Author: Alan Molineux

The
bulletin
Newsletter of the
victor valley
Gem and
mineral club
Ph. (760) 243-2330
April 2009

1 2

Your officers for 2009
2009 Executive Committee
President……………………...Gil Gilbert……………………...868-6900
1st V.P (Membership)..Gaylan Graves………………..948-1918
2nd V.P (Education)…….Val Costello…………………...963-3974
3rd V.P (Gem & Mineral Show chairman)
Virgil Melton……………………………………………948-2849
Recording Secretary….Alan Molineux……………….951-7064
Treasurer…………………….Carole Mc Michael .……..949-9347
Board Members
Don Pomerenke………………868-5264
Lloyd Guilliam..………………..962-6844
John Printz………….…………..957-7414
Charles Toles……………………951-0372
Past President……………..Tom Laszlo…………………..….247-5369
CFMS Representative...Pat Estes ……………..………..961-7659
Standing Committee Chairmen
Wagon Master…………..(Vacant)
Historian…………………….Joe Kosik…………………………..241-0894
Maintenance……………...Charles Toles.…………………..951-0372
Librarian………………….…Dwayna Barron………………...963-3974
Newsletter…………...…..Alan Molineux…….…………....951-7064
Sunshine Lady…………..Marie Gramata…………………245-3775
Displays………….………….Andrew Turner………………...962-0095
Raffles……………………...Charles Toles…...……………....951-0372
Scholarships……………..Andrew Turner….…………....962-0095
Photography………….....Alan Molineux…………………...951-7064
Hospitality……………..…John Prinz…………………………..957-7414
Tailgate……….…………….Brett Ward…………………………948-1232
Virgil Melton………………………948-2849
Training Coordinator..Lloyd Guilliam……………………962-6844
Instructors
Ben Weiden, Jim Fosse, Gil Gilbert, Tom Laszlo, Virgil Melton, Joe Kosik, Pat Estes, Gaylan Graves, Charles Toles and Lloyd Guilliam
Club Website—www.vvgmc.org

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
The March meeting was held on Tuesday, March 24th at 7:30p.m. and the April meeting and pot luck will be held at the clubhouse on Tuesday, 28th at 6:30p.m.
Sunshine lady
Marie Gramata is our Sunshine Lady and she phones members and their families who have illness, are bereaved, or are about to or have had an operation. If you know of any member who would like a card from Marie then please contact her on (760) 245—3775.

In memoriam
Bob Harper recently passed away. Bob was a lifetime member of the club and worked as the club photographer. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Faith and his family. He will be sorely missed.
Tailgate 2009
My wife, Kerry, and I went to the Tailgate on Saturday, March 14th. Kerry worked in the Food Tent and I strolled around the event talking to folks and taking photographs for the Bulletin.
I was gladdened to see so many members there. Club members were there selling their wares, some were enjoying the event, and others still were volunteering the many capacities an event like this offers.
I don’t doubt that our club president will thank everyone who worked at the event in due course but I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated in, volunteered for and whose presence helped to make this event a success. I know it’s dangerous to single out one person and not mention others but I must say I was amazed at the time and energy Brett Ward put in to the event. Once again—thank you to everyone!

3

Faces of Tailgate 2009

4

These are just a few of the folks I saw at the 2009 Tailgate.
So many people were there—volunteers, customers and browsers. Vendors, couples and families.
The weather was perfect and everyone seemed to have a good time. There was just so much to do. Things to look at and buy, people to say “Hi!” to and I believe a good time was had by all

5

April 2009

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
National / Kite / Month	Financial / Literacy / Month	California / Earthquake / Preparedness / Month	1 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	2 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	3	4 / National / Square root day.
5 / Workshop / 12 noon–5p.m.	6	7Instructor’s / Mtg—6p.m. Board Mtg—7p.m. 7p.m.	8 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	9 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	10 / Safety pin / Patented in 1848.	11 / Spain cedes / Gibraltar / to Britain in 1713
12 / Workshop / 12 noon–5p.m.	13 / Jeffefrson’s / Birthday in 1743.	14	15 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	16 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	17	18 / Paul Revere’s midnight ride 1745
19 / Workshop / 12 noon–5p.m.	20 / National Playground safety week starts	21 / Education Night / 7p.m.	22 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	23 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	24 / Arbor Day	25 / Hubble Telescope / Launched in 1990.Workshop / 1—9p.m.
26 / Workshop / 12 noon–5p.m.	27 / International / Astronomy week / starts	28 / Pot Luck 6:30p.m. / General Mtg.7p.m	29 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	30 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	National / Zoo and / Aquarium Month.	National / Humor Month

Deadline for the May issue of the Bulletin is Monday, May 18th. Ph. (760) 951-7064 or email amolineux@gmail.com

6

7

Upcoming
Lapidary events
March 28-29 2009,
Torrance CA
South Bay Lapidary and Mineral Society. Torrance Recreational Center 3341 Torrance Blvd. Torrance, CA.
Hours: Sat. 10 - 5, Sun. 10-4 Roger Mills (310) 377-6226 Email: roger_mills@acm.org Website: http://www.palosverdes.com/sblap/
March 28-29:
Angels Camp, CA
Calaveras Gem & Mineral Soc. Calaveras Frog Town USA
Fairgds, Hwy 49 in Angels Camp
Hours: Sat. 10–5; Sun. 10–4 Tak Iwata (209) 928-5579
Website: Calaverasgemandmineral.org
March 28-29: Roseville, CA Roseville Rock Rollers
Placer County Fairgrounds 800 All America City Blvd., Roseville
Hours: Sat.10–5; Sun.10–4 Jim Barton (916) 847-7321 E-mail: geologist1@surewest.net
Website: www.rockrollers.com
April 3-5 2009 Bakersfield, CA
San Joaquin Valley Lapidary
Society
Kern County Faigrounds, 1142 South P. Street - Corner S. P & Belle Terrace Hours: 9-5 Daily
Contact: Lew Helfrich (661) 323-2663 cell (661) 378-4450
Email: lewsrocks@bak.rr.com

April 3-5 2009, Vista, CA
San Diego Co. Council of G&M Societies The Tractor Museum
2040 N. Santa Fe Ave. & Museum WayHours: Fri. Noon-5; Sat. & Sun. 9-5 Contact: Ray Pearce (760) 7570
Email: raysrocks@cox.net
April 4-5: Maraposa, CA
Maraposa Gem & Mineral Club
Maraposa County Fairgrounds Hwy 49 (S. of Historic Mariposa)
Hours: Sat.10–6; Sun.10–4
Diane Vereschagin
Email: mineralmuseum@sti.net
Website: www.thematrixmariposagemmineralclub.info/events.html
April 11-12 2009, Paradise, CA
Paradise Gem & Mineral club
Paradise Elks Lodge, 6309 Clark RoadHours: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-4
Carol Eggleston (530) 343-0894;
Cell (530) 321-6941
Email: cjeggy@chico.com
Website: www.goldnuggetwebs.com/PGMC
April 17, 18, 19, 2009, San Jose, CA 54th Annual CFMS Show, Nature's Showcase Hosted by the Santa Clara Valley Gem & Mineral Society
Santa Clara County Fairgrounds
334 Tully Road, Hours: 10-5 Daily
Email: info@scvgms.org
Website: www.scvgms.org
April 18 - 19 2009, Lancaster, CA
Antelope Valley Gem & Mineral club
Lancaster High School
44701-32nd St. West. Hours: 9-5 dailyVivian Watts (760) 373-1309
Email: vivea22@yahoo.com
Website: www.geocities.com.av.gem

8

From the March Board Meeting.
Because of the size of our CD, officers need $100,000 bond per person instead of our currend $2,500. Policies will be changed to accommodate this.
Allen Quality Maintenance will start soon and will strip and wax the floors on commencement.
Accessories will be bought to get out video projector ceiling mounted.
We have certification books and a certification page will be put in each new member’s folder.
Virgil Melton will give a small deposit for Building #2 at the fairgrounds to reserve a spot for our fair booth in November.
Tailgate is on March 13th—15th. Set up Wednesday, 11th, Food stocking Thursday 12th, and start up on Friday, 13th.
Space at the Zyzyx camp is limited so we will draw a member’ name on 03/04/’09 to attend.
Pat Estes spoke to the CFMS show coming up soon in San Jose.
Expense limit of just $200 without board approval. Beyond that it must be voted on.

9

From the February general meeting.
Val Costello is working on the lighting of the club showcases.
John Printz thanked all the kitchen helpers.
Pat Estes urged members to read one of the many CFMS Bulletins around the clubhouse to find out about CFMS field trips.
Virgil Melton and Dwayna Barron audited the books and found everything basically ok.
Val Costello gave the sunshine report—Bob Harper—heart attack, Joe Kosik - gout, Francis Gramata broke his hip, as did Betty Egges of Zyzyx and Tamara Cole is laid low with a bug.
Sign up sheet for help with the Tailgate on bulletin board.
Suggestion box—only Gil Gilbert has a key and it suggestions will be addressed at each board meeting.
John Printz, the Hospitality chairperson will buy all club provisions and supplies.
Ellen Gilbert will take over the club raffle from Charles Toles as of the March monthly meeting.
Gayland Graves and Bob Menelly recently cleaned the workshop. Gayland reminded everyone that it is a shared responsibility.
Gayland Graves noted there were 65 people at the February general meeting.

Rock of the Month
Obsidian
By Gayland Graves.
Obsidian is a glassy rock, it is volcanic glass and its name is said to come from a Roman who brought is from Lake Shalla in Ethiopia, the name of this Roman was Obsidian. Obsidian has the same minerals as granite, but cooled too quickly to crystallize. Obsidian has no crystalline structure, but it may contain rare tiny crystals of quartz, feldspar's, pyroxene and magnetite.
Being a siliceous glass it breaks with conchoidal fracture producing sharp slivers and should be handled with care. Obsidian has been used throughout ancient civilizations from jewelry to knifes, arrow heads and mirrors. They find dark nodules in Mexico, Arizona and New Mexico that are called Apache tears. There are many different types of obsidian, Snow flake, Mahogany, Sheen and Rain Bow, which all work well in the lapidary industry.
Specific gravity 2.3 - 2.60 Cleavage None
Hardness 5.5 - 7.0 Refractive Index 1.48 - 1.53

10

Education night
By Valeria Costello.
Gil Gilbert was our speaker on Tuesday, March 17th at 7:00 PM. The subject was on safety and the proper use of equipment and other tools required for silver-smithing.
Classes will be available at a later date as it takes time to purchase and prepare kits for the silver-smithing classes. Those of you that are interested in taking the class will need to sign up so we know how much material needs to be purchased to accommodate those members interested. A sign-up sheet will be posted on the bulletin board on the left side as you enter the club door. If you already have materials and tools to work with and want to get your certification ask the instructor on duty when the next silver-smithing certified instructor will be available.
April
The month of April—our spring month has a birthstone of a Diamond and the flower for this month is the Sweet Pea.

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.

There’s one more lapidary event I couldn’t fit on the events page…..
April 25 - 26 2009, Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz Mineral &Gem Society
Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
Corner of Center St. & Church
Hours: 10-5 daily
Don Welder (408) 353-2675
Email: wdeanweder@yahoo.com
Website: www.scmgs.org/newsite/shows/index.html

11

Snail
Mail
Stamp

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.

Printed on
30% Post-
Consumer Recycled paper

Another
bulletin
Expressly for

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
31