Author: Alan Molineux

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

1 2

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……………………951-0372
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.…………………..951-0372
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…...……………...951-0372
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, Tom Laszlo, Virgil Melton, Joe Kosik, Pat Estes, Lloyd Guilliam, Kate Waterman and Cyndy Mandell.
Club Website—fosse.schema-root.org/vvgmc/

2 2

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 April meeting was held on Tuesday, 22nd at 6:30p.m. and the May general meeting will be held on Tuesday the 27th.
I’ve been away
Kerry and I went to Australia for two weeks in late March and early April to see my ailing father. We visited the Adelaide Gem and Mineral Club in Adelaide, South Australia and we enjoyed their warmth and hospitality as they showed us around their clubhouse and proudly showed off specimens and awards they had won. I will be sending a copy of this newsletter to them and so please forgive me if Kerry and I feature more in this newsletter than we normally do….Ed
Quote for today
There are three things that once let go can never be regained…
The winged arrow,
The spoken word and
an opportunity lost…...Anon.
Limiting the number of Cabs.
As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been absent lately and so missed the last board meeting. Club President, Tom Laszlo called me up and advised me that the board has set a limit on the number of cabs that can be cut in a day. There has been a cap set at seven cabs per day and it is hoped that in doing this, we will be able to prolong the life of our equipment and machinery. The board is looking for everyone’s support in this matter and hopes that all members can see the logic in setting this reasonable limit.

3

Adelaide Gem & Mineral Club

Jean Hickman & Betty Anderson. Betty shows off a club display case.

I’m shown upcoming club events. The club library was impressive!

Here’s one of their display cases and Bill Fradd works an opal cab on a diamond wheel. The A.G & M.C is in St. Peters. Kerry and I contacted Betty Anderson and we were shown around the club. Their warmth and hospitality was really special. Thank you to all of you. I hope you enjoy this newsletter—a small gift from us folks back in California.

4

Two eds are better than one!

There are times that I go to the shop and take photos for the upcoming newsletter—you know, nice shots of nice people doing what they enjoy most. But, occasionally—not often, I come across a real gem. Where else would this happen but in a Gem and Mineral Club? Men will gather and chat and compare finds and specimens as is shown here in this photo.
I was going to tell of Virgil Melton chatting with Ed Skidmore and Ed Deren—admiring his samples and enjoying the conversation. Then I realized, both Mr. Skidmore and Mr. Deren were called Ed. Who could resist this new caption? Maybe two Eds are better than one!
You may recognize the young lady on the front cover. She is Kerry Molineux. She was working away at an All-You-Need, putting a fine polish on cabs she would be giving as gifts to Australian relatives.

5

May 2008

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
National / Physical / Fitness & / Sports Month.				1 / Wagon Master’s / Meeting 7p.m.	2 / National Space / Day.	3
4 / Workshop / 12noon—5p.m.	5 Cinco De Mayo / Instructor’s / Meeting 7p.m.	6 / Board Meeting / 7p.m.	7 / Workshop 1-9p.m.	8 / Workshop 1-9p.m.	9	10 / National Windmill / Day (Holland)
11Mother’s Day / Workshop / 12noon—5p.m.	12 / California Gold Rush / Started—1848.	13	14 / Workshop 1-9p.m.	15 / Workshop 1-9p.m.	16	17”Sue” / Debuts at Chicago / Field Museum, 2000.
18 / Workshop / 12noon—5p.m.	19	20 / Education Meeting / 7p.m.	21 / Workshop 1-9p.m.	22 / Workshop 1-9p.m.	23 / World Turtle Day.	24
25 / Workshop / 12noon—5p.m.	26 / Memorial Day	27Pot Luck / 6:30p.m. & General / Meeting 7p.m.	28 / Workshop 1-9p.m.	29 / Workshop 1-9p.m.	30 First / U.S Newspaper / Published in 1783.	31

Deadline for June issue of the Bulletin is Monday, June 16th. Ph. (760) 951-7064 or email amolineux@gmail.com

6

7

Sunshine Report for May
Since my last report many of our members have been ill with a flu type bug and or real bad colds; and some have been admitted to the hospital for various reasons.
Bill Lane a new member was admitted to hospital for Cancer surgery.
JoAnn Beall a Life time member was ill with this flu bug as well as having some minor surgery. JoAnn is doing well now and is preparing for another day and trips to take. Cannot keep a good person down.
Faith Harper a Life time member was admitted to Desert Valley Hospital by the Paramedics with pneumonia on March 28, 2008. Faith is home now and is on the path to full recovery.
Barbara Pedrow was also hospitalized with a severe Asthma attack.
Joe Kosik returned home from his trip and unfortunately his allergies and or a cold combined struck him and he was under the weather for a few days.
Tom Laszlo also was struck with the flu type bug that is going around and was in bed for several days. His Asthma also flared up some. A good husband he is and likes to share everything, he shared this bug with me. Thanks a heap Tom, just kidding.
Marilyn Pierson has a broken arm and is going in for surgery on April 17,2008 to fix it.
No, I did not forget; see I'm improving, now I "CRS." This space is set aside for those who celebrate their Birthday for the Month of May. Happy Birthday wishes are sent out to the following members:
Nancy Mossawi May 2, Marjorie Cullimore May 3, Didi Maples May 5, Donald Buchanan May 8, Kate Waterman May 11, Charles Toles May 12, Sara Arnold May 13, Susan Parkison May 14, Arlene Jenni May 15, Carl Abadie May 21, Leo Hinkel May 21.
Happy Birthday to you all and don't look at the numbers, just look at how much you've accomplished and the knowledge and wisdom you have gained.
If anyone else has been sick or knows someone who has been ill, please give me a call, (Carol Laszlo) at (760-247-5369) and I'll be sure they receive a card to brighten there day.
Missed deadline
Although we missed the newsletter deadline, our club did have an outing to the Yermo Early Man Site on Saturday, April 19th. I’m hoping to show you some pictures in the next issue.

8

With age comes wisdom.
An old guy loves to fish.
He was sitting in his boat the other day when he heard a voice say, "Pick me up." He looked around and couldn't see any one. He thought he was dreaming when he heard the voice says again,
"Pick me up." He looked in the water and there, floating on the top, was a frog. The man said, "Are you talking to me?"
The frog said, "Yes, I'm talking to you. Pick me up! Then kiss me and I'll turn into the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. I'll make sure that all of your friends are envious and jealous because you will have me as your bride."
The man looked at the frog for a short time, reached over, picked it up carefully, and placed it in his front shirt pocket.
Then the frog said, "What! Are you nuts? Didn't you hear what I said? I said kiss me and I will be your beautiful bride."
He opened his pocket, looked at the frog and said,
"Nah, at my age I'd rather have a talking frog."
E-mailed to me by my dear friend, Ed Deren.
HUMOR FOR LEXOPHILES—LOVERS OF WORDS
Police were called to a day care where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.
The dead batteries were given out free of charge.
A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.
A will is a dead giveaway.
A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.
When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.
A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.
Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.
Acupuncture: a jab well done.
You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
A boiled egg is hard to beat.
When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, U.C.L.A.
(An E-mail sent to my wife, Kerry Molineux)

9

CFMS ZZYZX Workshop March 2008

Janet at her booth. Mary Lou at enameling.

Pat Estes at work. Mary Mary from Palmdale
Several members of the Victor Valley Gem and Mineral Club attended the Desert Studies Center in Zzyzx, California from March 23 through the 30th. This event was sponsored by CFMS and featured field trips and classes in silver fabrication, precious metal clay, wire art, soft stone carving, lapidary, and copper enameling.
The facilities at the Desert Studies Center included some beautiful views of Soda Lake and the nearby desert hills near the town of Baker. While some of us took our RV’s and camped at the dry campground others took lodging in the small, adequate rooms at the Center. Bathrooms and showers were centrally located and were quite suitable.
Attending from the club were Janet and MaryLou Flecher, Pat Estes, Lois Papner and Cyndy Mandell. We all enjoyed silver fabrication and some of us tried enameling and wire wrapping. Janet was able to fashion a new creative copper bracelet with a large turquoise stone that all admired.
Three meals a day were served by the kitchen staff in a beautiful sheltered patio. New friends and associates were made as we learned and shared with other lapidary artists…(E-Mail sent by Cyndy Mandell).

10

Wanted—Rocks, Lapidary,
Materials & Equipment.
Call Charles Toles.
Home (760) 951-0372 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.

11

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.

Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30