At least three members (that we know of) have been seriously affected by the Thomas Fire. Friends have set up GoFundMe pages for them:
Please help if you can!
Held about five months after our own VGMS Gem Show and midway between the Oxnard and Conejo shows, the Ventura County Fair provides another opportunity for our members to show off their gems, minerals and jewelry, but this time with the additional excitement of competition. The Fair runs for 12 days and sees about 300,000 visitors. Our own Diane Cook is the Superintendent of the Gem and Mineral and Hobbies, Models, and Collectibles building. She relies on her staff and many volunteers before, during, and after the fair to make this a fulfilling event for all. But it wouldn’t be anything without the exhibitors. The VGMS and our two neighboring gem clubs participate and compete fiercely amongst ourselves, assuring a strong presence at the Fair.
Here is a list of awards VGMS members won in Gems and Minerals in 2017, which encompasses mineral and fossil collecting, jewelry making and lapidary arts. First are the ribbons (blue=1st, red=2nd, white=3rd, pink=4th), followed by additional awards.
Raul Barazza: 1 blue (Pebble Pup case)
Nancy Bogart:1 blue
Frank Boulch:2 blue, 1 pink, Fair Theme ribbon
Jim Brace-Thompson: 11 blue, 4 red, 3 white, 2 pink, Best Fossil Case, Judge’s Choice (2), Staff Favorite
Nancy Brace-Thompson: 2 red, 2 white, 1 pink
Angela Brown: 3 blue, 3 red, 1 white
Luther Brown: 1 blue, 1 red, Judge’s Choice
Diane Cook: Unable to compete, but her non-competitive exhibit won Director’s Choice anyway! Also, Staff Favorite for opal gem tree.
John Cook: 2 blue, 7 red, 4 white, 1 pink, Best Lapidary Case
Kathryn Davis: 4 blue, 2 red, 1 white, 3 pink, Superintendent’s Favorite, Judge’s Choice
Mike Havstad: 5 blue, 1 red, 1 pink, Best Single Mineral
Lucia Hetrick: 2 blue, Best Novice Case
Shirley Layton: 1 blue
Gary Leberknight: 1 red, 1 white, 1 pink
David Mautz: 4 blue, 6 red, 2 white, 3 pink, Best Single Fossil
Jared McGowan: 1 red, 1 white, 2 pink, Judge’s Choice
Jeff Miller: 2 blue, Best Mineral Case, Director’s Choice
Adrian Ruiz: 1 red, 1 white, 1 pink
David Springer: 2 blue, 4 red, 4 white
Miriam Tetreault: 4 blue, 1 red, 1 white
VGMS: 2 blue, 1 white, Judge’s Choice, Staff Favorite
Phyllis White: 3 blue
Terry Wilson: 5 blue, 3 red, 1 white, 1 pink, Judge’s Choice, Best Jewelry Case
Ron Wise: 7 blue, 6 red, 1 white, 1 pink, Best Single Lapidary, Judge’s Choice (2), Staff Favorite
It takes a lot of people to pull off a county fair. VGMS members filled these important roles:
Staff:
Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson
Angela Brown
John Cook
Krishna Juarez
Shirley Layton
Adrian Ruiz
Demonstrators:
Sandra Butchko
John Cook
Laura Driskell
David Mautz
Dick White
Phyllis White
Ron Wise
Setup, Intake, Judging & Take Down:
Andy Anderson
Raul Barazza
Angela Brown
Luther Brown
Laura Driskell
Jeff Geist
Shirley Layton
Adrian Ruiz
Dick & Phyllis White
Ron Wise
Floor Walkers:
Stuart Bloom
Nancy Bogart
Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson
Luther Brown
Kathryn Davis
Laura Driskell
Austyn Frisk
Adrian Ruiz
Richard Slyker
Miriam Tetreault
Dick & Phyllis White
Terry Wilson
Ron Wise
The Ventura County Fair is still going on, and we had great representation in the Gem and Mineral area. Read all about it, and who won what, here: VGMS and the Ventura County Fair.
June 9-11, VGMS hosted the CFMS-AFMS Show & Convention at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Thanks to everyone who volunteered and/or put in displays, plus our hard-working Show Committee for making it all happen. We broke the record for the most competitive entries at a Federation show! We heard time and time again how great the show was, how well organized it was, complimented us on the variety of displays, and how welcomed they felt. In addition to that, VGMS won the AFMS All American Club Award (a club yearbook for 2016 events) and the CFMS Sweepstakes Award (for receiving the highest point total for a club for competitive exhibits).
Photos from the show are coming soon! Stay tuned…
Several VGMS members trekked up to Placerville for this year’s CFMS show and we all had a great time. Look for an article by Jim Brace-Thompson in the October newsletter. Meanwhile, here are a few pics and notes from the trip – a good time was had by all!
Clockwise around the table from lower left: Terry Wilson, Nancy Bird, Nancy Brace-Thompson, John Cook, and Susan & David Walblom.
VGMS participated with 5 exhibits. Diane Cook got the first place trophy in Education (and a perfect score!) on her “Shades of Pink” case, and John Cook took a first place trophy for his “Stone Canyon” case. Terry Wilson took a first level on her jewelry case. Jim and Nancy Brace-Thompson exhibited non-competitively for their “Sea Star Fossils” and “Ocean Jasper” cases, respectively. In the publications arena, Diane got first place for her member handbook, Terry took fifth place (at 98 points – they use half-points!) for her article on her Nevada and Utah trip last year. She also got second place for our website.
We got to see the world gold panning championships, and on Sunday we tried it for ourselves:
John Cook panning for gold in the American River.
This year’s show is hosted by the El Dorado County Mineral & Gem Society, and held September 16 – 18 in Placerville, CA. More info: CFMS 2016. This Show & Convention is just after the 2016 World Gold Panning Championships at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds September 11–18. If you haven’t made reservations at any motels, do so immediately.
Competitive and Non-Competitive Exhibit Entry Forms deadline August 1st, 2016. Competitive Entry Form. Non-Competitive Form.
Advanced Registration deadline is also August 1st, 2016. Advance Registration Form.
The VGMS will once again be hosting the CFMS Show in 2017, and this time the AFMS will join us. Our theme is “Ventura Rocks the Nation!”. Every year the AFMS piggybacks onto one of the seven regional federation shows. It will be at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, June 9 – 11, 2017. Visit the website: 2017cfms-afmsshow.com. We held a contest for theme and logo design. Congratulations to Jim Brace-Thompson for the theme, and Brett Bednorz for the logo!
Jim Brace-Thompson and Diane Cook at KDAR
Here is the audio of the “Community Connection” which aired March 2, 2016, courtesy of KDAR, 98.3FM, featuring Diane Cook and Jim Brace-Thompson. VGMSRadioBroadcast2016.mp3
VGMS once again has set up a display in the E. P. Foster Library through May. The display is pictured below, and below that, members Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson, John Cook, Angela and Luther Brown, and Jean and Ron Wise who brought specimens from their own collections and set up the display.
The California and American Federations of Mineralogical Societies sponsor a “Rockhound of the Year” program whereby local societies may recognize and honor an individual or couple who have provided exemplary service over the course of the year. Such individuals are awarded a certificate and pin from CFMS, and their good works are publicized in both the CFMS and AFMS newsletters.
Blake Hahn was named VGMS Rockhound of the Year at the 2015 holiday dinner. Soon after joining the VGMS in 2014, he jumped right in and volunteered to help wherever needed, especially with maintenance and improvements to our clubhouse. He has installed shelving and lighting, repaired the front door and installed new locks, and helps in repairing and maintaining our rock saws. In 2015, he joined our ranks of Shop Stewards and has made himself available for a second workshop day each month, overseeing and assisting members using our equipment.
Anyone who has had any interaction with Blake knows he’s great to work with and to be around—always cordial, upbeat, and ready to lend a hand. He sets a model for us all to follow!
California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS)
American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS)