M.A.G.M.A. and DirtyRockhounds Members
Member profiles:
Jerry Harless (Rocktoter)
I've been a bureacrat with local & regional gov't agencies for the past 23 years. Currently my job title is "IS/GIS Manager". Collecting is a whole lot more interesting than going to work!
I received a third place ribbon (and $25 prize) in the Washington State Science Fair for my rock collection back in the 3rd grade (just before the last ice age). Now rocks, gems & fossils are filling my shop and spilling out into the yard.
My transition to full-time rock collector is about 10 years off. In the meantime, I may take on the GIA graduate gemologist coursework so I can support my collecting habit in my retirement and become a gem-know-it-all.Dave: GIS is a great skill for use in the field as well as the office. Biologists, geologists, etc. equipped with GPS & handheld GIS have all the fun. One of my friends is a geologist for the USGS, assigned to create 24K scale geologic maps. On sunny days, he takes his GPS/GIS tools out and walks the woods & beaches mapping outcrops and investigating interesting features from digital imagery. Me, I went over to the dark side (management) years ago, so I am doomed to meetings, budgets, status reports, strategic plans, etc. while others get to do the fun stuff. Where did I go wrong?
Jerry
