- The VGMS is a member of
California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS)
American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS)
Author Archives: Troy Schmidt
ImagePebble Pup News – March 2023
Read more about what we are up to in Rockhound Rambling, pages 18-19: March 2023 Rockhound Ramblings
2024 VGMS Gem Show March 2 & 3
The 61st Annual Gem, Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry Show of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society (VGMS) takes place March 2 and 3, 2024 (10:00 AM–5:00 PM, Saturday; 10:00 AM–4:00 PM, Sunday) at the Ventura County Fairgrounds (10 W. Harbor Blvd, Ventura, CA). The show is open to the public and admission is free (although the Fairgrounds charges a parking fee if using the Fairgrounds lot).
The show is the society’s major fund-raising event helping to underwrite educational activities, including the annual college scholarship.
Press Release 2024
Download the Press Release here
The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was founded in 1944 to encourage interest in rocks, minerals, fossils, jewelry-making, and related areas through education, activities, and exhibitions such as this annual show, which is open to the community. The society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization and welcomes individual and family members. VGMS hosts monthly talks on earth science topics and jewelry arts, makes presentations to area schools, and conducts field trips for members and guests that often involve collecting rocks, minerals, and fossils in southern California and neighboring states.
The Ventura Gem Show is the society’s major fund-raising event helping to underwrite educational activities, including the annual college scholarship and school visits and donations. For further details, call (805) 312-8467, email info@vgms.org, or visit our web site at www.vgms.org.
2024 Exhibitor Application Form
VCPG Volunteers – we need you! Sign up at: https://volunteersignup.org/LYWR4
E.P. Foster Library Display
February-April 9, 2023: A New Display in the E.P. Foster Library Thank you to Dick and Phyllis White, Troy Schmidt, Robert Seaton, Celia and Valerie Churchill, and Nancy Brace-Thompson, who joined me on January 14th to install a new display at the E.P. Foster Library in downtown Ventura. The display highlights all aspects of our hobby and club, from mineral, gemstone, and fossil collecting to the lapidary and jewelry arts, field trips, our annual show, educational outreach and our scholarship program, our Pebble Pups program, and more.
The display should be in place for at least a couple more months. Check it out–then thank those who helped in providing wonderful material to share and spread our passion within our community!
-Jim Brace-Thompson