Educational Opportunities
Our society provides educational opportunities for members and the public in many forms.
Monthly Programs
Our general monthly meeting has several purposes. Besides informing the membership of the latest business, we include educational portions to the evenings event. Members "show and tell" with exhibits of their interests, sometimes other than lapidart arts. They bring samples of their collection and tell us about the adventures in making their collection. Guest speakers from other societies come and share their expertise.
Classes
We offer monthly classes with volunteer members leading and instructing various aspects
of the lapidary arts. These include cabochon cutting, tumbling stones, bead stringing,
wire wrapping, glass fusing, copper-enameled bead making, triplet construction and
chain making. Other topics of interest may be scheduled depending on membership interests
with leading experts from outside our lapidary community. Fees normally are charged for
these classes. Check our Calendar for the next available class.
Library
We have a library with a number of hobby related books, videos and DVD's available on a loan-out basis to members. The library is open during general meetings. Most of our library material was acquired through donations.
Lapidary Shop
When we have a Lapidary Shop, it is available for those adult members who complete
a two-part series of instruction on shop safety and shop equipment. When qualified,
the members may use our 24 inch saw to slab rough rocks or use other shop equipment
such as a cabochon cutting machine or a tumbler. Small fees are charged for use of
the shop equipment. At the current time, most of the shop is in storage, however our
24 inch saw is available by appointment.
Field Trips
With restrictions limiting field collection in many of our old favorite sites finding collecting locations is a challenge. Many of the local Southern California societies band together for these trips. We encourage our members to participate when possible. We also take advantage of 'for fee" collecting at various mines as another possibiliity for collecting. Other societies' show dealers offer silver picking (purchasing) items that are from other locations.
