NATIONS LARGEST ROCK AND GEM CLUB

Mission: To enhance the interest in the study of gems and minerals and to educate people to the wonders of the lapidary arts. To promote a better knowledge of nautural earth science and to protect our natural resources. Established in the 1960's with members from all 50 states, and many foreign countries.
 Curious about the club?  See what we offer and why you should goin. What This Club is All About  (by Terry Paulsen) 
                Rock Club News 
2009/2010 New Board of Directors
 

New officers and trustees for the coming year. left to right
Eldon Mecham: President, Cliff Faucett: VP 
Larry Clark and Tara Lesco New Trustees, Terry Paulsen, returning trustee. Not in the picture Cal Stroud, Treasurer;
Veltus Champ, returning Secretary
 Election Results: 
 Vote results from the Feb. 19 general membership meeting:
President:   Eldon Mecham
Vice-Pres.   Cliff Faucett
Secretary:   Veltus Champ 
Treasurer:    Cal Stroud
Trustee:   Larry Clark
Trustee:   Tara Lesco
Returning Trustee: Terry Paulsen
Congratulations to the winners and all those members who stepped up 
and offered themselves as candidates. 
Officers will be sworn in at the first meeting in March.

Chain Making Patterens
As a chain making instructor, I have been asked to post online selected chain making patterns.  This is good stuff with detailed instructions.  Click here for the patterns
(Terry Paulsen) 

The Club and Board Meeting Minutes are now online. 
See the links below

You are welcome to come and visit anytime, (we will give you a tour) so you can see what all the fun is about. 
We are located (south) behind LaMesa RV (at the four corners main stop light) and west of the QIA at 65 Ironwood Rd.
Watch us grow and be a part of it.
We are the NATIONS LARGEST ROCK AND GEM CLUB and we are expanding our facilities to better serve our members. The multi use room and opal room are the first phases of our remodeling program. See the proposed rock club building expansions.
Members who are fimiliar with electrical, carpentry, dry wall and painting are offering their time to help expand our facilites, which they will use, and be proud of in the future. It's not all work, we are here to have fun in whatever we do in our club. 
Membership numbers: Year to date over  830 
   The Faceting Annex, the largest in the nation. Eight club machines and additional space for your machine. 

The  new  faceting facility opened in the spring of 2007, and has been fully functioning since last fall.  Van, Bob, and all of their instructors and  shop supervisors have been doing a great job.   Demand is great enough that the annex is being used 6 days of the week.  They have come a long way from the original machines and the cramped quarters of the main club house. Over 500 members trained in faceting over the last few years.
The faceting machines have been upgraded (over the summer) with a dial indicator depth stop for much greater accuracy.
Orientation class of Nov. 6, 08
They do a fine job  every Thursday... morning, it's standing room only for new member orientation. All first time members are given a morning's session on the basic equipment and safety, as well as the shop rules. Then all are given a cabochon to cut. An experienced lapidarist awaits at each of the many stations, as the newbies work their way around the room. They start with the trim saw, then the rough grinder, sanders and polisher. Moving to successive stages until their cabochon is finished

Club Meetings are 2 P.M. each Thursday
(at the QIA building)
You can join at the shop on any day not just during meetings.
Membership is only $15 a year.  What a deal!

All new members must take the orientation class, held each Thursday morning from 8:30 to 12:00, before you can use the workshop equipment. After completion of the course the instructor will stamp your membership card. This entitles you to use the shops at any time they are open for members use. $2.00 per 1/2 day. Next sign up for classes (see below). Please bring your membership card with you when you take a class or use the shops. You may be asked to show your membership card at any time.

    Pancake Breakfasts 
   at the Gem & Mineral Shop.
      Mar 21, 2008

Only $2.50
Serving pancakes, sausages,scrambled eggs, orange juice and coffee.
Bring your own table service,
(.25 charge without it). 
Proceeds go to the Scholarship fund.
Swap meet for members only to sell.
Buying of the items is open to the public,
Come on down and enjoy.

A Pancake Breakfast  at the shop
Cabachon polishing

Beginning  Faceting class every Monday morning
 Class Schedules
Watch for updates.
(updated Jan. 8)
Bead Making: Monday 9-11
Fee $2 (4 students per class) 
Thurs. 9-12
Carving: Monday 1-4
Casting:  Wed  8:30-12 
Tues, 8:30-12 Fee $2
Casting Intermediate: 
Fri 9-12
Chain Making: Thurs 9-12 
Faceting: Beginning 
 Monday 9-4 Tues, 9-12 Fee $15
Faceting: Intermediate Tues, 1-4 Wed 9-12
Fee $15
Faceting: Intro: Sat. 9:00-12:00  Free
Faceting Open shop: 
 Thurs. 9-12 
Fri. 9-12 and 1-4 Fee $5
Sat. afternoon at the Annex films, talk, etc. Saturday afternoon  Free
Lapidary Shop: 
  Mon,Tue,Wed,Fri, 9-4
Fee $2
Flint Knapping: Wed 1-4 
Fee $2
Opal: Wed. 9-12 Fee $2
Opal open class:  Mon. 6-9pm $2 1/2 day
Orientation class: Thurs 8:30-12 Noon Fee $15
Silversmith Shop: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, 9-4 Fee $2
Wire Wrap Beginners:  Wed. 6-9 pm $2 shop
Wire Wrap Inter.: 
Mon. 6-9pm $2 shop
Wire Wrap Open Class: Monday 1-4 $2 QIA

Sign up sheets for classes are located in the hallway between the lapidary and silver shops. Please check at the shop for any changes in the above listings.

 

United States Faceters Guild  web site focuses on the art and skill of faceting gemstones and provides a wealth of faceting information for beginners and experts alike.
Many thanks to Bob and Frankie Feirn for their donation of 12 Dichroic Glass (fused) cab's to the Pow Wow. Each piece wire wrapped or faceted could be worth $100 each.
       GEM & MINERAL CLUB FIELD TRIPS 

Trip Destination Material Wagonmaster  Milage
Mar. 17 Wiley's Well  Jasper, Agate 60
Mar. 24 Kinkade Bajada Geods,Jasper,Agate 60
    GEM & MINERAL CLUB COOK OUTS 
   Meet Locations: Field trips will meet at the Shop building. 
Please use the south entrance and do not drive through the shop parking 
lot, where we will organize and arrainge for ride sharing
Field Trips are each Tuesday at 9 AM except where noted leave from the meeting place and monitor channel 7 on you CB. Please come early to sign in with wagonmaster as trips leave proptly at 9  AM. Bring lunch, lawn chair, TV tray or small table and plenty of water.
  See the pictures of the Feb. 14, 2005 trip to Willey Wells
   See the pictures of the Feb. 21, 2005 trip to Earp
  See the pictures of the Mar. 7,   2005 trip to Dome Rock cookout
  See the pictures of the Dec. 27,  2008 trip to Swansea township Secnic &           Historic Fieldtrip 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Membership Lists- Keep records of members
Field Trip Assist. Wagon Master- Lead groups to field trips.
Musical Coordinator- Help set up two fund raisers a year.
Instructors for Orientation- help teach new members how to make Cabochons.
 

Basic Silversmithing
A Manual by Manuel

The silversmithing shop also has lots of stations complete with everything you need right at your fingertips.
 First Work day - Annex remodel
Thanks To all the members who helped with the removal of the existing garaged door and opener, and who helped frame in the resulting opening.  One door down, one more to go.  Hope to see all the good help again next time.

             Web Ring Links
Faceters Web Ring 
Previous Site | Random Site | Next Site
Lapidary Arts and Jewelry Webring
Previous Site | Random Site | Next Site
Gems, Minerals, & Fossils WebRing
 Previous Site | Random Site | Next Site


Open Lapidary shop making cabachons


4-WHEEL DRIVE Trips
Mar. 18   4 Peaks
Mar. 25    Transfer Station
 

To be scheduled. 

4-Wheel Drive trips are limited to members only, short based 4wheel drive vehicles, and 10-15 rigs. Go exploring fantastic scenery, old mining areas, old cabins, old Indian habitats, etc.  Very interesting and a lot of fun. Meet at the shop at 8:30 leave at 9 AM. 
Bring your lunch and plenty of water. Wagon master Harry Cleveland 
  Email  your pictures of the trips for posting.

INTERMEDIATE LOST WAX CASTING 

Pictures from a Thursday Morning wax modeling class (Intermediate lost wax casting).  We are on the final class of the year which will run through mid March. 
A Childs Dream is a Winner
 Congradulations to Loreley and Cliff Fausett and their crew for the hard work they did with the Club's float for the Christmas Parade.  They won the First Place Trophy, Best Original, and Best Non Profit Trophy's from the Quartzsite Business Chamber of Commeerce. 
Club General Meeting Minutes Club Board Meeting Minutes
March 08, 2008  March 13, 2008March 20, 2008
March 27, 2008  Dec 4, 2008Dec 11, 2008
Dec 18, 2008   Jan. 08, 2009   Jan. 15, 2009 
Jan. 05, 2009  Feb. 02 2009

Quartzsite Gem and Mineral Club is located at: 
65 Ironwood Drive PO Box 338 Quartzsite, AZ 85346 Phone 928-927-6363 
President:   Tom White        262-442-5216
Vice-Pres.   Bill Stiglich        928-927-7794
Secretary:   Veltus Champ    928-927-4336
Treasurer:   Harry Cleveland   928-927-5329 
Trustee:  Byron Bradley       928-927-3678
Trustee:  Terry Paulsen cel 515-720-7903
Trustee:  Larry Clark           208-521-4640

 
 Related Links 
What is this place called Quartzsite, AZ all about? 
With all the links, so you don't have to spend time doing a Google search.

Quartzsite Improvement Association
The QIA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the betterment of the Quartzsite community. It is open from October to April and operates with all volunteer help. They are the original community center of Quartzsite. They are the meeting place for many organizations. They own and manage the Quartzsite Hi Jolly Cemetery. Each year, they give scholarships to Quartzsite High School graduates going on to higher education. They donate to various community activities. Their world famous Pow Wow Gem & Mineral Show in January is their main fund raising activity. 
 

Desert Gardens International Rock, Gem and Mineral Show 
DESERT GARDENS INTERNATIONAL ROCK GEM AND MINERAL SHOW is the longest running show (Jan 1- Feb 28 every year)  with more rock, gem and mineral dealers on site then anywhere else in the United States. Ninety-eight percent of vendors sell, only those categories  relating  to material, equipment or finished product dealing with rocks, gems, or minerals. All vendors must stock goods which are 97% rock, gem or mineral related. The 2007 -2008 show had more then  200 dealers and looking forward to that many or more in the 2008-2009 show. Vender's come from all over the world which makes it truly an International show.

Old Pueblo Lapidary Club  inTucson
 

  Comments about the web site, or to contribute news, pictures, or information. EMAIL  us. 
  This web site is brought to you as a courtesy by www.hitchitch.com
   Please visit them for the best in RV Travel Adventures and Journals.
  Copyright, disclaimer and legal information
  © 2005 - 2009 All rights reserved.www.hitchitch.com and www.quartzsitegemandmineralclub.org
Please Note: This web site best viewed with (Text Size) set to (Medium)
(In your IE browser go to View... Text Size and pick Medium) If not we are not responsible for how the page looks.
 
      The top line graphic is from www.embroideryaccentsofaz.com     Please visit their site for great Embroidery Accents or click on the graphic.