Gem, Lapidary and Mineral Society of D.C. Inc.

DUE TO A DECLINING MEMBERSHIP in recent years, we have decided not to have a November speaker. Instead, we are holding a member discussion meeting. Our President and officers strongly urge all GLMSDC members to attend the meeting on Tuesday, November 26. Come ready with your ideas and suggestions on how our Society can best survive and, importantly, your thoughts on what should and could be implemented in 2014 and beyond. Everyone’s voice will be heard and be weighed to augment any concrete decisions that will be made. We are in a tough spot and need to do some real soul searching and, no doubt, heroic volunteering of your valuable time to help this—your club—continue. Matt Charsky has already alerted the Board by email, wherein he outlined some of the topics that will be discussed this evening. Topics include selection of 2014 officers and directors, alternate styles to survive as a club with a dwindling membership, better ways of improving our financial status, seeking activities that are commensurate with the present size of our club, and how, where, and when we should host our annual holiday party. This may be the most important meeting of the year, so please come armed with your ideas, suggestions, and throat lozenges to help build a better future for GLMSDC, a club with a long and rich legacy.

IT’S ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST rewarding adventure vacations a rockhounder could experience: embarking on a mineral safari in Namibia, a southern Africa republic where waves of desert sand dunes are softened by tufts of green and roiling waterfalls. Member David Tiktinsky takes us on a journey that includes viewing wildlife and Namibia’s beautiful landscape. Best of all, we’ll see samples of David’s mineral collection from Namibia, including one of his favorite minerals: deep-green crystalline dioptase.

PREPARE TO BE DAZZLED as Bob Farrar presents “The Land of Amethyst—And More”. The world's largest deposits of amethyst are located in southern Brazil, where it occurs in geodes in a basalt formation. Along with amethyst, agate, calcite, cristobalite, goethite, and celadonite are found as well. Mining is concentrated near the town of Ametista do Sul in the northern part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Geodes and other products are prepared there and in the larger town of Soledade and then exported all over the world. Bob has been collecting rocks, minerals, and fossils for over 40 years. He has traveled extensively in pursuit of rock collecting, including making several trips to Morocco. He has written a number of articles about his travels for Rock & Gem and other publications. He holds a Ph.D. in entomology and works for the USDA’s Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland. Currently, he and his colleagues are looking for new strains of bacteria that can be used to kill insects, as opposed to using pesticides. Lately, they have mostly been testing the bacteria on the gypsy and the diamondback moth.

SHE’S BACK, AND WE’RE THRILLED! Gemologist and club member Denise Nelson shares the history and surprising use of gems and minerals in her presentation, Jewels and Gems: A Message From the Past . Denise will tell us about the people and places of mineralogical and gemological importance, as well as the how and why certain items became popular. Colorful and filled with facts, this presentation has something for anyone who has ever admired a beautiful jewel or a marvelous natural gem. Don’t miss it!

Denise Nelson will present a Pearl Council of America DVD about pearl farming during our April meeting. Just back from her spring travels, Denise comes armed with facts and impressions to share with us about this film, made specifically for the pearl trade. Denise highly recommends this DVD, so come out and learn more about those wonderful, awesome pearls.

OUR REGULAR FEBRUARY MEETING IS MOVED! Instead, we're meeting on WEDNESDAY FEB. 27TH, for an exciting and informative tour of Creative Metalworks in Kensington, Maryland. Owner Michael R. Schwartz will lead us through the beautiful facility, where he"ll discuss the goals and functions of his multifaceted business, which include the design and manufacturing of original corporate gifts, ceremonial pieces, presentation art, custom jewelry, and restoration and conservation projects. Many projects involve casting of precious metals. We"ll also be introduced to the School of Design, a well#equipped workshop where students learn basic and advanced techniques of crafting jewelry and wearable art. If time permits, we"ll explore the Gallery, which showcases exemplary one-of-a-kind objects, as well as the Tool and Supply Room, which features quality tools of the trade. Don"t miss this fantastic tour! NOTE THE DATE & TIME ABOVE" and DIRECTIONS: Take 495 to the Connecticut Avenue Exit. Head north on Connecticut Avenue 1.8 miles and turn right on Plyers Mill Road. Make an immediate right on Metropolitan Avenue. Wheatley is the second street on the left. Creative Metalworks is on the corner of Metropolitan and Wheatley. Free parking is available.! Meet promptly at 6:50 p.m. at the Wheatley Street door - main entrance is on the upper level.!

Due to Christmas falling on the 4th Tuesday, we have moved the December meeting/Holiday Party to the 11th. Starting with appetizers and mingeling at 6 and catered dinner starting at 7. Please note this is slightly different than in the past where everyone brings pot luck. The dinner is being catered by the Knights of Columbus, SO you myst RSVP to Mike@colelladigital for call 301-520-9195. This party is free to members and spouses, guests will be charged a small fee of $10.

THERE ARE MANY REASONS for cutting cabs: to bring out and display the stone’s intrinsic beauty, to prepare calibrated cabs for standard jewelry settings, to make unique cabs as part of a jewelry design, or to replace a damaged stone in an existing piece of jewelry. Each of these purposes requires a particular approach to accomplish the goal. It’s also helpful for lapidaries to know how to set stones and for jewelry makers and designers to know how stones are cut. I began cutting stones in 1999 under the tutelage of Don Gerbrick at the Gem Cutters Guild of Baltimore. I soon purchased a Genie of my own so I could work at home. As a consequence, I accumulated a bunch of cabs, but I had no idea what to do with them. I started taking classes in jewelry making and metalsmithing. Over the years, I became sufficiently proficient that I could teach jewelry making for Gem Cutters and at Wildacres. Occasionally, I helped Don teach lapidary. When he was no longer able to teach, I took over his class. Among other activities for Gem Cutters, I chaired the class planning committee for many years and served as president for three years. Since my wife Leslie passed away in 2009, I have been less active in the guild and just enjoy working at my own pace in my home studio. I’ve also been studying the art of bonsai since 1965. When I moved to Maryland, I became active in the Baltimore Bonsai Club and the Potomac Bonsai Association, including holding the office of president in each group for several years. One of my bonsai is part of the National Bonsai Collection at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC. I continue to maintain a small personal collection of bonsai at home.