Greetings all,
      Sorry to have to announce this.  The fourth field trip of the season, "Walking Tour of Downtown St. Paul"  will have to be canceled.  I have just been laid off (second time in one year, fourth time in my working life).  My last day on the job will be July 18.  I will have to scramble to find a new job.  My company, Pace Analytical,  is trying to set me up in one of two jobs that are open, but both work on Sundays.  I do not have the tour set up well enough to pass it along to anyone else at this time and I will not have the time to get it written up. The time and money are just not there at this time. I have talked it over with Paul Martin and have tried to call some others.  Paul agrees that it would be difficult to get a sub in at this time.  Also, two of the guides I had set up have had to drop out, so other guides would be needed.  I have already contacted the Minnesota Mineral Club, so they know there will not be a field trip from us at their convention.  I think there is a group from GSM that is going to be running a table down there, so the GSM will be represented.  
      I am so very sorry about this.  When I volunteered to run this, I thought my job was as safe as it had ever been as a contractor at 3M.  It just goes to show how little we can plan ahead.  If this had happened a month earlier, I would have tried to find a substitute.  I hope I will be in a stable job next year, perhaps we can try it then.  If you have any questions, please call  me at 651-501-9851