Author: Alan Molineux

The bulletin
Newsletter of victor valley
Gem and mineral club
Ph. (760) 243-2330
January 2007

To all,
A very
Merry
Christmas
and joy and happiness
in 2008…..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)…….Patti Deer……………………...553-6550
Recording Secretary….Alan Molineux………………..951-7064
Treasurer…………………….Janet Flecher………………..949-9347
Board Members
Cyndy Mandell………………...244-7169
Lloyd Guilliam..………………..962-6844
Pat Estes………………………...948-7324
Charles Toles……………………242-9240
Past President……………..Nick Beall…………………..……246-7117
CFMS Representative..Carole Mc Michael.………..961-7659
Standing Committee Chairmen
Wagon Master…………..Janet Flecher…………………..949-9347
Historian…………………….Elizabeth Clark…...…………..241-9786
Maintenance……………...Charles Toles.…………………..242-9240
Librarian…………………….Ralph Powers…………………….951-2937
Newsletter…………...….Alan Molineux…….……………..951-7064
Sunshine Lady………….Carol Laszlo……………………….247-5369
Displays………….………….Kate Waterman………………..946-5881
Raffles……………………...Charles Toles…...……………...242-9240
Scholarships…………….Andrew Turner….……………..962-0095
Legislative Rep………..(Vacant)
Photography…………...Bob Harper………………………...947-6383
Hospitality………………(Vacant)
Parliamentarian……..Dennis Harbison………………….247-5559
Gem Show & Tailgate
Co-ordinator…………..JoAnn Beall………………………….246-7117
Instructors
Nick Beall, Joann Beall, Janet Flecher, Jim Fosse, Gil Gilbert, Dennis Harbison, Tom Laszlo, Virgil Melton, Oscar Delgado, Joe Kosik, Lloyd Guilliam and Kate Waterman
Club Website—fosse.schema-root.org/vvgmc/

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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 60 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.
Upcoming club events
The Tailgate will be held on March 7, 8, and 9, 2008. At Bell Mountain. The gem show will be held on November 21, 22, and 23, 2008. at the fair grounds for now if any changes to this schedule members and venders will be notified.
From the editor
I’m writing this newsletter in December and am looking just around the corner to the upcoming year. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our members, their families and friends, peace, prosperity and every happiness in 2008...Ed

Club dues
Our yearly club dues became due at the November meeting. However if they are paid before December 31st, members can avoid a $5 late fee and will ensure continual receipt of the Bulletin newsletter. Single members are $20 p.a., couples are $30 p.a., and juniors are $5 p.a. See Jim Fosse, our membership director. Get your dues in as soon as possible to keep all of your club benefits.
Meeting dates
Our December Christmas Party was held on Tuesday, 18th at 6:30p.m. and the January general meeting will be held on Tuesday the 22nd.
Around the club
Remember, as the money we collect from shop fees diminishes and maintenance costs rise, we have to be aware that our club machinery has been around for quite some time and we have to treat our machines with care. Next time you’re working on a project in the shop, ask an instructor if you’re using the equipment correctly. They’re there to help and share their advice…..Ed

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Sunshine news
Wayne Flanders has been a member of VVGMC since January 1991. Wayne and his wife Nancy have been very active in our organization. Wayne has been in ill health for sometime now and will be going in for surgery on an aneurysm in a artery on Wednesday December 12th at Kaiser Hospital in Fontana. From all the members of VVGMC we want you to know that you are wished a speedy recovery and that you will be in our thoughts and Prayers. We all look forward to your renewed health and returning back to the things you love to do. We look forward in seeing you back at the Club House. Until then, lets let Wayne and Nancy know we are thinking of them by sending them a card or just by giving them a call. Spread a little sunshine, it does make you feel good and the recipient feel even better that you thought of them.
This just in from our Sunshine Lady—Wayne Flanders is doing much better after surgery and we are very happy to hear of his recovering health.
Bob Pudue from Diamond Pacific in Barstow passed away suddenly on Wednesday December 5th 2007. Our organization sends it's heartfelt condolences to his family and friends for their loss.
SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING SPECIAL, REQUIRES A CAKE, REQUIRES A CANDLE, CAN IT BE? IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THOSE MEMBERS BORN IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER AND JANUARY.
December: Oscar Delgado 12/04/, Patrick Lyons 12/12/,Alan Molineux 12/11/, Carol Laszlo 12/22/, Kirk Radewell 12/17/, Jennifer Salais 12/05/, Charles Scott 12/02/, Pat Tyler 12/01/, Virgil Melton 12/21/, Gladys Lechner 12/05, Ken Davis 12/12/, Roberta Coe 12/06.
January: Barbara Burbeck 1/31/, Louise Acherson 1/11/, Charles Asendorf 1/05/, Barbara Pedrow 1/10. Happy Birthday to you all.
If you know of anyone who is ailing and needs a phone call or a card, please call Carol at 760-247-5369.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone. Sunshine Lady

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January 2008

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	No Instructor’s meeting for the month of January.	1	2 / Board Meeting at 7p.m.	3 / Wagon Master’s / Meeting / 7p.m.	4 / Isaac / Newton’s / Birthday—1643.	5
6 / Workshop begins at 12 noon.	7	8 / Workshop / 6—9p.m.	9 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	10 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	11 / International / Thank you / Days / 11th—18th	12
13 / Workshop begins at 12 noon.	14	15 / Education / Night 7p.m.	16 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	17 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	18 / A.A. Milne’s / Birthday / (Winnie the Pooh) / 1882.	19 / Popcorn Day
20 / Workshop begins at 12 noon.	21 / No name / calling / week.	22 / Pot luck Dinner 6:30p.m. / General Meeting / 7:30p.m.	23 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	24 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	25	26
27 / Workshop begins at 12 noon.	28 / Space / Shuttle / Disaster—1986.ewton	29 / Workshop / 6—9p.m.	30 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	31 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.

Deadline for February issue of the bulletin is Monday, February 11th. Ph. (760) 951-7064 or email amolineux@gmail.com

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Around the shop

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These are pictures I took around the shop some time ago. Each member has his or her samples they are quite proud of and so I took a picture of these—who I believe belong to Gaylan Graves. Kate Waterman has a sample she is eager to show off and our president, Tom Laszlo is working on his faceting skills.
Lloyd Guilliam is working on a cab. I featured this photo in a previous issue. He proudly shows off two finished cabs in the last photo.
Members often come in to the club to use the machines and I’ve seen some impressive projects being worked on.
I meet many folks when I come into the shop to take photos for the Bulletin. Often members will stop and chat and bring out a piece—finished or not that they are particularly proud of and they are only too happy to tell me what it is and where they got it from. Maybe I’ll see you next time I pop by the club. If I do I’ll probably take your photo for the next issue of the Bulletin…..Ed

C.f.m.s
I attended last weekend’s Director’s meeting in Visalia because I am a CFMS (California Federation of Mineralogical Societies) volunteer and will be heading up the Bulletin Aids committee for the next two years.
Some of you probably don’t know what the CFMS is. It is a group of dedicated volunteers. Most of the rock clubs in California belong to the CFMS and most of the dues go toward paying for liability insurance for the member club’s field trips, etc., something that has, sadly, been used in the last few years.
What was discussed at the meeting?
Much of the discussion concerned next year’s CFMS show which will be held June 27-29 in Ventura. Bural La Rue, who is the upcoming CFMS president will be show chairman. Current CFMS president Dick Pankey will be display chairman.
Pankey is hoping that most CFMS clubs will have a club display. It is a great way for club members to show what they are doing and to advertise the clubs he said. There will also be competitive and non-competitive displays. More information can be seen on the CFMS website at http://www.cfmsinc.org. One of the expenditures of the CFMS is the mailing of monthly bulletins to three people in the club which is normally the club’s president, federation director and newsletter editor. That needs to be updated. I know that because I receive a monthly newsletter and I haven’t been the newsletter editor or federation director in several years. That form can be found on the CFMS website.
By Doug Arnold
Club Member

The origins of new year’s day
New Year’s Day, first day of the year, January 1 in the Gregorian calendar. In the Middle Ages most European countries used the Julian calendar and observed New Year's Day on March 25, called Annunciation Day and celebrated as the occasion on which it was revealed to Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God. With the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, Roman Catholic countries began to celebrate New Year's Day on January 1. Scotland accepted the Gregorian calendar in 1600; Germany, Denmark, and Sweden in about 1700; and England in 1752. Traditionally the day has been observed as a religious feast, but in modern times the arrival of the New Year has also become an occasion for spirited celebration and the making of personal resolutions. The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah, or the Feast of Trumpets, and is prescribed by the Old Testament as a holy Sabbath. It is celebrated (generally in September) on the first and second days of Tishri. The Chinese celebrate New Year’s Day sometime between January 21 and February 19 of the Gregorian calendar. It is their most important holiday. Encarta

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C.f.m.s dues
The dues paid by Member Societies for CFMS are $1.50 annually per individual member, regardless of membership classification. The only exception is for CFMS Honorary members. Some clubs have interpreted this as meaning club or society honorary members, also. The intent of the Bylaws was to exclude CFMS Honorary members only. A change to the Bylaw was made in 2003 to add "CFMS" in front of Honorary in ARTICLE IV DUES: Section 1: to clarify any misunderstanding.
At our November 10th Directors' Meeting the directors approved the insurance charge of $6.00 per "active" member" for 2008. As defined by our insurance company (the basis for our rate) an "active member" is any member who attends one or more functions each year. This includes activities such as, but not limited to, general membership meetings, annual picnics, Christmas gathering, field trips, participation in shop or classes, etc. Any attendance and/or participation in a club activity creates liability exposure and therefore requires payment of the insurance charge. Our insurance renewal date was October 16th and the Federation has already paid the entire premium for this year.
Dues are due and payable by January 1st based B your membership list as of December 31st, which should accompany the dues payment. Dues and insurance for 2008 are $7.50 for all classes of members and for all "active members." The dues/insurance payment form is in this Newsletter along with the Officer Change Form or they are available from your Director. Please send your dues payment, membership list and officers change form to Pat La Rue before the end of January.
By Dick Pankey
CFMS President

January from the roman god, janus
In Roman mythology, Janus (or Ianus) was the god of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings, and endings. His most apparent remnants in modern culture are his namesakes, the month of January and the caretaker of doors and halls: (Janitor). Janus was usually depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions.
Janus was frequently used to symbolize change and transitions such as the progression of past to future, of one condition to another, of one vision to another, the growing up of young people, and of one universe to another. He was also known as the figure representing time because he could see into the past with one face and into the future with the other. Hence, Janus was worshipped at the beginnings of the harvest and planting times, as well as marriages, births and other beginnings. He was representative of the middle ground between barbarity and civilization, rural country and urban cities, and youth and adulthood.
Wikipedia.com

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Wanted—Rocks, Lapidary,
Materials & Equipment.
Call Charles Toles.
Home (760) 242-9240 Cell (760) 220-6748.

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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Snail
Mail
Stamp

Another
bulletin
Expressly for

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.

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