American Fossil Federation
Welcome to the AFF Website. Before you enter, take a moment to enjoy some of our members exciting fossil finds below and polished with the best rock tumbler.
About AFF
The American Fossil Federation (AFF) is a vital, active, energetic organization comprised of both amateur and professional paleontologists plus collectors who are bonded by a love of fossils.
The club emphasizes education. Most meetings feature speakers giving presentations on topics of interest to fossil collectors. Additionally, members are active with fossil displays at our meetings. It’s a perfect time to share their knowledge and have fossils identified.
All meetings are open to the public. We hold 6 meeting each year-all at the North Bowie Community Center in Bowie, MD (3209 Stoneybrook Dr., Bowie,MD). Meetings are held bi-monthly on the second Sunday of the month starting in January (except in May when the meeting is held on the third Sunday of the month).
For more information about the AFF please contact us at:
Jim Patzer
410-461-6395
Articles submitted by our members for your review.
- This is a great reference for identifying sharks and their teeth. A lot of real shark dentition photos.
- A member discovers a new triangular shaped echinoid. Click Here
- A member discovers a new Eocene crab and has it named after him.
- A member discovers a new Moon Rock during low sea tide. Click Here
- A member discovers a new fossil billfish and has it named for him.
- A member discovers, and describes, a new Eocene crab.
AFF Meeting Schedule
All meetings are held at the North Bowie Community Center - 3209 Stonybrook Dr. Bowie, MD and are open to the public.
Bowie Community Center doors open at 11:00 AM. Business meeting begins promptly at noon. Doors close at 3 PM.
- January 12, 2024 AFF officer elections and annual Cirrincione party.
- A special vote will be held at this meeting to decide whether the club will accept a new logo celebrating it’s 25th anniversary.
- March 9, 2024 AFF fund raising auction.
- May 18, 2024 Joint meeting with the MGS. Dr. Thomas Cronin will speak about “Climate Change and the Artic”.
- July 13, 2024 Mark Bennett and Jim Patzer will talk about the New Jersy Fossil Show.
- Sept 14, 2024 “A special anniversary party”. The AFF celebrates it’s 25th year! Good food and great friends to share it with. Who could ask for anything more?
- Nov 9, 2024 “Show and Tell”.
2025 AFF Meeting Schedule
- Jan 11, 2025 The annual “Cirrincione Holiday Party”. AFF officer elections.
- March 8, 2025 The Annual Fossil Auction. Great deals to be found. Bring in your extra treasures and support the club.
- May 17, 2025 Joint meeting with the MGS club. Dr. Stephen Godfrey will cover some of the recent fossil discoveries from Maryland.
- July 12, 2025 Member Bill Heim will speak about Lamnid sharks. Bill’s expertice on sharks always guarentees an informative lecture. Expect to see a lot of samples from his extensive shark jaw collection.