Author: Alan Molineux

The
bulletin
Newsletter of the
victor valley
Gem and
mineral club
Ph. (760) 243-2330
august 2010

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Your officers for 2010
2010 Executive Committee
President……………………...Cyndy Mandell……………..244-7169
1st V.P (Membership)..Gayland Graves……………..902-3249
2nd V.P (Education)…….Val Costello…………………..963-3974
3rd V.P (Gem & Mineral Show chairman)
Lois Papner……...…………………………………………………… 244-7169
Recording Secretary….Alan Molineux……………….951-7064
Treasurer…………………….Kerry Molineux .…………...951-7064
Corresponding Secretary..Lynn Hallock…………...951-1736
Board Members
Don Pomerenke………….…868-5264
Lloyd Guilliam..………….….962-6844
John Printz….………(951) 255-9158
Carole Mc Michael..……..961-7659
Past President……………..Gil Gilbert………………….…868-6900
CFMS Representative...Pat Estes ………….…..……948-7324
Standing Committee Chairmen
Wagon Master…………..Blaine Witte…………………….244-8211
Historian…………………….Jonathan Vanderloop…….245-2313
Maintenance……………...Ed Deren .………………….252-7009
Librarian………………….…Lois Papner…….………………..244-7169
Newsletter…………...…..Alan Molineux…….…………...951-7064
Sunshine Lady…………..Pat Coleman……………………..985-2388
Displays………….………….Andrew Turner………………..962-0095
Raffles……………………...Ellen Gilbert..…...……………..868-6900
Scholarships……………..Andrew Turner….…………...962-0095
Photography………….....Alan Molineux…………………..951-7064
Hospitality……………..…Mike Stafford…….…………..248-7404
Purchasing Officer…..Don Pomerenke……………...868-5264
Tailgate……….…………….Brett Ward………………………948-1232
Virgil Melton…………………….948-2849
Training Coordinator..Lloyd Guilliam…………………962-6844
Instructors
Ed Deren, Jim Fosse, Gil Gilbert, Joe Kosik, Pat Estes, Virgil Melton, Gayland Graves, Don Pomerenke, Charles Toles, Cyndy Mandell and Lloyd Guilliam, John Printz, and Ed Skidmore.

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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 an active role 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 July meeting was on Tuesday the 27th, and the August meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 24th at 7:30p.m.
concerning the
Once—paper
bulletin.
The first time we printed our Bulletin electronically we had (as I expected) some hiccups. Hopefully, now, everyone is getting the Bulletin in the format they require.
Remember we are trying to be as “green” as possible. We realize that some folks don’t have a working online connection and so if you still require a “hard” copy, then contact our Bulletin Editor—Alan Molineux at (760) 951-7064.
Club Website—www.vvgmc.org

On the front cover
I took this photograph when I was at Quartzite, AZ. I know it’s a geode and that’s about all I can tell you. I’m sorry I can’t be more descriptive!
Club field trips
As Blaine Witte, our Wagon Master explained at the recent general meeting. Summer is upon us and consequently, field trips will be put on hiatus for a month or two. It’s going to be too hot to go out and look for and haul back rocks. Summer is traditionally a time when members go on vacation anyway and so attendance at the club drops appreciatively. If members have their own cutting and polishing equipment at home then they prefer to work in the cool of their own home rather than come out to the club.
I’m working on this Bulletin in advance because my wife and I are going off to Washington in July. I heard last night at the general meeting that instructor, Ed Skidmore wants to lead a field trip out to Rosemon, past Lancaster to harvest the area’s rocks and minerals. I hear he wants to go out on July 10th.
Education night
Mr. Austin Marshall of the local Mitsubishi plant at Cushenberry will be our Educational speaker in July.

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Around the club

This is the club, the night of the monthly meeting. The parking lot is always full.

The Bulletin board has important information. This A/V equipment is used a lot
on educational nights!

The office in the club is really small! You can’t see the club computer or printer—they are behind the door. Nevertheless, board members and instructors use this space to work in (when necessary) and pick up their mail.

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Around the club—continued

The club is full on general meeting nights. We love to eat!

Here’s just a part of the spread! Our club always has a raffle.

Club merchandize is available for sale - See Pat Estes—she can always help you out!

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August 2010

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1 Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.	2	3 Instructor’s / Meeting at 6p.m / Board Meeting at / 7p.m.	4 / Workshop / 1-9p.m.	5 / Workshop / 1-9p.m.	6	7 / Workshop / 12noon—5p.m.
8 Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.	9	10	Workshop / 1-9p.m.	12 / Workshop / 1-9p.m.	13	14 / Workshop / 12noon—5p.m.
15 Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.	16	17 Education Night / 7p.m.	Workshop / 1-9p.m.	19 / Workshop / 1-9p.m.	20	21 / Workshop / 12noon—5p.m.
22 Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.	23	24 Pot Luck / 6:30p.m. / Monthly General / Meeting 7:30p.m.	25 / Workshop / 1-9p.m.	26 / Workshop / 1-9p.m.	27	28 / Workshop / 12noon—5p.m. / Club Clean up 9a.m.
29 Workshop / 12 noon—5p.m.	30	31

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

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V.v.g & M.c Board meeting - July
There will be no board meeting minutes in July as most of the Board will be out of town on vacation.
However, there was an Instructor’s meeting at the usual time of 6p.m.

Thank you Gayland!
Thank you so much for running the monthly meeting in late June—you did a great job. The meeting ran well and everyone was happy. You followed the agenda and everyone enjoyed the meeting.
Kerry and I won’t be in town for the August meeting as we’ll be out of town. Sheryl Grinnell will be doing my duties for me—thank you Sheryl!

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V.v.g & M.c General meeting - june
Gayland Graves stood in for Cyndy Mandell as club president.
Pat Estes said VVG&MC did well with their exhibit at the CFMS show in La Habra/Whittier. She thanked everyone involved for their hard work.
Blaine Witte (Wagon Master) said about 20 people went on the Hector Mine field trip. Due to the hot weather, field trips will be curtailed now for a month or two.
Our recent auction of used equipment was very successful and the proceeds will be added to those of the next auction to possibly buy a new piece of club equipment.
Club Scholarship checks have been sent out and thank yous returned.
Pat Estes spoke about raffling a seat at the upcoming Zyzyx jewelry camp. Unfortunately it is full but we will be raffling a seat at the Zyzyx camp or Camp Paradise in the north for next year.

Children Writing About the Ocean…
If you are surrounded by ocean, you are an island.
If you don't have ocean all round you, you are incontinent.
(Alex, age 7)
My uncle goes out in his boat with 2 other men and a woman and pots and comes back with crabs.
(Millie, age 6)
Some fish are dangerous. Jelly fish can sting. Electric eels can give you a shock. They have to live in caves under the sea where I think they have to plug themselves into chargers.
(Christopher, age 7)
The ocean is made up of water and fish. Why the fish don't drown I don't know.
(Bobby, age 6)
My dad was a sailor on the ocean. He knows all about the ocean..
What he doesn't know is why he quit being a sailor and married my mom.
(James, age 7)
Sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like Emily Richardson. She's not my friend any more.
(Kylie, age 6) These are part of an e-mail sent to me by my friend, Susan Birrell.

Friday, May 21st was Serendipity Day at Topaz School. Virgil Melton and Cyndy Mandell helped over 100 students make a copper spiral cage pendant. The students were able to select a polished stone of their choice to insert into the cage and then wear it around their necks. Virgil also shared sample pieces of turquoise of various colors and sizes and explained how it was formed.

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Wanted—Rocks, Lapidary, Antiques,
Collectibles, Tools & Clean Outs Materials & Equipment.
Call Charles Toles.
Home (760) 951-0372 Cell (760) 220-6748.

White Buffalo & other turquoise—from various states. Priced per piece
Contact Virgil Melton (760) 900-0507

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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Club features

We have slabs for sale available at the club that new members can work on.

Our club has been operating since 1947 and periodically we have to buy new equipment. Recently—due to the heavy workload as many members used the equipment, it was decided to buy new lapidary machinery. Our instructors and maintenance people spent an inordinate amount of time working on our old equipment to try and keep it running. I guess, in a nutshell, buying new equipment is the price of success!
Pictured here are new carborundum wheels, new saws and new grinding wheels for the genies. There is much more new equipment in the silver and casting room and members need only look around the club itself to see where the money goes.
We want to keep the equipment functional and available to all to use. Everything is done for a reason and the next time you come in to the club to work on one of your projects, think of those who buy, clean and maintain the equipment you use—remember, they are members—just like you!

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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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