GOALS OF THE VGMS
1. To offer a warm club atmosphere in
which experts and amateurs can pursue
and share their interests and knowledge in
the fields of mineralogy, geology,
lapidary arts and jewelry-making, fossils,
rock collecting, and other related earth
sciences and arts.
2. To host a gem and mineral show once a
year for our surrounding community.
3. To host field trips for collecting.
4. To maintain a club collection of minerals,
rocks, gems, and fossils for educational
purposes within the larger community and
a collection of lapidary rough for use by
members in club workshops.
5. To provide the children of our community
with a safe place to learn, explore, and
appreciate the earth sciences. Children 12
years and younger are called “Pebble
Pups” and 13-17 are “Junior Members.”
To be a member of our society, you don’t
need to be an expert. You only need to be
willing to learn a little through on-the-job
training.
Here are some ways members participate:
Come to our educational presentations to
learn more about our natural world and attend
our lapidary workshops to learn how to cut
and polish rough rocks into gleaming gems.
If you love the outdoors, join us for field
trips. We share enthusiasm and knowledge
of new and old rock or fossil finds and
localities. Members also travel to gem and
mineral shows around the state to display
their collections and/or to shop from dealers
selling minerals, fossils, jewelry, and lapidary
materials at reasonable prices.
Share your knowledge! We need:
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educators to share rocks, minerals, and
fossils with kids in our local schools and
to serve as docents in our club museum;
speakers to give talks and presentations
at our monthly meetings;
writers to prepare articles, anecdotes, or
just good jokes for our club bulletin;
leaders to serve as club officers and to
guide us into a vibrant future!
If you’re strong, we always need volunteers to
carry heavy rocks, rock cases, and equipment.
If you’re not, do you have a pick-up truck?
We seek people who will bring fresh ideas
and enthusiasm, as well as skills we didn’t
even know we needed! Whatever your
interests and skills—amateur or expert—we
welcome one and all and hope you will come
and join us.
VENTURA
GEM AND MINERAL
SOCIETY, INC.
Visit our Club Museum!
Ventura Gem & Mineral Society established
the Ray Meisenheimer Memorial Museum,
home to the Bruno & Opal Benson Fossil
Collection and varied educationally oriented
exhibits. Located in buildings at Camp
Comfort (Ventura County Parks system) in
Ojai and open by advance appointment only,
the facility also houses our club workshop and
library. Several of our exhibits and hands-on
collections have been set up specifically to
match California earth science curriculum
standards for elementary and high school
students as well as to help Boy Scouts and
Girl Scouts earn merit badges related to
geology. To arrange a field trip visit with
your classroom or scouts, call (805) 312VGMS (8467) or email the society at
info@VGMS.org. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization, education is our business, and,
given sufficient advance notice, we’ll be
happy to assist you and your students!
Come & Join Us!
Day:
4th WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH
EXCEPT 2nd WEDNESDAY IN
NOVEMBER & DECEMBER
Time:
7:30 PM
If you love to make jewelry or simply love to
collect beautiful gems, minerals, or fossils,
display them at our meetings and at our
annual gem, mineral, and fossil show.
Place: POINSETTIA PAVILION
SANTA PAULA ROOM
3451 FOOTHILL ROAD
VENTURA, CA 93003
If you need rocks identified or if you can
identify rocks, come to our meetings!
For more information, visit our society web site
www.vgms.org or call (805) 312-VGMS (8467) or
email your query to info@VGMS.org.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Annual Dues:
Single - $20.00 / Couples - $30.00
Full-time college students (age 18+) - $17.00
Under 18 years old with paid adult - No Charge
Name/s
(include unpaid child members)
Birthday
(Month/Day/Yr)
_______________________________ _________
_______________________________ _________
_______________________________ _________
_______________________________ _________
_______________________________ _________
Address:__________________________________
City:_____________________________________
State, ZIP:________________________________
VENTURA
GEM AND MINERAL
SOCIETY, INC.
Join us for…
VENTURA
GEM AND MINERAL
SOCIETY, INC.
Founded 1944
Purpose of the VGMS
To promote popular interest in geology,
mineralogy, paleontology, and related
subjects; to sponsor and provide means and
activities that will result in dissemination of
information and knowledge within these
subjects; to conduct or sponsor lectures,
classes, demonstrations, and/or study groups
to further education and interest both within
VGMS and the community at large; and to
make and exhibit rock, mineral, fossil, and
lapidary arts collections.
…our annual show
Phone:___________________________________
Email:___________________________________
Today’s date:______________________________
…workshops
Interests (please put an “X” for areas where you
have special expertise):
__ minerals
__ lapidary/jewelry arts
__ carving/sculpture
__ meteorites
__ education
__ mining history
__ faceting
__ micromounts
__ fluorescent minerals __ photography
__ fossils
__ silversmithing
__ field trips
__ other:
Please return to:
VGMS Membership Secretary
P.O. Box 1573
Ventura, CA 93002
Founded 1944
visit us at our web site:
www.vgms.org
…field trips