I'd like to extend a warm welcome to everyone who came to our 2010 show, and anyone planning to attend our 2011 show.  We are very proud of our show as it gives the Club a chance to share our enthusiasm for rocks and minerals, gems and jewelry, fossils and the earth sciences with everyone in the Conejo Valley community.

The Pageant of a Thousand Gems is a great opportunity to learn more about Conejo Gem and Mineral (CGM) Club activities and membership.  A staff member at the entrance Information Table will be happy to answer any question you might have, and can provide a club membership application form to anyone who would like to join the CGM.

We urge you to bring a friend or family member so everyone can enjoy the show and share with us in the pleasure of this fascinating pursuit.

SHOW CHAIRMAN REPORT

2010 Show April 24th, 25th

Wow what a show! We had a great turnout and perfect weather. Based on our raffle tickets and estimating, about 1900+ people came to our show. Deb Sankovich put in a lot of time on Publicity. Thanks Deb. The food was great thanks to a new menu by Sal Scarpato and Chris White. We had Friday night dinner and Sunday take down pizza. We had many different dealers and the new ones added to our show. Mary Pat did a great job. We had 47 exhibits, that's more then we usually have and they were so many excellent exhibits from members and guests. Thanks Nick Duncan for this. Our Silent Auction went well, many items sold and great bidding at the end of the day silent auction. Thanks Roy Foerster. Dick Weber helped out in many areas that needed help. Thanks Dick for all your help. The Plant Room and Youth Rooms were run by Mitty Scarpato and Camille Van Ast and many members helping out. The Gem Jars did great and we had two happy winners. We even sold some of our T shirts from last year. The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society loaned us cases, brought them to the show, set them up and brought them back when the show was over. Thanks so much to Jim Brace Thompson and John Cook for bringing them. The Dino Dislpay was also borrowed from VGMS. It enhanced our show and helped educate the kids doing Mitty's youth quiz. We gathered the gear from the storage unit and Lapidary shop, then Friday, Chris dropped it off. We had members helping set up on Friday and on Sunday take down. I thought the take down was one of our faster and smoother times. Lyndell Fong took the test for the TFF certificate we needed for the kitchen. Robert Fong, Lee Anderson, and his friend Brian Dempsey really helped out on set up and take down. Thanks Mike Miller for staying overnight Fri/Sat. This was one of the best shows I have chaired. Thanks to: Miriam Teteault Richard & Bianca Cronin Becky Williamson Kathy, Gregory, Sophie Cairns Mu, Nelson, Norman Xy fong Jeff Miller Linda Demangelaere Audrey Harvey Manuel Valdez and Son Calvin Smith Keven, Diane Grizard Arnie Rudman Steve, Terry, Emily Douglas Tracy Phillips Juanie Michael, Jacob Walkers and the rest of the club members, thanks to you all we had a great show. Thanks!

Robert Sankovich
Show Chairman 2010

Youth Room Helpers
I would like to thank all my Pebble Pups and their parents for their wonderful efforts in manning the Youth Room at our Show. Our Pebble Pups did a fantastic job running the games. The Pebble Pup volunteers were as follows: Tyler Condon & friend, Justin, Zach & Kyle Mahon, Emily Douglas, Sophia & Gregory Cairns, Norman & Nelson Wu, and Destiny Guerrero. Sorry if I left anyone out. Our sales were up 10% over last year. Hope you all enjoyed the experience as much I did and I look forward to working with you at next year’s show.
A special thanks also to Becky Williamson who helped me fill the grab bags and ran the Paint the Fossil table at the show.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mitty Scarpato

Dear Plant Room Helpers,
Thank you so very much for helping in the plant room. Due to all kinds of happenings, this letter was too late to get in the previous newsletter, but it is still very important. Without you, I would be a very "wilted plant" and not much good to the club! Thanks for keeping last year's leftovers alive and lugging them all in: Debra and Lyndell, your "foster parent" work did wonders, the plants were bigger and healthier than last year AND they all sold this year. The new plant suppliers were: Bianca, Manny, Sumi,and Backus' (dealer) wife, and two garden club friends of mine, a friend from the African Violet Society, and myself. (See, garden club people are nice people! They even help with other club's plant sales !!)
We made close to $300 dollars. This is a little less than last year, but we did not have much left over. This year all the left overs went to foster parent, Lee Anderson, with thanks. Thanks also to the "sales people" who helped me : Bianca, Lee, Sumi and Lyndell. It was a fun weekend, plant people are always nice. Although they come for the rocks, they also come by to say how well their last year's purchase is doing, and they are looking for more bargains. I hope more members of the club will think of bringing in plants next year. We need younger growers, with stronger backs and new plants varieties. But for now, THANK YOU ALL!
Camille