Azoverland Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 I went to renew my GPAA membership today and they have done away with the GOLDLIFE memebership. Too bad I was really hoping to sign up for it. Did many of you guys sign up for it? Wish I had done it last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyLundy Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 Overland,I did it many moons ago, during a trip to Vegas. Just so happened to hit a nice jackpot with the GPAA in town, took a taxi and been getting the magazine since...just need to read them...lolLuckyLundy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin nuggethunting Posted March 6, 2012 Admin Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 Hello AzOverland, Seems like a lot of changes with the GPAA and LDMA within the last year or so. I'm not sure I can that is either good nor bad. I have heard many opinions within the last year about how it's being ran now. All I can do is wish them the best of success and hope the GPAA and LDMA continue to grow and support this great hobby!Rob Allison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cp90macs Posted March 6, 2012 Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 I was kinda disappointed in the Mesa, AZ show! They changed in policy in the last couple of years to only promote their own chapters for clubs is a disservice to the hobby. The new organizers not inviting, and/or ignoring past vendors... even manufactures is a slapped in the face to those that have always promoted the GPAA. Of course there is the outragious fees that are now being charged per vendor which is also driving vendors away from the show. It is hard when you don't have enough sells during the show to cover the cost of attending.If you take away the few new vendors that were selling jewerly, not prospecting equipment the vendors in attendance were down about 30%! To read the GPAA, PICK and SHOVEL, they must have had a helluva good Sunday turnouts, because Sat turnout just barely broke the average attendance numbers?I have seen specialties shows in the past goes south like these GOLD show are doing now. They quit inviting others clubs, get charging outlandish fees, get ignore by the local media... they just get stale in their presentation of the hobby to the public.My friend and I would drive 5 to 8 hrs to a club show. We even got to the point of renting a tour bus by our club so others people could attend a show two states away. NOW, THAT is PROMOTING the HOBBY! I live about five miles from the Mesa Convention center. The way the last two shows went, next year... I will probably go out prospecting than go to those showMore Au to you, Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank c Posted March 6, 2012 Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 Robert thats exactly why I didn't have a booth at the Mesa show , The cost is prohibitive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
way2cool Posted March 6, 2012 Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 Frank I wish you were there I was looking for one of your sampler drywashers. I do agree that Mesa show was a welllets just say I wish I had my 5 bucks back, but did win $1025 at one of the local Casino's on the way back to Tucson.Oh by the way Congrats on your new Meteorite find Frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notoriouskelly Posted March 6, 2012 Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 GPAA needs new leaders with business and techno savvy.They seem to be on cruise control from another era and it ain't workin... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin nuggethunting Posted March 6, 2012 Admin Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 Hello All, This was the first year that Nancy at the GPAA didn't call me. I was a bit surprised, but then after going to the show I found out her along with many other older crew members got canned. I noticed right away the attendance was way down, regardless what other that have said. The amount of vendors was dis-heartning at best. I walked the entire show in about 30 minutes. No Minelab booth, No prospecting clubs, no big jewelery sellers, but hey if you wanted to purchase pots, pans or even have a massage, it was the place to be! I'm just glad I didn't set up. Rob Allison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisman91 Posted March 6, 2012 Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 I started prospecting just a little over a year ago, in Feb. 2011. I went to my very first gold show in Nominal, Ca. very shortly thereafter. I stood in a line of exactly 93 people and it took over an hour to actually get in. They were allowing people to fill out the plethora of forms and giveaway cards right there at the cashier table. Once in, just like Rob, I walked the entire floor in less than 20 minutes. I really wanted to see the new Minelab machines, but the only minelab booth there was only handing out brochures. The majority of the vendors were selling jewelry and raffle tickets. There were a few vendors selling $30,000 and up trommels and a couple of accessory dealers. The GPAA booth took up a whole wall of one side of the building. I was truly disappointed for my first visit. I was told by many prospectors that the show in Vegas was going to be so much better, so I went. I stood in line for over 3 hours that time, and it was for all intents and purposes, the exact same as Pomona. I have been to numerous GPAA claims and have found virtually no gold. They are in dire need of new claims so the newer (and returning) members can experience the joy of finding the yellow metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azoverland Posted March 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 Does being a member of a club give you the right to camp on a claim over 14 days like a claim owner can on Federal land?I think the GPAA still has some great claims and they have a bunch of them so I will renew but it sure seems like they could be doing a better job of engaging member and getting new ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notoriouskelly Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 I agree that the GPAA is a good value, AzO. I probably shouldn't hammer them as much (mostly on their OWN site ).Every newbie who sees The Guide gets excited and wants one for themselves. I had a ball finding the claims in different states and goofing around.It's a reasonable cost just to know you're authorized to be on a certain patch of ground.Families/groups have a great time and local chapters can be very active and fun.America OnLine was my intro to the Internet back in 1993, and by 1995 I had graduated to ISP's for access.GPAA was my intro to prospecting but now I rarely look at the guide. It's fun just exploring different, unclaimed areas.But I am still glad to have access to GPAA claims. Have fun out there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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