. Phil Hanson;V.P. Lucy Mancini; Secy. Amy Maruso
Treas. Betty Kralovich
1990 = Pres. Jo Ann Corbett; V.P. Anne Malko; Secy. Amy Maruso
Treas. Betty Kralovich
1991 = Pres. Jo Ann Corbett; V.P. Marie Clemens; Secy. Amy Maruso;
Treas. Betty Kralovich
1992 = Pres. Dave Wittman; V.P. Mike Kobren; Secy. Betty Sullivan
Treas. Frank Skowronski
1993 = Pres. Keith Warner; V.P. Mike Kobren; Secy. Amy Maruso
Treas. Frank Skowronski
1994 = Pres. Amy Maruso; V.P. Jo Ann Corbett; Secy. Betty Sullivan
Treas. Marie Clemens
1995 = Pres. Amy Maruso; V.P. Ron Coons; secy. Betty Sullivan
Treas. Marie Clemens (later part of year after resignations,
the following became officers: Jo Ann Corbett,V.P.;
Dave Wittman, Treas.)
1996 = Pres. Amy Maruso; V.P. Dan Tuckman; Secy. Betty Sullivan
Treas. Dave Wittman
Treas. Scott Pullen
Treas. Scott Pullen
Ron Womer was our Federation Rep from when it started in March of 1984
to December 1989, followed by Brian Martin and Henry Perchalski. Bill
Conk held the position for 1991 and 1992. In 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996
Bill Conk and Jo Ann Corbett. The Federation patch was designed by
Donald Malko in 1985. Donald is the son of Anne & Alex Malko. The
Mid-Atlantic East Coast Chapter (Chapter of the FMDAC) was started in
October of 1993 by our own club member Jo Ann Corbett, who was the first
President of the MAECC (term of 1994 and 1995). Murry Tuckman, also one
of our club members, became the second Mid-Atlantic East Coast Chapter
Secretary in August of 1994.
Pat Burns and John Komendat have been our librarians since it started in
1987. In 1991 to 1995, Ron Coons became the caretaker of our library, which
has grown to almost 100 books and other items. In the later part of 1995,
Joyce Chapman took over for Ron Coons, and the Library started operating
on an HONORARY SYSTEM. Ron Parks, Murry Tuckman, Pat Burns and Phil Hanson
have been program directors. Keith Warner and Murray Tuckman continued the
club programs for 1995 and 1996. Jo Ann and Jim Corbett started our Club
Photo Album in 1989. Ron Womer took over the job of Photographer in the fall
of 1990 and 1991. Mike Masarge in 1992. Dave Wittman in 1993, 1994 and 1995.
How did our newsletter begin? Amy Maruso started it in April, 1987 and
continuedediting and print until October 1988. Then, Evelyn Riggins took
overthe job until 1990. Jo Ann Corbett became Editor for 1991. Joe & Lee
Ann Slackter became Editor for 1992. And Jo Ann Corbett again for 1993,
1994, 1995 and 1996. Mike Kobren was in charge of print and distribution
since 1992. Mike's heavy workload forced the club to have the newsletters
printed at "Staples", in the late part of 1995, and will continue for 1996
and thereafter, unless we have a volunteer to offer their services free
of charge. Amy and Jo Ann have used their writing skills to benefit and
promote our hobby. They have written many articles for the "QUEST", detector
magazines "W&E), and local magazines and newspapers. Over the years, we have
had a varietyof speakers and other programs. Several of our members have
given talks about their outing, helpful detecting hints and their opinions
of and experiences with different detectors. There have been discussions
on health and safety topics with the most recent being on lymes disease. We
have shown videos about different types of detecting and detectors, the
Federation weekends and our own club hunts. Some of the other speakers
and topics were:
Bob Edgers: gave a lapidary demonstration of stone cutting
Jack Newman : showed us how to read topographical maps
Dick Stout: spoke about the start of the Federation
David Hall: spoke about buying rare coins
Bill Michlich: gave a dowsing demonstration
Butch Olsen: spoke about bottle collecting
Ray Williams: spoke about collecting large cents
John & Jackie Spyra: spoke about Civil War artifacts
Mike Chalifoux: spoke about finding a "sea monster"
Frank Skowronski: spoke about skin diving & metal detecting
Dave Wittman: spoke about water detecting and proper water detecting
gear, clothing, and equipment, etc.
Mary Inzana: spoke about Rainbow House - shelter for adolescent mothers
and their babies with AIDS.
Keith Warner: displayed his home-made equipment and metal detecting
gadgets. Very inexpensive and economical.
Dr. Cohen: presentation and display as a :Button" expert.
Dave Henkel: presentation and display about his metal detecting
expedition to "Russia".
One of the interesting outings was in September of 1987 when Ron Womer,
Lucy Mancini, Faye & Dick Stout and Flo Geller joined others on a trip to
England. They attended the Longleast Rally and also toured the country.
Many of our club members have donated their time to community projects.
They have helped the authorities search for weapons in prision yards and
in locating evidence at crime scenes. As a club, we donated clothes and
money to help an Indian Tribe. Some of our members have assisted the
Fallsington Historical Society at an archeological site and as a club,
we donated money to the Shriner's Children's Burn Center; Ronald McDonald
House and Rainbow House.
Beyond this, our members have spent their own money and many hours of
their time to locate the owners of lost jewelry and other items. All this
at no cost to the owners. Asking only for a picture of the owners and a
letter of recognition for our records. This will hopefully provide goodwill
towards our hobby.
Other points of interest:
April 1982 = Point System and displays started
October 1982 = 1st Family Picnic & Hunt @ Bryant's Island
December 1982 = 1st yearly winner of the point system picked (with the
prize a Whites to Ron Womer)
April 1983 = Phil Hanson taught a class on metal detecting at Hamilton Twp.
Adult School
April 1983 = 1st Open Hunt held
June 1983 = Club hosted a booth at Quakerbridge Mall to publicize metal
detecting
December 1985 = 1st Family Christmas Party held
December 1987 = Library started
April 1987 = Newsletter started
April 1989 = Club Photo Album started
July 1989 = 1st Fun Hunt held
October 1990 = 1st Halloween Nite Hunt held
May 1993 = Opne Hunt - Fund Raiser for Rainbow House - 50/50 held
March 1994 = First Club Museum Display at the New Eqypt Public Library
January 1995 = Club Museum available for any organizational
presentation/talk/display, etc.
May 1995 - Open Hunt sight changed to Seaside Park, New Jersey
May 1998 – Open Hunt sight changed to Seaside Heights, New Jersey
What is in our future? Some ideas include community projects; things
that we can do to make public awareness of our hobby more favorable;
small group outings with reports to the club by a talk or an article in
the newsletter. Let's not overlook more family participation via picnics,
hunts, community projects and trips. Lastly, at schools and youth groups to
encourage the interest in our hobby with the next generation.
The first 19 years have seen many changes in our club, the hobby and the
equipment we use. We're looking forward to a more interesting and
exciting future for them all.
Revised 3/98