>My name is Melissa Hamilton, and I'm new to this group (just joined today).
>
>I grew up in Alabama and began collecting shells as a child along the Alabama
>coast, but I saw my first really amazing shells on Botany Island in South
>Carolina,  when I was 19.   I don't know if any of you know that area (near
>Edisto Island, close to Charleston), but it's pretty spectacular, I think, for
>shelling.
>
>I'm 31 now and living in Los Angeles, and I've continued to collect - very
>much an amateur, as I've only begun learning the names of various shells in
>the past few years, but I do love it - I usually plan my vacations around
>shelling.  I didn't know anyone else did this until I read some of this
>group's old messages this morning.:)   How nice to know I'm not alone.
 
 
Melissa,
        You should contact Kathy Kalohi from the Pacific Shell Club in Los
Angeles.  It is a great group of people that have meetings once a month and
great field trips.  I just left Los Angeles a year ago and miss the group
greatly, but I always like to encourage new Angelino  shellers to join that
club.  Kathy's e-mail address is:  [log in to unmask]  Write her soon as
Joe(her husband) is changing to a new internet company soon and will have a
new address.
        Good luck in Southern California.  It's a great place to shell and
P.S.C. is a great place to meet shellers.
        Another group in L.A. is Conchological Club of Southern California
(C.C.S.C.)  Contact Lindsey Groves at  [log in to unmask]   This group meets
at the Los Angeles County Museum of Los Angeles.  It is a great scientific
group from the L.A. area.
        Another good luck, Dan Yoshimoto  [log in to unmask]