Quartzsite Improvement Association
(928) 927-6325 fax (928) 927-4503 www.qiaaz.org
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The QIA Board of Directors: President: Gil Prier Vice President: Brian Moorecroft Secretary: Carole Rasmussen Treasurer: Ron Vessey
Trustees: Ralph Hansen Bob Selser Alva Richardson
Alva Richardson - Pow Wow co-chair Iola Lee - Pow Wow co-chair
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Quartzsite links: |
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“Bring your own cup and a chair...” How the Quartzsite Improvement Association By Cate Mueller |
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From humble beginnings... The first Quartzsite Improvement Association QIA Pow Wow Gem & Mineral Show debuted in February 1967 in an old school house the QIA members persuaded county officials into letting them use. There were 22 gem and mineral exhibits inside the building and 52 rockhound vendors selling pretty stones, trinkets and treasure from their pickup truck tailgates. The school-turned-show grounds were “a couple of acres of desert,” according to records. Dusty, gravel desert, but enthusiasm was high. One thousand visitors attended the inaugural Pow Wow and planning for the next gem and mineral show started immediately. The Quartzsite Pow Wow was born! From those humble beginnings... to today, when estimates show some 4 million visitors came through Quartzsite during the 40th Annual QIA Pow Wow Gem & Mineral Show in 2006. The QIA incorporated in March 1965 with 44 members who wished to do good things for their chosen winter community. This all-volunteer non-profit organization started Quartzsite’s first library, donated money to equip the volunteer fire department, donated land for the medical center, took care of the Hi Jolly Monument and Pioneer Cemetery, donated playground equipment to the elementary school, uniforms for the ball team, computers to the library and built the television signal booster on Guadalupe Mountain – hand-carrying 80-pound generators to the summit. QIA members wanted to build a community center. Membership grew rapidly and the organization quickly outgrew early meeting places like the old school house. Time to buckle down and raise some serious cash! |
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Early fund-raising efforts included pot lucks, swap-and-shop rummage sales, bingo, “Halves for the Hall” where pinochle games cost 50 cents, movies and slide shows, and Tuesday Travelogues. Remember the 60s, setting up a screen in the living room and watching slides of other people’s vacations? That was the Tuesday Travelogue tradition! “Bring your own cup and a chair,” became standard on invitations. The helpful tradition continues today. More than 300 QIA members volunteer to make the Pow Wow a great annual success. Jobs include vendor-relations, event promotion, security, cooking, cleaning, food service, dish washing, garbage hauling, maintenance, and – of course – potty patrol. The Pow Wow is the QIA’s largest fund raising event. Come volunteer and have some fun – wear comfortable shoes! QIA gives back to the community by donating annually to several scholarships and other non-profit organizations including funds for Willpower Incorporated to have a telephone, wireless Internet access at the Quartzsite Public Library, disaster relief money to the Red Cross and more.
Recipients include Willpower, Inc., KBUX radio, Little Scholars' Pre-School,
Celia’s Join us! Come to a
pancake supper Wednesdays at The Quartzsite Improvement Association – building a better Quartzsite. # # # |
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Page last updated:
October 19, 2009