DECEMBER 2007 NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2007 NEWSLETTER
SALINAS VALLEY ROCK AND GEM CLUB
P O BOX 12
SALINAS, CALIFORNIA 93901-0012
Next General Meeting JANUARY 28, 7:00pm. Club will meet at Sherwood Gardens, Salinas Community Meeting Rooms, 940 North Main Street, Salinas
Our Club is a nonprofit organization and our purpose is to promote the study of mineralogy and geology. To encourage he collection of minerals, fossils, and gems. To provide field trips and to encourage the study of lapidary arts through workshops.
Our Club colors are pink for Rhodonite and green for Jade
Our Club is a member of the California Federation and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies
We try to hold a workshop or field trip every month with different facets of our hobby
We have a club library of books and videos. We also have three pieces of equipment available to members to check out and use for a small fee. Tumbler fee is $2.50 a month. Rock grinder and polisher $5.00 a month. We also have a small trim saw, but we ask each person who borrows it to furnish their own blade. We hold a rock raffle at each meeting so as to provide some new material for those that do not have that type of rock.
We hold an annual show on the 2nd week in March for the education and enjoyment of the public. We also offer hands on material for schools to study the materials we collect and use. Teachers can check out these trays for two weeks and a member can help explain and inform the students.
Club dues are $10 for singles and $20 for families. Dues are payable in December for the following year.
WITH GREAT SADNESS ADA'S PASSING WILL AFFECT US ALL.
ADA M. BREWER
Born in Preston, Kansas on Apr. 17, 1926
Departed on Nov. 23, 2007 and resided in Salinas, CA.
Ada M. Brewer, 81, of Salinas, died Friday, November 23, 2007, following a short illness. She was born April 17, 1926 in Preston, Kansas to Garland and Nita Worden. She is preceded in death by her first husband, Bob Forgnone in 1992, her second husband Bob Brewer May 23, 2007 and granddaughter Vanessa Forgnone in 2002.
When she was a teenager, Ada moved with her family from Kansas to the Central Valley where she worked at Virgo Drug Store in Delhi and Livingston and Castle Air Force Base during World War II. In 1956, Ada and her first husband, the late Bob Forgnone came from Livingston, California to Salinas to open the Chevron Station on Williams Road. She and Bob were dune buggy enthusiasts and were one of the founding members of the Salinas Sand Bugs Inc. Ada worked as a barber for 20 years at P & L Barbershop in Salinas and was a distributor for Forever Living Products. She was a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parent’s Club and the Alter Society.
Ada and her second husband Bob Brewer were active members of Madonna del Sasso Catholic Church, The Salinas Valley Metal Detecting Club, and the Salinas Valley Rock & Gem Club. She would visit local schools, where students knew her as the “Rock Lady”. She would teach them about rocks and gems and give them each a stone.
Ada, a lung cancer survivor, took part annually in the Relay for Life sporting her purple wig. She was dedicated to helping people. She was always driving people to appointments, gathering food, clothing and items for those in need. Her strong faith in God was evident in all she did. The family would like to thank Dr. Rebecca Abundis, the staff at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, and the Windsor Rehabilitation Center.
Survivors: Children - Fred (Kathy) Forgnone of King City, Nita Forgnone of Philadelphia, PA, Cindy Forgnone, Salinas, Gerard (Andrea) Forgnone of San Diego, Steve (Karen) Brewer, Marie (Gary) Jewel of Auburn WA.
Brothers - Vic (Mary Ann) Worden of Salinas, Fred (Lorraine) Worden, Paul (Romie) Worden, Frank (Sandy) Worden, Bud (Linda) Worden, Mike (Gladys) Worden, Joe Worden, John (Beverly) Worden.
Grandchildren - Sarah Gaines, Tim Mulvey, Alexis Forgnone and Great granddaughter, Mattea Gaines. Her grandchildren with Bob Brewer, Sarah, Shelley, Devon, Charity, Shawna and Billy
Great granddaughter Jordan
Visitation will be Friday November 30, 2007 from 1pm. to 5pm. at the Struve and Laporte Chapel. 41 W. San Luis Street Salinas, CA 93901
Vigil service will be held Friday evening at 7pm. in the Struve and Laporte Mortuary Chapel.
Mass will be held Saturday December 1, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the Madonna del Sasso Catholic Church, 320 E. Laurel Drive in Salinas
In lieu of flowers donation may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1184 Monroe Street #1 Salinas, CA 93906 and Dorothy’s Place, 30 Soledad Street, Salinas, CA 93901
(the following three articles were published in CFMS newsletter 11/07)
DISPLAYING YOUR TREASURERS
by Clay Williams,
El Dorado County Mineral & Gem Society
Whether a case contains mineral specimen(s) or
the product of any other related activity, the
challenge is to display them to best effect. The
author, who is struggling with the mastery of this
art and has been for a number of years through
successes and occasional failures, was asked by
several club VIP’s to share some of his insights.
A good place to start is the color scheme. The
colors of all supporting elements of the exhibit
should be relatively muted and, for the best
effect, should both match each other and what is
being displayed. The author took labels in colors
that were appealing and also blended with his
specimens, along with a junk piece of mineral
that matched those specimens, to a fabric store
where he placed each next to liner fabric
candidates. The store clerk must have wondered
what was going on. When the winning fabric was
finally determined, the only other limitation was,
could enough be purchased to cover all liner
foam board and any possible fabric covered
risers?
The word, muted, cannot be emphasized enough
when talking about the case, the liners, the
mounts and/or risers and the labels! All should
be less eye catching than the object or objects of
display. Various earth tone colors are an
excellent way to execute this difference. Avoid
bright colors, especially red, at all cost! That the
last, when on cars, draws inordinate scrutiny
from police should be a hint why. The bright
purple liner that I saw at a recent show should
probably go in favor of something much less
attention getting -- after all, the intent is to get
people to focus on what is being displayed, not
on the background.
Labeling is important and indicates the exhibitor
has taken the trouble to correctly identify your
treasure. In most cases, such as with minerals
and fossils, it should definitely include locality and
name information. This should be more specific
than, say, “Emerald, South America.” A better
effort would state that emerald is a variety of
beryl and, at the very least, give the country and
province, region or district of origin. It also might
be nice to know where a lapped piece of tiger’s
eye, topaz in a jewelry setting or turquoise in a
belt buckle came from. Competitive entries have
certain requirements, which vary for different
types of displays. Check the AFMS rules and CFMS
Supplementary Rules Information. It would also
be a good idea to ask for someone’s advice if you
are contemplating such a move.
Even though not really muted, black, depending
on the shade of your liner, usually is fairly
readable. Readability is an important issue and is
one reason why the author tested a sample label
at the fabric store. Readability also limits your
choice of fonts. Making that font bold and of a
reasonable size helps, as it must be assumed
that not everyone can see or read well.
The author’s labels are composed on a PC and
then printed onto transparencies using an ink-jet.
Each transparency page is then cut into individual
labels, which may be further trimmed to fit in the
spaces between specimens. Gloves are used
whenever handling the finished product, as it
fingerprints easily. This not-often-seen procedure
gets lots of attention from those more interested
in the process than the item or items being
displayed.
Layout within the case is, of course, a personal
thing. However, too much clutter looks very
unprofessional and should be avoided; it
diminishes the overall impression. Also to be
avoided is the placement of lower quality
material among stars; the former detracts from
the latter. This is easier said than done,
especially if one is new to collecting and,
therefore, has a limited choice of what to include.
Labels should be of consistent type and not look
like they were just thrown in. The liner or liners
should cover the entire area visible through the
glass, and not be stained or dirty. Avoid giving
the appearance that your effort was lacking.
It is a good idea to try putting your case together
pre-show. Such a dry run will get the kinks out, if
any. It is the time to make final changes and is
great practice, especially if the exhibit is at all
complex. Also this can uncover any omissions
while something can still be done. Good luck!
Ed. Note: Clay Williams has credentials behind his
advice. He has entered his displays and won in
competition at California Federation of
Mineralogical Societies shows. He won the 1st
Place Advanced Minerals Trophy for his copper
minerals case and was also awarded the coveted
Hamel Minerals Trophy at the 2005 CFMS Show in
Roseville, CA. In June, he received the 1st Place
Masters Minerals Trophy for his copper mineral
case at the 2007 CFMS Show in Lancaster, CA
Program Library Update
by Bill Gissler, Librarian
A 2008 copy of the Slide and Video Program
Library Catalog will be distributed at the November business meeting of the Federation. Significant changes to the Catalog include the addition of sections on DVD and CD-ROM programs.
Federation Directors - please pass the Catalog onto your 2008 Club Program Chair; they would
appreciate it for planning programs in 2008.
The following new programs have recently been
added to the library:
F-154. "Lake Superior Agates..... A New Look" is
the first place winner in the 2006 AFMS Program
Competition. The program is divided into four parts - color and patterns, native copper, plumes and needles, and iris. Viewed through microscope
magnification, the agates clearly reveal many
unique features.
DVD-26. "Mineral Collecting in and Around
Quartzsite and Parker Arizona" identifies 8 locations where you will be able to collect minerals. A directional map and tips for each location is included. Here is a unique field trip planning guide for your next trip to Quartzsite.
DVD-27. "Mineral Collecting within 2 hours from
Los Angeles" is a program which identifies 8
locations with directional maps and a description of the minerals to be found. The field guide program is intended to give you a feel for an area before you step foot there.
