Our yearbook won the Silver Award from the AFMS and an Honorable Mention in 2020 from the CFMS!!!!
From Jamie Backus --
The AVGMC's club yearbook has finally been returned. I received it on Nov. 9. I was surprised to learn that we were one of only 4 clubs to submit yearbooks for 2019 and the only yearbook that was submitted in the traditional format.
I am so proud of all the work that every member of the club does to make our club so special and amazing. I appreciate everything that the board has done in allowing me to be the one who showcased all our club's hard work. I am most appreciative to Jim Betz who named me historian and Librarian of the club and Susan Chaisson-Walblom for allowing me to continue being the Club's Historian and Librarian.
Thank you to everyone in the club.
--Your Historian and Librarian Jamie Backus
The AVGMC's club yearbook has finally been returned. I received it on Nov. 9. I was surprised to learn that we were one of only 4 clubs to submit yearbooks for 2019 and the only yearbook that was submitted in the traditional format.
I am so proud of all the work that every member of the club does to make our club so special and amazing. I appreciate everything that the board has done in allowing me to be the one who showcased all our club's hard work. I am most appreciative to Jim Betz who named me historian and Librarian of the club and Susan Chaisson-Walblom for allowing me to continue being the Club's Historian and Librarian.
Thank you to everyone in the club.
--Your Historian and Librarian Jamie Backus
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ANTELOPE VALLEY GEM AND MINERAL CLUB
History of the Antelope Valley Gem and Mineral Club (AVGMC)
1952 (April 15) - club formed in Lancaster, California.
1952 (May 6) - article in the Lancaster Ledger Gazette newspaper:
AV 'ROCK HOUNDS" Invited to Join Gem, Mineral Club
The Antelope Valley Gem and Mineral Club will hold its second business meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 7:30 p.m. in St. Mary's Hall, Palmdale, President John Custer announces.
Anyone in the Valley who is interested in rocks, gems, or the art of gem cutting is invited to attend this meeting, Custer stated.
The club was formed about three weeks ago by a group of "rock hounds" employed at the Lockheed plant at Palmdale Airport. However, they are inviting all rock hounds to join.
Other officers, in addition to Custer, are Byrd Walch, vice president; A. Dilboll, treasurer; and Mrs. George "Wes" Stuttle, secretary.
1955 (March) - club became incorporated.
1957 - Club newsletter, Chip-N-Tumble News was started by Ed and Jean Emry.
Late 1950s - 197 4 The club worked with the Antelope Valley Fair in forming a gem & mineral department in the fair. A building was set aside for gems and minerals that contained displays and several. vendors at fair time. The CFMS was consulted in setting up the display judging criteria and supplied judges. Club members provided security for the building during fair time. A division of antique glass was added to the gem and mineral displays. The club would contribute Betty Crocker coupons for the AFMS scholarships. Fieldtrips were well attended and were usually overnighters. The club money-makers were usually special raffles, rummage sales, and garage sales. Donated rocks, jewelry, and rock grab bags were sold at the flea market. The Palmdale Gem and Mineral Club also participated with us at the fair during most of this time.
1968 (June 21-23) - The club had its first gem & mineral show. It was the 29th CFMS show and was held at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds at the corner of Avenue.I and Division Street. The show was called Mojave Desert Treasures and it occupied the whole fairgrounds. Two other clubs co-hosted the show. They were the Mojave Mineralogical Society from Boron ( co-chairman Bob Branch) and Victor Valley Gem and Mineral Club from Victorville (co-chairman Roger Kingsbury). The AVGMC chairman was Ed Corbin and the co-chairman was Olan Flick. The CFMS coordinator was R.V. Sieloff.
Annual Gem & Mineral Show:
1969 - 1971 (March) - The club held a gem and mineral show in conjunction with the annual wildflower show at the fairgrounds. There were 6 vendors, food booth, and numerous displays. Chairman was Bud Schroeder.
1972 - 2001 (April 4th weekend) - Palmdale Gem & Mineral Club participated with AVGMC in putting on the annual April show called the Desert Gem Roundup at Challenger Memorial Hall at the fairgrounds.
2002 - Present (April) AVGMC continued to hold annual gem and mineral show independently. It was initially held at the old fairgrounds (2002-2004), then at the new fairgrounds at Avenue H and the freeway (2005-2006). In 2007 the Annual Show moved to Lancaster High School nad ws held there until 2018. 2019 the Annual Show will be returning the Lancaster Fairgounds on Avenue H in Lancaster.
Annual Club Booth at the fair:
1975 - The fair built a new gem & mineral building for use at fair time.
1976 - 2004 The fair moved the gem and mineral department into the old 4H building at fair time (The fair converted the building from 1975 to horseracing). Three gem and mineral clubs shared the building: AVGMC, Palmdale Gem and Mineral Club, and Rockwell Gem & Mineral Club (later became Valley Gems). Two clubs would have a booth and one would provide security.
2005 - Present we moved to the new fairgrounds where the three clubs were given booths in the foyer of one of the larger buildings. Valley Gems has since disbanded.
Annual Club Booth at the Poppy Festival:
2004 - present (April) AVGMC has a booth at the Lancaster Poppy Festival.
1952 (April 15) - club formed in Lancaster, California.
1952 (May 6) - article in the Lancaster Ledger Gazette newspaper:
AV 'ROCK HOUNDS" Invited to Join Gem, Mineral Club
The Antelope Valley Gem and Mineral Club will hold its second business meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 7:30 p.m. in St. Mary's Hall, Palmdale, President John Custer announces.
Anyone in the Valley who is interested in rocks, gems, or the art of gem cutting is invited to attend this meeting, Custer stated.
The club was formed about three weeks ago by a group of "rock hounds" employed at the Lockheed plant at Palmdale Airport. However, they are inviting all rock hounds to join.
Other officers, in addition to Custer, are Byrd Walch, vice president; A. Dilboll, treasurer; and Mrs. George "Wes" Stuttle, secretary.
1955 (March) - club became incorporated.
1957 - Club newsletter, Chip-N-Tumble News was started by Ed and Jean Emry.
Late 1950s - 197 4 The club worked with the Antelope Valley Fair in forming a gem & mineral department in the fair. A building was set aside for gems and minerals that contained displays and several. vendors at fair time. The CFMS was consulted in setting up the display judging criteria and supplied judges. Club members provided security for the building during fair time. A division of antique glass was added to the gem and mineral displays. The club would contribute Betty Crocker coupons for the AFMS scholarships. Fieldtrips were well attended and were usually overnighters. The club money-makers were usually special raffles, rummage sales, and garage sales. Donated rocks, jewelry, and rock grab bags were sold at the flea market. The Palmdale Gem and Mineral Club also participated with us at the fair during most of this time.
1968 (June 21-23) - The club had its first gem & mineral show. It was the 29th CFMS show and was held at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds at the corner of Avenue.I and Division Street. The show was called Mojave Desert Treasures and it occupied the whole fairgrounds. Two other clubs co-hosted the show. They were the Mojave Mineralogical Society from Boron ( co-chairman Bob Branch) and Victor Valley Gem and Mineral Club from Victorville (co-chairman Roger Kingsbury). The AVGMC chairman was Ed Corbin and the co-chairman was Olan Flick. The CFMS coordinator was R.V. Sieloff.
Annual Gem & Mineral Show:
1969 - 1971 (March) - The club held a gem and mineral show in conjunction with the annual wildflower show at the fairgrounds. There were 6 vendors, food booth, and numerous displays. Chairman was Bud Schroeder.
1972 - 2001 (April 4th weekend) - Palmdale Gem & Mineral Club participated with AVGMC in putting on the annual April show called the Desert Gem Roundup at Challenger Memorial Hall at the fairgrounds.
2002 - Present (April) AVGMC continued to hold annual gem and mineral show independently. It was initially held at the old fairgrounds (2002-2004), then at the new fairgrounds at Avenue H and the freeway (2005-2006). In 2007 the Annual Show moved to Lancaster High School nad ws held there until 2018. 2019 the Annual Show will be returning the Lancaster Fairgounds on Avenue H in Lancaster.
Annual Club Booth at the fair:
1975 - The fair built a new gem & mineral building for use at fair time.
1976 - 2004 The fair moved the gem and mineral department into the old 4H building at fair time (The fair converted the building from 1975 to horseracing). Three gem and mineral clubs shared the building: AVGMC, Palmdale Gem and Mineral Club, and Rockwell Gem & Mineral Club (later became Valley Gems). Two clubs would have a booth and one would provide security.
2005 - Present we moved to the new fairgrounds where the three clubs were given booths in the foyer of one of the larger buildings. Valley Gems has since disbanded.
Annual Club Booth at the Poppy Festival:
2004 - present (April) AVGMC has a booth at the Lancaster Poppy Festival.