www.Facebook.com/DelAirRockhounds
Member of the California & American Federation of Mineralogical Societies
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7618, Van Nuys, CA 91409
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
The Del Air Rockhounds Club Welcomes You!!
www.Facebook.com/DelAirRockhounds
Member of the California & American Federation of Mineralogical Societies
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7618, Van Nuys, CA 91409
December 2024 Del Air Rockhounds Calendar of Events
Thursday December 5: 2024 Holiday Party - Paid Members Only
Saturday December 7: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Thursday December 12: Crystal Tabby Day - Paid Members Only
Saturday December 14: *Flash Shop Day* - Paid Members Only
Sunday December 15: Chatsworth Holiday Parade & Festival
Thursday December 19: Board Meeting
Saturday December 21: First Day of Winter
Wednesday December 25: Christmas & Hanukkah
Thursday December 26: Kwanzaa
Tuesday December 31: New Years Day
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December 2024 Program - This Event is for Paid Members Only
2024 Del-Air Holiday Party & Election of Our 2025 Board of Directors
Happy Holidays Del-Air members. It's time once again for our annual holiday party. This year we will be enjoying a member provided, international themed, potluck dinner and a special presentation revolving around slabs and cabochons. There will be some games and the annual election of our Board of Directors for 2025. Remember to prepare enough of your dish to feed approximately 6-8 people. Our holiday party committee has put together a fun evening you all are sure to enjoy. The party will be held on our regular December meeting date of Thursday December 5th in the Fellowship Hall building of the Northridge United Methodist Church beginning at 6:30 pm, one (1) hour earlier than our usual meeting time. Please remember to wear your name badges to the party.
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January 2025 Club Meetings
Due to the proximity of our January 2025 general meeting to the New Years Holiday, please be advised the January meeting has been moved to Thursday, January 9th at 7:30 pm in our regular meeting room at Northridge United Methodist Church and our January board meeting has been moved to Thursday, January 23, 7:30 pm at Shellie Van Winkle's home.
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*****Flash Shop Day***** This Event is for Paid Members Only
10:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday December 14 @ Jeff Dengrove's Home 'Slabs to Cabs' Come join us at Jeff Dengrove's house and learn how to transform those slabs you'll be receiving at the Holiday Party into beautiful cabochons. Just in time to make those last minute Christmas gifts for that special someone or maybe for yourself as well. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn a new lapidary skill. There will be instructors on hand to show you how it's done. It's really easy.
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2024 Chatsworth Holiday Parade & Festival
Sunday December 15, 2024 - Set-up begins 10:00 am
Event runs 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm
The Del-Air Rockhounds will be hosting a booth at this event. Members will be needed to help run this double-wide booth. Please see any board member to let them know you'd like to help out. We participate in this event every year and it's always a lot of fun for everyone. Come see what you're missing!
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November Field Trip Report & January Field Trip Teaser
November 9th saw the Del Air’s meeting in Mojave, CA at 9:30 am for a Field Trip. Chairman, Jeff Dengrove, led 6 cars of people out to the North Edwards collecting areas to pick up rocks. And boy, did we pick up rocks! No digging, just bend over and take the agate that looked pretty. We stopped at 4 different areas and enjoyed a perfect day for rockhounding. There was just a little breeze with temps in the low 70’s. Perfect! After picking up all this nice rock we decided to go to Boron, CA and visit the Rio Tinto Boron Mine Visitor's Center. They say this is the largest open-pit mine in California, operated by the U.S. Borax division of Rio Tinto. A very good visitor center with a lot of information on this mining operation. They also have a couple of dump sites here where you can collect different minerals from their operation. We all did this too! Members on this trip were: Jeff Dengrove, Bob & Maxine Dearborn, Dan Farber, Pam Abbott, Ann Richardson, Vincent Santoro, Trevor Feemster, Dr Oh and his 2 guests. We hope to see even more members join us for our annual whale bone trip to Refugio Beach on Jan 29, 2025. More details to follow in our January Bulletin. Stay Tuned and save the date.
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2025 Quartzsite Info:
Desert Gardens - Jan 1 to Feb. 28
Tyson Wells Rock & Gem Show - Jan 3 to 12
Pow Wow Show - Jan 15 to 19
Tyson Wells Sell A Rama - Jan 17 to 26
RV Show - Jan 18 to 26.
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The Gold Coast Gem & Mineral Show
Has been rescheduled to December 7 & 8 due to the Ventura County Fairgrounds needing to house 3000 firefighters over the original dates.
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Wednesday, October 30, 2024
November 2024 Del Air Calendar of Events
Sunday November 3: Daylight Savings Ends
Thursday November 7: General Meeting
Monday November 11: Veterans Day
Thursday November 21: Board Meeting
Thursday November 28: Thanksgiving Day
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November 2024 Program:
The Diversity of American Gems: The Western States
Presented by Renee Newman
Renee’s PowerPoint will include gems from sources in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, and parts of California. However, it will focus on the most notable ones such as jade, benitoite, sunstone, opal, turquoise, chrysocolla, Four Peaks amethyst and fire agate. Renée Newman developed her interest in gems in the early 1980's while conducting tours to Asia, South America and the South Pacific. Her passengers wanted to know how to judge the quality of the gems they saw. After searching in bookstores and libraries for this information, Renée discovered that little had been written on the subject of gem quality evaluation, so she decided it would be worth creating books with photos that showed how to judge gem quality. After receiving a graduate gemologist diploma from the GIA, she was hired as a gemologist at a wholesale firm in downtown Los Angeles. It provided hands-on experience grading diamonds and selecting colored gems and pearls for their jewelry. Armed with trade experience and gemological credentials, Renée decided to create books that showed readers how to visually evaluate the quality of gems. Her first book, the Diamond Ring Buying Guide, was published in 1989. Since that time, she has written thirteen more books on gems and jewelry. They are used as gemology course textbooks, sales training tools, appraisal references and consumer guides. The books will be available for sale at the meeting for a discounted price. Bring cash or check.
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Report on Beading Class with Martina Rodriguez 10-26-2024
Martina Rodriguez instructed us all on how to make A BEAD BRACELET. She had many different beads to choose from and spacer items to make the bracelet even prettier. After stringing the beads and in some cases dropping the string and losing the beads, which means starting over again, we had to tie the knot to hold it all together. This knot was not easy and Martina helped most of us. Most made 2 bracelets and a pair of earrings. With a light lunch, it was a good day. Members attending the class were: Pam Abbott, Dean Tran, Olga Wolf, Alexander Tran, Dr. Jeong Guk Oh, Louise Ratliff, Marilyn Murata and Bob Dearborn. A fun day for all and we did learn something new. These special yearly quarter workshop classes are for members only and if you miss them, you are missing out on learning something new and interesting.
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Proposed 2025 Slate of Officers
President: Jeff Dengrove
Vice President: Aileen Beckers
2nd Vice President: Dan Farber
Secretary: Bob Dearborn
Treasurer: Shellie Van Winkle
Federation Director: Bob Knox
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December Holiday Party Teaser
Happy Holidays Del-Airs. Next month is our annual holiday party. This year we will be enjoying a member provided international themed potluck dinner, a special presentation revolving around slabs and cabochons, some games, and our annual election of officers for 2025. Holiday party chair, Bernadette Friedman will have a sign-up sheet for you to advise on what dish you will be bringing to the party. Remember to prepare enough to feed approximately 6-8 people. Our holiday party committee is currently hard at work planning out all the fine details. The party will be held on our regular December meeting date of Thursday December 5th in the Fellowship Hall building of the Northridge United Methodist Church. So, save the date as you will not want to miss this fun annual event.
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Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Del-Air Rockhounds October 2024 Calendar of Events
Wednesday October 2: Rosh Hashanah Begins
Thursday October 3: General Meeting
Friday October 11: Yom Kippur Begins
Thursday October 17: Board Meeting
Thursday October 31: Halloween
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September 2024 Program: The Allure of Diamonds Presented by: Sandie & Tony Fender
They say that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, so we would like to present to you a program on diamonds. We will talk about where to find diamonds, characteristics of diamonds and a comparison of natural and lab grown diamonds. Tony and Sandie Fender are retired teachers and are involved in both the CFMS and AFMS.
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Beading Class with Martina Rodriguez
Saturday October 26, 2024 - 10:30 am
FOR PAID MEMBERS ONLY
On October 26th, the Del-Air Club will be holding its final quarterly workshop. This is one of 4 classes held each year and a perk for being a club member. Our member, Martina Rodriguez will be teaching a beading class. You will learn the correct way to tie those knots between each bead and the special knots needed to end your necklace or bracelet. At this class, you will be making a beaded bracelet but, these are the same knots needed for a necklace as well. Yes, men make bracelets and necklaces too! The class will be held on October 26th from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm or when everyone completes their project. The class will be held at Bob & Maxine Dearborn’s house and we will have space for 10 members to participate. Claim your spot on the sign-up sheet at the October meeting. You don’t have a bracelet to restring? This is OK as Martina will have supplies to make and finish your own bracelet. There will be a $10.00 charge for supplies.
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New Members to the Del-Air Rockhounds Club
We are extremely proud to welcome new members Dean Tran, Alexander Tran & Olga Wolf to our club. They were all voted in unanimously at our September 2024 meeting. Welcome… Dean, Alexander, & Olga!
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November Field Trip Teaser: Saturday November 9th 2024
FOR PAID MEMBERS ONLY
Come join field trip chair and club President, Jeff Dengrove, on a field trip to North Edwards. North Edwards is a place in Kern County, California. Situated in the Mojave Desert, North Edwards is located about 7.2 miles north-east of Edwards Air Force Base, at an elevation of 2,293 feet. We will be collecting agates, petrified wood, bloodstone and jaspers. Watch your November bulletin for more details.
North Edwards - California
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Report on the Club Field Trip On September 8th , 2024
The Del-Air Club had a field trip to the Nevada Mineral & Book Co in the town of Orange, CA. This is a store/museum/gallery owned and run by Walt Lombardo, who gave us a program a few months ago on some of his treasures. Oh the fun of it! This is a building full of books, fossils, rocks and interesting stuff. There are big long drawers that are full of fossils and minerals. Many, many shelves of wonderful things from around the world to look at and think “Do I Want That?” There are big rocks, little rocks, expensive rocks and even rocks that say “Yes, I Can Buy That”. Each time you look back on a shelf, you see something new and different and think - How Did I Miss That? I had a fun day, and hope others on this trip also had a fun day looking at all this neat rockhound stuff. And yes, I did come home with a new book on the Oldest Fossils! It is a neat book on the history of different minerals, fossils, gems and more. The next time we go down to Orange, I am taking Bob to this really neat store.
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December Holiday Party Teaser
Happy Holidays Del-Airs. As that time of the year is rapidly approaching, we ask you to start thinking about our annual holiday party. As in past years, we will be enjoying a member potluck dinner, a special presentation (to be determined), games, our annual election of officers for 2025, fun and great camaraderie. More details to be provided in the November bulletin so start thinking about what dish you'll be bringing, main, side or dessert with enough to feed approximately 8 people. Our holiday party committee is currently hard at work planning out all the details. The party will be held on our regular December meeting date of Thursday December 5th in the Fellowship Hall building of the Northridge United Methodist Church. So, save the date as you will not want to miss this fun annual event.
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Glendora Gems Lapidary Club
Unfortunately, the Glendora Gems Lapidary Club is losing their workshop/meeting location and has to sell some of their equipment and rock. Glendora Gems will be closing the lapidary program and moving to a smaller location and reopening possibly in the Fall of 2025. We will be selling equipment like a 36" saw, 24" saws, sphere machines and misc tile saws & several tons of rocks & specimens.
Location: 1515 W. Mission Blvd, Pomona CA 91766 Directions - Drive through big gate at the building near the back of property Dates for the sale will be Oct 5th from 9-3 pm; Oct 12th from 9-3 pm Need more info please contact Robin P. at 951-906-9365.
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Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Del-Air Rockhounds September 2024 Calendar of Events
Monday September 2: Labor Day
Thursday September 5: General Meeting - 7:30 pm at Northridge United Methodist Church
Sunday September 8: Field Trip - Paid Members Only
Wednesday September 11: Patriot Day
Thursday September 19: Board Meeting - 7:30 pm at Bernadette Friedman's home
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Annual Silent Auction - Presented by your Board of Directors
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Vote on the Club's By-Laws
At this month's meeting, all adult members will be asked to vote on the approval or denial of the revisions to the club's by-laws. After many weeks and much review, the board has approved the revisions and they were emailed to all members approximately two weeks ago. We require a two thirds approval of the entire membership to pass these revisions. If you are unable to attend the September meeting, please submit your proxy vote of yes or no via email to delairrockhounds@gmail.com before Thursday September 5th, 2024.
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New Members to the Del-Air Rockhounds Club
We are extremely proud to welcome new members Adriana Hrenciuc and Sandy Lee to our club. They were both voted in unanimously at our August 2024 meeting. Welcome… Adriana & Sandy!
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WE HAVE MOVED!
The Del-Air Club had an outrageous increase in our storage unit and a plea was put out to our membership for possible better rates at a different location. We had responses from many members about the same size unit and a much better monthly rate. BUT THE BEST OFFER WAS FROM OUR MEMBERS, THE KALMA FAMILY, WHEN THEY SAID WE COULD USE PART OF THEIR GARAGE FOR OUR STORAGE! We took them up on this right away and just before our yearly rent was due again the last of July. Our member team of: Jeff Dengrove, Dan Farber, Michael Tschacher, Dan Durfee and Eitan Kalma filled a U-Haul truck, a pick up truck and a small car full of our storage stuff and got it into the garage in about 3 hours. And on a very hot day! WE WANT TO THANK THE KALMAS AND OUR MOVING TEAM FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
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Just a Friendly FYI…
Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara has now reopened after the damage done by the February 2024 storms. Feel free to meander down the 101 freeway to our favorite whale bone hunting location. Welcome back, Refugio. We missed you!
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Bench Tips from Brad Smith
NEW MELTING DISH
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PROJECTS IN MOTION By Jennifer Haley, AFMS Historian - www.cfmsinc.org
I love my volunteer job as the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies historian. It is fun for me to think about you, and about what you might enjoy reading. You make my day, in this way! I have a bundle of creative projects I would love to do for you as special projects. These are going to take some time pulling together, but it will be well worth the time that goes into it. These projects, when they are completed, will be able to be given to the Federations for their clubs to use in their newsletters, and as club programs. One of the projects will be a collection of vintage cartoons going back to our early days when the generations of rockhounds before us were creating wonderful cartoons for their bulletins all the time. Another project will be a collection of all those wonderful poems, again from vintage bulletins. I’ve been going through some I currently have, and they are so creative and fun. They express the love and joy for our hobby, and are such gifts to bring out and enjoy again for today. Plus, they are such an inspiration for those of you inclined to create your own poems. One other project is for creating a special edition of articles dedicated to telling the true stories of how rockhounds with their talent in lapidary and geology, helped in the war effort during WWII. I have a couple of these stories already, and they are meant to be told. One of these involves a copy of an old Navy report I was able to hunt down that would also make a fantastic program for our clubs. So, wonderful things are in store for you. I am one of those people who enjoys creative chaos, so I can work on all these projects at once as I find more of what I am looking for. I could really use your help in making these projects become a reality. I know many of you have boxes of older club bulletins in which to find the early cartoons and poems. Please look for them and let me know what you’ve found. I wish to borrow them and will return them to you or you can scan them to forward them to me. Contact me, and we’ll work out the details. And of course, I will give credit to the author and your club. Sometimes these vintage poems and cartoons were in a bulletin or just typed out on a piece of paper without an author’s or club’s name on them. Some are very faded, almost hard to read or see. I can still use these and most likely be able to bring them back to life, and I will give you the credit for bringing them to my attention. We have so much to celebrate as rockhounds. Help me celebrate the delights and the honor of being AFMS rockhounds. Reprinted from September 2024 CFMS Newsletter
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From the Desk of the President, JC Moore, AFMS President - www.amfed.org
As I begin this message, an update has been received from Roger Burford concerning Liz. After being in the hospital for the last 3 weeks with major back pain, tests indicate that the cancer has spread to her spine with infections in the bones and, as a result, Liz has decided to go into Home Hospice. Please keep Liz and Roger in your prayers and thoughts at this extremely difficult time. Since my last message, the AFMS Convention in Ventura has concluded and was a great success. There were 55 competitive exhibits that took all day to judge, with several excellent junior entries. I added a learning experience concerning a Japanese art form that has different parameters than what we normally see in exhibits. Of course, there were more vendors with material we do not see in the Midwest, and I could not keep my wife, Donna, away from the silent auction. During the meeting, vacancies were filled for Publications (Ron Carmen), Show Consultant (Jean Charsky), By-Laws (Matt Charsky) and Uniform Rules Eligibility Files (Larry Hulstrom). Again, I would like to thank Ron, Jean, Matt, and Larry for stepping up to fill these positions. We are still looking for someone to be the Chair for Judges Training and Media Director. Again, thank you to the Ventura Club for hosting a wonderful convention. Following our return from California, we spent a quiet few days before heading to New Jersey on June 7th for the Eastern Federation meeting at the Sterling Hill Mine. Since retiring in 2004, this visit has been on our bucket list, and now we can scratch off one item from our list. The meeting was an enjoyable re-connection with people we knew and making new friendships with fellow rockhounds. The mine tour was great, and the collecting even better. If you ever get a chance, this is one site you really want to visit. Now we are preparing for the MWF Convention in East Peoria, Illinois and wish to invite everyone to come and attend August 24-25. Again, please keep Roger and Liz in your prayers as these are difficult times for them. Reprinted from the August 2024 AFMS Newsletter
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