Author: Alan Molineux

The
bulletin
Newsletter of the
victor valley
Gem and
mineral club
Ph. (760) 243-2330
january 2012

1 2

Your officers for 2012
2012 Executive Committee
President……………………...John Printz….……(951) 255-9158
1st V.P (Membership)..Corey Beck…….….…………242-3366
2nd V.P (Education)…….Terry Booth…..…(909) 223-1386
3rd V.P (Gem & Mineral Show chairman)
Jonathan Van DerLoop…………….245-2313
Recording Secretary….Alan Molineux……………..951-7064
Treasurer…………………….Ed Berresford .…………388-4229
Corresponding Secretary..Debbie Savacool….620-9845 Board Members Don Pomerenke………….….868-5264 All ‘phone numbers have Jim Fosse.……...………….…..245-8644
(760) area codes unless Ed Skidmore…...……………..242-5136
otherwise indicated. Gayland Graves……...…….902-3249
Past President……..……..Cyndy Mandell……………..244-7169
CFMS Representative...Debbie Berresford ...388-4229
Standing Committee Chairpersons
Wagon Master………….Blaine Witte…………………….244-8211
Historian……………………Jonathan Vanderloop…….245-2313
Maintenance……………..Ed Deren……..………………….252-7009
Terry Booth…………(909) 223-1386
Librarian….…………….…Lois Papner…….………………..244-7169
Newsletter…………...…..Alan Molineux…….………….951-7064
Sunshine Lady…………..Bobbie Kaufman.…………...868-5120
Displays………….…………. Vacant………………………………………………
Raffles……………………...Cyndy Mandell....…………….244-7169
Scholarships……………..Vacant……………………………………………….
Photography………….....Alan Molineux…………………951-7064
Hospitality………………..Mike Stafford……………….248-7404
Webmaster……………….Jim Fosse……………………….245-8644
Tailgate……….…………….Brett Ward…………………….948-1232
Jonathan VanderLoop……245-2313
Training Coordinator..Lloyd Guilliam……………….962-6844
Instructors
Bill Woody, John Hill, Cyndy Mandell, John Printz, Debbie Savacool, Don Pomerenke, Steve Hendrix, Ed Berresford, Pat Estes, Virgil Melton. Probationary instructors — Scott La Fond, Chieko Printz, Tina La Bau and Jessie La Bau. 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
Our January general meeting was held on Tuesday, 24th at 7:00p.m. and the February general meeting will be on Tuesday the 28th .
New board and
committee officers
We have a new board and new committee officers so take the time to look at page (2) for updates….Ed
Erratum
I have put a lot of new information in this newsletter—if I have made any mistakes—let me know…...Ed
2012
This year—2012 is a leap year. You’ll see that the month of February has 29 days. To know whether a year is a leap year, just divide the number of the year by 4. If it is exact then this will be a leap year.

Moving right along.
An Editorial
This is the first newsletter of the 2012. We have some new board members and some new committee members. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who gave the club direction in 2011—you did a good job! I would also like to thank you for time and talents, you have made the club what it is today.
Every year, some members take up the idea of volunteering for a particular position and others who have served their time drop out. A club is made up of personalities—some like yours and maybe some not so. If you feel you have something to offer the club then volunteer for a position and you might just be elected to it!
Did You Buy A Ticket?
The club is selling tickets for a 16” saw once in use at the club. We’re putting a price of $500 on it. One hundred tickets will be sold for $5 each. Once we have reached the $500 mark we can draw a winner. Have you bought your ticket yet? I’ve bought mine!
Thought for the day
So much of life is about perspective.
(Litquotes.com)
Tailgate # 36
This year’s tailgate is nearly upon us—
actually, it’s on March 9th, 10th, and the 11th. It’s time to start making our plans to come in and join the fun now! See pages 4 & 5 for details.

3

4

5

February 2012

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
			1 / Workshop / 1-9p.m.	2 / Workshop / 1-9p.m.	3	4 / Workshop 12noon—5pm Petrified Pups 9—2pm
5 / Workshop / 1—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—5pm
12 / Workshop / 1—5p.m.	13	14	15 / Workshop / 1-9p.m.	16 / Workshop / 1-9p.m.	17	18 / Workshop 12noon—5pm / Petrified Pups 9—2pm
19 / Workshop / 1—5p.m.	20	21 / Education/ / Demonstration / Night at 7p.m.	22 / Workshop / 1-9p.m.	23 / Workshop / 1-9p.m.	24	25 / Workshop 12noon—5pm
26 / Workshop / 1—5p.m.	27	28 / Pot Luck—6:30p.m. / Monthly General / Meeting—7:30p.m.	29 / Workshop / 1-9p.m.

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

6

7

Wanted—Rocks, Lapidary,
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

Up to 25% off retail—
See the Sports Memorabilia Man
Jonathan Vanderloop at (760) 245-2313
We specialize in hard to find teams!
NBA, NASCAR, NFL, UFC
COLLEGE, NHRA, & NHL
sportsmemman@yahoo.com

8

I’m Heading for Quartzite!
At least that was my plan—but I never made it! Scribe sent me an invitation to go and I booked the hotel room—but, illness prevented me from attending this year.
I was all set to go but had to cancel al the last minute. I’ve had this cold for a couple of weeks now and from all accounts I still have a week to go. I hear it’s going around—many of our members have been laid low by it and certainly know what it’s like. I’m a teacher and I catch at least one cold per year—probably from one of my students. I’m trying to be philosophical about it and saying that it’s part of life’s rich pattern. This is one of the memories I won’t look back on with fondness, but I will look back on it nevertheless.
On The Front Cover
The photograph on the front cover shows some sodalite rough for sale by a vendor at Quartzite. Many thanks to Cyndy Mandell for this cover photo...Ed

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.

Upcoming Lapidary Events.
February 17th—26th: Indio, CA.
San Gorgonio Mineral & Gem Society.
Gem & Mineral Bldg. #1, Arabia Street.
Hours: Fri & Sat 10a.m—10p.m daily.
Bert Grisham (951) 849-1674.
bert67@verizon.net

9

There’s Nothing Like Quartzite in January!

There were racks of finished stones and strings of beads and many other objects for sale.

The usual vendors were here selling all types of “rough” materials!

Some more examples of “rough” offered by vendors is seen here.
Many thanks to Cyndy Mandell for these photographs.

10

Minutes of the January Board Meeting
There would be a club policy that the public access computer would not be used by “on duty” instructors and members are not to print non-club business on the public access printer.
Bids are to be accepted to fix the heater problems at Kaman Bearings.
We will renew the lease on the Kaman Bearing Building for a further (2) years—as is.
There has been a rise in theft of personal equipment and so the security equipment inside the clubhouse needs to be upgraded.
The new by-laws committee will meet to assess the current bylaws and then recommend any changes to the board.
The new officers will go the bank and sign the signature cards.
Ed Berresford is to become the new treasurer.
The board thanked Carole Mc Michael for her treasurer work over the years.
An audit committee and a financial advisory committee will soon meet.
As a law officer, Scott La Fond will look into the wording of a sign to prohibit skateboarders from using the area near the club.
Ads in the Bulletin
The cost of putting an ad in the Bulletin has risen from $25 a year up to $30 each year. Payment is now due and I cannot continue to feature these ads without it.

February Field Trip
It's about time for another field trip. Folks have been asking to go
after material other than agate and jasper so for the next couple or so field trips I'll be focusing on other materials. I'd like to go out to The North Edwards travertine onyx claim on February 11th next. The material there is a banded onyx that is primarily red in color. Sometimes you can find
pieces with vugs that are filled with quartz crystals and blue agate. There is also some agate and jasper in the area to be found if you still want to go for that.
As long as we don't have heavy rains between then and now the road there is easy going for most vehicles. If we do have a heavy rain the roads will turn into a very treacherous mud even for four wheel drive and we would have to reschedule most likely. There will likely be some smaller pieces in float but to get the nice larger pieces we will have to dig.
Bring a pick and shovel for that. Otherwise bring your typical gear such as rock hammer, bag and spray bottle. Dress appropriately for what ever weather we will encounter. Bring water and food. We will meet at the Burger King at the corner of Kramer Junction (Hwy 395 & Hwy 58) at 9 AM. This is really beautify material and I hope we get a good sized crowd to go.
Blaine Witte, Wagon Master

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
31