Ventura Gem & Mineral Society

Get ready for the VGMS Holiday Party! We will have the potluck, a gift exchange, installation of officers, and awards. Remember, it will be the second Wednesday, Dec. 11.

Doors open at 6 pm to start laying out the holiday bounty so we can eat at 6:30. Please sign up for food via our “whosbringingwhat” page.

We will be having a gift exchange too. If you’d like to participate, bring a hobby-related item in the $15-20 range, preferably wrapped. Please understand that this is not a white elephant gift exchange with gag gifts. Your gift should have something to do with our hobby.  We will use raffle tickets to draw names, and you keep the gift you pick (unless you agree afterwards to swap with someone). In other words, no stealing (although feel free to trade amongst yourselves)!

Finally we will have the installation of next year’s officers and any awards.

Our November meeting will be live at Poinsettia Pavilion on November 13th. We have a great Silent Auction planned!

Meeting time is 7:30 pm as usual, with a social time from 7 to 7:30.

Annual Ventura Gem Show

Our annual gem show is held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on the first full weekend in March. In 2025, the dates will be March 1 & 2. For more information visit our Show page.

Membership Highlights

VGMS members enjoy many benefits, including an annual gem show, field trips, lapidary instruction and use of equipment, monthly newsletter, museum, extensive library, social events, youth programs, and of course, camaraderie. To become a member, visit our Membership page and fill out the Membership Form at the bottom of the page.

VGMS Meetings

General meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of the month (except November and December – 2nd Wednesday).  The public is invited to attend any of our general meetings. We meet either on Zoom or at Ventura’s Poinsettia Pavilion in the Santa Paula Room (3451 Foothill Rd, Ventura, CA 93003) on the 4th Wednesday of every month, except November and December, when we meet on the 2nd Wednesday so as not to interfere with the holidays. Park in either the upper or lower lot, and enjoy an ocean view of Ventura from this hillside venue just below Two Trees.

Mission Statement

The VGMS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote popular interest in geology, mineralogy, paleontology, and related subjects. We sponsor lectures, classes, demonstrations, field trips and school visits to further education and interest both within VGMS and the community at large. Our annual gem show exhibits rock, mineral, fossil, and lapidary arts collections in order to share our hobby with the public. Find out more at About the VGMS.