About us
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Who
we are
- The Gem, Lapidary, and Mineral
Society of Montgomery County Maryland., Inc
- organized in 1963
- Non profit educational orginazation
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To increase knowledge and popular interest in earth
sciences, geology, mineralogy, paleontology (Fossils), lapidary
arts, and related subjects.
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Members and Activities
Members represent a broad cross section of adults, juniors and
families with all levels of expertise. Sharing this common interest,
they enjoy the fun of collecting, studying, identifying, displaying,
cutting, polishing, faceting, and sharing. Current membership is
about 140 adults and 22 juniors. We are affiliated with the Eastern
Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies, Inc. and the
American Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc.
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Visitors:
Visitors are always welcome
at our meetings. Every member was a visitor at one time and we were
all beginners at some point. All visitors are urged to sign the guest
book, be introduced, and will receive a copy of the next newsletter,
The "ROCKHOUNDER".
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Meetings:
Meetings are held on the second
Monday of each month. Except
July and August. Meetings
are held at the Rockville Senior Center,
1150 Carnation Drive, Rockville, MD. We start gathering
at 7:30pm to chat, browse the Club Library, and admire the displays on
the Show Table. |
Show Table:
Each month members are encouraged to bring minerals, fossils, or lapidary
items for display. They may be gifts, purchased, swapped, self-collected,
or self-made. Often, members bring something pertaining to the topic
of that night's program or something collected on recent field trips.
Perhaps they are simply something of beauty to be shared with others.
We have two drawings for prizes: One, simply
for attendance, and another only for those members
or guests with something on the Show
Table.
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Library:
The Society maintains a library of over 100
books dealing with many aspects of our hobby. These may
be made available by the club LIbrarian for perusal or reference. Books
may be checked out by members until the following meeting.
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Field Trips:
Field trips are usually open only to members. Field trips are planned for
all but the very hottest and coldest months.
Some quarries or mines do not allow visitors under age 18,
but we try to plan some trips where they may attend too. Recent trips have
included gold panning, the Medford, Pinesburg and Rockville quarries
in Maryland; Winfield, Codorus,
and Meckley quarries in Pennsylvania; and Vulcan
and Winchester quarries
in Virginia. Road cuts, beaches, and indoor trips to museums or universities
are often open to all ages. Fossil collecting excursions have included
the Aurora NC, and the shores of Chesapeake Bay in MD. Access may be
gained to some localities unavailable to the public. The picnic
and Rock Swap at Lake Anna VA is an annual event of the Eastern Federation
we enjoy. |
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Juniors:
Juniors are encouraged to attend meetings and take part in Society activities.
When enough interest is shown, some activities are planned especially
for them.
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Newsletter:
The "ROCKHOUNDER" is published
monthly, except July and August which is a combined issue. It contains
notices, regular and Board of Director's meeting minutes, educational
articles, and other items of interest concerning our hobby.
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Board of Directors:
Meetings are held as needed, usually the third Monday of the month at
the home of a member. We take care of as much business as possible at
these meetings in order to give more time to programs and fun at the
general meetings.
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To Become a Member:
Come to a meeting. Obtain a membership application form from our Membership
Chairperson. Fill it in, and return it with the appropriate dues payment.
The Society membership must approve your application. No application will
be denied for reason of race, color, sex, creed, or national origin. |
Dues:
Payable annually, on September 1st. Family memberships, at $12.00, include
2 adults and children under 18 years of age living in the same household.
Single memberships are available at $10.00. For those
paying after April 1st, the amount is half. |
Education:
Members of our Society are available to speak to school groups,
boy scouts, girl scouts and other organizations about any of our interests.
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