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The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
September 2004.

Table of Contents.

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE;
• WORDS TO LIVE BY;
• If your mind should go blank;
• IN MEMORIAM: Oris Clayton Brashears;
• PROGRAM - SEPTEMBER 22, 2004: Silent Auction "Extraordinaire";
• Review - August Program: "Fair Experiences";
• 2004 VGMS ANNUAL PICNIC, August 22, 2004;
• MARK YOUR CALENDARS;
• THE 2005 VGMS SHOW: Start Your Engines;
• FRA Merit Badge Program for Youth Is Up-and-Running;
• CHIPS & BOULDERS;
• WEB SITES;
• Program Schedule for Monthly Meetings;
• OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS;
• HOSPITALITY;
• COMMUNITY OUTREACH;
• HOOVER DAM -- DID YOU KNOW;
• "FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN";
• MEMBERSHIP;
• VGMS MINUTES;
• HINTS & TIPS FOR ROCKHOUNDS - (Use at your own risk);
• GREEN AMBER;
• List of Web Site Addresses for Important Mineral Shows;
• SHOW DATES;
• EDITOR'S NOTE;
• I've gone to look for myself;
• Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Society's 63rd ANNUAL GEM-O-RAMA;
• EDUCATIONAL CORNER;
• VGMS PHOTO ALBUM.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

The VGMS has lost another member, Clay Brashears. It is always with great sadness that I announce the loss of one of our own. Clay passed away on August 17. Please remember his wife Liz in your thoughts.

Our next regular meeting is Wednesday, September 22, the first day of Autumn! Where did the Summer go? Now is the time to plan that special field trip to the desert. The weather turns cool in the desert on a certain day during the first 2 weeks of October. It's really quite a unique experience to be in the desert when the temperature-change happens. It is usually accompanied by a slight shift in direction of a gentle breeze.

Our meeting will consist of a "Silent Auction" conducted by Greg Davis. If you have any rocks, minerals, fossils or related items to donate during this event, please bring them with you and plan on arriving a few minutes early. I am always asked to remind members to bring money for the auction, so please bring plenty! The profits go toward the costs to operate the club, our museum and workshop.

The next scheduled field trip is to the annual Gem-O-Rama on October 9-10, 2004. This is the mineral show and mineral collecting trips sponsored by the Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society in Trona, CA. If you haven't been to this show, perhaps this year will be your first time. I will be giving details of the Gem-O-Rama and can answer any questions you might have about the mineral show. Those who have collected minerals on Searles Dry Lake are asked to bring a few prized samples to our meeting to exhibit for our members.

Steve Mulqueen,
President, VGMS.

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WORDS TO LIVE BY.

By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong.

A good goal is like strenuous exercise---it makes you stretch.

Anything that is of value in life only multiplies when it is given.

One must have a good memory to be able to keep the promises one makes. (P.S.-This should be applied to our politicians.)

Collected by Wayne Ehlers.

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If your mind should go blank,
Don't forget to turn off the sound!
Sacred Heart Cookbook.

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IN MEMORIAM:
Oris Clayton Brashears,
February 5, 1918 to August 17, 2004.

We were very saddened to hear of the passing of Clay Brashears on August 17th, 2004. He and his wife Liz were very special long time members of VGMS. In fact Clay was the President of VGMS the year we joined. He made you feel welcome and peaked your interest. The room always got a little brighter when Clay entered with good cheer and a willingness to do anything. He excelled in lapidary and entered many beautiful cases in the various shows and Fairs. He and Liz were one of the first ones to be at the show grounds for our shows and one of the last ones to leave upon closing. We were happy to see him at our March show and he will be dearly missed at future shows. Please keep Liz in your thoughts and prayers.

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PROGRAM - SEPTEMBER 22, 2004:
Silent Auction "Extraordinaire".

The program for September will be a silent auction. Greg Davis is managing the sale, and has some real good things to bid on. The Meisenheimers are also bringing some good things, including a very large polished Septarian Nodule from Utah. We hope you ALL come to the meeting to bid on the good material. You will be sorry if you miss out.

Florence Meisenheimer.

P.S. Bring a few prized samples of your collections from Searles Dry Lake - Trona Show for other members to see what is available and what they would be missing if they don't go! (If you have extras - bring them for the silent auction.)

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Review - August Program:
"Fair Experiences".

Several members brought their Fair exhibits to share with everyone. VGMS had 18 members enter exhibits in this year's Fair, which is wonderful. They talked about exhibiting and the fun they have doing it. Congratulations to everyone including Ray and Florence Meisenheimer who put in our Award winning Club case. Steve Mulqueen had a short film on the Trona Show in October which will hopefully encourage everyone to go as it is great fun. Anthony and Matthew Beinar furnished us with home made refreshments, baked by them. Now that's good Pebble Pups!

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2004 VGMS ANNUAL PICNIC,
August 22, 2004.

Seventeen club members joined together for the annual picnic August 22nd. It was a perfect day, sunny and cool. Greg Davis selected a perfect dining area, a very short distance from our parked cars. Salads and deserts were in abundance and Ray Meisenheimer and Steve Mulqueen barbecued the meat. There was a lot of visiting and jokes and everyone seemed to enjoy the get-together. Steve led a moment of silence in memory of Clay Brashears. Those of you who could not be there were missed. We hope you can all attend next year. The annual picnic is a tradition started in 1946 when the club was young.

Florence Meisenheimer.

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

9-22-04 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington. Silent Auction headed by Greg Davis.
10-3-04 - VGMS Show Planning Meeting - 2:00 pm - At Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson's home, 7319 Eisenhower Street, Ventura (call 659-3577 for directions). More details in the 2005 VGMS Show article.
10-7-04 - VGMS Board Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Museum. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
10-10-04 - DEADLINE FOR OCTOBER Bulletin Articles to the Editor!
10-16-04 - VGMS Work Shop - Museum - Open - 9-noon.
10-21-04 - Museum Relocation Meeting - 7:30 pm - Home of Steve and Susan Mulqueen. Your help is needed!
10-27-04 - VGMS Regular Meeting - 7:30 pm - At the Lexington.

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THE 2005 VGMS SHOW:
Start Your Engines!

By the time you read this, our 44th Annual Gem, Mineral, Lapidary & Fossil Show will be just a little over 5 months away. It's time to start our engines and begin our series of monthly show planning meetings to make sure we'll once again cross the finish line successfully. Our first meeting of the fall takes place 2:00 PM, Sunday, October 3, at my home, 7319 Eisenhower Street, Ventura. (Phone 659-3577 or email jbraceth@adelphia.net for directions.)

Many thanks to all who have already volunteered for various show committee jobs! There are still many positions to fill, including the position of Exhibits Chair. Exhibits are the centerpiece of our show, and this person/s will be tasked with encouraging fellow VGMS members to install displays and with inviting members of nearby clubs to participate with displays. This and other important positions remain to be filled and are calling out your name. Please respond and volunteer!

During our 2004 show, a reporter for the Ventura County Star called and asked me what would be different about our 2004 show from our previous one. Thus, I'd also like to discuss a show theme for this year in order to attract more attention within our community and our local media. One idea that was floated at our spring show recap meeting was a theme of "Local Treasures," or rocks, gems, and fossils of Ventura County and our neighboring counties here in Southern California. Put on your thinking cap and come ready to discuss possible themes and variations.

The official show dates are March 5 & 6, 2005, back at the Ventura Fairground's Seaside Park. Please start spreading the word. Word-of-mouth is often the most successful advertising there is! In addition, I'll be bringing supplies of show flyers to our monthly membership meetings. If you plan to attend another show between now and March 5, take a stack to leave at the hosting show's information table, and begin leaving flyers wherever they'll attract the notice of people likely to be interested. Meanwhile, thank you for your attention, for your past participation, and here's to seeing you on October 3rd!

Jim Brace-Thompson.

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FRA Merit Badge Program for Youth Is Up-and-Running:
Enroll Your Club's Kids Today!
By Jim Brace-Thompson, Juniors Activities Chair.

It's official! Thanks to the generosity of the AFMS board, which has approved funding, we now have a merit badge program for our clubs with youth members enrolled in the AFMS Future Rockhounds of America (FRA). I've placed an order with a badge manufacturer, and by September, we should have a supply of badges to begin awarding to kids. To enroll your club's kids, contact me (call 805-659-3577 or email jbraceth@adelphia.net). All you need is a group of kids (up to the age of 18), a sponsor, a name, and an application to FRA. Your group must be a member of your regional Federation, either through a sponsoring club or through an independent application into your local Federation. The number of youth is not important: you can have as few as 1 or 2 and as many as you can handle.

The new program consists of an FRA membership badge, 9 merit badges, and a "Rockhound Badge" that will go to youth members who earn 6 of the 9 merit badges. A 100-page guidebook describes and outlines requirements for each of the 9 badges. There are 52 activities, in all, to choose from, or about a half dozen activities per badge, with kids required to complete only 3 activities to earn any particular badge. Checklists in the guidebook make it easy for youth leaders to sign off on activities as a junior member completes them. In addition, brief back-up pages and suggestions help leaders guide their kids through each activity. The guidebook is available in both hardcopy format (photocopied) and on the AFMS web site (www.amfed.org). To save on costs to the program, which is being provided entirely free to members, we encourage you to download a copy from the web. If this is not possible, contact me for a copy.

A few words of advice to anyone implementing this program with your club's kids...
     First, don't feel obliged to do each activity precisely as described in the guidebook. You should adapt each activity and adjust its level to best match the ages and abilities of the kids within your club. For instance, Activities 1.1 and 1.2 are on learning how to identify minerals using various characteristics and tests, such as color, streak, hardness, luster, crystal shape, cleavage, fracture, etc. If you have very young children, you may wish to focus on just a handful of easily identifiable minerals, using only a couple characteristics (for instance, color, hardness, and crystal shape). The older the kids, the more characteristics you should expect them to learn. Again, the main message: be flexible and adaptable in how you implement the recommended activities.
     Second, try to do as many of the activities as possible as group projects. Many were designed with the thought in mind that they could be done during a club meeting or as a group outing. It makes it more fun for the kids and easier to set up and to monitor for the youth leader.
     Third, involve your adult club members in helping to oversee activities and to provide supplies and materials, and involve your kids in selecting the activities they want to try. Make this a true club project! Kids should have choices about which activities they participate in, and they should have a chance to help shape those activities. It's through youth voice and participation that we engender empowerment and a social commitment and sense of belonging. It's often said that our clubs and societies are declining and, therefore, that we need to attract more young people in order to keep our clubs alive. But saying it this way puts the cart before the horse. Instead, the focus needs to be on what is best for our youth. Only then will we fire the interest of kids in ways that engender a sense of belonging, with meaningful opportunities from which a lifelong interest and commitment will emerge naturally. Let's not put our clubs first-let's put kids first! If we can find ways to make youth responsible and fully engaged participants, not just recipients, the long-term health of our clubs will follow as a natural result.

It's my hope that this program proves useful and successful. To help ensure its success, I welcome feedback from youth leaders and kids alike on the existing activities and suggestions for creating new activities that will help us all learn and grow while-as always-having fun!

via CFMS Newsletter - August 2004.

Editor's Note: As promised last month, this is Jim's Program - Let's work on it for VGMS!

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SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

CHIPS & BOULDERS.

VGMS Exhibit at the California Oil Museum - The current exhibit at the California Oil Museum in Santa Paula is "Selenite Gypsum". The display will run through October 24. If you would like to enter a new exhibit at the museum, please talk with Steve Mulqueen at our next meeting. The case measures 24" X 24" and is approximately 12" tall. The VGMS encourages members to participate in this great opportunity! It is just one of the many ways our members can take an active role in Public Outreach. - Steve Mulqueen.

Museum Relocation - As you are aware, we need to find a new home for our Museum and Workshop. Steve Mulqueen is having meetings at his home the third Thursday of every month at 7:30 pm to work on this. Everyone's efforts and input is needed and appreciated. They have come up with a very nice packet that you can present to anyone who you think may be a viable source for a new home. It speaks of the purpose of VGMS and the contribution it makes to the community along with some good pictures of the Museum. Please keep your eyes and ears open and if you have any ideas please contact Steve Mulqueen. He will be happy to get a packet to you for your use.

Club Material - Kathleen Molner, former member, has donated some of her unsold rough material to VGMS. Since there is no room to store it at the museum, it is temporarily stored in the Meisenheimer's back yard. It will be used for the silent auction during the show. Thank you Ray, Greg Davis, Ron Wise and Steve Mulqueen for collecting it. Thank you Kathleen. - Florence Meisenheimer.

Grit price list for club members available during monthly workshops or by arranging a meet time with any board member.

Call for Silent Auction Materials for the September meeting. Donate those duplicate mineral specimens from your collection. All is greatly appreciated. Call Greg Davis at 805 647-9214 or just bring them to the meeting on September 22nd. Thanks.

Hosts and Hostesses Schedule for 2004 Meetings - Sharon Cunningham has kindly agreed to coordinate the Hosting schedule again for 2004. The schedule is as follows:
     September: Valli Davis,
     October: Sharon Cunningham,
     November: Pumpkin Pies - by all great volunteers!
Many thanks to all the volunteers.

VGMS Business Cards Available - You can get them printed with the VGMS logo, your name and address or whatever you wish on them. They are $4.00 for 100. See Shirley Layton with the number you want and how you want them printed.

VGMS Workshops - They are held on the third Saturday of each month from 9:00 until noon unless otherwise notified. The Shop Supervisors are: Ron Wise (805) 647-4393 & Greg Davis (805) 647-9214. Stop and say thanks to these volunteers for the opportunity they give the rest of us. It is there for your use, take advantage of it.

Bulletin e-mail - It would be helpful when you e-mail information or articles for the bulletin if you could start the subject with "VGMS (space)". This will help Jim to sort them and hopefully not miss any! E-mails work great as we can just roll the information over and don't have to re-type it, so keep them coming!! jns@west.net; Thanks!

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WEB SITES.

AFMS website - http://www.amfed.org/,
CFMS website - http://www.cfmsinc.org/,
CA BLM website - http://www.ca.blm.gov/.

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Program Schedule for Monthly Meetings,
Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, 2004.

In the absence of a Program Chairman for the year 2004, the President is asking for volunteers to take responsibility for planning a program for at least one of the monthly meetings. Any vacancies remaining after this request will be filled by appointment.

*The designated "Speaker" is responsible for one of the following options during the assigned meeting:
     Present a lecture;
     Invite a guest speaker, introduce him/her at the meeting;
     Present a video related to our hobby.
          Steve Mulqueen, President.

Please Note: A good source for programs if you have signed up for a month and need material is the CFMS Slide and Video Library. Florence Meisenheimer should have the full list available or the CFMS website would also be of help.

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OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS.

Happy Birthday to all those born in October. We all wish you good health and hope you have a Great Day! Please let me know if I have missed your birthday. Please call Shirley Layton at 805-717-9226 and leave a message if I'm not there or an email will also do the trick, jns@west.net. Thanks!

October - Happy Birthday!!
     Melissa Berman - 12th,
     Guadalupe Berman - 22nd,
     Valli Davis - 23rd.

The October birthstone is the Opal or tourmaline and the flower is the Calendula or Cosmos.

THE GEMSTONE OPAL.

* Chemistry: SiO₂-nH₂O, Hydrated Silicon Dioxide;
* Class: Mineraloids;
* Uses: As a gemstone and ornamental stone;
* Group: Some mineralogists place Opal in the Quartz Group.

     Opal has been a popular gem for many centuries and has a very interesting structure. Opal is considered a mineraloid because this structure is not truly crystalline. The chemistry of Opal is primarily SiO₂ and varying amounts of water. The amount of water varies from 5 - 10% and greater. This water can help geologists determine the temperature of the host rock at the time the opal formed.
     Although there is no crystal structure, (meaning a regular arrangement of atoms) Opal does possess a structure nonetheless. Random chains of silicon and oxygen are packed into extraordinarily tiny spheres. These spheres in most Opals are irregular in size and inconsistent in concentration. Yet in Precious Opal, the variety used most often in jewelry, there are many organized pockets of the spheres. These pockets contain spheres of approximately equal size and have a regular concentration, or structure, of the spheres. This has the effect of diffracting light at various wavelengths, creating colors. Each pocket produces a different color, with a different intensity depending on the angle from which a viewer sees it. The multicolored flashes of light that Opal emits gives it a truly beautiful and valuable look.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is white, colorless, pale yellow, pale red, gray or black when impurities are common. Diffraction can cause flashes of any color of the rainbow (opalescent).
Luster is vitreous to pearly.
Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent.
Crystal System does not apply because opal is amorphous.
Habits include massive, cavity-fillings such as in fractures and geodes, nodular or as a replacement of other minerals and wood.
Cleavage is absent.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is 5 - 6.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2 - 2.5 (light).
Streak is white.
Associated rocks are chert (a form of microcrystalline quartz), volcanic rocks and many others.
Other Characteristics: Some opal fluoresces and it can be very sensitive to impacts and low temperatures.
Notable Occurrences include Western USA; Mexico; Australia and many other localities around the world.
Best Field Indicators are color play (opalescent), low density, lack of cleavage and crystal faces and fracture filling tendency.

Unless otherwise noted, all mineral descriptions and images, plus the related descriptions on this server are the property of Amethyst Galleries, Inc., and may not be copied for commercial purposes. Permission to copy descriptions and images is granted for personal and educational use only.

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HOSPITALITY.

The August meeting saw 18 members and two guests, Fred Killauer and Marian Tetreault. Marian joined VGMS that evening so fortunately, she is now considered a member! Welcome Marian, we are glad to have you as one of us and we were also happy to welcome Fred and hope to see him again soon. We were also happy to have two Pebble Pups with us, Anthony and Matthew Beinar. We are always happy to have Pebble Pups with us and in this case we were doubly happy as they made and brought the refreshments. Must say they are darned good cooks! Thanks guys! We had several door prizes winners, which is always a fun thing!

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

August 25th Ray Meisenheimer gave a tour of the club museum for a mother and her two children, ages 9 and 6. The children were very interested and asked many questions. The nine year old, a young lady, said she has wanted to be an earth science major for as long as she can remember. She is very interested in rocks and what is in them, and what fossils are.

Contributed by Florence Meisenheimer.

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HOOVER DAM -- DID YOU KNOW?

Completed in 1935, the Hoover Dam towers 726 feet, 191 feet taller than the Washington Monument, and weighs 6,600,000 tons! At its base, the dam is as thick as two football fields measured end-to-end (660 feet). The concrete used to construct Hoover Dam would pave a road 16 feet wide from San Francisco to New York City - OR - enough concrete to build a four foot-wide sidewalk around the Earth at the Equator - [take your pick].

From Souvenir guide of Hoover Dam 03, via The Rock Bag - July 2004.

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"FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN."

TRI-CLUB FIELD TRIPS 2004:
Tentative Schedule.
Contact field trip leader to confirm that there is a field trip scheduled.

*** Please call your club field trip leader to confirm that there is a field trip scheduled in the event of changes.

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MEMBERSHIP.

We are happy to have one new member to add to your Membership Directories. Marian Tetreault, who is also the Bulletin Editor of the Oxnard Gem & Mineral Society, has joined our club, please make her welcome and add her information to your Directories.

New Member:
Marian Tetreault,
1134 Sunnycrest Ave.,
Ventura, CA 93003,
805 642-5779,
tetreaultm@vcss.k12.ca.us.

Attention New Members (or anyone needing a badge).
Need a Club Badge?
Blue Engravers is giving us a $.50 reduction per badge
for advertising space in the club bulletin!
Ventura County Shape badge $11.28 (includes. tax & ship).
ACCOUNT: Ventura Gem and Mineral Society, Inc.
Name (print clearly. It will be on your name badge):

_____________________________________________

Address:

_____________________________________________

_______________________________Zip: __________

Make check payable to and mail to (takes 5-7 business days):
Blue Engravers,
1375 Caspian Ave.,
Long Beach, CA 90813.
If ordering more than 2 badges call them for exact shipping
costs at (562) 983-5140, FAX (562) 983-5146,
E-mail BLUEGRAVR@aol.com.

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VGMS MINUTES.

Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting,
Wednesday, August 25th, 2004:
     The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by Steve Mulqueen at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, August 25th, 2004 in the Bijou Room of the Lexington, 5440 Ralston, Ventura, CA. The group was led in the salute to the flag and new member, Miriam Tetreault was welcomed.
     The July regular meeting and board meeting minutes were corrected and then m/s/c as shown in the bulletin.
     Steve asked for but received no old business.
New business:
Steve Mulqueen - Steve offered the newly printed journals with our club information and its need for a new location. The meetings regarding this need are still being held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at Steve's house, at 7:30. Any and all input is appreciated as time is getting short. Steve reported sadly, that Clay Brashears, long time club member and friend to all, passed away on August 17th. Services were held on August 21st. There wasn't a more generous or good-natured person and he contributed a lot to our club over the years. He'll be dearly missed.
Ron Wise - The next field trip will be to Trona in October and November will see a trip to Wiley Wells.
Ray Meisenheimer - The club picnic on August 22nd was a huge success, with 17 members attending and pleasant, sunny weather. Ray, again, showed one of his many talents by grilling hot dogs and hamburgers for all and of course there were plenty of desserts supplied by the members. Little fuss was required on anyone's part and the park was a perfect setting.
Shirley Layton - The 10th of the month will again be the deadline for articles and photographs to be submitted for the bulletin.
Jim Brace-Thompson - The first meeting of the 2005 annual show has been scheduled for October 3rd, 2:00 at Jim's house and all are welcomed. Don't forget that the Oxnard Club show is coming up on November 6th & 7th and all are encouraged to not only enter display cases, but to assist with prep work as our clubs do for each other. Jim's efforts at creating a merit badge program for kids has paid off. It's been approved by the CFMS and funded, effective September 2004. What a terrific accomplishment by Jim. Details and guidelines can be found on the web sites for AFMS and CFMS.
Greg Davis - Next month's club meeting will feature another silent auction, so bring your checkbook and a hearty appetite (not the rock) (or maybe the rock if you have one to donate for the auction) as the Davises are also providing the refreshments.
     Steve next introduced members who brought their winning Fair entries to share with us. Discussed were cases, individual specimens and other facts about procedures and hints concerning competitive judging. Our club had 18 members enter in this year's County Fair which is commendable. Ray and Florence Meisenheimer put together the award winning club case at this year's Fair.
     The next Board meeting will be Thursday, September 2nd, all are welcomed to attend and the next regular meeting will be held September 22nd.
     Refreshments were provided by Emma Mayer and her sons, Anthony and Matthew.
     There being no further business, Steve adjourned the meeting at 8:45 pm.
     Respectfully submitted, Greg Davis.


Minutes of the VGMS Monthly Board Meeting,
September 2nd, 2004:
     The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by President Steve Mulqueen at 7:30 pm on Thursday, September 2nd, 2004, at the VGMS Museum, 5019 Crooked Palm Rd., Ventura, CA.
Present: Steve Mulqueen, Ray and Florence Meisenheimer, Richard Bromser, Jim Brace-Thompson, Ron Wise and Greg Davis.
Steve Mulqueen - The museum relocation committee meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month, 7:30 at Steve's house. Sharlyne Holloway has donated Art's club vests to the club. If anyone is in need of a vest, contact Steve. Rock material was donated to the club by Kathleen Molner and a "thank-you" will be composed and forwarded by Greg.
Richard Bromser - It was m/s/c to accept the treasurer's report for the months of July & August. There has been no further news from the Land Bank Corp. on the museum property status. It was m/s/c to accept Miriam Tetreault as a new member of VGMS.
Jim Brace-Thompson - The first meeting for the 2005 show is scheduled for Sunday, October 3rd, 2:00 at Jim's house and all are welcomed to attend. The exhibitor position for that show is still open.
Ron Wise - Zzyzx is scheduled for April 3rd to the 9th and the next field trip will be the Trona show in October.
Greg Davis - Another silent auction is being planned for the monthly meeting in September with Greg organizing the event. Greg also suggested the club purchase new grinding wheels for one of the Pixies at the workshop. Greg will contact Cal for prices and report back.
Florence Meisenheimer - There was no new information from the CFMS bulletin to report.
Ray Meisenheimer - Class tours are continuing at the museum with 2 recent groups of in-home students and another class scheduled from Oxnard.
     There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 pm.
     Respectfully submitted, Greg Davis.

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SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

HINTS & TIPS FOR ROCKHOUNDS,
(Use at your own risk).

"Ed Hansen's Time-Tested Shop Tips" - via The Pegmatite April 2004.

End cuts: Use Elmer's glue to bond end cuts (or any hunk of rough material, for that matter) to a chunk of 2' x 4'. Clamp the 2' x 4' in your slab saw vise and continue slabbing. Soak off the wood by dropping in a bucket of water for about a week. Voila!

Sanding sticks: Dip Popsicle sticks in glue, then in grit. Or, wrap a piece of sandpaper around the Popsicle stick. Use various grits, make lots. Very handy.

India ink: Use India ink to paint dinosaur bone slabs. The softer matrix will hold the black ink. Then cut and polish your cab. You will have a nice black outline around the colorful cells.

Montana agate: The plumes and patterns form along seams, so cut perpendicular or parallel to lines to get the best pictures.

Tarnish remover: A pinch of baking soda rubbed on silver takes off tarnish.

Thin turquoise: If you have thin pieces of turquoise, imbed them in J.B. Weld or Devcon to make them thicker, then cab as usual.

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GREEN AMBER.

Green amber is found in the Baltic, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. If Baltic amber is green, the cause is probably turbidity, i.e. light rays are scattered by striking air bubbles of the proper size at a particular angle. Clarifying Baltic green amber will cause it to lose its color (clarifying involves immersing amber in oil and heating it so the oil penetrates crevices and bubbles, making the amber transparent). In Mexican green amber, the green color appears under reflected light and is associated with a surface phenomenon. In green amber from the Dominican Republic, the green color radiates from the matrix. Dominican green amber usually has few inclusions. Both Dominican and Baltic green amber may gradually fade to yellow-brown over time.

(Ref: Life in Amber, by George O. Poinar, Jr., Stanford University Press, 1992, pp. 9-11.) via The Pegmatite - April 2004.

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List of Web Site Addresses
for Important Mineral Shows.

Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Soc., mineral show in Trona, October 2004:
     http://www1.iwvisp.com/tronagemclub/flyer.htm.
Quartzsite Mineral shows:
     http://www.quartzsitechamber.com/show.schedule.shtml.
Tucson Mineral showcase:
     http://www.visittucson.org/Features/index.cfm?action=Display&featureID=13.
          Steve Mulqueen.

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SHOW DATES.

OCTOBER 30-31; TULSA, OK - Tulsa Rock & Mineral Society (TRMS).
     Our club would like to let everyone in your club know about our large upcoming gem & mineral show. Please include it in your show calendar - we'd love to have some visitors from California! (I was born & grew up in LA and the Valley.)
     If you have any questions, please e-mail me. Thanks very much.
          Peggy Stewart,
          Publicity Chairman,
          peggy22@cox.net.

WHO: Tulsa Rock & Mineral Society (TRMS).
WHAT: Gem & Mineral Show.
WHEN: October 30 and 31, 2004.
WHERE: Tulsa Event Center,
2625 South Memorial Drive,
Tulsa, Oklahoma.

* Select national dealers.
* Continuous silent auction.
* Hourly door prizes.
* Adult & children's programs.
* Competitive and exceptional special exhibits.
* Children's games and scientific experiments.

2004 CFMS CLUB SHOWS.

SEPTEMBER 25; LOS ALTOS, CA - Peninsula Gem & Geology Society, Foothill Expressway & So. Springer Rd. Hours: Sat. 9:30-4:45. Dave Schmidt (408) 263-5870.
SEPTEMBER 25-26; VISTA, CA - Vista Gem & Mineral Society, Brengle Terrace Community Recreation Center, 1200 Vale Terrace. Hours: 10-5 both days. Mary Anne Mital (760) 724-0395.
SEPTEMBER 25-26; MONTEREY, CA - Carmel Valley Gem & Mineral Society, Monterey Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairgrounds Road. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Sky Paxton (831) 755-7741. sky@familystones.net.
SEPTEMBER 25-26; DOWNEY, CA - Delvers Gem & Mineral Society, Downey Women's Club, 9813 Paramount Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-4. Earl Liston (562) 865-1348. ejliston5@juno.com.
OCTOBER 6-17; FRESNO, CA - Fresno Gem & Mineral Society, Big Fresno Fairgrounds, 1121 S. Chance. Hours: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm. Newman Gill (559) 841-7765, fgms1@excite.com.
OCTOBER 9-10; ANTIOCH, CA - Antioch Lapidary Club, Contra Costa Fairgrounds, 10th and L Streets - in the Flower Bldg. Hours: 10-5 both days.
OCTOBER 9-10; GRASS VALLEY, CA - Nevada County Gem & Mineral Society, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Main Exhibit Hall, 11228 McCourtney Rd. Hours: 10-5 both days. Cliff Swenson (530) 272-3752.
OCTOBER 9-10; LAKESIDE, CA - El Cajon Valley Gem & Minerals, Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, 12584 Mapleview Road. Hours: 10-5 both days. Peggy Bowery (619) 561-7684. Docsgirl9@aol.com.
OCTOBER 9-10; TRONA, CA - Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society, Searles Lake Gem & Min. Show Building, 13337 Main Street. Hours; Sat. 7:30-5, Sun. 7:30-4. Bonnie Fairchild (760) 372-5256.
OCTOBER 16; CANOGA PARK, CA - Woodland Hills Rock Chippers, Canoga Park Community Center, 7248 Owensmouth Ave. Hours: 10-5. Show@rockchippers.org.
OCTOBER 16-17; ANDERSON, CA - Shasta Gem & Mineral Society, Shasta District Fairgrounds, 5 miles south of Redding. Hours: 10-5 both days. Kelly Stoltz (530) 272-4400.
OCTOBER 16-17; CAYUCOS, CA - San Luis Obispo Gem & Mineral Club, Cayucos Veteran's Hall, 10 Cayucos Drive. Hours: 10-5 both days. Robert G. Hurless (805) 772-7160.
OCTOBER 16-17; LONG BEACH, CA - The Mineralogical Society of Southern California, Long Beach Convention & Expo Ctr., 300 E. Ocean Blvd. Hours: 10-6 both days. Justin Butt (626) 683-1770. MSSCShow@hotmail.com.
OCTOBER 16-17; PLACERVILLE, CA - El Dorado County Mineral & Gem Soc., El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Drive. Hours: 10-5 both days. Jackie Derrato (530) 677-2975.
OCTOBER 22-24; RIVERSIDE, CA - Valley Prospectors of San Bernardino, Rancho Jurupa Park, 4800 Crestmore. Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-4. Alice Corey (909) 864-8320. Email - alpennymae@aol.com.
NOVEMBER 6-7; ANAHEIM, CA - American Opal Society, Anaheim Clarion Hotel, 616 W. Convention Way. Hours: 10-5 both days. Fran Todd (310) 721-5614. Email - toddle@aol.com.
NOVEMBER 6-7; CONCORD, CA - Contra Costa Mineral & Gem Society, Centre Concord; 5298 Clayton Road. Hours: 10-5 both days. Sam Woolsey (925) 837-3287. Email - sdwools@earthlink.net.
NOVEMBER 6-7; OXNARD, CA - Oxnard Gem & Mineral Society, Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way. Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-4. Norb Kinsler (805) 644-6450.
NOVEMBER 6-7; RIDGECREST, CA - Indian Wells Gem & Mineral Society, Desert Empire Fairgrounds, Mesquite Hall, 520 S. Richmond Road. Hours: 9-5 both days. John De Rosa (760) 375-7905.
NOVEMBER 12-14; SACRAMENTO, CA - Sacramento Mineral Society, Scottish Rite Center, 6151 H Street. Hours: Fri. 9-5, Sat. 10-8, Sun. 10-4. Boyd Lasater (916) 455-7075. Email - jfosback@aol.com.
NOVEMBER 13-14; MARYSVILLE, CA - The Sutter Buttes Gem & Mineral Soc., Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds, Franklin Hall, 442 Franklin Road. Hours: 9-5 both days. Charlie & Barbara Brown (916) 652-4240. Email - cbbrown@wizwire.com.
NOVEMBER 13-14; PALMDALE, CA - Palmdale Gem & Mineral Club, Palmdale Elks Lodge, 2705 East Ave. Q. Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-4. Gail Becker (661) 285-3958.
NOVEMBER 20-21; LIVERMORE, CA - Livermore Valley Lithophiles, THE BARN (next to Civic Center), Pacific Ave. at So. Livermore Ave. Hours: Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4. Joyce Friesen (925) 447-8223.

AMERICAN FEDERATION / REGIONAL
SHOW SCHEDULE - 2004.

SOUTHERN CENTRAL FEDERATION,
September 24-26, Houston, TX.

SOUTHEAST FEDERATION,
December 10-12, Norcross, GA.

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EDITOR'S NOTE:

Unfortunately, due to "unplanned" circumstances, this bulletin is a bit late. I hope all will remember the meeting whether you get a bulletin or not!
     Just for the record any unsigned articles are by the Editor. Anyone wanting to write up their thoughts about the show, vacations, rock-collecting trips, Great Finds or anything of interest, please do so as we are all interested. Contributions from you members keep the Bulletin interesting and I thank you for them.

Trili - The Editor's Pet Trilobite.

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It's been one of those summers so far. I'm
repeating this as it is really really true this month!

  Table of Contents.

Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Society's
63rd ANNUAL GEM-O-RAMA.

  Table of Contents.

EDUCATIONAL CORNER.

Definition of the Month.

Willard Postcards - A general term for postcards marketed by the photographer Stephen H. Willard (1894 - 1966), Palm Springs, California. Willard Postcards featured photographic scenes of the Western United States. The Willard Postcards were comparable in popularity to those sold by Burton Frasher of Pomona. (See the VGMS article, August 2004.)

Stephen H. Willard was born in 1894. In the early 1920s, he began photographing desert scenes in the Coachella Valley and surrounding mountains near the small, unincorporated community of Palm Springs, California. "Enduring harsh conditions, he often spent days traveling by burro or car to remote desert locations and then hours waiting for the right light and conditions to capture the image he wanted. His mastery of the black and white photograph combined with his passion for desert lands translates into a body of work unequaled by his contemporaries." (Quoted from an article in the web site of the Palm Springs Desert Museum, August 2004.) He spent 60 years perfecting his photographic techniques, choosing scenes of deserts, mountains and valleys.

Willard's postcards and photographs are of historic interest because they have captured beautiful scenes of the West. The postcards were mailed to people in the United States and throughout the World. The automobile enabled many Americans to discover the open road and to see for themselves the fantastic landforms sculpted by geologic forces. The "thrill of exploration" was transferred in written form onto the postcard. Willard postcards can still be found in antique stores throughout the country. Each postcard tells its own story, through the eyes of the traveler.

The Willard Collection was donated to the Palm Springs Desert Museum by his daughter, Beatrice Willard in 1999/2000. An exhibit titled "Stephen H. Willard: California Mountains and Valleys" is now showing at the museum's Jorgensen Gallery through November 7, 2004.

(With today's technology, cell phones that can send photographic images are the "instant" modern-equivalent of the postcard!)

The "Definition of the Month" features words related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history. Written by Steve Mulqueen for the VGMS, September 2004.

Illustration of the Month.

"Sunset on the Funeral Range", Death Valley National Monument, Willard Postcard number 6A-H1391. An original color-enhanced postcard made from a black & white photo by Stephen H. Willard, Palm Springs, California. (The color image of this postcard can be viewed on the VGMS web site.) The caption reads: "In the golden hour of sunset, the atmospheric colors combine with the brilliant hues of the Ranges to make a scene of almost unbelievable brilliance".

This postcard was mailed from Death Valley on March 18, 1940, postage 1 cent. The card was addressed to "Aunt Muriel" of Berkeley, California, and it reads, "Dear Aunt Muriel, We drove out onto the desert tonight and watched the colors change in a scene very similar to this. Mother had fixed a picnic supper for us and it tasted so good! Tomorrow we're going to see Death Valley Scotty's Castle. With love - Marge."

The "Illustration of the Month" features a drawing, sketch, pen & ink rendering, engraving print or any form of art rediscovered in books, maps, manuscripts and many other sources related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history. This illustration was chosen for its educational content by Steve Mulqueen for the VGMS, September 2004.

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VGMS PHOTO ALBUM.

1) Life-size frieze of a 56-foot, 40 ton ichthyosaur. Geology group at the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park near Gabbs, Nevada. The Ichthyosaur is an extinct marine "fish-lizard" that lived during the Triassic Period. - Furnished by Steve Mulqueen.







2) An Abandoned marble quarry at Carrara, Nevada. This quarry operated in the early 1900s. - Furnished by Steve Mulqueen.










3) Arizona Petrified Wood at the entrance to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. - Furnished by Wayne Ehlers.









4) Smithsonian Museum of Natural History - "Hope Diamond" (yes , it is blue). - Furnished by Wayne Ehlers.

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SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

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