Category Archives: Recent Activities

by Nancy Brace-Thompson
I made a sodalite and crystal necklace during lockdown! I’ve wanted to do some beading for quite awhile (since I keep buying beads and putting them in a drawer) and when the lockdown came around, even though I’m still working Monday through Friday, I had time on a weekend to put this necklace together. It was so much creative fun that I’m hoping to do it again and use some more of the beads that are sitting in my drawer.

We have an active Pebble Pup program for youth from 5 to 13, which meets on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 10 am to noon. Read more about it and see the calendar on the Pebble Pups page.

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.

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

Members from the VGMS regularly visit local schools for demonstrations and hands-on activities. A half dozen of our members are kept busy visiting schools and hosting museum visits at our clubhouse.

The Ray Meisenheimer Memorial Museum, located in our clubhouse, is home to the Bruno & Opal Benson Fossil Collection and our hands-on educational exhibits. Several exhibits and collections are geared to match California earth science curriculum standards for elementary and high school students as well as to help Boy and Girl Scouts earn badges related to geology. To arrange a field trip visit with your classroom or scouts, call (805) 312-VGMS (8467) or contact us here.

We have exchanged rocks with several clubs, including clubs as far away as Australia and Scotland. It’s a great way to get to know other clubs, as well as see what kind of rocks, minerals and fossils they have in their area. Materials will end up enriching our clubhouse museum cases, and duplicates  of the same material will be used in our Silent Auctions or Ways & Means Raffle to generate funds for the many education programs we provide to the community, and for our yearly scholarships.

What’s In It: Generally, 15-18 rocks, minerals and/or fossils (depending on what is available to you in your area), with tags identifying common and scientific names, and location item is from (preferably what’s available in your area), in a small compartment tray box (like what’s used for tackle or hardware; I found some inexpensive ones at Harbor Freight). The size I usually aim for is ‘walnut size’, as it fits in those compartments.  Flat rate boxes from the Postal Service work great for mailing and aren’t too expensive. We have very generous members who donate some really nice pieces to the project out of their own collections; there are no ugly/scrap ‘leaverites’ in these boxes!

Clubs that are interesting in participating should contact the editor for more details. See Contact page.

Results from CFMS/AFMS Show in June 9-11th, 2017; the editor is proud to announce that the  display featuring the Rock Box Swap Project won First Place for a Society Education Case!  The Editor would like to thank the following clubs for their participation: Huntsville Gem & Mineral Society (Alabama), Spring River Gem & Mineral Club (Arkansas), Geelong Gem & Mineral Club (Victoria, Australia), Scottish Mineral & Lapidary Club (Leith, Scotland), New York Mineralogical Club (New York), Maine Mineralogical and Geological Society, and the No. Mississippi Gem & Mineral Club.