Category Archives: Archive

It was a huge success! Everyone put in long hours and it paid off. Weather was nice, with rain keeping to nighttime hours. We had one new dealer, and a new activity: gold panning. The silent auction had a lot of great material from the Hauser house, and the plant sale and country store had lots of stock, and steady sales. The event happening across from us on Saturday brought in a lot of people keeping dealers and volunteers busy all day. Kids booth, demonstrators, exhibits, raffle – all up to our usual high standards. The food was great and we even had a traditional waffle and bacon breakfast on Saturday. Fun times!

The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society’s 56th Annual Gem, Mineral, Fossil, & Lapidary Show is coming to the Ventura County Fairgrounds (10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura), on Sat., March 3 (10AM-5PM) and Sun., March 4 (10AM-4PM). There are going to be beautiful displays, the annual Country Store & Plant Sale, silent auctions and a raffle for great prizes, kids activities, demonstrators showing rock cutting and jewelry-making techniques, and all sorts of dealers selling rocks, fossils, minerals, jewelry, and lapidary arts supplies. Entrance to the show is free, although there is a $5 parking fee imposed by the fairgrounds.

At least three members (that we know of) have been seriously affected by the Thomas Fire. Friends have set up GoFundMe pages for them:

Maria Flores & Raul Barraza

Dani & Henry (Pebble Pup)

Julia Mowery

Please help if you can!

Held about five months after our own VGMS Gem Show and midway between the Oxnard and Conejo shows, the Ventura County Fair provides another opportunity for our members to show off their gems, minerals and jewelry, but this time with the additional excitement of competition. The Fair runs for 12 days and sees about 300,000 visitors. Our own Diane Cook is the Superintendent of the Gem and Mineral and Hobbies, Models, and Collectibles building. She relies on her staff and many volunteers before, during, and after the fair to make this a fulfilling event for all. But it wouldn’t be anything without the exhibitors. The VGMS and our two neighboring gem clubs participate and compete fiercely amongst ourselves, assuring a strong presence at the Fair.

Here is a list of awards VGMS members won in Gems and Minerals in 2017, which encompasses mineral and fossil collecting, jewelry making and lapidary arts. First are the ribbons (blue=1st, red=2nd, white=3rd, pink=4th), followed by additional awards.

Raul Barazza: 1 blue (Pebble Pup case)
Nancy Bogart:1 blue
Frank Boulch:2 blue, 1 pink, Fair Theme ribbon
Jim Brace-Thompson: 11 blue, 4 red, 3 white, 2 pink, Best Fossil Case, Judge’s Choice (2), Staff Favorite
Nancy Brace-Thompson: 2 red, 2 white, 1 pink
Angela Brown: 3 blue, 3 red, 1 white
Luther Brown: 1 blue, 1 red, Judge’s Choice
Diane Cook: Unable to compete, but her non-competitive exhibit won Director’s Choice anyway! Also, Staff Favorite for opal gem tree.
John Cook: 2 blue, 7 red, 4 white, 1 pink, Best Lapidary Case
Kathryn Davis: 4 blue, 2 red, 1 white, 3 pink, Superintendent’s Favorite, Judge’s Choice
Mike Havstad: 5 blue, 1 red, 1 pink, Best Single Mineral
Lucia Hetrick: 2 blue, Best Novice Case
Shirley Layton: 1 blue
Gary Leberknight: 1 red, 1 white, 1 pink
David Mautz: 4 blue, 6 red, 2 white, 3 pink, Best Single Fossil
Jared McGowan: 1 red, 1 white, 2 pink, Judge’s Choice
Jeff Miller: 2 blue, Best Mineral Case, Director’s Choice
Adrian Ruiz: 1 red, 1 white, 1 pink
David Springer: 2 blue, 4 red, 4 white
Miriam Tetreault: 4 blue, 1 red, 1 white
VGMS: 2 blue, 1 white, Judge’s Choice, Staff Favorite
Phyllis White: 3 blue
Terry Wilson: 5 blue, 3 red, 1 white, 1 pink, Judge’s Choice, Best Jewelry Case
Ron Wise: 7 blue, 6 red, 1 white, 1 pink, Best Single Lapidary, Judge’s Choice (2), Staff Favorite

It takes a lot of people to pull off a county fair. VGMS members filled these important roles:

Staff:
Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson
Angela Brown
John Cook
Krishna Juarez
Shirley Layton
Adrian Ruiz

Demonstrators:
Sandra Butchko
John Cook
Laura Driskell
David Mautz
Dick White
Phyllis White
Ron Wise

Setup, Intake, Judging & Take Down:
Andy Anderson
Raul Barazza
Angela Brown
Luther Brown
Laura Driskell
Jeff Geist
Shirley Layton
Adrian Ruiz
Dick & Phyllis White
Ron Wise

Floor Walkers:
Stuart Bloom
Nancy Bogart
Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson
Luther Brown
Kathryn Davis
Laura Driskell
Austyn Frisk
Adrian Ruiz
Richard Slyker
Miriam Tetreault
Dick & Phyllis White
Terry Wilson
Ron Wise

The Ventura County Fair is still going on, and we had great representation in the Gem and Mineral area. Read all about it, and who won what, here: VGMS and the Ventura County Fair.

June 9-11, VGMS hosted the CFMS-AFMS Show & Convention at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.  Thanks to everyone who volunteered and/or put in displays, plus our hard-working Show Committee for making it all happen.  We broke the record for the most competitive entries at a Federation show!  We heard time and time again how great the show was, how well organized it was, complimented us on the variety of displays, and how welcomed they felt.  In addition to that, VGMS won the AFMS All American Club Award (a club yearbook for 2016 events) and the CFMS Sweepstakes Award (for receiving the highest point total for a club for competitive exhibits).

Photos from the show are coming soon! Stay tuned…

This year’s show is hosted by the El Dorado County Mineral & Gem Society, and held September 16 – 18 in Placerville, CA. More info: CFMS 2016. This Show & Convention is just after the 2016 World Gold Panning Championships at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds September 11–18. If you haven’t made reservations at any motels, do so immediately.

Competitive and Non-Competitive Exhibit Entry Forms deadline August 1st, 2016. Competitive Entry Form. Non-Competitive Form.

Advanced Registration deadline is also August 1st, 2016. Advance Registration Form.

The VGMS will once again be hosting the CFMS Show in 2017, and this time the AFMS will join us. Our theme is “Ventura Rocks the Nation!”. Every year the AFMS piggybacks onto one of the seven regional federation shows. It will be at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, June 9 – 11, 2017. Visit the website: 2017cfms-afmsshow.com. We held a contest for theme and logo design. Congratulations to Jim Brace-Thompson for the theme, and Brett Bednorz for the logo!

The California and American Federations of Mineralogical Societies sponsor a “Rockhound of the Year” program whereby local societies may recognize and honor an individual or couple who have provided exemplary service over the course of the year. Such individuals are awarded a certificate and pin from CFMS, and their good works are publicized in both the CFMS and AFMS newsletters.

Blake Hahn was named VGMS Rockhound of the Year at the 2015 holiday dinner. Soon after joining the VGMS in 2014, he jumped right in and volunteered to help wherever needed, especially with maintenance and improvements to our clubhouse. He has installed shelving and lighting, repaired the front door and installed new locks, and helps in repairing and maintaining our rock saws. In 2015, he joined our ranks of Shop Stewards and has made himself available for a second workshop day each month, overseeing and assisting members using our equipment.

Anyone who has had any interaction with Blake knows he’s great to work with and to be around—always cordial, upbeat, and ready to lend a hand. He sets a model for us all to follow!

At the Pacific View Mall, kids rushed forward to see fluorescent minerals
glow in the dark during our “Amazing Mineral Magic Show.”

Our educational outreach program goes beyond schools and scouts. In the fall of 2015, VGMS members Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson, John & Diane Cook, Kathryn Davis, & David Mautz wowed kids at the Pacific View Mall with two different programs for the Kids Club, a group sponsored by National Geographic Kids which comes to the mall once a month for a presentation related to science. In September our team focused on rocks and minerals in general, and volcanic rocks in particular. In October, they presented “The Amazing Mineral Magic Show”, focusing on rocks and minerals with special effects, such as floating, fluorescence, magnetism, cat eye and star effects, and fiber optic effects. They distributed specimens of magnetite with small magnets, ulexite (TV stone), tiger eye and pumice to each child to keep and play with at home.

Held about five months after our own VGMS Gem Show and midway between the Oxnard and Conejo shows, the Ventura County Fair provides another opportunity for our members to show off their gems, minerals and jewelry, but this time with the additional excitement of competition. The Fair runs for 12 days and sees about 300,000 visitors. Our own Diane Cook is the Superintendent of the Gem and Mineral and Hobbies, Models, and Collectibles building. She relies on her staff and many volunteers before, during, and after the fair to make this a fulfilling event for all. But it wouldn’t be anything without the exhibitors. This year 26 VGMS members entered 232 items and cases into competition, with dozens of additional items exhibited non-competitively.

Here is a list of awards VGMS members won in Gems and Minerals. First are the ribbons (blue=1st, red=2nd, white=3rd, pink=4th), followed by additional awards.

Raul Barazza: 1 white
Ron Beck: 1 pink, Director’s Choice plaque
Aileen Beckers: 1 blue, 1 white
Russ Beckers: 1 red, 2 pink
Frank Boulch:1 blue, 1 white, Superintendent’s Favorite, Judge’s Choice, and Fair Theme ribbons
Jim Brace-Thompson: 13 blue, 9 red, 4 white, 3 pink, Best Single Fossil plaque, Staff Favorite, Judge’s Choice (2)
Nancy Brace-Thompson: 2 blue, 1 white, Judge’s Choice, Staff Favorite, 3rd Place People’s Choice
Angela Brown: 2 blue, 5 red, 2 white, 3rd Place People’s Choice
Luther Brown: 1 blue, Staff Favorite
Sandra Butchko: 1 blue, Judge’s Choice, 1st Place People’s Choice
Diane Cook: Unable to compete, but she supplied many, many non-competitive exhibits. 2nd Place People’s Choice
John Cook: 2 blue, 4 red, 5 white, Best Lapidary Case plaque, 2nd Place People’s Choice
Greg Davis: 1 blue
Laura Driskell: 1 red, 1 white
Maria Flores: 1 blue, 1 white
Marie Haake: 4 blue, 5 red, 2 white, 6 pink
Mike Havstad: 2 blue, 1 white, Judge’s Choice
Shirley Layton: 1 pink
David Mautz: 4 blue, 6 red, 5 white, 5 pink
Jeff Miller: 1 white
Rich Slyker: 5 blue, 4 red, 2 white, 3 pink, Single Jewelry Item plaque, Jewelry Case plaque
Miriam Tetreault: 4 blue, 2 red
VGMS: 2 blue, Best Club Case plaque
Dick White: 1 blue
Phyllis White: 1 pink
Terry Wilson: 9 blue, 2 red, 2 pink
Jean Wise: 1 red, 2 white
Ron Wise: 7 blue, 3 red, 2 white, 4 pink, Judge’s Choice

In addition to Gems and Minerals, the following VGMS members entered and won ribbons elsewhere at the fair. They all won ribbons but I didn’t track them; only additional awards are indicated here. If you entered elsewhere at the fair and aren’t mentioned here, please let Diane Cook or Terry Wilson know so we can add you to the list!

Hobbies, Models, and Collectibles:
Raul Barazza: Staff Favorite ribbon
Frank Boulch
Jim Brace-Thompson: Judge’s Choice ribbon
Luther Brown: Staff Favorite ribbon
Aileen Beckers: Judge’s Choice ribbon
Russ Beckers
John Cook
Maria Flores

Home Arts:
Aileen Beckers
Diane Cook
Dick White
Terry Wilson: Nominee for Baked Goods Best of Show

It takes a lot of people to pull off a county fair. VGMS members filled these important roles:

Staff:
Kat Austin
Jim Brace-Thompson
Nancy Brace-Thompson
Angela Brown
John Cook

Demonstrators:
Nancy Bogart
Sandra Butchko
John Cook
Wendy Holder
David Mautz
Dick White
Ron Wise

Setup, Intake and Judging:
Andy Anderson
Raul Barazza
Angela Brown
Greg & Valli Davis
Bob & Laura Driskell
Jeff Geist
Shirley Layton
Heidi Mauer
Susan Slyker

Floor Walkers:
Aileen & Russ Beckers
Stuart Bloom
Nancy Bogart
Luther Brown
Kathryn Davis
Maria Flores
Richard Slyker
Miriam Tetreault
Dick & Phyllis White
Terry Wilson
Jean & Ron Wise