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About MHRSThe Midwest Historical Research Society (MHRS) was founded in October of 1968 by seven men from the Chicago area. Although the name of our club is slightly obscure, MHRS is a club of metal detecting enthusiasts. Over the years our club has grown and today has a roster approaching 100 members. MHRS is an open membership club. Membership is available to all adults as well as their children. From the novice to the master, from the youngster to the seasoned senior, the members of MHRS represent a diverse group of people drawn together by a shared interest in the hobby of metal detecting. Our club is dedicated to cultivating this shared interest and providing a safe and secure environment for members to explore and pursue their hobby. As the core activity of our club, a monthly membership meeting is held each month from January through November. The meetings provide an opportunity for our members to develop long lasting friendships as well as the opportunity to develop their skills and engage in friendly competition. Each month, the club prepares a program to explore areas important to the hobby. Our programs cover topics such as research methods, equipment types, regulations, recovery techniques as well as a club favorite, “How and Where to Hunt in Chicago”. The combined knowledge and skill of our membership is broad and our monthly program serves to tap this resource for the benefit of our members. The monthly meeting also highlights our “Finds of the Month” program. As part of our “Treasure Hunter of the Year” contest, each month our members are provided an opportunity to show off their finds in the various categories established by the club and to vote for the best finds in each category. Beyond the aspects of competition, the contest is an important motivator for our members. Success breeds success and our club is very successful. In addition to the monthly meetings, the club sponsors two annual Beach Hunts. These hunts are free to our members and are structured hunts seeded with prizes and silver coins donated to the club. It’s quite a sight to see and an enjoyable easy hunt. The club also sponsors a family oriented Summer Picnic and a Christmas Party. These outside activities help build friendships and extend the MHRS family. MHRS has also chosen the path of charitable giving. We are thankful for the opportunity to pursue the rewards of our hobby and we are keenly aware of the needs of others. With a desire to turn what we do into a means to give back to our community, our club established the MHRS Penny Project. The Penny Project is a simple program to collect and donate our found pennies in support of a summer camp for young burn victims. A simple program that now includes all manner of donations from both our members and those we have helped. Something we are very proud of. So if you live in the Chicago area and are looking for a metal detecting club that’s a little more than the usual, we are here for you. Check us out and you are welcome anytime.Our meeting place is at Saint Alban's Episcopal Church in Chicago. For a map to the Church, click on this link. Saint Alban's Map Our Membership dues are $25 per year for an individual, $45 per year for a couple and $15 per year for junior members under the age of 18 years old. An initiation fee of $15 is also required for first time members. Your Membership includes a copy of our Monthly Newsletter "Trash to Treasure", access to all our meetings and access to club sponsored events. If you would like to contact us directly, please email our club President, Pat Anderson, at PJA030257@sbcglobal.net. You may also contact Pat by phone at 630-267-6121. If you prefer snail mail, please send your correspondence to our Corresponding Secretary, Doris Patitz at the following address: Doris Patitz |