Lone Pine Gem & Mineral Society Newsletter
August 2008 - The “It's Hot” Summer Edition
Frances speaks
The following comes from our president, Francis Pedneau.
Summer Barbecue
The annual summer BBQ and meeting was held at the home of F and F (that's Francis and Francee Pedneau for those of not in the know) and was acclaimed by all who attended a great success. Fifteen members and guests took part. Many members from Big Pine and Bishop who had planned to attend were unable to due to the flooding at Fort Independence. But ONE member persisted. Linda Baptie was 2 hours late, but she made it. Our silent auction was enjoyed by all. With some very spirited bidding by some determined bidders. Thanks to all who donated items to the auction and thanks to all who brought dishes to the BBQ. Two members of the Palmdale Gem and Mineral Society, Don and Cheri George, attended and enjoyed the company of our club members.
CFMS Ventura Show
The CFMS show in Ventura was attended by members Ray Ramirez and Jeff Lines. They also took our club show displays, the fulgurite and the "Rockhounding Inyo County" display for all to see and enjoy. Thanks guys for your efforts to promote our club and area to share our rockhounding bounty.
August Club Meeting In Different Location
The next regular club meeting will be held at the Forum Theatre at 141 North Jackson St in Lone Pine. The theatre is across the street from Statham Hall and the fire house. Jackson street is one block east of Highway 395. Meeting time is 6:30 PM. Due to Labor Day falling on the first Monday the September meeting will be on the 8th of September. The meeting place to be announced.
Dick Freisen Carving Class
It is almost time for our carving class. It will be held at 221 W. Bush St. on August 3rd. Beginning at 9:00 AM and stopping at 4:00 to 5:00 PM depends on the progress of the students. If any members would like to observe, come on by.
An August Field Trip
Ray Ramirez sends this information to us.
I have arranged for our club to join the Oxnard and Conejo clubs on their field trip to the Greenhorn Mountains to collect Rose quartz. This will take place on August 22nd to August 24th (Friday to Sunday). This will be a dry camp at Panorama campground on Greenhorn summit, so plan accordingly. (Editor's note: My husband wants to know why alcohol is not allowed.) The brief directions are as follows. To reach camp follow HWY 178 to Lake Isabella, then take Hwy 155 North to Wofford Heights, then West to Greenhorn summit, then go North to Panorama Camp. On Saturday morning we will follow the other clubs to the collecting location for the day. I have a forest service map printout that was sent to me but no way to scan it at the moment.
For those of us interested in participating in this field trip, contact me at 760-872-0624 for further details. I would like to leave Lone Pine by 9:00 AM from the Chevron station North of town to allow enough time to get there and settle in before it gets too late. I will provide more details as I have them and hope to see you there!
Happy Hounding!!!
Ray Ramirez
Shop Night News
This report comes to us from our field correspondent, Barbara Leachman.
On the evening of July 8th, several of us met at McDonald's for food and then went to the shop. Aldene worked on 3 promising pieces of rock material from Canada, sawing on one of the larger saws and polishing on the Genie. Steve sawed a large specimen of Owen's Onyx. That piece inspired me later to look for the piece that J. and J. (Jim and Jackie Grandgeorge) had given me. I'm planning on making a bear of that next shop night.
Anyway back to July 8th...Jackie worked on the eyeglasses or cell phone cases that are great. Each one is unique. You have to see these. Francee was making a beaded bracelet with mother of pearl and other beautiful beads. I windowed the Tricolor Marble from Cerro Gordo that Ray showed me on the main tailing pile. That will become a bear. The saw fractured the pretty piece of varisite with the matrix that I had bought from Jeff at our Club Show; so, I free-formed it and put a polish on it.
Next, Jim helped me get a ridge out of Oolite bear. Francis was helping everyone on their projects. Jessie was there, too. It was really fun and over too soon. We hope to see you next time, B.
You Might Be A Rockhound . . .
- If you have fabricated a backpack for your dog.
- If you have a strong opinion as to whether pieces of concrete are properly called “rocks.”
- If there is a copy of Dana’s Manual next to your toilet.
- If you still think pet rocks are a pretty neat idea.
- If you get excited when you discover a hardware store that stocks 16 pound sledge hammers and 5 foot long pry bars.
- If you know the location of every rock shop within a 100 mile radius of your home.
- If you watch Western movies just for the geology.
Upcoming Events
- Carving class for those members who have already signed up: Aug 3rd, Sunday, starting at 9:00 am. At the home of F and F at 221 W. Bush St. in Lone Pine.
- Club meeting night: August 4, Monday, Forum Theatre (141 North Jackson St in Lone Pine) at 6:30 pm. Join us for dinner at the Bonanza at 5:15.
- Shop night: Aug 5, Tuesday starting at 7:00 pm. Join us at MacDonald's at 6:00 for dinner.
- Field trip with Oxnard and Conejo clubs to the Greenhorn Mountains to look for rose quartz.. August 22nd to 24th. See this newsletter for details.
Our Web Site
You can always find the latest copy of the newsletter at our web site at www.lpgms.org. You'll also find past newsletters and a new membership form. If you are online and would like to receive the newsletter electronically, send me a message saying you wish to do that to linda at lpgms.org.
Contact numbers
- President: Francis Pedneau - 760-876-4319; franceem at qnet.com
- Vice President: Ray Ramirez - 760-872-0624
- Newsletter editor: Linda Jeffries - 760-876-1009; linda at lpgms.org
