Author: Alan Molineux

The
bulletin
Newsletter of the
victor valley
Gem and
mineral club
Ph. (760) 243-2330
november 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……..Bobbie Kaufman…………………….868-5120
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 October meeting will be on Tuesday the 26th and the November meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 23rd at 7:30p.m.
Club Website—www.vvgmc.org
Stone carving class
There was another free Stone Carving class in Whittier from noon till 4p.m. on Sunday 10/17.
Jonathan Vanderloop was setting up a carpool which left the VVGMC clubhouse at 8 a.m.
Members were asked to bring a small object to copy e.g. lizard, road runner, bunny, tree, car, and some material to carve.
The instructor was able to supply some tools and soapstone to carve.

On the front cover
I took this photo at our 2010 club barbeque and picnic—held on October 16th. There was a good turnout but of course, I would’ve like to have seen more members. There’s a follow up article on the next two pages of the Bulletin.….Ed
New
arrival
Everett Mark Turner was born at 8:09 pm on October 21, 2010 at Loma Linda University Medical Center after over 30 hours of labor. He was 7 lbs 13 oz and 20.5 inches long. Mommy (Natalie), baby, and brother (Donovan) are doing well.
Sunshine Lady
Our new Sunshine Lady is Bobbie Kaufman who is finishing the year out, started by Pat Coleman. Pat has other obligations and can no longer work as our Sunshine Lady.
Our past member Kate Waterman suffered a massive heart attack and stroke yesterday. She is not expected to survive.
In memoriam
Joe Kosik passed away on 10/18/2010 and Susan Rhea, Brett Ward’s wife of 11 years passed away three weeks ago after an illness. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family members of both these people….Ed

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V.V.G & M.C Picnic for 2010

The girls are chatting. At another table conversation continues.

It’s a relaxing way for members just to sit and talk to each other.

In January of 2010, I featured Natalie Turner and newly born Donovan on the front cover of the Bulletin—now, just 10 months later, Donovan is walking as Dad (Andrew) leads him around at the annual picnic. The Picnic was again held at Doris Davies Park in Victorville—once known as Pebble Beach Park. Here, our members have a relaxing time!

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V .V.G& M.C picnic for 2010 (Cont.)

Although some members didn’t want their photograph taken, they were persuaded to pose and I think the photos came out rather well—then again I may be a little biased…..Ed.

Club Christmas Party
We will be having our Christmas Party on Tuesday, December from 5—9p.m. at the Taste Buffet on Bear Valley Road on the corner of Bear Valley Road and 7th Street—in the Food For Less Center.
The price is $11 per person (including drinks and tax). The club will be paying the tip for the group. Also if you sign up on the sheet in the clubhouse by December 1st you will be getting a discount. (We are unsure of the size of the discount but it will probably be around $3—$4 per person.)
Children under 10 years get a reduced price from the buffet.
No Checks please—cash or debit cards only. You must be a member (or a junior member) and signed by December 1st to get our discount.
The buffet offers Asian food with fresh sushi (made throughout the day), seafood, pizza, ribs and much more.
Don’t forget to bring something for our auction
It can be rocks, slabs, cabs, a finished piece or maybe something else.

Silent Auction
We are holding a silent auction at the club to sell off our used rock saws.
We are auctioning off a 12” Lortone saw with a minimum bid of $30. We have a 16” Lortone saw with a minimum bid of $40 and a 16” Highland Park saw with a minimum bid of $40. We also have a 24” Highland Park saw with a minimum bid of $100. The last day for bids is Wednesday, November 24th and a bid form is located on the Bulletin board at the shop.

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December 2010

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
			1 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	2 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	3	4 / Workshop / 12noon—5p.m.
5 / Workshop / 12noon—5p.m.	6	7 Instructor’s / Meeting at 6p.m. / Board Meeting at 7p.m.	8 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	9 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	10	11 / Workshop / 12noon—5p.m.
12 / Workshop / 12noon—5p.m.	13	14	15 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	16 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	17	18 / Workshop / 12noon—5p.m.
19 / Workshop / 12noon—5p.m.	20	21 / Club Christmas / Party at 5p.m.	22 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	23 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	24	25 / Club closed / On Christmas / Day
26 / Workshop / 12noon—5p.m. / (Maybe—Call first!)	27	28	29 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	30 / Workshop / 1—9p.m.	31

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Deadline for the December issue of the Bulletin is Monday, Dec.20th.Ph.(760) 951-7064 or email me at amolineux@gmail.com

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Omya mine field trip
The Omya field trip will take place Saturday, October 30th.
We plan to start about 7:00 pm at the Omya plant in Lucerne Valley.
Howard Brown will make a presentation about the geology and the rocks and the rules for about 30 minutes or so (while it gets dark), then we will go up to the quarry for collecting. It could go until 10 pm at the latest.
People need to dress accordingly, sturdy shoes, it could be cold and windy, or nice, who knows?
If you have hard hats bring them, if not we can provide. we would prefer no children under 6 especially at night.
Cars can make it to the quarry, but we prefer SUV or pickup truck. Bring short wave ultraviolet light and flashlight.
Directions to Omya plant in Lucerne Valley
Highway 18 east to Lucerne Valley. The road will fork in "downtown"
Lucerne Valley. Bear right (highway 18) towards Big Bear, and go 1/4 mile to the stop sign at Crystal Creek road. Turn right and head up the hill to the plant. The Omya plant is the first limestone plant in Lucerne Valley. We will meet at the Admin. Building on the right when you enter the plant area.
The trip is limited to the first 20 people who sign up at the club.
Instructions for participants:
Park in the parking lot of the Omya administration building at the plant.
Rest rooms will be available at the plant.
Long pants and sturdy closed toed shoes are a requirement for the quarry tour
Hard hats and eye protection will be required. Omya can provide
hard hats and eye protection for those who do not have them.
October weather could range from sunny and cool to windy and cold. Depending on the weather that day, I would recommend bringing a jacket.
We will gain approximately 3000 feet in elevation going to the quarry from the plant and correspondingly lose about 5 degrees in temperature. With no sun to warm you up, it can get chilly in a hurry.
Transportation at the mine: OMYA has a few vehicles to transport us out to the Quarry, however, if you have a vehicle that can handle rougher roads then a car, and are willing to drive it out to the mine, please let us know.
Cyndy

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Adam Dean assisted them with carefully digging out a beautiful slab of pinkish colored Amethyst as others gathered around to witness the process. We were also treated with a viewing of a juvenile tortoise who was waking up from his den under some rocks. The children who attended the trip were delighted to see this little guy come out into the sun and walk around.
It was a great day and we had a wonderful time getting out again after the long hot summer and having a chance to add to our collections.
Members listen to instruct- ions before heading off on their field trip.
A great many members went
on this field trip!

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Over 90 rock hounds and more than 40 vehicles ventured out into the Mojave desert Saturday, October 9, 2010 to find Christmas Tree Agate under the supervision of Adam and Teresa Dean. Everyone met at the Dairy Queen in Ludlow at 7:30 a.m. and began their trek at 8:00 a.m. after signing release forms. The trip out took about an hour and required four wheel drive vehicles. The desert had a glow to it as the sun was lighting up the hills and plants and the sun was rising higher in the sky it was a wonderful day for rock hunting. The temperature was just right and we were very comfortable as we climbed the side of a hill digging and looking for green rocks with hints of red in them. There were many small pieces to be found without digging, but the bigger pieces were found as the heartier of us dug pits looking for material.
A couple of the Victor Valley Gem and Mineral Club members, Ed and Deborah Beresford, started digging a very deep hole after finding some crystals on the surface they were rewarded with a find of Amethyst.

Recent field trips.

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

Attention all Newsletter Editors
and Prospective Editors
There is a society devoted to helping you with your monthly newsletter—both content and grammatical
construction.
S.C.R.I.B.E is the Special Congress Representing Involved Bulletin Editors.
Members have years of editorial experience and are only too willing to help you.
Dues are just $6 a single or $8 for a couple.
See Doug Arnold at (760) 885-7409.

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V.v.g & M.c General meeting - September
Val Costello—2nd V.P (Education) was out of town for this meeting.
Lois Papner—3rd V.P (Gem and Mineral Show) reminded members the club had decided not to proceed with a 2010 show due to lack of vendor support.
Andrew Turner announced that we had a response to our scholarship e-mails.
Ed Deren and Charles Toles mentioned that we would be having a silent auction for some of our old saws (See p.5 for details).
Lois Papner mentioned that the get together for a club library committee had been postponed.
Mike Stafford announced that our club picnic/barbeque would be held on Saturday, October 16th at Doris Davies Park.
Cyndy Mandell mentioned our upcoming election for board members.
Tuesday, October 12th is to be an evening where members demonstrate various lapidary skills to new and prospective members so they can see what is available. It will count as one of the three events prospective members need to join the club.

V.v.g & M.c Board meeting - october
The treasury report was passed out, read and accepted.
Silent auction procedures would be updated and changed for the next auction.
Bids would be sought to repair the electronic panel for Kaman Bearing that was believed to be damaged by a city garbage truck.
It was decided to retain a 10 year membership tenure to enable someone to qualify for Lifetime Membership.
Val Costello said that Dr. Melchiorre would speak on Australian Black Opals at October’s Education Night.
new member applications were tendered.
A thermostat was purchased for the air conditioning unit. A plastic security box also needs to be purchased.
Pat Estes said she has been in contact with a lady in Northern California who, with the material provided could make club vests. She will look into it further.
The club is buying badges and hangars to given at the Christmas party for a previous year’s service.
John Printz is working on a map of rock collection—field trip sites to be put on a CD for member’s use.
Pat Estes was nominated for Lifetime Membership.

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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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