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The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)

Information Center.

VGMS ADDRESS.

Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc.,
P.O. Box 1573,
Ventura, CA 93002.

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS.

UPCOMING VGMS EVENTS.

Workshop Work Day - Saturday, May 24, 9:00 am-Noon, Museum.
Regular Meeting - Wednesday, May 28, 7:30 pm, The Lexington, Ventura.
Magazine Sort - Sunday, June 1, Noon-3:00 pm, 2767 Main St., Ventura.
Board Meeting - Thursday, June 5, 7:30 pm, The Lexington, Ventura.
Bulletin Article Deadline - Sunday, June 8, vgms_editor@roadrunner.com.
Workshop - None until new home is found.

If omitted, the time, location or address can be found somewhere on this page.

CHIPS & BOULDERS.

Seeking a New Meeting Room!
As noted in my Membership report, we've been fortunate to see considerable growth in our membership in recent months. With that growth, though, we're now literally spilling out of our current meeting room at the Lexington, and it's clear that we need to find new digs for holding our monthly membership meetings, especially since the current room just isn't set up for programs and presentations. If you know of any large community rooms that may be available, please call me (805-659-3577) with as much info as you can provide about the location of the room and who to contact.
     Jim Brace-Thompson.

Club Magazine Sort.
The Club collection of Rock & Gems and Lapidary Journal magazines was moved to storage at Paul's workplace. I need a few volunteers to meet me at California Office Equipment, 2767 Main St., Ventura, on Sunday, June 1, NOON. The purpose will be to sort the collection by year/month. Each year will be bound and catalogued. The collection will then be moved to Club storage and will be available for loan by advance request. More information will be provided at the regular meeting. If you are interested in volunteering a couple of hours, please call Mary Polacek. Thank you in advance.

Rockbox Workday.
Nancy and Jim Brace-Thompson and Mary Polacek from the VGMS were on-hand at the last Rockbox workday at the Knapton residence on May 10. Members of the OGMS and the CGMS were present as well. Larry and Donna were pleased with the turnout and appreciative of all the help they receive. This is an important project for our local gem and mineral societies and members are encouraged to pitch in at these workdays. The work is not hard and Donna spoils us with her homemade goodies. The next workday is TENTATIVELY scheduled for June 7, anytime after 9:00 am. Please call Donna at 647-8762 to confirm and for address and/or directions.

Where Oh Where Has the Benitoite Gone.
The Rockhound internet groups are on fire this month regarding the BLM closure of the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA), due to seemingly trumped up EPA concerns regarding asbestos levels. The fine for unauthorized access in the CCMA is $1000.00. Following are excerpts from several of the later postings:
     "Access to the Benitoite Gem Mine is now totally closed. The County closed off all the county roads into the Clear Creek Management Area on Tuesday [May 8]. The mine owner cannot get to his mine. That is 70,000 acres effectively closed to rockhounding."
     "The access is closed from all sides including New Idria. Dave Schreiner does not have any way in. It looks like it will be a long time before anyone can go to the Benitoite Gem Mine again, if ever. The KCAC road is paved most of the way but the owner wants way too much money for Dave to rent it for access, this is all assuming the powers that be allowed the KCAC road to be used."
     "You can comment on the future of Clear Creek by writing or emailing the BLM at the addresses below. There is a wealth of information and maps on the Hollister field office's web site at www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister.html. (Close the new window to return here.) To email your comments on Clear Creek write to cahormp@ca.blm.gov. To write a letter (often letters are paid more attention to): Sky Murphy, Bureau of Land Management, Hollister Field Office, 20 Hamilton Court, Hollister, California 95023."

FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE 2008.*

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

2008 CFMS SHOWS.

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May 31-June 1; Glendora, CA - Glendora Gem & Mineral Club. Hours: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-4. Bonnie Bidwell (626) 963-4638, Email: Ybidwell2@aol.com.
May 31-June 1; Woodland Hills, CA - Rockatomics Gem & Mineral Society, Pierce College, Victory and Mason. Hours: 10-5 both days. Louise Gerik (818) 347-1234, rockatomics.com.
June 7-8; La Habra, CA - North Orange County Gem & Mineral Society, La Habra Community Center, 101 W. La Habra Blvd. Hours: 9-5 both days. Don Warthen (626) 330-8974, Email: warthen@earthlink.net, nocgms.com.
June 27, 28, 29; Ventura, CA - California Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Ventura County Fairgrounds. Hours: 10-5 Daily. Bural LaRue (909) 874-5664, Email: bplarue@earthlink.net.
July 12-13; Culver City, CA - Culver City Rock & Mineral Club, Culver City Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, 4117 Overland Avenue. Hours: Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-5. Website: CulverCityRocks.org, Phone: (310) 391-8429, Email: maryellenandrick@aol.com.
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, Webpage: 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 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, Webpage: 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 18-19; 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.

AMERICAN FEDERATION / REGIONAL SHOW SCHEDULE - 2008.

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Canadian Federation Convention.

Midwest Federation (MWF),
June 20-22,
Lincoln, NE.

Northwest Federation (NFMS),
June 20-26,
Ontario, OR.

California Federation (CFMS),
June 27-29 2008,
California Federation of Mineralogical Societies,
Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura, CA.
Hours: 10-5 Daily.
Adults $5.00, seniors (60+) $4.00, students $3.00,
Kids under 12 free with paid adult.
Fairgrounds parking.

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

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

Southeast Federation (SFMS).

CLUB INFORMATION.

 Membership Dues.

Initiation Fee - $5.00 (1st Year Only);
Plus:
Single - $20.00,
Couple (one bulletin) - $30.00,
18 Years and under with parent - No Charge,
Students / 18 years plus (12 Units) - $17.00,
12 / Under (considered Pebble Pups) - No Charge.

 Regular Meeting.

Fourth Wednesday of the month (except November and December - 2nd Wednesday), 7:30 pm at The Senior Recreation Center, 420 East Santa Clara Street, Ventura, CA. Anyone is welcome to attend. The December meeting is normally the Christmas party and is held at a local restaurant or a member's home.

Board Meeting.

First Thursday of the month, 7:30 pm at The Lexington, 5440 Ralston Street, Ventura, CA, unless otherwise announced. All members are welcome.

Annual Show.

The Club's annual show, "Artistry From Nature", is held the first full weekend in March at Seaside Park (Ventura County Fairgrounds).

Field Trips.

Announced monthly on this page, in the bulletin, and at the regular meeting.

Educational Cases.

The Museum's educational cases are available on loan to schools, etc. Contact the Museum Committee.

The VGMS Colors are Blue and Gold.

Learn how to contact

The VGMS

by going to the VGMS contact us page.

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GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Remember
September 11, 2001,
but support
our troops
NOW ! !

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HOME: The "Home Page" for the VGMS Web Site.
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SHOW: Information about our upcoming shows. Also includes information about some attractions in the local area for the benefit of those who attend the shows.
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RAMBLING: Look at some of our past bulletins. They're called Rockhound Rambling.
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VGMS: More information about the VGMS.
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SEARCH: You can search our entire site for any subject.
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ARCHIVE: Information saved from the VGMS Rockhound Rambling Bulletins.
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DIAGRAM: Shows you a layout of the entire site with links to each page.
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