TVGMS OPEN HOUSE WRAP-UP

By Deb Burken and Jim Tobin

TVGMS hosted a fun-filled, entertaining, educational, first annual Open House on April 11th! The day was filled with things to see and do for all ages. 

The Open House was an opportunity to introduce the community to our club and the things we do. We are celebrating our 40th year and are proud of our contributions to the Tehachapi community. Each year we give several scholarships to high school students and provide educational resources to area schools as well as send out knowledgeable members to give presentations to schoolchildren on geology and Earth Science. As a group we are interested in rocks and minerals and go on a wide variety of rockhounding field trips and museum trips. Our monthly meetings often feature speakers on topics dealing with Earth Science. We also have a workshop of lapidary equipment for members to learn to cut and polish rocks, and classes to learn various jewelry techniques. All field trips and classes are free to members making it the best deal in town! The Open House was a collection of visual and hands-on displays to introduce the community to TVGMS. 

The Open House gave us our first opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for our Annual TVGMS Raffle. This year the prizes are a gorgeous, deep-purple amethyst heart, a huge onyx bowl, and a mounted smoky quartz crystal.

Member Bob Papac is always a great source of knowledge as well as a source for interesting polished stones, fossils, and minerals.

As usual, the always popular Spin Wheel was spinning – for $1 or $5 you can spin the wheel to win some very interesting rock and mineral specimens. Some of the rocks are found on field trips in our local area and others are crystal and mineral specimens from around the world. 

Tehachapi is fortunate to be the home of one of the foremost meteorite experts in the world and TVGMS is lucky to have Jim Tobin in our membership. He compiled a large, comprehensive meteorite display for the Open House and more importantly, was present to talk with visitors and answer questions.

Many businesses in our town generously gave to support our raffle and we’d like to thank them. Canine Creek, Kohnen’s Bakery, Red House BBQ, House of Wax, Albertson’s, Traveling Teacher Tutoring Co., Hemme Hay, Tehachapi Art Center, Stephen Lee Photography. Many individuals also donated items: Michael Coghlin, Peggy and Mike Finley, Jennifer Robins, Nancy Waldron, Chris and Christine Payne, Carmen Irving, Jim Tobin, Deb Burken, Diane Farnsworth, Randi Elmore, Rick and Becky Eckel, and all the members who donated their time to make this event come together.

Another exciting display was our fossil section – John Bell and Ron Myrick brought in their personal fossil collections for display. The full fossil skeleton of a Psittacosaurus (parrot lizard) was a big hit with both kids and adults. Other fossils on display included a large ammonite and a fossilized nest of Hadrosaurus dinosaur eggs. 

While most of the Open House was inside the Senior Center, the back porch was where the geodes were being cut open. Guests were invited to pick a geode and watch it be cut. It’s a magical moment to open a 350-million-year-old geode.

Our twice monthly classes create an abundance of jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, rings, and other art pieces) which were available for sale by those who wished to donate their pieces. 

Free craft activities were offered that were enjoyed by both children and adults. Pet rock painting was a popular activity and the art that was made was astonishingly beautiful. Several children did all the crafts and were at the open house for the entire day having fun with the parents. Other crafts that were available to try were bracelet making, wire wrapping, resin pebble bowls, and resin stain glass pendants. 

Pet Rock Painting

Bracelet Making and Wire Wrapping. 

Resin Pebble Bowls and Resin Stain Glass Pendants. 

The wonderful abundance of donated raffle prizes made for very active ticket sales. The drawings were held often during the day accompanied with laughter and applause for the winners. 

The TVGMS conducts field trips regularly approximately once or twice a month. A display of photos from some past trips was on one of the tables which were arranged in a circle around the main room of the Senior Center. Visitors travelled from display to display in a delightful parade all day long engaging with the club members who were there to answer questions and offer information. Membership is necessary for some of the activities such as the field trips and the club workshop. A group of new members were added during the day. We know they will enjoy the many activities the TVGMS has to offer during the year.

Rocks, like books, should not be judged by their cover.

 Below is "Before & After" slider showing some of our found rocks that are truly amazing when cut and polished.

A display table was dedicated to finding potential sponsorships in our ongoing search for a larger facility to house our lapidary and jewelry workshop. We have been running out of space for a while but there is still opportunity for more members to use the equipment. Members interested in cutting rocks and creating gemstones such as cabochons or making projects such as polished slabs or almost anything made of rock gather on Mondays from 10-12 and on Thursdays from 12-2 pm. There are members who are happy to offer any assistance needed for those who are just learning to work with rocks and minerals. Instruction in finished jewelry techniques such as silversmithing and wire wrapping is also available. Attendance at the workshop does require membership in the TVGMS. Samples of the type of work done at the workshop was on display around the Open House.

What a fun and exciting day the Open House of the TVGMS was for all who attended. The members who helped had as much fun as the visitors who came. One thing that all rockhounds seem to have in common is the desire to share the joy and wonder that these natural treasures offer. That thrill for sharing about rocks was certainly in the air at the Open House. Keep an eye open for notices about town and in the newspaper or here on the website about other upcoming events of the TVGMS. There are always fun and educational activities taking place.