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The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
Rockhound Rambling
July 2008.

Rockhound Rambling Photo of the Month.
This month's photo is by Ed Clark.

Description: Photograph of petrographic thin section through a polarizing microscope of horneblende syenite. Syenite refers to any of a class of plutonic rocks basically composed of feldspar and a ferromagnesian mineral. Hornblendes are a subgroup of amphibole minerals that contain significant amounts of calcium and are monoclinic.
Ref: http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/techniques/
polarized/gallery/pages/hornblendesyenitesmall.html.
(Close the new window to return here.)

Webmaster's Note: By leaving the above link I do not imply that it will exist forever. I left it since it might be dificult to copy and paste or type it into your browser. You're on your own as to whether or not you ever get to the link.

The Rockhound Rambling Picture of the Month is photographed by a VGMS Member. Subject may be a specimen in their own collection or a rock, mineral, gem or lapidary creation of others, accompanied with documentation of subject origin. Selection is at the discretion of the editor. Submit candidate photos to vgms_editor@roadrunner.com.

Permission is granted to quote any item, if proper credit is given. Exchange Editors: email to vgms_editor@roadrunner.com or mail to 3063 Bayshore Avenue, Ventura, CA 93001-4125.

For the record, any unsigned articles are by the Editor.

Table of Contents.

• PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE;
• WORDS TO LIVE BY;
• HOSPITALITY;
• UPCOMING VGMS EVENTS;
• BIRTHDAYS;
• PROGRAM REVIEW & SCHEDULE;
• COMMUNITY OUTREACH;
• MEMBERSHIP;
• MEETING MINUTES;
• CHIPS AND BOULDERS;
• FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN;
• HINTS AND TIPS;
• LET'S BE SAFE OUT THERE;
• EDUCATIONAL CORNER;
• GEMS FROM THE PAST;
• FUN STUFF - CRYSTALS & COOKIES;
• FEDERATION NEWS;
• LET'S GO TO A SHOW - 2008.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

The CFMS show is over and VGMS rocked! Not only did many individuals take home awards for cases, the newsletter and articles, but we also got the club award for most ribbons. The Silent Auction and Kids' Booth were successes. We'll have a full report at our July meeting. And now that you've had a rest, let's get ready for the Fair!

Ed Clark, President.

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WORDS TO LIVE BY.

Cheer up. Remember today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

Flexible people never get bent out of shape.

To avoid situations in which you might make mistakes may be the biggest mistake of all.

The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.

Collected by Wayne Ehlers.

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HOSPITALITY.

At the June 25, 2008 meeting, we had 26 members, 2 pebble pups and 4 guests.
     Valli Davis.

Thank you Wendy Holder and her daughter for providing June's refreshments. Below is the hostess schedule for upcoming months. Please contact Sharon Cunningham if you would like to volunteer for one of the open hostess months.
     July - Valli Davis,
     August - Nancy & Jim Brace-Thompson,
     September - Open,
     October - Open.

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UPCOMING VGMS EVENTS.

Regular Meeting - Wednesday, July 23, 7:30 pm, Senior Recreation Center, 420 E. Santa Clara, Ventura;
Board Meeting - Thursday, August 7, 7:30 pm, The Lexington, Ventura;
Bulletin Article Deadline - Sunday, August 10, vgms_editor@roadrunner.com.

If omitted, time, location or address can be found on the VGMS Info Page. (Close the new window to return here.)

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BIRTHDAYS.

Angela Ulin - July 2,
Doug Herndon - July 6,
Sharon Cunningham - July 7,
Jim Wharmby - July 7,
Nancy Brace-Thompson - July 27,
Adam Goldenberg - July 25,
Ronald Chegwidden - July 29,
Samantha Wharmby - July 30,
Melanie Wharmby - July 31.

Ed Clark - August 12,
Marie Haake - August 14,
Gina Herndon - August 17,
M. A. Sunny Cross - August 19,
Karen Foster - August 24,
Shirley Bromser - August 25,
Melvin Hixson - August 26,
Wendy Holder - August 29.

We wish all of you good health and hope you have a very, very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

About the Ruby.

Chemistry: Al₂O₃.
Crystallography: Hexagonal.
Refractive Index: 1.757 - 1.779.
Hardness: 9.
Specific Gravity: 3.99 - 4.0.
Cleavage: None.
Heat Sensivive: No.
*Wearability: Excellent.
Special Care Instructions: None.
Enhancements: Heat treated - Common; Fractures filled - Occasional.
*Wearability is graded as Excellent, Very Good, Good, Poor, and Forget It!

     Ruby is red corundum, all other color varieties of corundum being referred to as sapphire. The ruby color range includes pinkish, purplish, orangey, and brownish red depending on the chromium and iron content of the stone. The trace mineral content tends to vary with the geologic formation which produced the ruby, so original place designations such as Burmese and Thai have come in later years to be sometimes used in describing color.
     Most authorities expect a medium to medium-dark color tone in a ruby, naming stones lighter than this, pink sapphire -- but there is no general agreement exactly where the line is to be drawn. The old joke about questionable stones goes: "Whether it's a ruby or a pink sapphire depends on whether you're the buyer or the seller."
     All corundum gems including ruby have a long history of enhancement. Unless the seller specifically states the stone is unheated, you should assume that some kind of heat treatment has been used. Usually high temperature heating and controlled cooling is done to clarify the stones, especially by dissolving "silk" (rutile); but it can also improve tone and saturation of color. Such treatments can only be detected in stones whose residual inclusions show signs of heat stress; truly clean stones will give no clues and cannot be verified as natural color. The general view at present seems to be that simple heating, being indistinguishable from Nature's own heating processes, and stable, is acceptable -- as long as it is disclosed. For this reason such enhancement does not radically lower the value of ruby gems. Not so for other more recently invented treatments such as diffusion coloring, or polymer or glass filling.
     Corundum was first synthesized in the early 1900's by a simple flame fusion process. Many jewelers and gemologists have had the unpleasant task of telling the proud heir that Grandmother's treasured ruby ring or brooch contains a flame fusion stone and has a lot more sentimental than commercial value. More complex synthesis processes have been developed in recent years. These so closely simulate natural formation conditions that colors and even inclusions look extremely natural and such stones are difficult for all but the most highly skilled professionals to identify as manmade.
     Ruby is hard (9) and tough, making it a superb jewelry stone. (Of course, a heavily included or fractured stone will be less stable.) For reasonably clean stones, no special wear or care precautions are necessary. Ruby shows pleochroism which means that the color varies with the direction of viewing. Most stones show purplish red and orangey red, although the presence or absence of trace minerals can dampen either of these. The overall color can often, but not always, give a clue to a stone's geographic origin, with Burmese stones tending to purplish red colors and Thai stones appearing more brownish red. In addition, many rubies will fluoresce in long or short wave UV and this property can often be used to help identify a stone's geographic origin. Burmese rubies often fluoresce so strongly that the effect is noticeable even in sunlight, such stones seem literally to glow, and are greatly admired. Thai stones generally lack this property. Although Asia has historically been the major producer of ruby gems, there are many other sources including the USA, Australia, and most recently Africa.
     Ruby rough of lower quality is used in great quantities to make beads, carvings, and other ornamental objects. The silk, which is so common in corundum, can, if sufficiently abundant, and precisely arranged, lead to asterism. With proper cutting, this creates star rubies. Today there are heating and diffusion processes that can increase the rutile content and improve such gems. Synthetic star corundums were very popular in the 1950's under the trade name "Linde Stars" and are still under production.
     Few other gems have as much myth, lore and romance surrounding them, with one of the chief attractions being the protection from misfortune and bad health rubies were believed to afford their lucky owners. As the science of gemology developed it became known that many historically important "rubies" such as the famed Black Prince's Ruby of the British Crown Jewels, were actually other red gems, most often red spinels.

Source: http://www.gemsociety.org/info/gems/Ruby.htm.

  Table of Contents.

PROGRAM REVIEW & SCHEDULE.

June 2008 Program - Mount Ida, Arkansas.
Brett Johnson from the Oxnard Gem and Mineral Society gave an informative presentation about the annual crystal dig competition at Mount Ida, Arkansas. He also showed us some very impressive crystal specimens.

One hundred and thirty-seven diggers participated in the 2007 competition that lasted three days. Four mines were available to the participants. Brett prospected at the Arrowhead Crystal Mine and the Bear Mountain Mine. The mine owners prepare their locations by digging up new soil. At the Arrowhead it was reported that 93 new pockets had been exposed! Each miner is allowed a 10-pound daily limit. The best cluster and the best point of the day are put in paper bags labeled with the participant's registered number. The mine owner transports all of the bags to the judges, where points are awarded based on the appraised value of the specimens. Larry Knapton of the Oxnard club held Second Place for two days but in the end fell to Sixth Place; still a very good showing.

Thanks Brett for a great program.

July 2008 Program - Rock/Paper/Scissors by Lowell Foster.
This month will be something a little different. I have said this before, but this time, it's really true. This month we are doing two game shows. Really! Game shows!

Stop shaking your head. It's going to be fun. They will be based on the shows Match Game and Jeopardy and involve purely gem and mineral hobby questions - and lots of humor. The players will either be playing to win a prize for a pebble pup or be a pebble pup. Prizes will be given out to all contestants. No matter who plays the games, all those who attend will be indirectly involved - either by writing down answers for Match Game or being available for a contestant to call if they need help answering a question in Jeopardy. I don't have a speaker scheduled for this month, and I thought by having a mixture of interactive games that promote laughter and social connections, that we all could have a bit of frivolous fun. It's summer!

Upcoming Events by Lowell Foster.
For those who like being spoken to rather than speaking, we should have speakers lined up for the following four months.

Jim Brace-Thompson has a program on the Moorpark Mammoth ready.

A Mr. Abernathy is being scheduled for gold panning and metal detecting - (Embarrassing note - I know one of our members set me up with Mr. Abernathy and I got his number at the CFMS show, but when I got to the car, the number was gone. - Stop MOCKING me or you can do this job! - So if you have his number - give me a call please.)

I have spoken to Dr. Gray of Santa Barbara City College and he will be giving a talk to us in October. He has given us a choice of two topics, both of which sound great. I didn't want to choose without giving everyone input on what their preference might be. After July's meeting, I will be calling him to let him know which program to prepare.
     First choice - A Quick Synopsis of the History of Minerology from 1550 to the 1950's. This discusses the development of this aspect of Geology. It includes the personalities who helped formalize and systemize the study of minerals and their attributes, and whose collections became core parts of public museums.
     Second Choice - The Golden Age of Mining in the Western US (1849 - 1900). A focus on the time when the mining of the west underwent vast changes in both focus and technology. A time of boomtowns and questionable mining practices, experimental techniques, and the inventing of procedures that still are in use today.

Please let me know at the meeting which you prefer. I will be announcing this again at that time.

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

On June 15, 2008, Steve and Susan Mulqueen donated 27 large rock and fossil specimens, from their personal collection, to Oxnard College. The specimens will be used in the Geology Department and at their Marine Science Center.

On July 6, Steve and Susan Mulqueen prepared a new exhibit at the California Oil Museum in Santa Paula titled "Fossils from the La Brea Tar Pits". This exhibit features fossil bones of extinct Bison and Horse from the Pleistocene Epoch. These mammal bones are from the Benson Collection which is owned and managed by the VGMS. Bruno Benson collected fossils from the La Brea Tar Pits when he was a young teenager living in Los Angeles.

Steve Mulqueen.

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MEMBERSHIP.

Membership Report.
We have no new members to welcome this month although it looks like we may gain some as a result of the CFMS Show. We've received a couple of emails from folks asking about our club, so here's hoping we may see them at our July meeting and soon welcome them into the fold!

Speaking of welcoming new members, several of us attended an excellent round-table discussion run by Fred Ott (a member of the El Dorado County Mineral & Gem Society and currently the Second Vice President of the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies). Fred and his club began a conscientious, well thought-out effort to increase their membership. Their plan has worked so well that they are now one of the largest clubs within the CFMS and actually have to limit their membership drive now that their meeting room is filled above capacity!

Fred shared tips and provided the centerpiece of their efforts: a 3-ring binder that covers in great detail all aspects of their club and the rockhounding hobby. They give this binder to all new members. While we also provide a new-member packet when someone joins VGMS, the El Dorado binder puts our packet (and any others I've seen) to shame! Are you curious what CFMS and AFMS stand for and just what they offer our local club? Wondering what the word "cabochon" means? Curious about why everyone excitedly talks about Quartzsite and Tucson around the beginning of each year? What is a Zzyzx? Answers to all these questions and more are provided in Fred's excellent binder!

The good news is that Fred has emailed this to me in electronic form, so we can modify it to produce a similar binder for VGMS. I've printed it out and I'm still working my way through all its truly excellent contents, and I'll bring it along to show to everyone at the July meeting. Here's hoping we can use a similar binder to attract a new club member with a big empty barn for a new club workshop! See you in July!

Jim Brace-Thompson, Membership Chair

VGMS Club Vests and Badges.
The Club vest colors are royal blue with gold lining. You can also buy or make a blue denim vest. A club patch is available to sew on the back of your vest for a cost of $5.00. You may purchase the patch from the Membership Secretary, Jim Brace-Thompson.

Jim Brace-Thompson, Membership Chair.

(Webmaster's Note: If you want a printed copy of the following so you can place an order move the mouse cursor to the left of the word 'Attention', push and hold down the left mouse button, and sweep down over the ad with the mouse cursor. This will highlight the contents of the ad. Release the mouse button and, without clicking anywhere else on the page, select EDIT on the browser menu and select COPY. You may then PASTE into any word processor and print in your normal manner. If you highlight too much you may delete the unneeded part with the word processor before printing. This works with any browser I know.)

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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MEETING MINUTES.

Minutes of the VGMS Regular Monthly Meeting;
Wednesday, July 25, 2008:
The regular monthly meeting of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was called to order by Ed Clark at 7:30 pm, on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at the Ventura Senior Recreation Center.
Ed Clark introduced visitors and then asked for corrections, if any, to the previously printed board and regular meeting minutes. It was m/s/c to accept the minutes. Members were led in the pledge to the flag.
Jim Brace-Thompson: Currently our membership stands at 71 adults and 11 pebble/juniors for a total of 82 members. The Federation show, June 27-29 will be of major importance now. Signup sheets were passed around for the kids' booth and the silent auction volunteer time slots. Hope to see everyone there. Also, a committee is being formed for the purpose of locating a new workshop and possibly space for a museum. If interested in being a part of and being included in this very important task, contact Jim.
Andy Anderson: Due to a mishap on the part of the Ventura fairgrounds, our 2009 show will take place in the Santa Cruz (Agriculture) building the first weekend in March. This will mean new floor plan designs but could be beneficial in the long run with the larger building.
Ron Wise: Upcoming field trips include the Hauser home, July 5th, Kanan Road, July 12, and hopefully Basin Road in November. Richard Bromser is to be contacted if you plan on entering or need to borrow display cases for the upcoming County fair. Ron supplied mineral and fossil gifts to the pebble pups, who were present and also conducted the door prize raffle.
Jean Wise: The upcoming Federation show has excellent speakers planned for the three days and a good turnout is hoped for at the Saturday meeting regarding club membership. Camp Paradise registration forms are available for those interested.
Nancy Brace-Thompson: Nancy read the treasurer's report and it was m/s/c to accept as written.
Susan Mulqueen: The annual club breakfast potluck has been scheduled for July 13. Please bring your own service.
Mary Polacek: Deadline for the next bulletin will be July 6th and any and all photos and comments concerning the bulletin are welcomed.
     Ed next introduced Brett Johnson, who is a member of the Oxnard club and who presented a terrific slide show and talk concerning Mt. Ida, Arkansas, quartz crystals. Brett detailed the mines they were collected from and had samples to show us. He's hoping to repeat the trip this October 9-11 if anyone is interested. Many thanks to Brett for his time and effort.
     The next board meeting will be held on July 3rd, 2008, at The Lexington and the next monthly membership meeting will be held on July 23, 2008, at the Ventura Senior Recreation Center, 420 E. Santa Clara.
     There being no further business, Ed adjourned the meeting at 9:00 pm.
          Respectively submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.

Minutes of the VGMS Board Meeting;
Thursday, July 3, 2008:
The regular board meeting of the VGMS was called to order by Ed Clark at 7:30 pm, on Thursday, July 3, 2008, at The Lexington in Ventura.
Present: Ed Clark, Ron & Jean Wise, Kathryn Davis, Mary Polacek, Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson, Dave Mautz and Greg Davis.
Old business:
Ed Clark: Ed mentioned that we move directly from the Federation Show to the Ventura County Fair set up. We'll need help with set up, manning the gem & mineral area during the fair and we especially need everyone to consider putting in displays. Fair entries are to be entered July 25-27.
Greg Davis: We still have electricity at the museum and a date will need to be set for removing the last items from the site. There'll be further discussion as the recent show and fair are consuming everyone's time.
New business:
Mary Polacek: Mary mentioned that our club took honors at the Sweepstakes award at the Federation Show with the most points from competitive exhibits. Numerous awards were won by our club members along with our very own bulletin receiving one. The deadline for articles and submissions to the bulletin is the first weekend after the board meeting. Mary also thanked Ed Clark for furnishing more digitized photos to be used in the bulletin.
Kathryn Davis: Decisions concerning the use of the Santa Cruz building (Agriculture, as it used to be known) for our 2009 show will need to be discussed at our first show meeting. A new floor plan and the possibility of additional vendors will be of primary concern.
Jean Wise: News from the CFMS is that more and more land is being closed to collecting. It's an on-going battle to keep our remaining areas to collect. No increase in CFMS/AFMS dues will be levied until at least November when it will probably be approved. It would potentially mean a $0.50 increase per member per year from each club.
Ron Wise: At the special meeting designed to promote and increase club memberships, held during the Federation Show, an important aspect was group discussions with the general club membership pertaining to possible and future field trips. This plan could be a valuable addition to our regular meetings if incorporated. Also, nearly all the silent auction material donated to the Federation Show was sold. A field trip to Greenhorn Mountain, August 22-24, is in the planning stage. More information will be supplied as soon as possible.
Jim Brace-Thompson: No new members this month. Membership now stands at 84. Fred Ott's program on increasing membership employed a binder with all pertinent club information which is given to each person upon joining. There'll be further discussion on cost and the potential of integrating the idea into our club. Jim reiterated the need for a subcommittee to explore potential workshop ideas. It will be brought before the next general meeting.
Nancy Brace-Thompson: The treasurer's report was read. It was m/s/c to accept and next month Nancy will provide an actuary.
Ed Clark: It was suggested that Oxnard College be given the whale bone fossil collection from our museum as we're now unable to store it. Steve Mulqueen has been in touch with Jan Straka from the Oxnard College geology department. It was m/s/c to do so. Mary also offered to look into locating a club stamp which would be used to add our club name to items donated to others. It was discussed and m/s/c to donate our 50 state mineral collection to the CFMS.
     The next general meeting will be on July 23, 2008, at the Ventura Senior Recreation Center in Ventura and the next board meeting will be held at The Lexington on August 7th, 2008.
     There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.
          Respectfully submitted,
          Greg Davis,
          Recording Secretary.

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CHIPS AND BOULDERS.

Seeking New Digs for VGMS Workshop, Etc. - A Call for Volunteers!
     As most everyone knows by now, with the deterioration of the old building on Crooked Palm Road that long housed our club workshop, museum, library, and storage space, we are in desperate need of new digs. Nearly everything has been packaged up and moved into two self-storage units in Santa Paula. But the club rock pile, rock saws and polishing units and a club library do no one any good sitting on a storage shelf. We want to bring them out and bring them alive for everyone in the club to use.
     At our June meeting, I circulated a sheet to request ideas for seeking a new home so that we can stop paying money simply to store things and divert it toward renting space where our equipment, books, and museum specimens will be available for everyone's use. My thanks to everyone who provided many good ideas and suggestions! Sixteen ideas turned up on the sheet.
     We now need folks who can volunteer to head up and serve on a committee to explore these ideas and others. Securing new space, particularly for a workshop and for storage, needs to be a top priority for all of us for the continued life of the club. Please consider serving on this committee and, at our July meeting, please step forward to help!
          Jim Brace-Thompson.

Fifty State Collection Donated to CFMS.
     With the loss of our old club house, we've been paring down our collections and club property to a more manageable level. But with that effort, we want to make sure that any outstanding material isn't simply tossed or sold. For instance, in 1992, VGMS club members assembled a collection of the state rocks and minerals from all 50 states. Each specimen was accompanied by a small flag of the state, and it was all housed in a 20-foot long glass display case. The display is truly outstanding, and the club won a CFMS award for it at the time it was assembled.
     Wishing to keep the collection intact, we have offered it to the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies, and during the recent Golden Bear show and convention, the CFMS voted to accept this gift. Details are being finalized, but it looks like it will be housed in the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History up in Bakersfield. Thus, our 50 state collection now joins the Golden Bear gold nugget, the cab collections, and other CFMS collections and specimens and will be available for public display and education for one and all for a good long time to come.
     In addition, Steve Mulqueen is making arrangements with Oxnard College to house some fossil whale bones the club has been holding and other materials, and our thanks go to him for his efforts. While sad to see club materials leave our personal possession, it's good to know that we're finding good homes where the efforts of past club members can be recognized and where the educational value of the materials will endure and find even wider audiences.
          Jim Brace-Thompson.

VGMS Awards.
Our members were well represented at the CFMS Show. Following are the results from the competitive display entries and the Bulletin contest. Congratulations to all.

• Ed Clark won Trophy 16 - Advanced Carving.
• Ed Clark won Trophy 39 - Fluorescent Minerals.
• Ed Clark won Trophy 1 - Open Division (for a collection of geodes entitled "Holes in Rocks").
• Greg Davis won Trophy 25 - Specialized Techniques (for his beautiful jewelry work).
• Jim Brace-Thompson won Trophy 32 - Fossils.
• VGMS, as a club, won the "Sweepstakes Awards", given to the club whose members, as a group, earn the most total points in competitive exhibits.
• Mary Polacek won the New Editors Trophy.
• Steve Mulqueen placed 2nd in the Original Adult Articles, Advanced category for his Definition of the Month: Heap Leaching.
• Lowell Foster placed 6th in the Original Adult Articles category for Virtual Field Trips XII-Adventures in Afghanistan.
• Richard Zander (Mary's Dad) was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for his article "The Rock in Glen Oak Acres".

VGMS Potluck Breakfast.
Thanks to Steve and Susan Mulqueen for opening their house for the VGMS Potluck Breakfast on July 13. Fourteen members attended. The food was varied and delicious. Steve shared with the group many fossil Whale Vertebra from the Middle Miocene era (12-15 million years old). These fossils were from Round Mountain, Oildale, CA; Form: The Bone Bed, 1' to 4' thick, Round Mountain Silt member of the Temblor Formation. Thanks for sharing!

2008 Ventura County Fair.
     The 2008 Ventura County Fair will soon be here, July 30 through August 10. The theme for this year is "Meet Me At The Fair". We will start setting up the Gem and Mineral Building on Tuesday, July 1. The entry dates for Hobbies and Collections are Friday through Sunday, July 18, 19, 20. The entry dates for Gem and Mineral are Friday through Sunday, July 25, 26, 27 (10 am-5 pm).
     We need volunteers to help accept exhibitor entries on all of these dates. If you can commit to four hours or more, that would be great! Lunch will be provided.
     Judging will be done on two Tuesdays: July 22 for Hobbies and Collections; July 29 for Gem and Mineral. We need volunteers to clerk for each Judge (9) on these dates. This requires a commitment of four or more hours. Lunch will be provided.
     This is a good time to start planning your entries. Do you have your own case? Will you need to use one of the Fair cases? Do you have single items to enter?
     Please call Richard Bromser if you can help on any of the above dates, if you need to reserve a case or a space for your case, or if you need more information. If I do not answer, please leave a message; I will be sure to return your call.
          Thank you, Richard Bromser.

Entries will be registered and taken in the Gem & Mineral Building. If entering cases, members should call and alert Richard Bromser ahead of time so that he can make sure table space is set aside. All members should be encouraged to enter. You don't need to enter a whole display case. For the Fair, you can enter individual specimens, and if each and every club member entered just one mineral or fossil or lapidary project, we could fill up 82 spots in the fair! Also, it pays to enter items in the Fair. In addition to ribbons and trophies, the Fair pays out cash awards. For collections/cases, these cash awards are $16 for a first-place ribbon, $14 for second place, and $12 for third place. For individual items, you can earn $10 for a first-place ribbon, $9 for second place, and $8 for third place. So all members are invited and encouraged to enter to earn a little extra spending money to help cover the cost of gas this summer! I'll bring a bunch of the Fair Entry Guide booklets to the July meeting - those booklets have info on entering displays and specimens and the various categories you can enter.
     Jim Brace-Thompson.

CFMS Show Pictures.
Greetings, The CFMS Ventura show was GREAT; very educational and a lot of FUN! Here is a link for many pictures of the talented participants and their work. If one of you belongs to the Northern CA Yahoo group, please forward it.

Use the flickr "Slide Show" feature and click on the right arrow to view pictures at your own pace:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9068283@N08/sets/72157605909455948/.

Anthony Ferrari, CCRMC (Culver City Rock and Mineral club/LA) Federation Director and Webmaster.

          From July 2 [centralcoastrockhounds] Digest Number 125 posting.

What's in a name?
Apophyllite - From the Greek "detached" and "leaf", because it opens up when heated.
Realgar - From the Arabic "powder of the mine", because it came from a silver mine.
Dolomite - After Deodat Dolomieu, the French geologist who first examined it.
     Ed Clark..

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN.

Field Trip Schedule 2008.*

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

Roadside Geology of Kern County #2.
Date: 8/2/2008.
Time: 7:00 PM.
Location: Buena Vista Museum, 2018 Chester Avenue, Bakersfield, 93301.
Description: Many significant, fascinating geologic features of California geology exist in Kern County. Kern County roads and highways showcase many of these features. This presentation is the second of a two part series and will focus on Western and Southern parts of the County. Areas to be discussed will be San Andreas Fault, Temblor Range, Sharktooth Hill Fossils, San Joaquin Valley, San Emigdio Range and Frazier Park area. Join local geologist Tim Elam for a photographic tour of Highway 58, Interstate 5, Highway 33 and other roads of Kern County. No geologic background is necessary to enjoy the event.
Cost: $7 - adults; $5 - students/seniors; $4 - under 18.
Sponsor(s): Buena Vista Museum of Natural History. For more information, contact (661) 324-6350.

July 5 - Hauser Museum.
     Fourteen of us arrived at the residence of Barbara Hauser. Barbara's son, Phil Hauser, and his wife, Esther greeted us and welcomed us in and introduced us to the Hauser "matriarch", Barbara Hauser.
     Crossing the threshold into the house we immediately knew this would be a beautiful journey, for just inside the door was a 24" polished slab of petrified wood for our eyes to feast upon.
     A few more steps and "oohs" and "ahhs" and whispered exclamations were heard. Phil remarked, "this is the teaser," as we gazed at the front room display. Giant, free-form, polished specimens of psilomelane, rhodochrosite, chrysoprase, rhodonite were mounted on the wall, bordered on both sides by tall display cases of exquisite specimens of more rhodochrosite, beautiful copper minerals, polished geodes and more. Below the wall display were numerous spheres, all stunningly polished and artfully displayed.
     Phil, stating he wanted to "Save the best for last," then escorted us outside and downhill to Joel Hauser's workshop. Phil instructed us that everything inside and outside the workshop was for sale, and the group scampered to all corners of the large yard. I can only imagine what a sight this shop would have been at its peak. Numerous groups had preceded us, but there were still thousands of nodules and pieces of petrified wood and chalcedony in bins and scattered over nearly every inch of the yard. Each of us found more than one piece of treasure and Phil's prices were very generous. After an hour or so we'd pretty much all spent our budgets and we headed back uphill to Joel and Barbara's museum. All along the walkway were very large pieces of petrified wood.
     The museum is just breathtaking. A lifetime of lapidary work and fine specimen collecting and trading on display! It would be difficult to describe all there is to see in this museum. Wall upon wall of huge, polished petrified wood slabs. Beautiful azurite and turquoise specimens, some of the largest I have ever seen. A large collection of Bruneau jasper, polished and perfectly displayed. I particularly enjoyed the unique wood frames that many of the slabs were displayed in. I also enjoyed the many paintings, which Phil informed me were done by his grandmother, Evelyn, and which depict rockhounding sites she visited with her husband, George, and grandchildren. Evelyn began painting at the age of 70. Unfortunately, my camera battery died after only a couple of pictures were taken.
     If you should have an opportunity to visit this museum, you should not pass it up. It is better than many museum collections I have seen.

Our host, Phil Hauser. The painting is one of many exhibited and done by Phil's grandmother, Evelyn Hauser. Also note the wood frame on the rhodochrosite specimen bottom center.

Richard Bromser at the museum. These petrified wood slabs were all cut and polished by Joel Hauser.

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HINTS AND TIPS.

Opal Tips.
Rubbing your opal on your face brings out the colors. Skin oils cause opals to sparkle. All opal does not need to be backed with a black backing. Try other stones for different effects. Using a white opal backing gives a triplet a natural look. Some fire opal works well with a red backing.
     From Breccia, 05/07, via The Opal Express, 03/04.

More Opal Tips.
     Is opal fragile? A properly cut and polished opal, when properly set, lasts a lifetime. A properly cut opal has a flat back that can be evenly supported by a matching flat setting. Thicker is better: The layer of color must be thick enough to cut down into it slightly to achieve the best results.
     Always cut for quality. Think of this whenever a stone has a problem. Example: It may be possible to cut one big stone with a little potch, or cut out the potch and cut two smaller stones. Generally, it is better to cut the smaller stones.
     Why is opal stored in water? As a buyer, ALWAYS ask to see the opal dry. Opal is stored in water because its appearance wet most closely resembles what it will look like polished. Be aware that water, even more so than glycerin, hides cracks.
     Crystal opal is brittle. Therefore, it flakes more easily. It needs a 320 lap for working. Be sure to break in all diamond wheels with agate to knock off the uneven edges of the diamonds.
          From Breccia, 05/07, via Tips by Cliff Coan in the Opal Express, 4/99.

Quick Measure.
Try this: Use a standard measuring teaspoon, fill it with grit of any size (course, medium, or fine), scrape with a flat surface such as a knife blade or ruler so that the spoon is filled flat from rim to rim and Voila! You have 1/4 ounce of grit in the spoon. Polish is another story. It takes eight (8) level teaspoonfuls to measure out an ounce of polishing powder.
     From Breccia 06/07 via The Show Me Geode 02/03.

Shellac Dop Sticks.
Treat wooden dop sticks with a light coat of shellac. This prevents the wood from absorbing water which will eventually crack the dop wax thus loosening the stone.
     Original source unknown via The Petrified Log 03/00.

Flat Lapping Tip.
For best results, use graded abrasives for lapping: 220 grit for rough grind; 600 grit for fine grind. Final polish with tin oxide.
     From Rockpile Legend Co. www.rocks4u.com/lapidaryhint.htm.

Diamond Test.
Use a magnet to differentiate between man-made diamonds and natural diamonds; synthetic diamonds will stick to a magnet, but natural diamonds will not.
     From Del Air Bulletin 03/08 via Breccia 07/03.

The club presents these hints and tips for informational purposes only and does not specifically endorse or profess first-hand use or experience with any or all. As always, be aware of your situation, knowledge level and comfort zone before attempting anything new. When in doubt, stop! Get help before you need it.

Keep a log in your shop. Document your techniques and inspirations. You will come up with a journal full of useful tips, and maybe even an educational article or two!! Email hints and tips to vgms_editor@roadrunner.com.

Let us hear your good ideas!

  Table of Contents.

LET'S BE SAFE OUT THERE.

Tire Hazard.
Did you know that you should never buy a new tire older than 6 years? As rockhounds, we travel a lot and on roads on which we would not like to break down. On return trips, our vehicles may have heavy loads which would be dangerous if a tire should shred with loss of control. It actually is industry standard that NEW tires older than 6 years be recycled, yet, it is prevalent in the U.S. for customers to be ignorant of this fact. Heck, I'm an old gal and I never heard of this.

How do you know if your tires are older than 6 years? There is a code imprinted on each tire. Look to the end of the string that begins with DOT. It will have 2 to 4 digits, which represent the week and year of manufacture. For example: 414 (41st week of 1994); 231 (23rd week of 1991); 19 (1st week of 1991); 4201 (42nd week of 2001). If you are in the market for new tires, be sure you do NOT buy any NEW tire with a one-digit year code or an 01 or 02 code. If you have Internet, I strongly recommend you watch the video at the link referenced below. And ... GO CHECK YOUR TIRES!! The code is stamped on only one side of the tire, so depending on how your tires are rotated you may have to look under the car on the inside to find it.

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897.

PS. You bet, I checked mine ... I'm cool (whew).


Reader's Digest Safety Tips.
The following few tips are paraphrased from the article titled "Save Your Own Life - How A Chair, Rocks, Aspirin, and a Scarf Can Keep You Alive in 12 Do-Or-Die Emergencies", by Pamela F. Gallin, MD, from the June 2008 Reader's Digest. Not all of the tips are repeated here, so please read the full article if you are interested.

Lost In the Wilderness.
Check the weather before heading out on a hike (forecasts for many wilderness areas may be found at wunderground.com. Bring clothes to keep you warm when wet, like a water-repellant jacket, says Laurence Gonzales, author of Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies and Why. Avoid cotton, which traps moisture. "The search and rescue people call it death cloth," he says. "Expect to get lost, and check often to make sure you're still on the trail," says John Dill, a search-and-rescue ranger at Yosemite National Park. "The minute you think you might not be on the trail, stop." "First, you've got to acknowledge you're in trouble," adds Gonzales. If you're not alone focusing on the needs of others can help hold you own fears at bay. Other keys to survival: staying observant and remembering to rest. Keeping a sense of humor helps too-it reduces stress and promotes creative thinking.

The surest way to get out alive is to take basic precautions, such as stowing a survival kit in your car. Next month, I'll include a comprehensive list of what to include. Gonzales recommends waterproof matches, chunks from fake fireplace logs for starting a fire, a folding saw for cutting branches, and a plastic tarp and cord for making shelter. Include an emergency blanket, a good knife, a first-aid kit, flashlight, batteries, snacks and water.

In general, people who try to find their own way out fare worse than those who stay put, says Richard Bradley, of the American Red Cross. Find shelter before dark, and try to keep dry. Stay visible so anyone searching can see you. In a wide-open area, make a signal with colorful gear, or make a big X out of rocks, or dig a shallow trench, says Dill. "The top layer of soil is a different color. Scrape it away and make straight lines, which are easy to spot from above."

You can go several days without eating, so in most cases, you are better off not foraging for food, since there are lots of poisonous plants in the wild. You DO need to stay hydrated, so if you run out of water, it's usually better to drink from a stream with suspect water than go without. If you are stranded in your car, stay there: you are more visible to rescuers and the car provides shelter.

Lightning.
Summer is the most dangerous season for lightning, so if you're outside and a storm hits, quickly get inside. A large, enclosed building is safest, but a car is also good, as long as you close the doors and windows and don't touch any metal surfaces. Stay there for 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder. If there are fewer than 30 seconds between thunder and lightning the lightning is less than six miles away. It can strike from a distance of 10-15 miles. Nowhere to hide? Avoid tall, isolated objects (trees, partially enclosed buildings), fences, poles, or any metal objects. If you're with a group, don't huddle near other people; stay at least 15 feet from one another. That way, if one of you is hit, the lightning won't travel between you.

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EDUCATIONAL CORNER.

Definition of the Month.

Paleo-; palaeo - From the Greek word palaio. A prefix for words meaning old or ancient; remote in point of time; early, primitive and/or archaic. Also used as a slang term referring to the science of paleontology and its associated studies.

Paleontology - A science that deals with the life of past geological periods. Paleontology is based on the study of the fossil remains of plants and animals. This science provides information about the phylogeny and relationships of ancient, and in some cases extinct, life forms to present-day animals and plants. Paleontology is of critical importance in determining the chronological sequence to the history of the Earth.

Paleoclimatology - The study of climates of the geologic past. Climates throughout the world have changed gradually through natural processes that affect the Earth's atmosphere. These processes are caused by organic and inorganic factors that contribute to global changes, and are influenced by a variety of geological phenomena.

Climatic conditions can be inferred from the occurrence of the remains of plants and animals preserved in the fossil record. An example would be a fossil of a tropical plant found at a collecting site in a present-day arid environment. The occurrence of a fern fossil found in a desert region would indicate that climatic conditions that existed when the plant was living had changed dramatically with geologic time.

The movement of continental plates will also have a slow but gradual influence on climatic changes. The occurrence of certain types of rocks and minerals can also be indicators of ancient climatic conditions. An example would be the occurrence of the rock bauxite, a primary ore of aluminum. Bauxite deposits were formed as laterite soils in tropical and subtropical environments.

Other words with a prefix of "paleo" will be featured in future VGMS bulletins.

Source of Information: "A Dictionary of Mining, Mineral, and Related Terms", compiled and edited by Paul W. Thrush and Staff, Bureau of Mines, U. S. Department of Interior, published by the U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 1968.

Written by Steve Mulqueen for the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, July 2008. The "Definition of the Month" features words related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history.

Illustration of the Month.

The Los Angeles Basin during the Pleistocene Epoch.

A portion of an illustration by Willoughby, based on a mural drawn by Charles R. Knight on exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History.

Source: "Rancho La Brea, A Record of Pleistocene Life in California"", written by Chester Stock, published by the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Paleontology Series No. 11, originally published in 1930, from the seventh edition printed in 1972, page 2.

Text written by Steve Mulqueen, July 2008. The "Illustration of the Month" features a drawing, sketch, pen & ink rendering, engraving print or any form of graphic art rediscovered in old books, maps, manuscripts and many other sources related to geology, paleontology, mining and desert history. This illustration was chosen for its educational content by the author.

  Table of Contents.

GEMS FROM THE PAST.

Two early photos dated 1945 of a field trip near Acton in northern Los Angeles County for collecting geodes. Note the sign which designates the original club letters "V.G & M.C.", for the Ventura Gem & Mineral Club. Ruth Parker, one of the early club members is to the right of the sign on the second photo. These photos were probably taken with Ruth's camera. (Her absence in the first photo indicates that she was operating the camera at that time.)

Notice the geology picks, burlap sacks, cardboard boxes, gold pans, hats and sturdy automobiles, essential tools for any serious rockhounding adventure of its time. Not much has changed with today's field trips. This club trip was probably held in the fall of 1945. Gasoline rationing was lifted nationwide on July 1, 1945 as World War II was drawing to a close.

Camping out during a VGMS field trip to the Red Rock Canyon area in the El Paso Range northeast of the town of Mojave in Kern County, 1948. This region was popular for collecting Miocene age vertebrate fossils within Red Rock Canyon, petrified wood in Last Chance Canyon, unusual rocks and minerals in Jawbone Canyon and opals in Opal Canyon. Photo by Ruth Parker.

Photos from the Bruno & Opal Benson Collection. All photos Copyright 2008, Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

  Table of Contents.

FUN STUFF - CRYSTALS & COOKIES.

Crystal Garden.
Ingredients:
     Some charcoal briquettes,
     1/4 cup laundry bluing,
     1/4 cup salt,
     1 tablespoon ammonia or vinegar,
     1 glass pie plate.
Directions:
     Arrange the briquettes in the plate and partly cover with bluing, salt and ammonia mixture plus 1/4 cup water. Within a few days, crystals should be well-formed.
          From Quarry Quips, 07/08, via Breccia, 06/03.

Seven-Layer Cookies.
     Set oven to 350. Put one stick of oleo on a sided cookie sheet and put in oven while it is warming.
     Mix 2 cups graham cracker crumbs with 1/4 cup sugar.
     When oleo is melted, take the pan out and add the mixture. Press onto bottom of pan and a little up the sides.
     Sprinkle on 1 cup of canned coconut, then sprinkle 11 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips, then 11 ounces of butterscotch chips.
     Sprinkle on lots of pecans, big pieces. Drizzle on a can of sweetened condensed milk.
     Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Do not let the edges get brown.
Enjoy!!
Author's Note: Around Christmas and Thanksgiving, my mother always substituted various colors of candied fruit for the two chips. That was good and looked festive.

From Susan Bannon via WGMS Quarry Quips, April '08.

  Table of Contents.

FEDERATION NEWS.

Thank You for Help at the CFMS Show!
     The Golden Bear Gem and Mineral Show is now history, and by all reports, this year's annual statewide show of the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies was a success. We should later be getting info on financial details (the number of people who attended and the gate receipts, how much was earned for the Federation from the raffle, kids' booth, and silent auction, etc.), but from a purely subjective account, the show looked well attended, dealers I spoke with seemed happy, and there were a lot of happy people sharing in our hobby at the fairgrounds.
     Usually, the statewide CFMS show is run by a local club. (For instance, last year the Palmdale club sponsored it in Lancaster and next year the Santa Clara Gem & Mineral Society will sponsor it up in San Jose.) For 2008, no individual club stepped forward to sponsor and run the show, so responsibility for it was assumed by various officers of the CFMS. I'm especially pleased and proud of the contributions our club made, from running Publicity and the Kids' Booth, to assembling and running the Silent Auction, to donating equipment (security badges and hats, shims, signage, electrical chords, etc.), to providing volunteers for security walks, the ticket booth, set-up and tear-down, and in so many other ways. VGMS members rose to the occasion and really shined! My thanks and appreciation to one and all for a job well done!

  Table of Contents.

LET'S GO TO A SHOW - 2008.

August 1, 2 & 3; Nipomo, CA - Orcutt Mineral Society, St. Joseph Church, 298 S. Thompson Ave. Hours: 10-5 daily. Wes Lingerfelt (805) 710-1983, E-mail: Rocks4u@prodigy.net, Web page: http://www.omsinc.org/.
August 2-3; San Francisco, CA - San Francisco Gem & Mineral Society, San Francisco County Fair Bldg., Ninth Ave. & Lincoln Way. Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun 10-5. Ellen Nott (415) 564-4230.
August 29-Sept. 1; Fort Bragg, CA - Mendocino Coast Gem & Mineral Society, Town Hall, Main & Laural. Hours: Sat. & Sun 10-6; Mon. 10-4. Don McDonell (707) 964-3116, E-mail ejwebb@mcn.org.
September 13-14; Downey, CA - Delvers Gem & Mineral Society, Woman's Club of Downey, 9813 Paramount Blvd. Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-4. Guynell Miller (562) 633-0614, Email: >guynellallen@sbcglobal.net.
September 20-21; Paso Robles CA - Santa Lucia Rockhounds, Pioneer Park Museum, 2010 Riverside Drive. Hours: 10-5 both days. Mike Doherty (815) 466-4061, Email: mdoherty@tcsn.net.
September 20-21; Redwood City CA - Sequoia Gem & Mineral Society, Community Activities Building,1400 Roosevelt Ave. Hours: 10-5 both days. Carol Corden (650) 248-7155, Email: ccorden@earthlink.net, http://sgms.driftmine.com/home.htm.
September 25-28; San Bernardino CA - Orange Belt Mineral Society, Inc., Western Region Little League Ball Park, 6707 Little League Dr. Hours: 9 am-Dusk each day. Emma Rose Couveau (951) 288-6182.
September 27-28; Monterey, CA - Carmel Valley Gem & Mineral Society, Monterey Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairgrounds Rd. Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5. Sky Paxton (831) 417-7477, Email: sky@familystones.net, Website: www.cvgms.org.
September 27-28; Stockton, CA - Stockton Lapidary and Mineral Club, Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 33 West Alpine Ave. Hours: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-4. Nettie Meissner (209) 858-2263, E-mail: footsey1@yahoo.com.
October 5; Fallbrook, CA - Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Society "Fall Festival of Gems", FGMS Museum, 123 W. Alvarado. Hours: 10-4. Mary Fong-Walker (760) 728-1130, Diane Tjepkes (780) 468-8028.
October 11-12; Grass Valley, CA - Nevada County Gem & Mineral Society "Earth's Treasures", Nevada County Fairgrounds, 11228 McCourtney Road. Hours: 10-5 both days. Kim Moore (530) 470-0388, Email: Kmoore160@comcast.net.
October 11-12; Trona, CA - Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society "66th Annual Gem-O-Rama", Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society, 13337 Main Street. Hours: Sat. 7:30-5; Sun. 7:30-4. Bonnie Fairchild (760) 372-5356, Email: glgms@wvisp.com, www1.iwvisp.com/tronagemclub/tronagemclub.html.
October 11-12; Lakeside, CA - Cajon Valley Gem & Mineral Society, Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, 12584 Mapleview. Hours: 10-5 both days. David Newton (619) 390-5054, Email: jontom@nethere.com, Web page: ecvgms.com.
October 11-12; Vista, CA - Vista Gem & Mineral Society, Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, 2040 North Santa Fe Avenue. Hours: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-4. Cherie Wilson (760) 941-7073, Lois M. Hair (760) 724-0395.
October 18; West Hills, CA - Woodland Hills Rock Chippers, First United Methodist Church, 22700 Sherman Way. Hours: 10-5. Virginia Rotramel (951) 403-2634, Email: show@rockchippers.org, www.rockchippers.org.
October 18-19; Anderson, CA - Shasta Gem & Mineral Society, Shasta District Fairgrounds. Hours: Sat. 9-5; Sun. 10-4. Bill Seward (530) 365-8641, E-mail: glseward@sbcglobal.net.
October 18-19; Placerville, CA - El Dorado County Mineral & Gem Society, El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Drive. Hours: 10-5 both days. Jackie Cerrato (530) 677-2975, Email: info@rockandgemshow.org, http://www.rockandgemshow.org, eldoradomineralandgem.org.
October 18-19; Santa Rosa, CA - Santa Rosa Mineral & Gem Society, Veterans' Memorial Auditorium, 1351 Maple Avenue, Santa Rosa. Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5. Tom Dering (707) 564-4537, Email: farmarch@sonic.net, Website: www.gem-n-i.org.
October 18-19; Whittier, CA - Whittier Gem & Mineral Society, Whittier Community Center, 7630 Washington Avenue. Hours: 10-5 both days. Jay Valle: (626) 934-9764, Email: res19pnb@verizon.net.
October 25-26; Los Altos, CA - Peninsula Gem & Geology Society, Los Altos Youth Center, One San Antonio Road. Hours: Sat. 9-5 pm; Sun. 9-4 pm. Stan Bogosian: (408)569-2489, Email: sbogosian@aol.com.
November 1-2; Concord, CA - Contra Costa Mineral & Gem Society, Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Rd., Clayton Fair Shopping Center. Hours: 10-5 both days. Sam Woolsey (925) 837-3287, Email: sdwools@earthlink.net, Website: www.ccmgs.org.
November 1-2; Ridgecrest, CA - Indian Wells Gem & Mineral Society, Desert Empire Fairgrounds, Mesquite Hall, 520 S. Richmond Rd. Hours: 9-5 both days. John De Rosa (760) 375-7905, Vickie black (760) 371-4416.

AMERICAN FEDERATION / REGIONAL SHOW SCHEDULE - 2008.

Canadian Federation Convention.

South Central Federation (SCMS) / AFMS,
September 25-28,
Humble, TX.

Rocky Mountain Federation (RMFMS),
October 31-November 2,
Tulsa, OK.

Southeast Federation (SFMS).

  Table of Contents.

SUPPORT AND PRACTICE
THE AFMS CODE OF ETHICS.

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