(NOTE: "Conejo" pronounced 'kon-a-ho (n) is the Spanish word for "rabbit", hence the logo design at left, and was the name given by the early Spanish explorers in the early 1700's when they came through the valley and noticed the thousands of jack rabbits that lived here, thus designating this area the "Conejo Valley")

Serving Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Moorpark, Simi Valley and neighboring communities in and near the Conejo Valley area of Ventura County in Southern California

Choose a Page on this List - Club Membership - Annual Show - Pebble Pups - Links to other Clubs - Meetings & Programs - Show Pictures - Field Trips - Lapidary Shop - Code of Ethics

The Conejo Gem and Mineral Club (CGMC) is a non-profit organization run by volunteers.  The Club promotes and extends the knowledge of minerals, geology, fossils, lapidary arts and associated fields. Click here for a map to our Club Meetings & Lapidary Shop The CGMC was founded in 1971, and is a member of both the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies.

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Happenings:

Here are some current & upcoming things involving our club. If you read this or have something to say let me know. My e-mail is below. If you e-mail me things I can probably copy paste and add to the "Happenings" Don't expect photos yet, unless I post a link.

CGMC IS ON FACEBOOK John Rodrigues a member of our club set this up. It will be good to promote our club and show. Check it out. From John:
I set up a FANs of Page on Facebook for CGAMC. Any members that are on Facebook can become a fan and send the link to all of their friends on FB and so on... Any fan can then post whatever to the page that might be of interest. I am fairly new to FB but it works well for my Photography Workshops I am organizing. Hope it works for
the club. Email me if you have any questions.
Here is the link:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Conejo-Gem-and-Mineral-Club/359006179163?ref=ts
Thanks. Take care!
John Rodrigues

June 2010:

Club Meeting-June 10th Thursday. 7:30pm Hillcrest Art Center, 403 Hillcrest Drive. Thousand Oaks Click here for a map to our Club Meetings & Lapidary Shop

Youth programs start at 7pm, 30 minutes before the regular meeting.

The Board of Directors meeting will be June 17th Tuesday at the Hillcrest Arts Center.

The Prez Sez:Dick Weber
June: Not much at the moment! He and Mary Pat are in Washington State.
May: In Australia we discovered that most geologic features worth seeing must be located out in the middle of “frickin” nowhere. Ayer’s Rock, the national symbol of Australia, is a prime example. It lies 1000 miles from any major city and more than 250 miles off the nearest highway. But just a short drive from the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, Stone Mountain is the exception to the rule. While traveling through the Southeast last month we found that Stone Mountain and Ayers Rock share many of the same characteristics. The general size, height, and smooth dome shape of both places was eerily similar. Through time, erosion has created a smooth dome shape at these huge monoliths. As we drove around Stone Mountain we saw many of the same geologic features we had traveled over 10,000 miles to see Downunder. Only when you get up close can you see the difference in lithology. Stone Mountain is gray granite and Ayers Rock is a pinkish colored arkose (sandstone). We joked that if we had rose colored glasses the two would look nearly identical. Stone Mountain is a bit more commercialized than its Aussie cousin. The base of the Stone Mountain has shops, restaurants, picnic areas and even a small winery. The base of Ayers rock has no food, no water and the visitor center a few miles from the rock has the only center a few miles from the rock has the only shade as far as the eye can see. Instead of a death defying climb to the top of Ayers rock using nothing more than a rusty chain as a handhold, at Stone Mountain a sleek, modern 90 passenger tram speeds you to the top for a spectacular view of the skyline of Atlanta. Witnessing the sun setting on Ayers rock could never be beat but Stone Mountain offers a laser light and fireworks show highlighting the history of the South. The only thing missing was a kangaroo.

Programs: Mary Pat Weber, V-P June: “Knapping for Beginners”
This month we welcome Ron Wise as our guest speaker. Ron is both a long time hobbyist and a member of our sister club in Ventura. Even if you don’t know him you probably saw his display case at our show in April as well as in the past at the Ventura County Fair. He is a true artisan.
In this “show & tell” demonstration Ron will introduce us to the tools and the basic techniques of this craft.
Note: if you wish to get a closer look (4 feet) to see his demonstration you will need to bring and wear safety glasses.

OPPORTUNITY TABLE
Among the terrific prizes we have this month is a lovely Pearl necklace made and donated by one of our show dealers, Mary Batten. If you have or know someone who has a June birthday, you won’t want to miss out on the chance to win it!

Pebble Pups: Youth Program Coordinator Christine White: New time 7pm for youth programs.
We have a new Youth Program Coordinator, Christine White, a recently joined member, congratulations and thanks for participating in our club, this was a much needed position and all the club members will give you support with the programs for the youths. There is a new time for the youth program, 7pm. This gives members with kids to have the youth program, then have time for the social time with the raffle, and then they can all watch the monthly program.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Annual dues are due this month. Please mail to Camille Van Ast or bring to the General Meeting on June 10th. Dues are $20 per individual and $30 per family.

Annual dues are now overdue.
Please pay now or you will miss all the exciting news in our monthly newsletter! If we have not received your dues by the end of the month, this will be your last Rocky Review.
Camille Van Ast is our Membership Chairman.
Please give her a call to let her know that you will be bringing your dues to the meeting, or you will be mailing your dues or, sadly, you will not be rejoining our club this year. Thank you!
Camille Van Ast
Phone: 805-498-7421
3798 San Marcos Court
Newbury Park, CA 91320

The following members will serve as elected officers for 2010
President: Dick Weber
Programs: 1st Vice-President Mary Pat Weber
Field Trips: 2nd Vice Presidents Mike Miller & Robert Sankovich
Membership: 3rd Vice-President Camille Van Ast
Editor: 4th Vice-President Becky Williamson
Treasurer: Sat Scarpato
Secretary: Mitty Scarpato
Federation Director: Robert Sankovich

Appointed officers for 2010
Art Council: Camille Van Ast
Community Education: Mitty Scarpato
Historian: To be announced
Librarian: Mike Miller
Parliamentarian: Roy Foerster
Publicity: Deb Sankovich
Refreshments: To be announced
Shop Foremen: Robert Sankovich, Manny Valdez
Show Chairman: Robert Sankovich
Ways & Means: Mary Pat Weber, Linda Demangelaere, Nick Duncan
Website: Robert Sankovich
Workshop Coordinator: To be announced
Youth Program Coordinator: Christine White

Welcome:
To our new members!
Robert Abbott and Diana Lee, Cozy and Pepe.
Delfina Bucaria
Phyllis Benson

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
May
5/3 Zachary Mahon
5/7 Rylin Nagel
5/8 Frank Greenway
5/18 Marc Condon
5/24 Terry Douglas
5/26 Carl Betz
5/30 Gregory Cairns

June
6/3 Barbara Johnson
6/6 Arnie Rudman
6/6 Marcus Condon
6/9 Marlena Fox
6/10 Delfina Bucaria
6/10 Mike Miller
6/12 Marilyn Pomerenke
6/17 Jeffrey Miller
6/28 Richard Cronin

Field Trips:Field Trips Upcoming: July 31st Sat-Jade Cove-Nephrite Jade, Deb and I will be there July 28th Wed-Aug 1st Sunday (if you are going to go on this trip let me know so we can try to get you a place to camp.) see links below.
Field trip: Our July field trip will be to Jade Cove, south of Big Sur. We will be looking for Nephrite Jade. It can be found along the shoreline. You can come up for the day or join us camping over night. Deb and I will be there Wednesday July 28th to Sunday August 1st. Day use free by side of road, camping $22.00. No electric hookups. 45 campsites half are assigned on a first come, first served basis. You now can reserve your campsite. See contact information below. 8 persons per site. Each site has a picnic table, grill and fire pit. Flush toilet restrooms and water nearby. Saturday night there will be a potluck dinner with our club and the Channel Islands Divers club which Robert and Debra are members.
Directions: From Ventura head north on Freeway 101, at San Luis Obispo, take Highway 1 north, towards the coast, to Morro Bay, continue on Hwy 1 north approximately 60 miles from Morro Bay to Plaskett Creek campground. Campground is on right side (east). Once at campground, look for a Conejo Valley Gem & Mineral sign next to the sign by entrance or by Robert’s campsite #033. Approximately 235 miles from Thousand Oaks, 3.5 - 4 hour drive time.
Meeting: Saturday Afternoon, July 31st. 2010, 10am-4pm. We will meet at Robert’s campsite #033. There will be a short briefing of the site. Please remember to sign a release form to participate in the field trip. We will then drive south on Hwy 1 half a mile to a long pull out on right side (west) with a entrance to Jade cove. Use the stairs to climb over the fence and walk approximately 150 yards across a grass area to a switch back down to the cove, approximately 100 yards, use sturdy shoes. The bottom of the trail can be washed out so take your time. Walk over the bigger rocks at the basin to the center of the cove where there is a small beach. In the surf and along shore Jade can be found amongst the other rocks. Be careful and aware when collecting close to the surf zone.
Mineral to collect: Nephrite Jade, Serpentine, Actinolite, Soap Stone, Abalone shells. Tools: Collecting bags, buckets, day pack, digging tools, rock pick, pry bar, eye protection, trowels, hand rake, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, sturdy shoes, rubber boots or old tennis shoes, layered clothing, towels, change of clothes/shoes in case you get wet. Drinking water, lunch or snacks. camping gear if you plan on spending the night. (The main tools to use are simple garden tools, a hand trowel and hand rake)
Contact: Robert Sankovich 805-494-7734 805-494-7734 rmsorca@adelphia.net
Mike Miller 805-498-9586 805-498-9586 rockfmdr@aol.com
Please let us know if you are going to go on the field trip. Color aerial photo of Sand dollar beach to Jade cove if you are interested, e-mail me and I'll send it to you
Reservations: Rec. Gov. 877-444-6777 877-444-6777 http://www.recreation.gov http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres/recreation/camping/mrd/ http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres/html/rec/recmap_mrd_5.htm (Map)
Following are Scuba Diving links, but have Jade Cove info: http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/USA_West/CalM/Jade_Cove/ & http://www.cadivingnews.com/divespots.html?article_id=342

The field trips listed below are tentative, they might change. All are Tri Club field trip with either Conejo, Oxnard or Ventura leading. Each month there will be information in the bulletin, and a flyer/map at the club meeting.

August-Greenhorn Mtns, rose quartz, garnets, epidote, tungsten
September-Acton-agate, small nodules, geodes
October-Independence/Bishop-Ammonites fossil, garnets, other minerals
Nov-Ant Hill, shark teeth fossils
Nov-Wiley's Well, nodules, geodes, agate, petrified wood

Please let us know if you are going to go on the field trip. The weather can change, if we don’t know your going we won’t be able to contact you if the field trip is cancelled. There will be maps and flyers at the club meetings. There are still people who show up for the field trip without notifying Mike, Ron or Robert, you can still be part of the field trip, but it is important that you let us know your going to attend. Please let us know if your going to attend, e-mail or call us. I have new truck, it's a white Ford F250 four wheel drive, crew cab, if your looking for me, look for my truck.
Contacts Tri Clubs: Robert Sankovich Conejo/Ventura Clubs 805-494-7734, rmsorca@adelphia.net
Mike Miller Conejo Club 805-498-9586, rockfndr@att.net
Ron Wise, Ventura/Oxnard Clubs, 805-794-0737 clintwise@hotmail.com

Field trips done:
April 17-18, 2010 CFMS Field Trip to Cady Mtns North We had good turnout for this field trip, Deb and I arrived Thursday, set up camp. It was our first time in the Cady Mtns to collect rocks. Friday we drove to the Marble Mtns near Chambless. We met up with Andy Anderson and his brother. Driving up a small road, Andy and I then walked to the side of the mountain, the dig area was sloped. We dug in the shale and searched the surface material. The shale was dirty and hard to clean when digging, the shale on the surface was clean. I dug and searched the float material. I found several trilobites, not very big or detailed, but still trilobites. I'd like to do this another time and spend more time when it's a little cooler. Sat everyone showed up and we followed Adam Dean CFMS field trips to 3 different sites. I collected mostly surface pieces. Angel wing agate, calcite of different sizes, saginite possible, won't know until I cut it for sure. The 3rd site was for fluorite I didn't fine much, but a few really nice pieces were dug out. Glassy green fluorite. That night we had a potluck with lots of great food. Most of the days the weather was nice. Deb and I had fun.

May 8th Sat 9am, Somis Fossils. We had good turnout for this field trip, over 50 rock hounds of all ages, from the tri clubs and other clubs. The weather was great for digging. We went to the hill and dug our sand dollar, scallops, clams, gastropods fossils. I think everyone went home with a sand dollar. I had a lot of fun; see you at Old Topanga Fossils.

Robert Sankovich
VP Field Trips Conejo/Ventura Clubs
rmsorca@adelphia.net
805-494-7734

CFMS http://www.cfmsinc.org/
2010 Show June 18-20th Fri-Sat 10am-5pm Host North Orange County Gem & Mineral Society
Contact: Don Warthen 626-330-8974 odwarthen@verizon.net
This will be a CFMS and AFMS show, it's a good time to plan on your exhibits. I am going to enter 2 cases, my Nephrite Jade and my contoured polished piller/oblisk, Gonio Basis (Turretella type fossils).

Seven regional federations, like our own California Federation, make up the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies. Each year, the national show cycles through each of the regionals. Thus, we won’t have another national show here in California until 2017. That’s a long time to wait! So I encourage one and all to both attend and participate this year. You can obtain info from the CFMS web site, www.cfmsinc.org; click on “AFMS/CFMS Show & Convention –2010” on the opening page. (Jim Brace Thompson VGMS)

Zzyzx Earth Sciences Camp
Zzyzx will be November 14th – 21st , 2010 this year. If you would like a sign up sheet for the week in Zzyzx, please contact Becky Williamson at becwill50@hotmail.com or Marion Roberts, phone# and address below. This camp fills up quickly so, if you are interested, act now!

Land Claims Seminar Overview From June 2010 CFMS Newsletter. by Dick Pankey The CFMS Field Trips – North Land Claims Seminar was held at the Community Center in Empire, CA on Saturday, April 24th. This special event was hosted by the Mother Lode Mineral Society and let me say “They did a bang up job!” A BIG SPECIAL THANK YOU to Bud McMillin, all of the members who showed up and helped, and the entire Mother Lode Mineral Society! Also, a Special Thank You to Fred Ott for video taping the seminar. He plans to transfer the tapes to a DVD and provide copies to the CFMS Slide and Video Library. There were 35 people from 13 CFMS societies and one unaffiliated person. The purpose of this seminar is to encourage CFMS societies to establish and share claims and to provide them with the information to do so. Filing land claims on our threatened and historic collecting sites is one way to protect them and to assure access and our collecting rights. I started the seminar with a welcome and a presentation of background and need for the seminar. Bud McMillin, CFMS Insurance Chairman then talked about the need and procedures to obtain Liability Insurance for society claims. Then Gregg Wilkerson, BLM Mineral Examiner and Mining Law Administration Specialist, presented an overview of the claim process – history, how to file a claim, where and how to get information on the claims process, claims and claimed land and answers to our questions. Bud and Gregg had good handouts for the group. There were 5 plus hours of presentation, questions and discussion. We don’t have enough room in this newsletter to tell you every detail. I will try to cover the highlights and important details. In my presentation I discussed the threats to access and to our collecting rights from the Wilderness acts, the proposed “Hard Rock Mining and Reclamation Act,” the new/proposed “Desert Conservation and Recreation Act,” new/proposed National Monuments and from new/changes to BLM/FS Resource Management Plans. But the biggest threat to our rights and ability to use and collect on our Public Lands is complacency - is to do nothing! Bud McMillin explained the reasons that societies should have liability insurance on society claims. Before starting on his Claim presentation Gregg talked about participating in the regulatory process. Government affects you and you can affect government, in this case BLM and FS by participating in the Land Use Planning process. Gregg recommends that we inventory our collecting sites and areas; including access roads and camping sites. Share this information with BLM/FS. For cost purposes there is a big push to eliminate roads. If they don’t know that we use roads and a site/area, they have no reason not to close off an area. Next Gregg gave us an explanation of claims process and procedures to file a claim. A claim is a property right and can’t be removed without due process. It gives the claimant the right to use and the right to exclude others from using (no trespassing). It also provides for right of access. This was a great informative and productive seminar. We learned why and how to use the claim process to protect access and our right to collect on Public Lands. And we were introduced to the “Other Option” – working with the BLM and FS to maintain access and collecting rights. Looks like we have the basis for our next seminar. This article was edited for space considerations. Please go to http://www.cfmsinc.org/ to read the full review.

Annual Meeting The American Land Access Association will hold its annual meeting at the CFMS/AFMS convention at La Habra , CA on Sunday, from 11:30 to 2:00 at the Anaheim Park Hotel 222 W. Houston Ave., Fullerton, CA (host hotel). This is the business meeting for ALAA where we will elect our directors and officers, have officer and committee reports, and approve our budget. The work of ALAA takes place throughout the year by our officers, directors, committees, at regional Federation conventions and the actions of our members. We will have a special guest speaker, Del Albright, from the Blue Ribbon Coalition, the National Organization who is fighting to keep roads open on Federal Lands. At our annual meeting in June we will be electing 2 Directors and the 4 officers. The one year term directors were Jon Spunaugle and Evan Day. As president I hope to continue on for another term and I hope the other 3 officers and Jon Spunaugle and Evan Day continue on for another term. We have had a great 2009. Our membership is growing, and we have started some good programs with great promise. I believe that ALAA has a strong leadership team and that we should continue and build on our strengths. I hope that all officers and all directors will continue to serve. I hope that all of you or as many as possible will be able to attend the AFMS/CFMS show and meetings in La Habra , CA on June 16 to 20. I look forward to seeing you there. Dick Pankey, President

Robert Sankovich Federation Director

Lapidary Shop:
All equipment is operational. If you want to use the shop, contact: Robert Sankovich 805-494-7734 rmsorca@adelphia.net Manuel Valdez 805-492-1609 mvaldez2@netscape.com The time is flexible, You call us and we can set up a time that works for you and the shop foreman. I bought a Gripper tool at Quartzsite, it fits into our 24" saw clamp and using a 3 prong type arms it can grip rounded and odd shapped roacks, I plan on using it on my uncut geodes and nodules. I won't have put them in plaster to cut them. Jeff Miller and I have tried the gripper and it works great, grabs the nodules and makes it a lot easier to cut them in the saw.

Robert Sankovich 805-494-7734 rmsorca@adelphia.net
Manuel Valdez 805-492-1609 mvaldez2@netscape.com

The club has bought a used 18" Rociprolap made by Rose Enterprises. It's cast iron and heavy. The whole thing probably weighs 100lbs. There are two parts, the pan, and the base. We will now be able to polish larger stones, slabs, geode/nodules. It will need to run through several grit stages and polish, that will take time so we will make it so you will check it out and use it at your house. Dick Weber is using it now, if your interested, contact him. We'rehave to make a user manual.

Wheeler Gorge, May 15th Sat: This was a day educating and sharing in many different hobbies and sciences. We were at the visitor center, which had a lot of information of the Wheeler Gorge area and exhibit cases with many interesting things. I'd recommend taking a day and check it out. It's up by Ojai Hwy 33 a scenic drive. Those who participated, CGMC/VGMS-Deb and I, VGMS Sharon Cunningham, Lu & Angie Brown. OGMC Kay Hara, Louisa Carey. We had great weather, we had Dino replicas, the Treasure chest handing out tumbled stones. Louisa brought 20+ Larry Knaptons touch rocks, Deb and I brought large contoured rocks. Lu & Angie brought large pieces of petrified whale bone. We talked to many people promoting the tri clubs. Mike Page 8 seedlings, Richard Wade with his Dinosaurs and Volcanoes displays and program, he had a T Rex replica head. A California Condor booth. Program of Water Falls, Pools, and Hot springs of Santa Barbara & Ojai, Topographical Maps of the area. Next year let me know if you are interested in participating or going. Robert Sankovich Havstad Director Visitor Center took the photo, it was before Lu and Angie had shown up. Mike has sent in his member ship paper work and payment to be a member of our club. There was a silent auction, Reptile program, large snakes, lizards. Crafts, Free Oak seedlings, Richard Wade with his Dinosaurs and Volcanoes displays and program, he had a T Rex replica head. A California Condor booth. Program of Water Falls, Pools, and Hot springs of Santa Barbara & Ojai, Topographical Maps of the area. Next year let me know if you are interested in participating or going. Robert Sankovich

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Conejo Gem & Mineral Club Information:

Members typically have an interest or involvement in mineralogy, geology, paleontology, rock cutting, faceting, polishing, making cabochons, collect rocks, minerals or fossils specimens. Come to the Conejo Gem and Mineral Club and become a member of one the largest hobby groups in the United States

Club Meetings: The 2nd Thursday of every month, 7:30pm, at the Hillcrest Arts Center, 403 West Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks, CA. Across from the Oaks Mall. These 2-hour get-togethers involve a brief business announcements portion followed by a 20 minute social time serving cookies, juice, coffee. You can check out what was found on the last field trip and what you can find on the next. There is a monthly raffle, Then a 45 minute program given by a guest speaker sharing their knowledge on geology, jewelry making, rock, mineral and fossil collecting, volcanology, paleontology and many other fascinating subjects. There are many different interests for members to check out at our club, we’re not just rock hounds. Members are involved in jewelry, wire wrapping, bead making, geology, fossils, minerals and lapidary arts. During the business section, youths are invited to attend a separate program where they can learn some science or a craft. We have programs for younger members to further their knowledge of earth science, geology and rock/mineral/fossil collecting. Let us know what interests you have and we will introduce you to members with similar interests. We print a monthly bulletin for our members to keep them up to date on club happenings. There is also a modest library for members to freely expand their interests.

Summertime we have a Picnic/BBQ at the park, Ice Cream social in August, Silent Auction in November and in December a Christmas party, they are a lot of fun. Our club is very family orientated so the whole family can participate in a fun hobby together and get some exercise in the out doors. Operating funds are generated from membership fees and proceeds from our annual show held every April called the Pageant of a Thousand Gems, (follow the link for more details).

We put on an annual Gem and Mineral show, participate in the Gem and Mineral Department exhibits at the Ventura County Fair, and support other Gem and Mineral Clubs by displaying when we are invited. We are members of the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley, the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (regional) and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (national).

Lapidary Shop: Available for members who would like to cut and polish rocks and minerals. We have a 24” saw, a Trim saw, 2 Genie polishing machines, a fine polish wheel, 18" Rociprolap, Large Gripper.

Field Trips: Each month we have field trips, some local day trips, others overnight camping/motel. At the club meeting you can check out the rocks, minerals and fossils that have been collected on field trips. To give you an idea of the rocks, minerals and fossils you might find, check out the specimens brought in to each monthly meeting. You don’t have to be very experienced. There are many members willing to share in their knowledge of collecting rocks, minerals and fossils. We have many different types of field trips for all ages, so there is always something for everyone.

Please send us an e-mail if you have any questions or would like further information not found in this site. Webpage related concerns may be directed to the same e-mail. Contact information is below.

 

You can write us at;

Conejo Gem and Mineral Club

P. O. Box 723

Newbury Park, CA  91320

 

or you can contact

Robert Sankovich

805-494-7734

rmsorca@adelphia.net

 

 

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