UPDATE: N.C. Shell Club meeting on Ocracoke canceled for this weekend
Thursday, March 21 Update: Due to severe weather from a low pressure system expected this weekend, the North Carolina Shell Club’s Executive Board has decided to relocate the Spring Meeting to the Swansboro area.
The North Carolina Shell Club is heading to Ocracoke Island on March 22 and March 23 for their annual Spring Meeting, and the public is welcome to come by the Ocracoke Community Center during the two-day event to check out the club’s activities.
“The club is a friendly group of shell collectors ranging from advanced scientific level studies to weekend warriors,” said John Timmerman of the N.C. Shell Club in an email to the Island Free Press. “The meetings are open to all who want to attend, members and guests.”
The schedule of events is listed below, and includes special presentations, a silent auction, and a live auction of rare seashells from around the world which belonged to member Everett Long.
“Everett Long was a longtime contributor and member of the Shell Club,” said Timmerman. “Soon after his death in 2022, the Shell Club purchased his collection, [and] some of the huge collection is in the offering. Funds generated from the sale will go to a scholarship fund named in his honor that will be honored to Carteret County Community College students.”
The auction catalog of rare shells can be found here.
A special presentation on the Birds of Ocracoke by Peter Vankevich on Friday evening will also be a highlight of the event, and new members are welcome to sign up during both evenings’ festivities.
For more information on the Ocracoke Spring Meeting, including places to stay and ferry reservations, visit the N.C. Shell Club’s website.
The schedule for Friday and Saturday is as follows:
Friday Night, March 22
Ocracoke Community Center
6:30 p.m. – Registration and Social, Silent Auction
7:00 p.m. – Greetings, Introductions, Announcements, Door Prizes
8:00 p.m. – Old Business and New Business
8:30 p.m. – Field Trip Announcements and Waiver Completion
8:40 p.m. – Silent Auction
9:00 p.m. – Auction Ends, Check out, Clean up
Saturday Night, March 23
Ocracoke Community Center
6:30 p.m. – Registration and Social, Find of the Day Set-up, (Viewing for Live Auction Begins)
7:00 p.m. – Greetings, Introductions
7:05 p.m. – Live Auction – Treasures of the Long Collection
8:15 p.m. – Find of the Day Announcement
9:15 p.m. – Auction Ends, Check out, Clean up
