During the goldpanningchampionships at Kopparberg 1985, a number of devoted goldpanners founded a working committee´ to draw up some routines and regulations for the first Swedish Goldpanning Association. At Kopparberg Open 1986, the very first annual meeting was held. After that, we have become many more members. Many meetings, dates and prospectings for gold have been held.
THE SWEDISH GOLDPANNING ASSOCIATION is an extensive interestorganisation all over the country. We keep contact with SGU (The Swedish Geologi Examination), mining companies, WGA (World Goldpanning Association) and other international associations with similar interests. A part of our activity is to spread the hobby futher. We do that by lectures, exhibitions and goldpanningcompetitions. Many of us got our interest for goldpanning in connection with visits in northen Finland. There they have been prospecting gold for more than 100 years. In our association we look for good goldpanning- places in Sweden and Finland, at the moment we have a number of goldclaims. Of course, our members have free goldprospecting at these places. The gold we find is often small grains (microgold) and some times a small piece a few millimetres in diameter. However, the Swedish bedrock is covered with an enormous gravelmass. So the possibility of finding a beautiful goldnugget may be reality one day, perhaps it will be You?
Most of us have goldpanning as an enjoyable relaxtion. We meet also likeminded at the panningchampionships and on our excursions. The members also receive discounts on price of goldpanningequipment, campinggrounds, maps, books etc. at firms and institutions in Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia.
Our sales are expanding all the time; cheap and good goldpans, litterature, magnifiers, badges, stickers, pins etc. If You want to try a dredge or watch a goldpanningfilm. it is available for lending, free of cost. Our winther+summer
rendez-vous and goldpanningcourses for beginners, are also free of charge.
Our membershipjournal called Guldvaskar´n (The Goldpanner) comes out four times a year. Through the journal we spread news and knowledge about gold and goldpanning around the world. All people are welcome with written or other contributions. If You have any questions about gold, there is often some one who can give You a good answer. You can also buy and sell, free of cost. For a low price companies in the business are welcome to advertise.
The membershipfee is 17.60€/ year, that is enough for the whole family to take part in all our activities. The easiest way to become a member is to pay the amount in to our postal giro-account 630454-7. The fee is valid from 1 June-31 May. Our membership-package includes: a set of all our badges, the latest Guldvaskar´n, an introductionbooklet with important information, membershipcard, and other nice little things. Payment after 1/1 are valid until 1/6 next year. Welcome as a member! Don´ t forget Your name and address.
Every summer the Swedish Goldpanning Championships is held, where the association is a part-organizer, deciding the time and place. There You will have the chance to meet quite a number of the Swedish goldpanners. World Championships are also held in different parts of the world. In 1991 we had the W.C. for the first time in Sweden. To visit these competitions, have been for many of us, an exciting way to travel, why don´t You joins us! If You want some more information, write, mail or call us. See You at the goldpan!
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