May 2023 Meeting Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting of Shenandoah Valley Gem and Mineral Society
Meeting date: May 8, 2023
We had 13 members at our May meeting.
Jack Glenn gave an update on our annual show to be held September 22-24 at Augusta County EXPO. He and Scott have contracted for us to use the huge room as well as the medium room for our vendors. (NOT the smaller annex we had last year) There will be plenty of room for our vendors, our club displays, youth activities and a snack area. This means we will need MORE WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS who have worked so faithfully in the past.
We will charge $5 cash only at the door. (Several other shows charge up to $6). The Richmond club is having their show the same weekend, but we have several new vendors that will have some unique items. Jack will have fliers, posters, etc soon. More details to follow.
Liz Johnson from JMU reminded us of the Microminerals event that will be held there on June 3. Please let Mike know if you'd like to attend. Info about the event and parking is on the attachment. There will be microscopes available.
She also noted that the MINERAL MUSEUM will be open through the summer, 1 to 4 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and on every 2nd Saturday of the month. Please go to the website for details - https://www.jmu.edu/mineralmuseum/index.shtml
Program - Kelly Lane has been faceting for years, and taught himself from reading manuals, watching YouTube videos, and lots of practice and patience.
Someone once gave him advice that has enhanced his ability - to take notes of each step he completes, and re-read them to correct any mistakes. (This uses lots of paper, but it's worth it)
He showed us some samples he has done, using man-made materials that he orders online. The materials come in cube shapes.
A good way to practice is to buy an old glass towel rack - plenty of material and not costly. Larger samples have more waste.
His index wheel to mark angles is manual, but he showed us some automatic ones in a catalog that cost from five to eight thousand dollars! (Pic of apparatus below)
Kelly explained that there are thousands of styles and shapes to work from. Some are very intricate with many facets, and many are very small. He uses diagrams to follow, and has a notebook full of them that he cut from magazines. He met a lady at a show many years ago that showed him some practical tips.
Kelly did not bring his motor, as it is weighty and cumbersome. He uses 100 watt light bulbs in the front of him and to either side. From watching YouTube, he figured out a way to prevent water from splashing all over him. (His wife is happy about that!) The items that he completes are put into settings and wire-wrapped.
Some of the resources he mentioned were: ultratec-facet.com micromark.com kingsleynorth.com
THANK YOU Kelly for the interesting information.
Inclement weather policy: FYI - If Rockingham County Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather on a meeting day, our meeting will be canceled. The club secretary will try to send out an email ASAP that day, and an announcement will be posted on the club’s Facebook page and web site.
Thanks for your understanding; we want everyone to be safe!
Field Trips: We are not planning any field trips any time soon, but if anyone knows of places to collect in small groups, let the club secretary know and they can send out the info.
Looking ahead:
Our next meeting will be on Monday, June 12th at 7 pm at the Bridgewater Baptist Church. Program TBD
The lapidary shop will be open the Saturday following a regular meeting. (See Events At A Glance for a calendar view). Charlie & Jack can assist you. Open from 9 am to noon. This is a small enclosed space; please follow whatever COVID protective guidelines you think appropriate.
There are several slab saws and trim saws. Keep in mind that safety is a priority, and wear closed toe shoes, safety glasses, with no loose hair or long sleeves. Children must be supervised and closely monitored to insure they are safely using the equipment. Check this page to see what you can learn to do!
If you’d like to present a program, please talk to an officer at a meeting.
Be sure to keep up with our website www.shenandoahvalleyrockclub.org and our Facebook page Shenandoah Valley Gem and Mineral Society for updates and information.
Deborah Grimm, Secretary
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Club Officers and Staff 2016-2023
President – Michael Pabst
Vice President – Leo Cloutier
Educational Outreach -- Deborah Grimm
Secretary/Newsletter -- Deborah Grimm
Field Trip Coordinators - TBD
Co-Treasurers – Scott Gregory/Deborah Grimm
Show Team Leaders – Scott Gregory/Jack Glenn
Web Site Coordinator – Jack Glenn
Club web site: shenandoahvalleyrockclub.org
Club Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ShenandoahValleyGemMineralSociety
Club email: svgem-min-club@live.com