- The VGMS is a member of
California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS)
American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS)
Author Archives: Troy Schmidt
Scholarship
March Fieldtrip
In March we visited multiple private rockyards and were allowed to sort through tons and tons of great material. Our participants found wonderful rough, slabs and even some specimens at bargain prices!
Annual Show
Our show in March was a great success. A big thank you to everyone who came to support us!
Our next show will be March 7-8, 2026…you won’t want to miss it.
Proclamation
On January 14, 2025, the Board of Supervisors of Ventura County recognized VGMS with a “Proclamation Honoring Ventura Gem and Mineral Society Upon Their 80th Anniversary Celebrating a Legacy of Education, Community, and Excellence in Earth Sciences.”
Pebble Pup News – March 2023
Read more about what we are up to in Rockhound Rambling, pages 18-19: March 2023 Rockhound Ramblings
2026 VGMS Gem Show March 7 & 8
The 63rd Annual Gem, Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry Show of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society (VGMS) takes place March 7 and 8, 2026 (10:00 AM–5:00 PM, Saturday; 10:00 AM–4:00 PM, Sunday) at the Ventura County Fairgrounds (10 W. Harbor Blvd, Ventura, CA). The show is open to the public and admission is free (although the Fairgrounds charges a parking fee if using the Fairgrounds lot).
[We’ll post the postcard here]
The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society was founded in 1944 to encourage interest in rocks, minerals, fossils, jewelry-making, and related areas through education, activities, and exhibitions such as this annual show, which is open to the community. The society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization and welcomes individual and family members. VGMS hosts monthly talks on earth science topics and jewelry arts, makes presentations to area schools, and conducts field trips for members and guests that often involve collecting rocks, minerals, and fossils in southern California and neighboring states.
The Ventura Gem Show is the society’s major fund-raising event helping to underwrite educational activities, including the annual college scholarship and school visits and donations. For further details, call (805) 312-8467, email info@vgms.org, or visit our web site at www.vgms.org.
2026 Exhibitor Entry [will add link when available]
E.P. Foster Library Display
Each year, VGMS installs an exhibit in the glass display case gracing the main reading room of downtown Ventura’s E. P. Foster Library. This year was no different. On the morning of February 1, several members gathered: Robert Seaton, Brett Johnson, Brett Bednorz, Art Lopez, and Nancy and Jim Brace-Thompson. David Springer also took part from afar, having passed along a sphere for display at our last club meeting.
The exhibit both promotes our March show and educates the community about our society and the many facets of our hobby. Thus, we showed off a wide range of specimens: fossils, rocks and minerals, lapidary and jewelry work, and beading. We augmented the specimens with photos showing activities within the club and within the community at large. Also, because this is in a library, we included a small array of books about minerals, fossils, and lapidary arts, and Robert arranged for a selection of books from the library itself to be on display in a bookshelf alongside our exhibit.