MAY 2008 NEWSLETTER
SALINAS VALLEY ROCK AND GEM CLUB
P O BOX 12
SALINAS, CALIFORNIA 93901-0012
Next General Meeting May 19th, 7:00 pm at the Salinas Community Center, 940 North Main Street, Salinas. Board meets on April 7th, 6pm, at the Cal-Hawaiian Mobile Park, Russell Road, Salinas
A WEEK AT SODA SPRINGS OR MORE WIDELY KNOWN
TO ROCK HOUNDS AS ZZYYX
by Karin Salomon
Early Sunday morning March 23 found me packing my gear up from my overnight motel stay in Bakersfield, making my way down to the Mojave Desert and Zzyyx. After crossing the Tehachapi, I decided to stop off at both Kramer Junction and Clay Mine Road - which didn’t reveal much in what I was hoping to find. Lunch was in Barstow at my favorite Mexican restaurant on Main Street and were they busy, being Easter Sunday, everyone was dressed to the 9’s, although I wasn't!
Given the hour there was still a couple of hours to search the petrified palm root area and I did come up with an exceptional piece. As I really enjoy the desert in winter/spring, I try to search for as many hours and days I can fit in.
Arrived at Zzyyx near dinner time. Found my room, my room mate and learned where the important places were to be found. Meaning the showers.
ZZyyx has a long history. It was called Soda Springs for a while, a minister from Los Angeles would gather up down and outs and take them to the desert to dry out. As Zzyyx is 5 miles down a dusty dirt road, and then another 6 miles to Baker, most didn’t leave. The soda was mined for a while before it becoming a spa and remnants of the rail bed is still there.
Now to the important stuff: Two silversmithing ladies taught some incredible projects, and otherwise there was copper enameling, PMC, bead stringing, advanced and beginning wire work and my favorite, field trips. Out of 5 days I spent four on field trips. We searched for tube agate, onyx, petrified palm root, fluoride, sagenite, jaspers, jaspagates, crystals, being led by Francis Pedneau. Can’t say enough about his ability - he has the nose and eyes to know where to look. He’s very generous to share and made sure we all found something that we could brag on. I spent two days at the PMC table making toggles, beads and charms, of which some were made into Show and Tell items for our Saturday afternoon show.
We didn’t have to wash dishes! Paper was used and the resident chef, Eric, prepared some delicious meals for about 80 residents. The State of California University system owns the retreat grounds and uses it for geology classes, research and school kids are also welcome. (at Camp Paradise everyone pitches in and serves meals as well as wash dishes 2 times during the week)
This was a great adventure. The week’s rate of $300 covers the lodging, meals and instruction. Materials are extra. Zzyyx has both wind power and solar, with wind being the major source of energy. It is very clean, accommodations are not luxurious but comfortable. I’d take it any time, except dead of summer.
Application for Camp Paradise is on the CFMS website: www.cfms.com and in the April CFMS newsletter. You won’t be sorry. Dates this year are 8/31 to 9/6 and 9/7 to 9/13.
BOARD MEETING - April 7, 2008
PRESENT: Karin, Peter, Jeff, Ken, Warner, Ernie, Jim
SHOW: Ernie discussed his displeasure that the breakdown crew had left the building before deskirting his and Kirk’s tables. Will ask dealers if they have their own skirting. Harbor Freight has 4 wheel covers for $ 9.95 to use on trailer. M/S/P to purchase them. Concern expressed that Betty sits all day at front table, will ask if she wants to be for less time. Keep separate member selling raffle ticket money from door sales. Concern also for cash box tallies, Peter will address that. Ernie said it might be time for an audit. Need to send show thank you letters. A club table left in fluorescent display room. Karin suggested a show chairman be appointed. During the show workshop a class in display case assembly.
Was suggested we meet earlier on same night as general meeting, Betty is checking if room is available.
Karin suggested a club paid partial tuition to Camp Paradise or Zzyyx. Will ask members for input.
Equipment: Jeff has all that under control. Checking machines for working conditions and will have a sign out sheet.
Ken said the Lone Pine seminar coming up is an excellent source of information.
Would like Ed Ferner to teach a chain making workshop, will ask him for a date.
Field Trip to Stonyford has a lot of interested rockhounds going from our area.
Ernie will ask members if they might be interested in a rockhounding camping trip to the San Simeon area.
Talked about what we would give Ed for the CFMS display case in Ventura, needs by 6/16 meeting. Agreed to pay gas money to Ed and Karin for attending CFMS show.
June 1st we are invited to the Carmel club’s annual picnic at Whispering Pines Park on Pacific Street. $3 covers meats and bring a side dish and things for the white elephant auction.
Karin talked about joining ALAA. Will get more information.
Peter called the poppy jasper’s contact number but no answer.
Submitted, Karin S.
BOARD MEETING April 21, 2008
Officers present: Ernie, Peter, Ken, Karen, Karin, Warner, Ed, Jeff and Jim
Ernie apologized for being a bit hasty in criticizing the show breakdown. On the positive side he thanked all involved in helping make the show the success it became.
Asked board to suggest ideas to help motivate members to help at the show. Karin suggested giving free books of raffle tickets. We need to have a show workshop earlier than in the past, especially to do a class in case set up. Other suggestions: dealers drape their own tables, what to do if an emergency occurs. Marsha had some comments that were discussed: members as dealers and their working the show, Oriental Traders has 100 yds of skirting for $14., need security to watch of sticky fingers, salt crystal in trailer, larger numbers on the raffle items, cases secure on bottom and Brewer’s case to hard to break down Other comments: maybe a demoing dealer on stage, more stage lighting. Need an assistant for Jim and he fluorescent display as well as ID the rocks.
Ernie asked Ed to check out the ALAA.
Ed has agreed to do a chain workshop and gave possible dates of June 21, July 12 or July 26. Will be from 9-4. Ken will check with Cal Hawaiian for a free date.
4th of July: need someone to be in charge, wheel rocks, sample workshop items and other displays.
Ernie will check if Roberta will do an audit of books.
Field Trip to Morgan Hill - Saturdays are OK and we are free to look with purchases at $5 a pound. We could tie in Coyote Creek site the same day.
Need an assistant bulletin editor.
Agreed to hold Board Meeting a t 6 pm on night of general meeting, cost is an extra $11 per night.
Trailer wheel covers are on.
Submitted by Karin S.
GENERAL MEETING
April 21, 2008
Same officers as at board meeting.
Gary Hallum won the member drawing and Barbara Rivers the guest.
TREASURER’S REPORT: we are about $600 less than last year. Several reasons:
printing for show flyers and hall is $100 more.
Ernie asked Betty to renew meeting room contract for another 6 months.
Ernie thanked everyone for helping out with the show.
We are invited to the Carmel Gem and Mineral Club’s picnic on June 1st at 11 am, Whispering Pines Park, Monterey. Please bring salad or dessert and items for the white elephant auction. Chip in $3 for the meats.
Karin and Ed talked about their Camp Paradise and Zzyyx experiences and encourage members to think about attending.
CLUB EQUIPMENT: 4” grinder and 10” trim saw at $20 a month. 4# tumbler a $10 a month. Ken has grit at $15 which will run 6-8 loads. Anyone wanting to rent the machines must attend a workshop and display competence in use.
Need more tri-fold brochures to pass out at shows, meetings.
Snyders is coming up May 2,3 & 4. Beck's will be camping as asked others to join in.
FIELD TRIPS: a lot of interest was expressed on a San Simeon camping/collecting trip. Ernie will check for possible dates.
DAVENPORT FOSSIL TRIP is May 10. Salinas people will meet at 7 am at KMart shopping center. Bring dry clothes, lunch and collecting items.
Morgan Hill/Coyote Creek this coming Saturday 4/26, Jeff will be wagon master.
FEDERATION: Ed gave a preview of his plan for our CFMS case. Asked for local items if possible. M/S/P to reimburse Ed and Karin for gas to attend show. Ed declined.
PICNIC: Our annual is July 20 at Beck’s Ranch. Bring covered dish, and rocks for the silent auction.
WORKSHOP: Ed talked about his upcoming chain maille class and cost of the different styles of chain using 20 ga. wire. He will have sterling available, but copper could also be used. 8 or 9 expressed interest.
Santa Cruz show this coming weekend.
SHOW & TELL: Ernie - garnets, Karin - Camp Paradise and Zzyyx , Ed - chains
PROGRAM: Warner show a CFMS intarsia video. Submitted by Karin S.
*LOCAL CLUB DATES *
MAY 19TH General and Board Meetings, Salinas Community Center, 940 No. Main St., Salinas, 7 pm and 6 pm respectively
June lst Carmel Valley Club Picnic at Whispering Pines Park, 11 am, $3 for meat donation, covered dish to share, white elephant auction
June 16th General and Board Meetings, time above
June 21lst Chain making workshop, 9 - 4, Cal-Hawaiian Mobile Home Park, must sign up, 831-375-5233
July 20th Annual club picnic, Beck's Ranch, 1 pm, covered dish to share, rocks for silent rock auction
SHOW DATES TO KEEP IN MIND
May 17-18, Yucaipa, CA
Yucaipa Valley Gem & Mineral Society
Yucaipa Community Center
34900 Oak Glen Road
Hours: Sat. 9 - 5; Sun. 10 - 4
Bill Jochimsen (909) 790-1475
Email: bjim2285@aol.com
/www.mysite.verizon.net/YucaipaGem/103.html
May 17 - 18, Newbury Park, CA
Conejo Valley Gem & Mineral Club
Bochard Park
190 Reino Rd., Newbury Park, CA
Hours: Sat. 9 - 5; Sun. 10 - 4:30
Robert Sankovich (805) 494-7734
Email: rmsorca@adelphia.net
Website: www.cgmac.org
May 31 - June 1, Glendora, CA
Glendora Gem & Mineral Club
Hours: Sat. 10 - 5, Sun. 10 - 4
Bonnie Bidwell (626) 963-4638
Email: Ybidwell2@aol.com
May 31-June 1, Woodland Hills, CA
Rockatomics Gem & Mineral Society
Pierce College, Victory and Mason
Hours: 10 - 5 both days
Louise Gerik (818) 347-1234
rockatomics.com
June 7-8, La Habra, CA
North Orange County Gem & Mineral Society
La Habra Community Center
101 W. La Habra Blvd.
Hours: 9 - 5 both days
Don Warthen (626) 330-8974
Email: warthen@earthlink.net
nocgms.com
June 27, 28, 29, Ventura, CA
California Federation of Mineralogical Societies
Ventura County Fairgrounds
Hours: 10-5 Daily
Bural LaRue (909) 874-5664
Email: bplarue@earthlink.net
July 12-13, Culver City, CA
Culver City Rock & Mineral Club
Culver City Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium
4117 Overland Avenue
Hours: Sat. 10 - 6; Sun. 10 - 5
Website: CulverCityRocks.org
Phone: (310) 391-8429
Email: maryellenandrick@aol.com
October 5, Fallbrook, CA
Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Society
"Fall Festival of Gems"
FGMS Museum, 123 W. Alvarado
Hours: 10 - 4
Mary Fong-Walker (760) 728-1130
Diane Tjepkes (780) 468-8028
October 11-12, Grass Valley, CA
Nevada County Gem & Mineral Society
"Earth's Treasures"
Nevada County Fairgrounds
11228 McCourtney Road
Hours: 10 - 5 both days
Kim Moore (530) 470-0388
Email: Kmoore160@comcast.net
October 11 - 12, Trona, CA
Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society
“66th Annual Gem-O-Rama”
Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society
13337 Main Street
Hours: Sat. 7:30 - 5; Sun. 7:30 - 4
Bonnie Fairchild (760) 372-5356
Email: glgms@wvisp.com
www1.iwvisp.com/tronagemclub/tronagemclub.html
October 18-19, Placerville, CA
El Dorado County Mineral & Gem Society
El Dorado County Fairgrounds
100 Placerville Drive
Hours: 10 - 5 both days
Jackie Cerrato (530) 677-2975
Email: info@rockandgemshow.org
http://www.rockandgemshow.org
eldoradomineralandgem.org
October 18-19, Santa Rosa, CA
Santa Rosa Mineral & Gem Society
Veterans' Memorial Auditorium
1351 Maple Avenue, Santa Rosa
Hours: Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5
Tom Dering (707) 564-4537
Email: farmarch@sonic.net
Website: www.gem-n-i.org
October 18-19, Whittier, CA
Whittier Gem & Mineral Society
Whittier Community Center
7630 Washington Avenue
Hours: Sat. 10-5 both days
Jay Valle: (626) 934-9764
Email: res19pnb@verizon.net
October 25-26, Los Altos, CA
Peninsula Gem & Geology Society
Los Altos Youth Center
One San Antonio Road
Hours: Sat. 9-5 pm, Sun. 9-4 pm
Stan Bogosian: (408)569-2489
Email: sbogosian@aol.com
November 1-2, Concord, CA
Contra Costa Mineral & Gem Society
Centre Concord - 5298 Clayton Rd.
Clayton Fair Shopping Center
Hours: 10 - 5 both days
Sam Woolsey (925) 837-3287
Email: sdwools@earthlink.net
Website: www.ccmgs.org
November 7, 8, 9, Eureka, CA
Humboldt Gem & Mineral Society
Redwood Acres Fairgrounds
3750 Harris
Hours: Fri. 9-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5
Toni Tyson (707) 725-2890
Email: BLUII911@msn.com
November 8-9, Lancaster, CA
Palmdale Gem & Mineral Society
Antelope Valley Fairgrounds
2551 W. Ave. H, Hwy 14
Hours: 9-5 both days
Susan Chaissin-Walblom (661) 943-1861
Email: SLChaisson@yahoo.com
pgms@antelecom.net
EVENT CONTINUES DESPITE DEATH OF FOUNDING FATHER
Published: May 5, 2008
By HOYT ELKINS
The Union Democrat
The Snyder Powwow in Valley Springs weathered its first year without the steady hand of its co-founder, and will continue into the future as friends step up to keep Valley Springs' biggest annual event alive.
That is the word from Betty Snyder, who along with her husband, John, launched the Powwow in 1974 to save their cattle ranch from failure. John Snyder, 86, died March 26 after a lifetime of service to Calaveras County that has drawn praise and memorials from longtime friends and admirers.
This last weekend's Powwow was the first since his death.
"There have been rumors that the Powwow won't continue," Betty declared Friday as the event began its 34th annual run. "It's just not true. We have some wonderful people to carry on now that John's gone and I'm retiring."
John's great-grandfather established the family's hold on ranch land when he came to Calaveras County from Germany during the Gold Rush. John's father, Charles Peter Snyder, established the cattle business that John and Betty took over in 1946.
"We built our ranch house ourselves," Betty beamed. "And, we built the red barn just beyond the Powwow grounds."
For almost 30 years, the Snyders scratched out a living raising registered Hereford cattle. By the early 1970s, they found it increasingly hard to meet expenses and were preparing to move out of state in search of a more profitable location for ranching.
"I prayed the night we were packing to leave that God would show us a way to stay here," Betty recalls. "The very next day, some people showed up with an answer to my prayer."
The Snyders' ranch, off Paloma Road just north of Valley Springs, has deposits of rocks that had attracted so-called rockhounds to the site for years. The stones are known as Moss Agate and Moss Opal and are still the subject of guided tours during the Powwow festivities.
"The people who came the day after my prayer told us about gatherings in Quartzsite, Ariz., and other places where people gathered to share their appreciation of minerals and to socialize."
The Snyders, with help from friends, managed to promote their ranch for a rockhound Powwow through magazine and newspaper articles. Their first event drew 100 visitors who paid $10 apiece to set up camp.
"We had to build an outhouse for them," Betty chuckled. "We put up a four-foot by four-foot building over a tank we had put in the ground. It was so windy that year that people using the facilities had hold on to keep the rickety little building from blowing away."
In succeeding years, the Snyders borrowed portable toilets from East Bay Municipal Utility District to accommodate the growing number of vendors and visitors.
What began as an informal gathering of rockhounds has grown to include Indian dancers, black powder muskets and antique engines.
About 200 purveyors of rocks, jewelry, T-shirts, foodstuffs, beer, soft drinks, sea shells and other items pay between $105 and $120 apiece for space to set up canvas-topped booths. An estimated 15,000 visitors attend the event during its three-day run each year.
"God gave us this," Betty said. "He gave us this land to look after for Him."
In retirement, Betty says she'll continue to look after 14 head of African Watusi cattle. She and John sold the Hereford ranching operation to their children in 1996, and settled into raising the more exotic African breed that "looks like a Texas longhorn, but the horns are thicker."
During their years together, John and Betty also maintained a cow camp in Tuolumne County above Strawberry at Eagle Meadows. They gave up that camp about 15 years ago.
Well beyond the Powwow, John Snyder's legacy includes service on the county planning commission and helping found 4-H in Calaveras County. He is remembered for his untiring involvement in advancing agricultural development in the county.
A tearful Laurie Giannini, director of marketing for the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee, announced during a preview gathering last week that this year's fair is dedicated to John Snyder's memory.
The Frogtown crowd erupted in the only standing ovation of the evening.
Contact Hoyt Elkins at helkins@uniondemocrat. com.
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karin salomon
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