Thursday, March 30, 2023

April 2023 Del Air Rockhounds Calendar of Events

**Important Notice Regarding Our April 6 Meeting**

The Del Air Rockhounds will be meeting in the YAC - Youth Activities Center building for our April 6, 2023 meeting only. This is due to the church's scheduling needs for their Holy Week Celebrations beginning Sunday April 2 and running through Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023. Enter the parking lot off Superior St. as you normally do but this time follow the parking lot all the way down to the end where you come to a chain link fence. The Youth Activities Center is the last building on the right. There is plenty of parking and easy access to the building.

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Thursday April 6: General Meeting. 7:30 pm Y.A.C Bldg at Northridge U.M. Church
Sunday April 9: Easter. Color those eggs and fill those baskets!
Saturday April 15: Wire Weaving Class at the Dearborn's home
Thursday April 20: Board Meeting at the Dearborn's Home
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April 2023 Program:

Del Air Traveling Education Booth - Presented by the Del Air Education Team
Most members have not yet experienced the wonder and excitement that is our traveling education booth. This booth, consisting of our award winning and interactive volcano, sedimentary & metamorphic rock displays & educational children's games will be the subject of our April program. See how these displays come together to the delight and enjoyment of young and old alike. Our booth has traveled the west coast to as far north as Yakima, Washington to as far south as Long Beach, California and most everywhere in between. We proudly won the prestigious CFMS President's Award in 2018 for the most outstanding display of the year. We have consistently ranked in the top 2 most favorite activities at the CFMS Show & Convention in each of the years that we have participated (which is almost every year since 2010) as voted on by the general public. These rock displays were lovingly created and built by hand by club members Bob & Maxine Dearborn. Come join us for this informative presentation and learn how easy it is to participate so perhaps you too can volunteer to work a position at our next scheduled event.
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The Rockhound Dennis Miller Show

Dennis will fill us in on April's birthstone, the Diamond and will also provide a Stoddard Wells Tailgate field trip report as well as a new stepping stone of the month. Dennis asks all members to bring in something for Show & Tell each month to share with our members and guests.
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Upcoming Education Outreach Events:

Here are our currently scheduled Education Outreach events. Please put these on your calendar because we will need the membership's help in running these very busy booths.

April 1, 2023 - Chatsworth Nature Preserve Earth Day Open House Entry gate on Valley Circle Blvd (there is no physical address for this location) Go west on Plummer St past Topanga, past Farralone, past Shoup, past Baden until it curves around and becomes Valley Circle Blvd and watch for the signs Booth Set up: 8 am - Booth runs: 10 am to 2 pm One 10 x 10 Boutique Booth only

April 1, 2023 - West Hills 13th Annual Spring Fest Saturday April 1, 2023 - 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Shadow Ranch Recreation Center 22633 Vanowen St., West Hills CA 91307 One 10 x 10 Boutique Booth and one 10 x 10 educational booth

April 27, 2023 - Germain Academy 20730 Germain St. Chatsworth, CA Booth set up: TBD - Booth runs: TBD Booth theme: Volcano, Rock & Mineral

May 6 & 7, 2023 - Antelope Valley Gem & Mineral Society Annual Show Antelope Valley Fairgrounds - 2551 W Avenue H, Lancaster, CA 93536 This event is for our traveling education booth (volcano & rock displays) Booth set up is on Friday May 5th Noon to 9 pm Booth runs 10 am to 5 pm on both Saturday & Sunday May 5th & 6th

May 19, 2023 - Lorne Street School STEM Night 17440 Lorne St. Northridge, California 91325 Booth set up: 4:30 pm - booth runs - 5:30 to 7:00 pm Booth theme: Dinosaurs
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News of Upcoming Club Shows:

April 8-9, 2023 – Mariposa, CA Mariposa Gem and Mineral Show Mariposa County Fairgrounds, 5007 Fairgrounds Rd., Mariposa, CA Hours: Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM, Sunday 10 AM – 4 PM Contact: mgmc@sti.net Website: http://mariposagemclub.org

April 15-16, 2023 – Placerville, CA El Dorado County Mineral and Gem Society El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Dr., Placerville, CA Hours: Saturday and Sunday 10 AM – 4 PM Treasures in the Rough Contact: office@edcmgs Website: http://edcmgs.org

April 22-23, 2023 – Thousand Oaks, CA Borchard Park, 190 N. Reino Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA Conejo Gem & Mineral Club Hours: Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM, Sunday 10 AM – 4 PM 46th Pageant of a Thousand Gems Jewelry, Gems, Minerals, Fossils, Rocks, Hobby Supplies, Exhibits, Demonstrations, Door Prizes, Silent Auction, Plant Sales and Youth Activities Free Admission and Free Parking Contact: conejogemandmineral@gmail.com, mrmikerh@gmail.com Website: https://cgamc.org

April 22-23, 2023 – Santa Cruz, CA Santa Cruz Mineral and Gem Society Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Hours: Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM, Sunday 10 am – 4 pm The show features displays, fun activities, and loads of rocks, minerals, crystals, gems, jewelry, and lapidary arts for sale. Browse the bargains and pick up some great gifts. That’s April 29th and 30th at the Civic in downtown Santa Cruz. Contact: scruzmgs@gmail.com Website: http://www.scrockngem.org
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Shop Day Report - Saturday March 25th

Our shop day on Saturday March 25, 2023 @ Jeff Dengroves home was another huge success! In addition to instructors Jeff Dengrove, Chris Ward, Bob Knox & LaVere Schmidt we also had members Dan Farber, Anita Lichtman, Debbie Schoenmann, Dr. Oh, Emmy Silverman and guest Kyle Morris in attendance. Machines in use were the large slab saw, trim saw, grinder, two Genie cabochon machines and the Barranca contour polisher. Many beautiful stones were cut, slabbed, trimmed, cabbed and polished by everyone. Anita put the finishing touches on some free-form cabs of tourmaline in lepidolite. Emmy contour polished a slab of petrified wood and a huge chunk of onyx. Dr. Oh cabbed several small pieces of sodalite and quartz. Dan used the grinder on a big piece of Big Sur jade and then contour polished the surface. Guest Kyle made a beautiful oval cabochon out of a nodule of Big Sur Jade and the end result was near perfect considering this was his first time using the Genie. It was a beautiful, rain-free day. We started at 10 am and wrapped up at 4 pm. A great time was had by all. Stay tuned for news of our 2nd quarter shop day sometime near the end of June.
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Wire Wrap Class Report - Saturday March 11th

The Del Air Club had its beginner wire wrap class for its members and it was a total success. Christine Schmidt taught us how to wrap many shapes of rock and make them into a very nice pendant. Of the nine members who took part in the class, all were able to make two nice pendants. Christine’s instructions were easy to follow and we all had a good time making our own jewelry. This was an extra bonus for being a Del Air Club member and if you didn’t take advantage of it, YOU REALLY MISSED OUT! Thank you Christine for a great time and showing us how to make something new!
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CFMS SHOW AND CONVENTION

JUNE 23-25, 2023 - LODI GRAPE FESTIVAL GROUNDS
413 E. LOCKEFORD ST., LODI, CA 95240
Hours: Friday & Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM, Sunday 10 AM – 4 PM
Educational Exhibits, Speakers - Adults $6, Kids 12 & under FREE
Free admission to MILITARY Active, Veterans and their Dependents with valid Military ID card.
For information: rocksbob@sbcglobal.net - Dealer information: slchaisson@yahoo.com
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