Author: Alan Molineux

The bulletin
Newsletter of victor valley
Gem and mineral club
Ph. (760) 243-2330
March 2008

Tailgate 2008
Yes, folks, Tailgate 2008 is nearly here. Clear your calendars for March 7th, 8th and 9th. We’re going to have a lapidary event that promises to be fun and interesting for everyone. This is our 32nd annual tailgate and we have lots of activities planned. There will be a field trip, camping, food and drinks available to buy and vendors will be offering a range of stones, (both rough and finished), equipment, books and jewelry for sale.
Look for more details on pages 4 and 5 of this issue for times, activities and a detailed map with easy directions.

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Your officers for 2008
2008 Executive Committee
President……………………..Tom Laszlo……………………...247-5369
1st V.P (Membership)..Jim Fosse………………………..245-8644
2nd V.P (Education)…….Patti Deer……………………...553-6550
3rd V.P (Gem & Mineral Show chairman
Gil Gilbert……………………..868-6900
Recording Secretary….Alan Molineux………………..951-7064
Treasurer…………………….Janet Flecher………………..949-9347
Board Members
Joe Kosik……...………………...241-0894
Lloyd Guilliam..………………..962-6844
Pat Estes………………………...948-7324
Charles Toles……………………242-9240
Past President……………..Nick Beall…………………..……220-1215
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…………………….Mary Lou Flecher………..….949-9347
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 Chairman...Gil Gilbert….……………………..868-6900
Tailgate……….…………..Committee
Instructors
Nick Beall, Joann Beall, Janet Flecher, Jim Fosse, Gil Gilbert, Dennis Harbison, Tom Laszlo, Virgil Melton, Oscar Delgado, Joe Kosik, Lloyd Guilliam, Kate Waterman, Cyndy Mandell, Pat Estes and Chuck Forsyth. 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 61 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
Our February meeting was held on Tuesday, 26th at 6:30p.m. and the March general meeting will be held on Tuesday the 25th.
Shop times changes
Winter is always a slow time for club members working on the machines and so it was decided to delete the 1st and 5th Tuesdays as shop days from our club calendar. These changes will take place immediately and we apologize for an inconvenience this might incur.
New Members
Marhal Upson, Benjamin Wieden, William Lane and Michael Fosse all became new members at our January general meeting.

New
Committees
Two new committees have been formed. We have a by-laws committee with members, Kerry Molineux, Gloria Guilliam, Cyndy Mandell, Gil Gilbert and Charles Toles. They will meet to go over our existing by-laws to see if the member’s interests are being served and to make amendments where necessary.
The other is the Finance Advisory Committee. When the Budget committee completed its duties, the name was changed and a new directive was assumed. This committee looks into financial matters concerning the club and reports and makes recommendations to the board to make their job a little easier. Carole McMichael, Cyndy Mandell, Lois Papner, Gil Gilbert and Alan Molineux. Janet Flecher attends in a support and advisory capacity.
Lifetime membership
Maybe this should have been titled “Better Late Than Never”…… Life membership was awarded to Wayne and Nancy Flanders and also to Bob and Faith Harper. This was passed at the January Board meeting.
Cyndy Mandell and Pat Estes were also made instructors at that meeting. Congratulations to everyone. It is always a good thing when the club recognizes years of service and in the case of new instructors, the wealth of talent they bring to the club.

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March 2008

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
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Workshop 2 12noon— 5p.m.	Instructor’s 3 / Meeting 7p.m.	Board Mtg. 9 / 7.p.m	Workshop 5 / 1-9p.m.	Wagon Master’s 6 Mtg. 7p.m. / Workshop 1—9p.m.	7	8
Workshop 9 / 12noon— 5p.m.	10	Workshop 11 6—9p.m.	Workshop 12 / 1-9p.m.	Workshop 13 / 1-9p.m.	14	15
Workshop 16 / 12noon— 5p.m.	17	Education 18 / Night 7p.m.	Workshop 19 / 1-9p.m.	Workshop 20 / 1-9p.m.	21	22
Workshop 23 / 12noon— 5p.m.	24	Pot Luck 6:30 25 Monthly Mtg.7pm	Workshop 26 / 1-9p.m.	Workshop 27 / 1-9p.m.	28	29
Workshop 30 / 12noon— 5p.m.	31

Deadline for the April issue of the Bulletin is Monday, March 17th. Ph. (760) 951-7064 or email amolineux@gmail.com

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Orange Belt Mineralogical Society’s
SPRING TAILGATE
When: Friday through Sunday,
March 14th, 15th & 16th.
Location: Little League Regional Ballpark
6707 Little League Drive
San Bernardino, CA
What:Two dozen (or more) tailgaters.
Open 9a.m., to dusk.
$50 fee to tailgate.
Contact:Lyle Strayer, (909) 887-3394
Free Admission & free parking.

FEDERATION REPORT
by Carole McMichael
Tri-Federation Rendezvous Announcement
Northwest, Rocky Mountain & California Federation of Mineralogical Societies
When: May 21-26, 2008
Where: Texas Springs, Nevada half way between Wells, NV and Twin Falls, ID just south of Jackpot, NV
What: Beautiful pink limb casts, petrified wood, other agate
Fun: Pot luck dinners, daily happy hour, campfires and good collecting to be enjoyed by all.
See flyers on the counter near bulletin board for further details and contact information. If you plan now, you may be able to attend on Memorial Day Weekend.
Also coming up: Federation Gem and Mineral Show – Ventura, CA fairgrounds – June 27-29 – (See flyers on counter)
Aug. 31 – Sept 6 & Sept 7 - 13 (either week or both) – CAMP PARADISE near Oroville, CA – A week long series of classes and training in silver smithing, wire wrapping, carving, faceting, cab making, beading, casting, and more. (See flyers on counter for details and costs) Sponsored by CFMS – just for YOU! Sign up early – now is NOT too soon.

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Around the shop

Joe Kosik grinds a piece of jasper on Kerry Molineux is polishing a piece the Genie. of turquoise in the “Silver room”.

The new office is taking shape, Pat Estes put together a great
thanks to Nick Beall and Tom Laszlo. merchandise display case.

Here’s Ben Wieden, Charles Toles Our club president, Tom Laszlo is and new instructor, Pat Estes are showing some visitors around our in the saw room doing some facility. Here they are with Ben housekeeping. Wieden in our saw room.

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TERMINOLOGY by Bob Menelly
Lapidary – The cutting, polishing and engraving of precious stones.
Mineralogy -The study of minerals.
Dop stick — A wooden or metal dowel approximately 5 inches in length used to hold a stone for grinding purposes.
Dop wax — A type of wax used especially for holding a stone to a
dopstick. Green wax is used for most stones, a
faceted stone may be held with a brown or red wax.
Pickle — An acid bath used for removing oxidation from metals
(silver, copper etc.)
Pickle Pot — A crock pot used to heat the pickle mixture.
Wire terms—Half round, flat, round, triangle and square.
Rouge — A polishing compound used for polishing silver and other
metals. Red Rouge is typically used as the final polish,
while several others are used for pre-polish (Tripoli or Zam)
Slab — A slice of a larger rock, usually about ¼” thick.
Template — A plastic or metal sheet with various sizes and shapes outlined to make a cabochon.
Free-form — A shape of stone made without following a specific tem
plate, but rather following the lines of the stone itself.
Bezel — The metal edge formed around the stone to secure it in place.
Bale — The loop of metal used to allow a chain to pass through for a pendant.
Pavilion — The pointed portion of a faceted stone.
Girdle — The outside diameter of a cabochon or faceted stone.
Table — The top of a cabochon or faceted stone.
Lap — The metal, corundum or diamond wheel for grinding.

pecial Thanks To:
Nick Beal and his friend who repaired our broken silver press
Bob Menelly for making the All-U-Needs and tables like new again
Charles Toles for faithful maintenance of our equipment
To all the instructors who make workshops possible for all of us.

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Getting Your Money’s Worth?
Supplied for you by the club:
Grinding room
Template selection Aluminum marking pencil Large flat lap
Dop pot Dop wax Sphere maker
Aprons Safety goggles Cleaning rags
Degreaser Hot and cold water Paper towels
Corundum wheels 3 Genie cabochon makers
4 All –U-Need flat laps Foredom
Saw room
Oil for saws Selection of saws Tools for tightening
Rubber mats for safety Safety glasses Wood blocks for shims
Aprons Degreaser Saw Blades
Mop Mop bucket Steam Cleaner
Hot and Cold water Cleaning rags
Silver room
Buffer Pickle
Buffing compound Pickle Pot
Buffing wheels Wax for casting
Gloves Centrifuge
Drill press Flasks
Tripod Vacuum casting
Torches Bracelet & ring mandrell
Acetylene ViceSteam Cleaner
Oxygen Anvil
Fire bricks Safety glasses
Aprons Draw bar
Scales Strikers
Burn Out oven Sand Blaster
Maintenance & Instruction Staff
And…..
Monthly Newsletter, Education Programs, Microscope, Full Kitchen, Field Trips, Monthly Pot luck meal, Christmas Party, Picnic, Tailgate, Library books and videos, First Aide kit, Gem Show, Restrooms, Board to take care of business & financial details, Committee to keep bylaws current, bulletin board, catalogues, Membership roster to help you contact other members, classes, and on and on the list goes.
NOT BAD FOR $20.00 PER YEAR!
(Dues have not been raised in over 11 years)

What are you giving back to the club?
Are you serving in any area? Want to serve? Let your President know you can help. We all have talents and time we can share.
We have one of the best, nicest equipped Gem Clubs in the State – Maybe in the US? Others before us sacrificed to give it to us – let’s take care of it.
WE NEED YOU to help make things run smoothly- please volunteer to make your club all she can be!

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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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Congratulations to you both
Andrew Turner and Natalie Sheppard were married in Victorville on Saturday, February 2nd 2008. Andrew has been a member of the Victor Valley Gem and Mineral Club since 2004. Andrew works on a club committee which issues scholarships to students majoring in geology. a
Sunshine Report
Carol Laszlo is our Sunshine Lady and she reports that everyone is enjoying good health at the moment...however, if you know of any member who is ill or in need of cheering up then let Carol know and she will be happy to send them a card. Call her at 247.5369.
Quote for the day
Work thou for pleasure--paint or sing or carve The thing thou lovest, though the body starve-- Who works for glory misses oft the goal; Who works for money coins his very soul. Work for the work's sake, then, and it may be That these things shall be added unto thee…..
Kenyon Cox (World of Quotes.com)

Glendora classes
The Glendora GEMS is in the process of moving one of the largest
Lapidary/Geoscience programs in the country from Glendora High School to bigger and better facilities in Pomona. Not only will the novice to expert student be able to cut and polish stones; they will learn mineral identification techniques, as well. The classes will be
sponsored by the Pomona Unified School District in what is known
as "The Tower" located on 1425 E. Holt, less than a block west of
Indian Hill. The hours are Tuesday 5pm-9pm. You are welcome to come and see what is happening! For more information call Bonnie at (626) 963-4638 or online at: ybidwell2@aol.com
Information e-mailed to me by club member, Doug Arnold.

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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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