Author: Alan Molineux

The Bulletin
Newsletter of Victor valley gem & mineral club
January 2007

Happy new year!

As I look back on 2006, I have to say it was a good year. In my mind’s eye I a look back at the good times at the club. I’ve enjoyed the friends I’ve made there and always appreciate the time they give me, their smiles and their warmth. 2007 looks like it’s going to be a good year. We are starting with a new board, willing and helpful instructors and members who show a real interest in lapidary. When you see me, smile for the camera and show me what you’re making. You’re probably going to be in the next issue of the Bulletin…..Ed

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Your officers for 2007
2007 Executive Committee
President……………………..Tom Laszlo……………………...247-5369
1st V.P (Membership)..Jim Fosse………………………..245-8644
2nd V.P (Education)…….Mary Lou Flecher………...949-9347
Recording Secretary….Patti Deer……………………...553-6550
Treasurer…………………….Janet Flecher………………..949-9347
Board Members
Don Buhr………………………….244-9512
Joe Kosik………………………...241-0894
Vacancy……………………………………………..
Past President……………..Nick Beall…………………..……246-7117
CFMS Representative..Bob Harper……………………..947-6383
Standing Committee Chairmen
Wagon Master, Historian, Maintenance, Librarian, Newsletter/Editor, Sunshine Lady, Displays, Raffles, Scholarship, Legislative Representative, Photography, Hospitality, Parliamentarian.
(All of the above positions will at the January General Meeting)
Instructors
Nick Beall, Janet Flecher, Jim Fosse, Gil Gilbert, Dennis Harbison, Tom Laszlo, Virgil Melton, Oscar Delgado, Joe Kosik, and Chuck Forsyth.

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The victor valley gem and mineral club
was organized in 1947 and has been the focal point of High Desert rock hounds for the past 59 years. The club takes active roles in various civic activities. Membership is open to all persons interested in the gem and mineral hobby and lapidary arts. Meetings are held at the clubhouse located at 15056-B, 7th Street (behind Kaman Bearing) in the center of Victorville.
Visitors are always welcome.
For further information, call (760) 243-2330.
Meeting dates
The January general meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 23rd at 6:30p.m.
Sunshine club
I was working on the newsletter on Tuesday, December 12th and I called Marie Gramata, our Sunshine Lady. She told me that no-one was ill that she knew of. It was a relief to know that we were all hale and hearty and didn’t need her services. Marie went on to say that she would step down in 2007 and although she has enjoyed working for the club, her health dictates she needs a rest.

I don’t remember you.
I was chatting with member, Charles Toles the other day and I’m sure he won’t mind me recounting our conversation. It started as Charles was cutting a rather handsome rock with a saw. The pattern on the rock was striking and Charles said he’d had many compliments on the rock from others that had admired it. He went on to say that unfortunately, he could not remember where or when he had collected it. Over the years, Charles has gone on many field trips and has consequently collected pounds and pounds of rocks. Many were put aside to be worked on when the opportunity presented itself. There’s the rub. The rock was part of a huge collection that awaited attention. Unfortunately, memories and specifics have faded with time.
As Charles and I spoke, we agreed that it would be a good idea to inventory and label the rocks he had collected to prevent this from happening again. As for this particular specimen, pretty as it is, it is unlikely he will find more of it. It’s a lesson to be learned for next time. However, if this story helps anyone else avoid the same problem then maybe it was worthwhile.
In short, keep a diary of the places you collect specimens and then inventory your stock when you get home…..Ed

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Victor Valley Gem and Mineral Club
Field Trip
North Edwards Onyx Claim
Date: January 13, 2007
Time: 8:30 AM
Meeting Location: Burger King Parking Lot
in Kramer Junction off Rte 395.
Wagon Masters: Janet Flecher
For additional information Janet Flecher at 760-949-0796
This trip is for Colorful Travertine Onyx. The Onyx is highly banded and comes in a variety of colors in the range of reds, whites, browns, blacks and a host of additional colors. Each pit has different patterns and colors of Onyx. This material can range from hand sized chunks up to blocks weighing hundreds of pounds. This site is an active claimed owned by the Sierra Pelona Rock Club.
. The material is found in a moderately soft ash material in 2-7 foot deep pits. Digging in the soft material is required as collectors have removed all loose material on the surface. This is the easiest digging for any gemmy material in the region. This trip is open to children over the age of 8, however due to the nature of the site and the number of active pits; children must be under the control of an adult at all times. No running and/or horse play will be permitted. This trip requires about 2 miles of off road driving each direction. The road is desert sand and is in a relatively good condition.

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(North Edwards Onyx Claim Field Trip continued.)
This trip is suitable for all types of vehicles, except vehicles with lower than normal clearance. Walking at the site is less than 500 feet. Caution, you will get VERY dirty. Shovels, picks, buckets (to remove waste ash), hammers, pry bars, gads, etc. are required. This is the only site scheduled for this outing.
There are no known mine shafts in this area. Even though this is a January trip, snakes may be present. The open pits include unstable working faces that require due caution.
NO TUNNELING IS PERMITTED.
The trip leaders recommend that you bring gloves, spray bottle (water), rock hammer, pick, shovel, gads, pry bars, lunch, safety glasses, and adequate drinking water.
No alcoholic beverages will be permitted on this trip.

Here is a picture of me feeling self conscious and trying to make it look like I’m doing something for the camera. I’m in the silver room—which was vacant at the time. This will teach me to remain behind the camera next time. It’s a lot safer!

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I’m not often seen in front of the camera. In fact, it never happens. However, I stopped by the clubhouse tonight to take pictures for this issue of the Bulletin. Jim Fosse was the instructor on duty. I needed twelve pictures for this newsletter and I had photographed just about everyone there when Jim offered to take a picture of me.

January 2007

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	No instructor’s / meeting. / New Year’s / Day	Board / meeting / 7p.m.	3 Workshop / 1-9p.m. / Alaska becomes a state in 1959 / state in 1959	4 Workshop / 1-9p.m.	5	6
7 Workshop / begins at / 12 noon.	8	Workshop / 6—9 p.m.	10 Workshop / 1-9p.m.	Workshop 1-9p.m. / Wagon Master’s / Meeting 7p.m.	12	13 North Edwards Onyx Field Trip—8:30am
14 Workshop / begins at / 12 noon.	15	16 / Education / Meeting 7p.m.	17 Workshop / 1-9p.m. / Desert / Storm 1991.	18 Workshop / 1-9p.m.	Popcorn / Day 2006	20
21 Workshop / begins at / 12 noon.	22	23 / Pot luck / 6:30 p.m. / General / Meeting 7p.m.	24 Workshop / 1-9p.m. / California / Gold rush 1848	25 Workshop / 1-9p.m.	26 / Australia Day / 1788	27 / Mozart’s / Birthday / 1756
28 Workshop / begins at / 12 noon. / Shuttle disaster / 1986.	29 / Chinese / New Year	30	31 Workshop / 1-9p.m.

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It’s the same old grind

I caught both Gloria and Lloyd Guilliam at work in the club workshop when I arrived. Both are grinding cabs and concentrating on their work.

Chuck Forsyth is fitting some stones Resident instructor, Jim Fosse to a ring blank. watches Lloyd Guilliam grind away.

Chuck Forsyth assists Bob Menelly William Fabrizio is using a template with a project he’s working on. to measure a cab for size.

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Around the shop

Tom Laszlo is our club president for 2007. He has been the V.P in charge of membership and maintenance for quite a while now. Whenever something needs fixing around the shop, Tom gets the job done. It’s that “can do” attitude shown by many of our members who attend quickly and quietly to their appointed tasks that make the club run smoothly for the rest of us. In these photos, Tom is taking time out from his regular jobs to work in the shop. I caught him on the faceting machine bringing an amethyst to life with a combination of experience and patience.

I had a conversation with Charles Toles. In the first photo, he is in the saw room cutting a rock into slices. In this second photo is a picture of a rock that he has cut several times preparing it to become a rock sphere. Sphere making holds a particular interest for Charles and he would really like to meet up with someone else who shares the same interest. Charles left me his home phone number (760) 242-2240 and his cell number which is (760) 220-6738.
It is amazing how a piece of seemingly ordinary rock can be transformed after cutting and grinding into a wonderful, lustrous sphere.

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Support your sponsors

Some of our sponsors are club members and others are vendors that you might find useful. In any case, support these vendors if you can. The club benefits from the advertising.

For sale
This could be your ad. Buy, sell or trade any lapidary products, tools or novelties. Call me for attractive yearly rates in this monthly newsletter. Alan Molineux

Select Rocks & Slabs for Sale!
A huge selection of both local and “imported” rocks and slabs.
Call for details—
Janet Flecher
(760) 949-0796.

Rocks, Rocks, Rocks,
Buy slabs, cabs & rough from Joe!
Brazilian, Moss Agate, Wood, Jasper,
and Obsidian.
There is a sale on Bolo cords.
Club members (any club) 20% off at my house or 10% off at gem shows. I sell crushed Agate, Wood & Jasper for tumbling at $1.00
per pound. Call Joe Kosik (760) 241-0894.

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Desert River 21810 Hwy 18, #6
Apple Valley,
CA 92307.
(760) 961-2743
Cindy Hinojosa
Semi-precious gemstones, You can find us on the northern glass, metal, wood and side of Hwy 18.
bone beads. Freshwater East of Navajo Road, and a little pearls, seed beads, east of Rite-Aid. Come find usfindings, stringings, tools, we’re worth look. There’s plenty supplies, of parking in
classes the rear.
and more.

BEADS

Micky Coats
Assistant
Loan Officer
(760) 900-1846

Bob Coats
Loan Officer
(760) 912-9989

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CAPITAL MORTGAGE
Refinance and Reverse Mortgage Specialists

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Victor Valley Gem & Mineral Club
15056-B Seventh Street
Victorville, CA 92395-3811.
bulletin is the official monthly newsletter published by victor valley gem & mineral club and is distributed free of charge to both members and non
members.
Views expressed by authors in the articles which appear in the bulletin do not necessarily reflect those of victor valley gem & mineral club. Responsibility is taken by the editor alone.
Articles from this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in other lapidary news-letters if proper credit is given to the author and the bulletin.