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The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
August 2000.

Table of Contents.

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE;
• AUGUST 23RD PROGRAM;
• JULY PROGRAM - You Found Your Fossils: What Do You Do When You Get Them Home;
• 2000 CFMS CLUB SHOWS;
• VENTURA COUNTY FAIR 2000 RIBBONS AWARDED TO VGMS MEMBERS;
• ADDRESS CHANGE;
• MINUTES OF THE VGMS BOARD MEETING August 3, 2000.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

Congratulations to all members who exhibited at the Ventura County Fair 2000. The VGMS Club Case won 2nd place! This year, over 15 of our members entered numerous exhibits. This effort resulted in the awarding of over 77 ribbons to our members alone. This has to be one of the best years for club participation.

A word of thanks goes out to all who entered exhibits, helped with set-up and tear-down in the Gem & Mineral Building, those who volunteered their time during the Fair and thanks to the demonstrators who made it all so interesting.

Jim and Shirley Layton completed new VGMS membership applications which were distributed during the Fair. They look great! Be sure to take some applications with you at our next meeting so you will have some handy for potential new members. Thanks Jim & Shirley!

At our next regular meeting on August 23rd, there will be a sign-up list for Docent Training for the VGMS Museum. I encourage all members to be trained to give tours. This is a rewarding part of VGMS membership and the Museum is a showpiece of our club. Ray Meisenheimer and I will be coordinating this effort.

If you have food and drink items you wish to bring to the meeting, please call me. Don't forget to circle August 23rd on your calendar...I'll see you at the meeting.

Steve Mulqueen,
President.

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AUGUST 23RD PROGRAM.

Red Jioras, Nancy Jioras, and Kathryn Davis will give a presentation regarding an extended and productive field trip at the end of June and the beginning of July. The experience was fantastic and we're hoping to go again in 2001. Can we interest you in joining us?

Kathryn Davis,
Program Chairman.

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JULY PROGRAM,
You Found Your Fossils:
What Do You Do When You Get Them Home?

The July Program was presented by David Mautz. He brought a selection of fossils, tools, and books he uses.

Very often your fossil find is still in the matrix. Your first job is to release that fossil from the matrix. The key to fossil cleaning is patience, patience, patience. It is good policy to wear a mask for the dust and fumes and something to protect your eyes. Tools include dental picks, air scribes, engraving tools, small chisels, and brushes. Water gets off the initial dirt. Sometimes an acid is needed. If you use an acid, dilute it. Remember to add the acid to the water so it will not splash. For those fossils from Topanga Canyon use distilled vinegar.

If the fossil is fragile, or crumbling, you can stabilize it with a mixture of Elmers Glue and water (painted on), or waterglass (you can get it in the Pharmacy section of Longs Drugs).

Again, the key word is patience, lots of it. As you work on cleaning your finds you will learn that a large part of the price of the fossils you see for sale is the time and labor involved in the cleaning and preparation of the fossil.

Once clean, catalogue the specimen. Dave uses White Out in an inconspicuous place. and then India Ink with a calligraphy pen to label it. He assigns a number and keeps a list (book) of the numbers with other information (name of formation, era, scientific name, location...). There are books to help. There are also club members who would be happy to help you.

Kathryn Davis,
Program Chairman.

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2000 CFMS CLUB SHOWS.

SEPTEMBER 1-4; FORT BRAGG, CA - Mendocino Coast Gem & Mineral Society, Town Hall, Main & Laurel, Hours: Fri.-Sun. 10-6; Mon. 10-4, Dutch Sprock (707)937-4245, PO Box 68; Albion, CA 95410.

SEPTEMBER 16-17; PASO ROBLES, CA - Santa Lucia Rockhounds, Pioneer Park and Museum, 2010 Riverside Ave., Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5, Harry Kuffel (805)467-3457.

SEPTEMBER 16-17; REDWOOD, CA - Sequoia Gem & Mineral Society, Community Activities Building, 1400 Roosevelt Ave., Hours: 10-5 both days, Mary Kelly (650)366-3285.

SEPTEMBER 23-24; DOWNEY, CA - The Delvers Woman's Club of Downey, 9813 Paramount Blvd.. Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-4, Angie Harwood (562) 692-4540, E-mail elistor@yahoo.com.

SEPTEMBER 23; LOS ALTOS, CA - Peninsula Gem & Geology Society, Los Altos Rancho Shopping Center. Foothill Expressway & Springer Road, Hours: 9:30 to 4:45, Frank Dina (650)907-3424.

SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 1; NAPA, CA - Napa Valley Rock & Gem Club, Napa Valley Exposition, 575 Third St., Hours: 10-5, Gaylord Jerde (707) 552-2324.

SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 1; VISTA, CA - Vista Gem & Mineral Society, Brengle Terrace Community Recreation Center, 12000 Vale Terrace Drive, Hours: 10-5 both days, Mary Anne Mital (760)758-4599, Tony Meredith (760) 945-2392.

OCTOBER 4-15; FRESNO, CA - Fresno Gem & Mineral Society, Fresno County Fairgrounds, 1121 Chance Ave., Hours: 10-10 dally except Fri. and Sat 10-11, Al Weymouth (559)323-8324.

OCTOBER 7-8; TURLOCK, CA - The Faceters Guild of Northern California Inc., Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, 900 N. Broadway St., Hours: 10-5; Sun. 10-4, Al Whitney (209) 465-9588.

OCTOBER 14-15; GRASS VALLEY, CA - Nevada County Gem & Mineral Society, Nevada County Fairgrounds-Main Street, 11228 McCourtney Road, Hours: 10-5 both days, Vicky Van Why (530)477-6825.

OCTOBER 14-15; TRONA, CA - Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society, 13337 Main St., Hours: Sat. 8-5; Sun. 8-4, Bonnie Fairchild (760) 372-5356, FAX- (760) 372-4977, Web Page: www1.iwvisp.com/tronagemclub.

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VENTURA COUNTY FAIR 2000 RIBBONS
AWARDED TO VGMS MEMBERS.

Steve Mulqueen: 1 - 1st, 1 - 2nd, 2 - 3rd, 1 - 4th;
Inez Shakman: 4 - 1st, 2 - 2nd, 2 - 3rd, 3 - 4th;
Nancy Jioras: 1 - 1st, 1 - 2nd, 1 - 3rd, 1 - 5th;
Wayne Ehlers: 3 - 1st, 1 - 5th;
Bob Spjut: 3 - 2nd, 1 - 3rd, 1 - 4th;
Marie Haake: 5 - 1st, 1 - 2nd, 2 - 3rd, 4 - 4th, 2 - 5th;
Valli Davis: 1 - 2nd, 1 - 4th;
David Mautz: Best of Show-Natural Specimen, 7 - 1st, 7 - 2nd, 6 - 3rd, 1 - 4th;
Jim Brace-Thompson: 2 - 1st, 2 - 2nd, 1 - 3rd, 1 - 4th, 1 - 5th;
Red Jioras: 1 - 1st;
Greg Davis: 1 - 2nd;
Matthew Beinar: 1 - 1st.

WOW! What a wonderful job you all did! Congratulations to one and all!

List prepared by David Mautz.

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ADDRESS CHANGE.

     Bill & Marian Vient,
     Terrace Park Marina,
     The Oaks Apt. 232,
     2585 Washington Blvd.,
     Pasadena, CA 90027,
     (626) 797-0511.

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MINUTES OF THE VGMS BOARD MEETING,
August 3, 2000.

The regular board meeting was called to order August 3, 2000, at the VGMS Museum, 5019 Crooked Palm Rd., Ventura, CA.

Steve announced that the VGMS Club case had won 2nd Place at the County Fair and that other club winners will be announced. The Santa Paula Museum relocated our display to a more favorable area and this month. Steve has petrified whale bone on display, stop in and check it out.

The need for a Christmas Party location was mentioned again with Carrows and Acapulco's suggested as possible ideas. Sharon Cunningham offered to make phone calls and get quotes on these.(Scheduled for the second Wednesday in December - Dec. 13th, 35-40 people are expected and $7-9 per person is generally the cost) If you know of a facility or have a suggestion, Steve would appreciate a phone call as we need to make reservations soon.

Richard Bromser gave the Treasurers report and it was M/S/C to approve payment of checks #711-718.

Florence Meisenheimer reminded members of the CFMS Show in Riverside in August.

Greg Davis has scheduled a field trip to our own local beach for Saturday, September 9th, 12 noon (low tide being at 2pm). We will hunt whale bone, fossil rock, shells and anything else colorful. Meet on the beach just north of Faria (at the sea wall just north of where the RV over night camping ends) for a relaxing way to beat the heat. Planned for October is the show in Trona on the 14th. This event is always fun with a large turn out. With our fellow County Clubs also scheduled to camp there, this could be considered a Tri Club event.

The program for our August meeting will be a recap of Red, Nancy and Kathryn's trip to the Blue Forest, including parts of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Arizona.

Steven again raised the issues of a real need for a committee (as opposed to one chairperson) to be formed to head our Annual Club Show this coming year. The possibility of the show actually being canceled was mentioned if volunteers don't come forward. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Think about it and please offer at our next regular meeting to chip in and offer your name and time toward this effort. This annual tradition has gained the respect of other clubs and dealers due to its quality. Let it continue by all of us doing our part.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm.

Respectfully Submitted,
Greg Davis.

Table of Contents.

Return to the Rockhound Rambling Center.
You may also go to the VGMS Home Page.