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Conejo Gem and Mineral Club *2012*
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(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
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- Club Membership
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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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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, (Youth program starts at 7pm) 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, July noon to 4pm. we have a Picnic/BBQ at the park, information below. 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 April 2013 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.
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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"
May 2012:
Club Meeting- May 10th 2012 7:30pm Hillcrest Art Center, 403 Hillcrest Drive. Thousand Oaks Click here for a map to our Club Meetings & Lapidary Shop
Youth programs. Start 7pm, club meeting 7:30pm.
The Board of Directors meeting will be May 17th 7:30pm Thursday, at the Hillcrest Arts Center.
The Prez Sez: Robert Sankovich
We had a great show! The weather warmed up for our weekend. There were people visiting throughout the day. I want to thank all of you for helping out and attending our show. Friday set up went well with members setting up the tables and skirting them, setting up the exhibit cases and preparing all the rooms. We had chicken for dinner. Over night security was provided by Tom Kelleler and Roger Nieves. Don Asher took care of the electrical set up. The dealers did well. The Backus's and Wolfe's donated material for our silent auction and we are so appreciative… if it weren’t for them we wouldn't have had a successful silent auction. The plant room went well and the youth room was busy and having a lot of fun. The only down side was some of the nodules in the cracker was used on the floor and cut some deep scratches. We might have to pay for some of that. The demonstrations were active and had visitors were there all the time. The Hospitality was busy throughout the day promoting our show and club. We had several people join our club at the show. I hope you all had a lot of fun and for new members learned about our show. I want to thank the show chairs and members for all the work that they have done and for the months of planning. Mary Pat & Dick Weber, Sal & Mitty Scarpato, Deb Sankovich, Lydell Fong, Camille Van Ast, Beth Weinstein, Jacob Ross, Stephanie Jones, Don Asher, Gary Bond, Chuck Borchart, Delfina Bucaria, Kathy, Gregory, & Sophia Cairns, Linda Demangelaere, Nick Duncan, Jenny, Kraig, Sam & Cooper, Dave & Sumi Fisher, Roy Foerster, Kevin & Diane Grizard, Susan & Gary Guttman, Audrey Harvey, Mike Havstad. Diane Jorgensen, Tracy Phillips, Arnie Rudman, Joe Santos, Manny Valdez, Diane Wainwood, Dick & Phyllis White. Heyi Liu, Daniel Mendez, Megan Joshi, Jermay Aldeale, James Willsd, Tom Flores, Becky Drate, Peter,Daniel & Kayleigh Weinstein, Lynn Stewart, Barbara Duffin,
Special thanks to Robert Fong. He is not a member but every year he helps with so much of our set up and take down. I hope I have remembered all of you. Apologies if I missed you or spelled your names wrong. Thanks to all of you! If it weren’t for you we wouldn't have had such a terrific show!
We need three Board members: Programs, Field Trips and Secretary. Deb and I are filling in these positions for now, but we do need a member to volunteer and take the Board position. I'm sure there are many members who could put on a program for our club.
There are some upcoming field trips. We got rained out in April but we will try again May 12th 8am. We will be going to Kanan Rd/Agoura and then to Oak Park. We will be collecting at Kanan Rd., agate, saginite, marcasite, chalcedony, agate nodules, quartz crystals, calcite, and calcite crystals. Oak Park will be petrified wood. There will be flyers and maps at the May meeting. E-mail me for maps.
The Lapidary shop has new waivers to sign. Everyone using the shop needs to sign.
The CFMS show is July 13-15th, 2012 in Riverside. I will be putting in a competitive exhibit. I know there are other members who could put in a competitive case. There are several categories: master, advanced, and novice. For information, http://www.cfmsinc.org/
Programs: Position open:
May 10th. Jim Brace-Thompson, 2012 Ventura County Fair this summer!Here’s hoping you’re ready, willing, and able to participate in the 2012 Ventura County Fair this summer! The more gem, mineral, lapidary, and fossil displays we enter, the more we expose the general public to this great hobby of ours and, hopefully, tempt more folks to join our club. Plus, if you win first, second or third place ribbons, you can even earn a little money along with the ribbons! Have you entered exhibit cases or individual items in past Fairs? And were you frustrated by your score, wondering why your fantastic specimen received a lower score than the mediocre specimen next to it? Find out why at our May meeting! Jim Brace-Thompson from our fellow club the Ventura Gem and Mineral Society, who has served as a judge at the Ventura and Kern County Fairs and at CFMS Shows, will give a presentation filling you in on the dirty little secrets of judging and scoring. Sometimes, it’s as simple as spelling “California” correctly. (Just ask the club President.) Come and learn how to earn a full 100% from the Ventura County Fair!
Deb Sankovich
(805) 494-7734
Sankovichdeb@yahoo.com
OPPORTUNITY TABLE
Mitty Scarpato, Delfina Bucaria, Diane Jorgensen, Ways & Means Chairperson. Our raffle at the meeting
Pebble Pups: Youth Program Coordinator Jenny Dunehew: The youth and club meeting will be at 7:00pm.
We have a new Youth Program Coordinator. Jenny has educational and fun 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. Check out the Youth Program link for more information.COMMUNITY EDUCATION Mitty Scarpato
Community Education Coordinator
Membership: Deb Sankovich VP
Our current membership as of May 3rd for 2012 is 91 adult members and 26 pebble pups for a total of 117 members.
A warm welcome to our new members who joined the Club in May:Sharon and Sofia Dockus – Sharon and her daughter Sofia are new to earth science and rock hounding. Their interest in joining the club is for field trips for fossils and fluorescent minerals & lapidary-jewelry arts including silversmithing. They are further interested in earth science education and mining history.
Chantelle and Cristina Romero – Chantelle and Cristina have been interested in earth science and rock hounding for ten years. Their interest in joining the club is for field trips for minerals and fossils & lapidary-jewelry arts including faceting, silversmithing and carving sculpture. In fact they are interested in all aspects of the club! Chantelle is also a Moorpark Geology student.
Scott Regier and Kristie Spilios – Scott and Kristie have been interested in earth science and rock hounding for five years. Their interest in joining the club is for field trips for minerals, fossils, fluorescent minerals and meteorites. They are also interested in lapidary-jewelry arts including faceting, and photography and mining history.
Jennifer Gary – Jennifer has been interested in earth science and rock hounding for 3-4 years but has not been sure where to go to develop her interest further. Her reason in joining the club is for field trips for minerals and fossils, lapidary-jewelry arts, photography and education. Jennifer is also a 5th grade Geology teacher.
Debbi Capaldi – Debbi has been interested in earth science and rock hounding for a long time. Her reason in joining the club is for field trips for minerals and fossils, as well as photography and earth science education. Debbi also has a tumbler!
Deb Sankovich,VP
Membership CGMC
1961 Havenwood Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
sankovichdeb@yahoo.com
805-494-7734The following members will serve as elected officers for 2012
President: Robert Sankovich
Programs: 1st Vice-President Open Position
Field Trips: 2nd Vice Presidents Open Position
Membership: 3rd Vice-President Deb Sankovich
Editor: 4th Vice-President Becky Williamson
Treasurers: Jacob Ross
Secretary: Open Postion
Federation Director: Mike HavstadAppointed officers for 2012
Art Council: Camille Van Ast
Community Education: Mitty Scarpato
Historian: To be announced
Librarian: To be announced
Parliamentarian: Roy Foerster
Publicity: Deb Sankovich
Refreshments: Delfina Bucaria
Shop Foremen: Robert Sankovich, Manny Valdez, Mike Miller
Show Chairman: Robert Sankovich
Ways & Means: Mitty Scarpato, Delfina Bucaria, Diane Jorgensen
Website: Robert Sankovich
Workshop Coordinator: To be announced
Youth Program Coordinator: Jenny Dunehew
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
May
5/3 Zachary Mahon
5/3 Kody McCann
5/5 Sheryl Aitken
5/7 Michael Hawkeswood
5/11 Laura Weltman
5/18 Marc Condon
5/24 Susan Guttman
5/25 Jon Howell
5/30 Gregory Cairns
5/30 Stephanie Jones
Field Trips Upcoming: 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 us, 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:
Robert Sankovich CFMS 805-494-7734, rmsorca@adelphia.net
Ron Wise, Ventura/Oxnard Clubs, 805-794-0737 clintwise@hotmail.com
Upcoming Field Trips 2012:
Kanan Road & Oak Park Tri-club fieldtrip May 12, 2012. Saturday, 8am
Fieldtrip: I am planning a two part field trip, first to Kanan Road and second moving to Oak Park. Note: we will start the Kanan Road hunt at 8:00 am. Then we will move to Oak Park at 10:00 to noon.
At Kanan Road we will be hunting Agate, Sagenite, Chalcedony and crystals. The hike from the road to and several ravines is moderate but as you proceed up to the rock outcroppings is much steeper. The brush in the area is moderate to very heavy and you will need heaver protective clothing. Most of the material you find will be small.Meeting: On Saturday we will meet at 8:00 am. and walk to the collecting site. I will return to the Kanan Road at 10:00 am to proceed to Oak Park.
Tools: Bring your regular rockhounding equipment plus a chisel, gad and hammer.
You will need a bucket or pack to carry back your finds:
Do not forget hat, sunscreen, water and lunch.
Bring a variety of clothing for everything between sunny and hot too windy and cool weather.
Robert Sankovich CGMC
rmsorca@adelphia.net
805-494-7734
e-mail for mapsLavic Siding Jasper
May26 Saturday at 9:00 AM
WHERE: Lavic Siding Jasper
MEET: South Side of I-40 Fwy at Hector Rd Off ramp, 35 miles east of I-15 and I-40 Intersection. Or 25 miles West of Ludlow for orientation and sign in.
WHAT TO BRING: collecting bags/buckets, rock hammer, spray bottles.
This is the heart of the Mojave and the weather can be unpredictable this time of year so dress accordingly. We will be collecting the world famous Lavic jasper which can come in a multitude of colors and can be brecciate, layered or solid with veins of white, black or blue agate. The jasper has been found in reds, blacks, yellows, gold’s, greens, purples, or any combination and range from tumble sized to football sized. Most found as float. This site covers a vast area between the Pisgah Crater lava fields, the railroad tracks and the dry lake. We will explore various spots here.
From the meeting spot we will caravan west to a safe crossing over the tracks then make a number of stops. Bring lunch. This widespread field offers no shade. Gas and food available in Ludlow. Waiver of liability will be signed at the meeting spot. High clearance 4X4 trucks and SUVs highly recommended as we will be driving in a sandy wash. Other materials at this site may include agates and jaspers with sections of multi-shaded pink opal. Nearby is Pisgah Crater, a young volcano with an extensive lava field. For stopovers this general area also offers the southern Cady’s for a wide variety of material, a nearby obsidian field, Dish Hill for peridot, trilobites and the Hector Hills for chalcedony, opal & agate. Bring your rock collecting guides.
Stayovers may camp at a number of undeveloped sites or at the hotel in Ludlow. Treat the desert with respect - tread lightly and pack it in / pack it out.
I won't be attending this field trip, contact Adam if you have questions.
For more info contact:
CFMS South Co-chairs:
Adam Dean: theagatehunter@verizon.net (909) 489-4899
Robert Sankovich
Field trips for the Tri Clubs, CGMC OGMS VGMS. Ron Wise VGMS/OGMS, will be 2012 VP Field trip leader. If your interested in being a CGMC co-field trip leader with them contact me, or the nominating commette. I will be the CFMS field trip south leader with Adam Dean. I'll still be doing field trips in 2012. There will be a good variety of field trips next year. There still will be a Tri club field trip to Bishop Trip for garnets and ammonites. Adam and I will work out the CFMS field trips for 2012, they will be on our bulletins and the CFMS website and the tri clubs.
See you there.Robert Sankovich
CFMS Co Chair Field Trips South
rmsorca@adelphia.net
805-494-7734CFMS http://www.cfmsinc.org/
Mike Havstad will now be the Federation Director for our Club. For 2012 I'm the CFMS Co Chair Field Trip leader. I also was voted in to be Secretary for the California Federation Mineralogical Society BoardThe CFMS show is July 13-15th. 2012 in Riverside. I will be putting in a completive exhibit. I know there are members who could put in a completive case. There are several categories, master, advanced, novice. http://www.cfmsinc.org/
CFMS Tri Club Committee 2013 Show:
Were going to need people to volunteer for show chairs and committee's from the 3 clubs, if your interested let me know and you will be put on the list of the position your interested in. We have all of the Director positions filled. From our club we have Deb and I, and Sal Scarpto as Treasurer“Half-a-Million-Nickels”
The California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS) has instituted a "half-a-million-nickels" campaign to raise $25,000 for the CFMS Endowment Fund this year. While $25,000 may sound like a lot, it comes down to less than $185 per club that holds a CFMS affiliation.
At each meeting, you are asked to drop your spare change in the coffee can. Included in the definition of spare change, crisp dollar bills, five-dollar bills and bills of other denominations, not just coins and nickels! There is a special reward for the club that raises the most “nickels.Enter the Poster Contest for Our 2013 CFMS Show by Jim Brace-Thompson, CFMS Past President
As you very likely know by now, the tri-clubs of Ventura County (the Conejo, Oxnard, and Ventura clubs) will sponsor the 2013 statewide CFMS Show & Convention. And, thanks to Valli Davis of the Ventura club, we have a theme: "California Rocks!" As the publicity chair for the show, I hereby announce a poster/flyer contest, with a deadline of June 15 so we can be sure to have flyers printed up to have at the Ventura County Fair to initiate our publicity efforts within our local community and to have at the 2012 CFMS Show in Riverside this July. The design on the poster should be picked up and reflected in the design of the flyer. (The flyer should be postcard size, or 4.25 X 5.5.)
Please submit all entries electronically to me not later than June 15: jbraceth@roadrunner.com. If you can’t do an electronic version, please mail hardcopy to me (Jim Brace-Thompson, 7319 Eisenhower St., Ventura, CA 93003), and I can scan it. Your poster and flyer should reflect the theme of “California Rocks!” and it should include such basic info as the following: Annual Statewide Show & Convention of the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies; May 31-June 2, 2013; Ventura County Fairgrounds; sponsored by the Conejo, Oxnard, and Ventura Gem & Mineral Societies. Here’s thanking you in advance for your entries. Now, start rocking!The American Federation Show Raffle For those with the ways, means, and desire, the annual national American Federation of Mineralogical Societies Show & Convention takes place this July in Wayzata, Minnesota. I hear it’s going to be an especially good show for agate lovers. But you don’t have to journey to Minnesota to participate! They’ll be holding a raffle to support their Endowment Fund, and you don’t need to be present to win. They’ve got some truly outstanding items, things like a Hi-Tech Diamond Company 6-wheel cabbing unit (#1; value, $1,500), a Slant Cabber Machine (#2; value, $600), All-U-Need flat-lap machine (#3; value, $490), a Trim Saw (#4; value, $440), a star ruby ring (value, $1,000), and all sorts of minerals, lapidary works, and more.
To see photos of the prizes and details on purchasing raffle tickets by mail, go to the AFMS website at http://www.amfed.org/endow2012.htm. You can also contact Colleen McGann, P.O. Box 224, Santa Clara, CA 95052-0224, phone (831) 212-1951, email colleen.mcgann@hds.com, or Pamela Hecht, 25393 Oak Street, Calumet, MI 49913, phone (906) 337-2274, steverox@up.net.
Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20, with checks made payable to “AFMS Endowment Fund.” They’ll hold a separate raffle for the four machines described above, and to qualify for those, you would write Prize #1, #2, #3, or #4 on the front of your ticket. To be entered for all the other prizes, just leave the front of the ticket blank. Your name and address should be printed on the back of any and all tickets you purchase so they’ll know where to mail any winnings. In last year’s AFMS raffle, two VGMS members got lucky, with prizes going to Valli Davis and to Ron and Jean Wise. May the force be with you.Robert Sankovich
CFMS Secretary and Co Chair Field Trip South
Lapidary Shop:
The 24" saw need some work, All other equipment is operational. If you want to use the shop, contact: Mike Miller 805-530-3744 rockfndr@att.net Manuel Valdez 805-492-1609 mvaldez2@netscape.com Robert Sankovich 805-494-7734 rmsorca@adelphia.net 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. I have tried the gripper and it works great, grabs the nodules and makes it a lot easier to cut them in the saw.Manuel Valdez 805-492-1609 mvaldez2@netscape.com
Mike Miller 805-530-3744 rockfndr@att.net
Robert Sankovich 805-494-7734 rmsorca@adelphia.netThe 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. If your interested, contact him. We have to make a user manual.
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
Contacts:
Robert Sankovich
President, Show Chairman
805-494-7734
rmsorca@adelphia.netDeb Sankovich
VP Membership
805-494-7734
sankovichdeb@yahoo.com
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