ISHPEMING — The Ishpeming Rock and Mineral Club will be meeting at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Cliff Shaft Mine Museum, located at 501 W. Euclid St., in Ishpeming.

Fred Stonehouse, local author and historian will present: Forgotten Heroes, The U.S. Life-Saving Service on the Great Lakes From 1874 until 1915 when it became the U.S. Coast Guard. The men of this remarkable organization displayed incredible courage and bravery in rescuing over 55,000 people from potential death on the Great Lakes. Despite personal danger or difficulty, the life-savers invariably accomplished the rescue. Their unofficial motto was, “Regulations say we have to go out; they say nothing about coming back.” It was a motto they lived and, in some cases, died by.

Stonehouse has authored numerous books on maritime history. “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” and the “Haunted Lakes” series are regional best sellers. “Wreck Ashore, the U.S. Life-Saving Service on the Great Lakes” is the predominant work on the subject. He has also been an “on-air” expert for History Channel, National Geographic and the Smithsonian. He has been honored with the Association for Great Lakes Maritime History award for historic interpretation and named the Marine Historian of the Year by the Detroit Marine Historical Society.

Doors will open at 1 p.m. to allow members and visitors time to bid on silent auction specimens and to view the club’s mineral collection. Fred will begin his presentation at 1:30 p.m.

A door prize drawing, a 50/50 drawing and a business meeting will follow the program.

Everyone is welcome to attend, enjoy and learn about the wonders of rocks and minerals. There is no admission fee.