The Del Air Rockhounds Club Welcomes You!!

www.Facebook.com/DelAirRockhounds

The Del-Air Rockhounds Club was founded in 1954 with members mostly residing in the San Fernando Valley area of California. Our club is a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing knowledge of the lapidary arts and techniques, geology, mineralogy and related fields. We own our own lapidary equipment with members available to teach and demonstrate lapidary techniques to other members. Our members enjoy lapidary related programs, demonstrations, exhibitions, displays and lectures. We also take monthly field trips to our local deserts & mountains for exploration and the study and collection of lapidary and mineral specimens.

Member of the California & American Federation of Mineralogical Societies

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7618, Van Nuys, CA 91409 

December 2025 Del-Air Calendar of Events

Thursday December 4: Holiday Party

Saturday December 6: Field Trip to Crystal Tabby - Paid Members Only

Sunday December 14: Chatsworth Kiwanis Holiday Parade & Festival

Sunday December 14: Hanukkah Begins at Sundown

Thursday December 18: Board Meeting

Sunday December 21: First Day of Winter

Wednesday December 31: New Years Eve

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Important Announcement 

Our January 2026 general meeting happens to fall on New Years Day. We are in the process of changing our meeting date to Thursday January 8, 2026 with the staff at the church. They are unable to give us a definitive answer until the day after Christmas. So as of right now, we are planning on meeting on the 8th of January. If this should change, we will notify the membership via email. Please make sure to check your emails regularly beginning the day after Christmas to keep yourselves updated on this situation. President Jeff Dengrove will also make an announcement regarding this at the Holiday Party on Thursday December 4th. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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December 2025 Program:

Annual Holiday Party & 2026 Elections - Paid Members Only

It's our annual Holiday Party and Election of our 2026 Board of Directors! Our program is on Malawi Agates and our holiday meal will be our usual pot-luck extravaganza provided by our extraordinary membership. In addition to our program and elections, there will be fun, games, and prizes for all. The board of directors wish to thank Holiday Party chairwoman, Bernadette Friedman and her team, the Dearborns, Shellie Van Winkle, Aileen Beckers, and Pam Abbott for their dedication and hard work in putting this party together. Thanks All!

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December Field Trip - Paid Members Only

Crystal Tabby - Saturday Dec 6, 2025

Meet-up will be at 10:00 am Saturday December 6, 2025 at their warehouse in Azusa. The Crystal Tabby is one of the largest mineral wholesalers in the United States. They carry a vast selection of crystals, polished, tumbled stones and rough minerals, fossils and geodes. They carry both natural and treated rocks and crystals. They supply rock shops, museums, and metaphysical stores. They sell items for gifts, jewelry-making, interior decorating, and much more. They have invited our club to come and shop at their wholesale prices plus tax. They do this just once a year so plan on attending this event. A great place to do your holiday shopping.

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2026 Proposed Slate of Club Officers: 

President: Jeff Dengrove

Vice President: Aileen Beckers

2nd Vice President: Bernadette Friedman

Secretary: Bob Dearborn

Treasurer: Shellie Van Winkle

Federation Director: OPEN

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January Field Trip Teaser Saturday January 31, 2026 - Paid Members Only

It's the annual Del-Air Club Whale Bone Hunt at Refugio Beach in Goleta, CA. We will have a 10:00 am meet-up in the parking lot at Refugio Beach. Jeff Dengrove will be there with samples of what you will be looking for. Dress in layers and bring a picnic lunch and drinks as there are no stores in the immediate vicinity. Bring a bag or bucket to carry your finds in. This is always a popular and well-attended event. We hope to see you all there.

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Sunday December 14, 2025 - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

The Del-Air Club will, once again, host a double booth (two 10 x 10 pop-ups) at this event. We will have our touch & feel specimens, spin-a-wheel, grab bags, educational games and our boutique items. Set-up will begin at 9:00 am and the event runs from 12 noon until 5:00 pm with parade step-off beginning at 1:00 pm. We will be located in the Festival area on Canoga Ave just west of Devonshire St. We are looking for volunteers to help run the booth for 2 hour shifts between 12 noon and 5 pm. Please see a board member during the holiday party to advise on when you'd like to help out.

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November 2025 Del-Air Calendar of Events

Sunday November 2: Daylight Savings Time Ends

Thursday November 6: General Meeting

Tuesday November 11: Veterans Day

Saturday November 15: Workshop Maintenance Day

Thursday November 20: Board Meeting

Thursday November 27: Thanksgiving Day

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November 2025 Program: "The Vivid Tourmaline from Birth to Perfection"                                                Presented  by: Joe Mastro

The presentation of "The Vivid Tourmaline From Birth To Perfection" will encompass what tourmalines are and the crystallization process in which the tourmaline grows from start to exemplary specimen or unremarkable crystal. We will discuss what makes quality crystals what they are from the materials used to the different types of crystallization processes in which the tourmaline is created. We will discuss what sorts of conditions were needed to create gem grade and different levels of quality crystal inside the pegmatite or crystallization process at the time. From there, we will travel to one of the world's biggest tourmaline mines (and my personal favorite), to discuss the tourmaline mining process from how pegmatite dikes and pegmatite pockets are harvested and how a pocket and pegmatite dike is situated in that tourmaline mine. We will also look at 2 other tourmaline mines and talk about the differences in quality and host materials available at each site which makes the crystal from that site special to that specific mine. Lastly, we will chat about where the average collector can find tourmaline in nature today.

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November Rocks of the Month: Toxic Rocks 

Toxic rocks and minerals contain hazardous elements that can be harmful through inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption. While most rocks are safe, some contain toxic minerals that can cause serious health problems if not handled properly. Some examples are Arsenopyrite, Asbestos, Cinnabar, Orpiment and Realgar among others. Do you have any such examples in your collection? Our 5-minute Talk this month will be about toxic rocks.

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2026 Proposed Slate of Club Officers: 

President: Jeff Dengrove

Vice President: Aileen Beckers

2nd Vice President: Bernadette Friedman

Secretary: Bob Dearborn

Treasurer: Shellie Van Winkle

Federation Director: OPEN

Our election of 2026 Club Officers will take place during our December Holiday Party. Nominations will be taken from the floor for all positions. Bob Knox had to step down as our Federation Director so we will be needing someone to step up to the plate and volunteer for this position. The job is very simple. The volunteer will be responsible for monitoring the CFMS website and their monthly newsletter for pertinent news or information, if any, and reporting this back to our membership at each general meeting and attend a CFMS Directors meeting twice a year, once in the Spring during the CFMS annual show & convention (California location to be determined) and one in the Fall (always in Visalia, California). The club pays for the hotel room and for gas. Attending these meetings is encouraged but not mandatory. You will also be a voting member of the Del-Air board and can make your voice heard on all club business decisions. Anyone interested should speak with any board member.

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October 2025 Del-Air Calendar of Events

Wednesday October 1: Yom Kippur

Thursday October 2: General Meeting

Friday Oct 3: Vintage Magnet NASA Night

Saturday October 4: Grab Bag Fill Day

Monday October 13: Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day

Thursday October 16: Board Meeting

Saturday October 25: Beginning Wire Wrap Class - Paid Members Only

Friday October 31: Halloween

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October 2025 Program: Silent Auction                                                                                                  

Come join us for our annual Silent Auction where you can bid on rock related items and other fun stuff to your hearts content. Items will start at a low, low price and the last person to bid when the auction is called will win the item. Please bring your dollar bills so as to make it easy for our treasurer to make change. You'll also need a bag or box to carry home your treasures in. Hoping to see you all there.

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October Rock of the Month is Opal 

Opal is our rock for the month of October. It will be fun to see what our membership can come up with this month to share with the group.

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 Saturday October 4th, 2025 - Grab Bag Fill Day 

10:00 am at the Dearborn's home. It's that time again to fill grab bags for our upcoming 2025/2026 event season. Volunteers are requested to help fill these bags. Please contact the Dearborn's to let them know you'll be there. It is very easy and goes by quickly when we have enough hands filling up those bags. 

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Just Two Months To Go Until Our Annual Holiday Party

Thursday December 4, 2025. This year's potluck theme is "Bring Your Favorite Food" and our program is "Malawi Agates". Holiday party chair, Bernadette Friedman, will have a sign-up sheet at our October/November general meetings where you can signal your intent to attend and what you might bring for the potluck. 

Elections for our 2026 Board of Directors will also take place at our holiday party. The proposed slate of officers will be published in the November bulletin and additional nominations will be taken from the floor at the holiday party before the election takes place. Please think about volunteering for a position on the board. Any adult member can run for any position.

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October 2025 Beginning Wire Wrap Workshop - For Paid Members Only                                       

Saturday October 25th, 10 am to 3 pm @ the Dearborn's Home - Instructor Debbie Schoenmann

All 10 spaces were reserved and paid for during our September general meeting for this workshop. If you'd like to be put on a waitlist in case anyone should cancel, please see Maxine Dearborn. Please note, there is no guarantee any space will open up.

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September 2025 Del-Air Rockhounds Calendar of Events

Monday September 1: Labor Day  

Thursday September 4: General Meeting 

Thursday September 11: Patriot Day 

Thursday September 18: Board Meeting 

Saturday September 20: Shop Day - Paid Members Only 

Monday September 22: 1st Day of Fall/Rosh Hashanah Begins

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September 2025 Program: 'Name That Slab'

Come and test your knowledge of gemstone slabs and participate in this first ever Del-Air Rockhound Game Show Event! Play 'Name That Slab' and identify 30 different slabs that will be projected on a screen. The top three people who correctly name the most slabs will win a fabulous prize. So don't miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity and join us at our September general meeting.

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September Rocks of the Month: Sapphire & Moonstone

Sapphire & Moonstone are our rocks for the month of September. It will be fun to see what our membership can come up with this month to share with the group.

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September 2025 Shop Day - For Paid Members Only 

Saturday September 20th from 10 am to 3 pm @ Jeff Dengrove's Home

Saturday September 20 will be our 3rd quarter shop day. As always, it will be held at Jeff Dengrove's home from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Participants are asked to arrive a bit early and stay a bit late to help set-up and take down the equipment. Please see Jeff Dengrove and advise him of your intent to attend this event. Space is limited.

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Rock Bag Fill Day - Saturday October 4th 10:00 am @ the Dearborn's Home

See Maxine or Bob D. to Volunteer.

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October Workshop Teaser - For Paid Members Only 

Beginning Wire-Wrapping Class October 2025 - Date TBD at the Dearborn's Home 

Presented by Debbie Schoenmann

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