Come join us at the Merritt Island Library at 6:00

Don’t forget to renew your membership!  Applications are available on this site.

There will be a Board of Directors meeting Jan. 3rd at the work shop at 6:00

Central Brevard Rock & Gem Club Newsletter May 10

Club Motto: Help one another.
President’s Message
Wow! What a show. It’s hard to believe that our
annual Symphony of Gems show has come and
gone. All the anticipation, planning, hard work
and worry are over and are now a part of the
club’s history and some unforgettable memories.
Despite the state of the economy, early numbers
indicate that all our efforts have led to a
successful show. What I have come to realize is
just how much work and time some of our
members put into this event.
Wearing “two hats”, Show Chair, as well as
Contract Chair, Erleen Estes deserves the
gratitude of all our members for her leadership
and for making this event one, as members of
CBRGC, we can be proud of.
Looking back over the show activities I am again
impressed by the dedication of our longstanding
members who pitch in year after year. George
Gikas, Pete Peters, and Brenda Stacy and the
Stacy boys are always there to set up the
auditorium and pack it up when all is done. It
seems that everything appears in order when the
vendors arrive, but it is the tireless efforts of
these helpers that set the stage. When you see
them, please let them know what a great job they
did.
Thanks to Lucy Caricoglia, Emilio Garcia,
Beverly McNally, and Lyn Keil for their
demonstrations to the public of their special
lapidary skills.
Thank you again to our most devoted of snow
birds, Mary Jane King for heading up the
admissions desk tasks. You and your crew did a
fabulous job.
Thank you to Anne Rose for thinking outside the
box with her unique, successful menu selections.
And of course thanks to the “cafeteria ladies”,
and Jeff for all their help and sunny dispositions.
Kudos and thanks to Carol Boyd and the crew at
the Silent Auction table for all their hard work.
Thanks to Pat Hogan for volunteering to handle
the publicity.
Thank you Ray and Michele Huntington for
caring enough to share their knowledge and show
experience and overseeing the activities.
Thanks to Tom Brown for finding us last minute
security. I am happy we didn’t have to lock you
in with Ray to “stand guard” for the event.
Thanks to our members who were not able to
physically volunteer to work at the show, but
generously donated many of their pieces of
handiwork to the auction and loaned other pieces
to our beautiful showcase. Again, nice job with
the showcase, Brenda Stacy.
Thank you Madeline for recovering well enough
so that we could hear that familiar voice over the
P.A. system again this year.
Central Brevard Rock & Gem Club Newsletter March/April 2010
Page 2
I hope you all got to see the beautiful grand prize
designed and created by Michele Huntington and
Kathy Ellet. It was a lovely 10k Australian,
precious white opal wrapped with 14 k gold
filled wire, on a 20 inch, hand crafted 14k gold
filled, Byzantine chain. The proud winner was
Prisilla Kolpak, from Southington, CT. The
vacation packages were won at auction by Lori
Kirwin, and Ray Huntington. The 14k gold chain
with precious stones was won by the highest bid
from Shana Moore. Presenting these prizes is the
best part of my job as president.
Thanks to all the new members who pitched in to
help out as well. They were very enthusiastic and
I’m sure they made some new friends along the
way.
There are many other people who deserve thanks
for their dedication and efforts to produce our
33rd annual Symphony of Gems, but I’d better
leave some people for Erleen to thank! Together
we should all be proud of our little club for
producing such a professional show.
That’s why I LOVE THIS CLUB!
If you think you would like to help out next year
give Erleen Estes a call. She will be happy to
hear from you.
See you at the meeting, work shop,…….next
event!
Sue Phillips

Hope everyone enjoyed the classes last month.
Can you believe how quickly the month went?
We are starting to say goodbye to all our winter
friends, Easter is around the corner and TAXES
are due. Oh my!! It’s April!!
We are offering our Thursday night special
courtesy of Lucy and John. Stained and fused
glass instruction with a limited open shop as
space permits. Lyn is also hosting the beaders
group. Lyn tells me you are challenging her in
new and interesting ways. It is open to all
beaders and want to be beaders.
Paula is doing two afternoons of classes on the
7th and 14th for special beaded bracelets.
Lowell is doing his last cabochon class on the 3rd
before taking a sabbatical for the summer. Hurry
back, Lowell, we miss you already.
Lyn will teach a new technique of copper pea
pods on the 15th and 29th. What’s a copper pea
pod? Come to the meeting and find out. It is a
lot of fun.
Has everyone signed up for summer camp at
William Holland or Wild Acres yet?
I am still looking for instructors. I had request
for classes in sawing and torch techniques. Also
for the use of the rolling mills. Any one willing
to share their talents? You don’t need to be an
expert just comfortable with your skills and
willing to share.
E – mail  – Brenda Stacy
glassngreys@cfl.rr.com

CBRGC’S , 34th Annual

Symphony of Gemstones Show

February 12 th (10-6pm. )

February 13th (10am. – 5pm)

* Gemstones * Minerals * Fossils
* Jewelry * Beads * Mineral Specimens
* Gold & silver
* Lapidary Demonstrations
* National & Local Vendors
* Silent Auction

KIWANIS ISLAND PARK

SR. 520. Merritt Island ( Merritt Island Causeway)

Donations at the door $ 3.00

www.BrevardGems.com

.

We will meet by 8AM; Sat. the 16th ,on RT 520 east side 95. at the IHOP parking lot.  We will be leaving by 8: 15.  Come and join us. It should be a great educational experience.

The Gillespie Museum is home to one of the largest gem and mineral collections in the southeast. In addition to educational programs, the museum also offers many exciting exhibits and collections.

We will have a personalized tour for our group. We just have to be sure to have enough participants to warrant the trip. E-mail Sue Phillips :    psureelhome@aol.com

As a new feature of every meeting, we are passing around a note pad asking for words of wisdom from the membership. Every month, we will select a few of these “gem bytes” for publication in the newsletter. Here are our tips from the February meeting:

“Patience”

“Come with a smile and share freely.”

“Use the right tools for the job.”

“Measure twice. Cut once!”

“Clean copper with catsup.”

Central Brevard Rock and Gem Club, Inc

Central Brevard Rock and Gem Club, Inc. ( CRBGC ) is a not for profit organization. Our class instructors consist of volunteers from within our membership who graciously donate their time, skill, and knowledge. Classes taught are from beginner to advanced skill levels in lapidary and jewelry arts, including cabochons, faceting, wire wrapping, silver smithing, fused glass, wax casting and molding, intarsia, PMC clay, and mineral identification.

Our fully equipped workshop enables the hobbiest to hone their lapidary and jewelry making skills. There are three “open workshop’’ supervisors who volunteer their time and who will assist you with any questions or problems you may have at the shop.

The “open work shops’’ are currently scheduled for Wednesdays, 9AM-12, and 6PM- 9PM; and Saturdays, 9AM.- 12noon. There is a minimal fee for using the workshop. ( Rules and regulations available upon request. )

Class schedules are posted in the workshop as well as in the monthly newsletter. Signing up for classes is usually done at the monthly meetings at the Merritt Island Library. There is a minimal fee for using the workshop.

Since CBRGC is a not for profit organization, the minimal fees for class sessions and shop attendence are necessary to provide our members with the best equipment and facilities to fulfill their needs.

Our largest fund raiser of the year, and the crowning glory of our clubs accomplishments is our annual “SYMPHONY OF GEMS” show. The show is open to the public and we invite outside vendors to participate in this three day venue. The experience is very educational and rewarding to the members who volunteer to participate as well as delight the “rock hound’’ and jewelry making, and collecting community.

We hope you enjoy your membership in CBRGC. The club will be as enriching as you let it be. You have all the tools and access to knowledge to make your collecting and jewelry making skills a life long experience.

Affiliated with the AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MINERALOGICAL SOCIETIES and the SOUTHEAST FEDERATION OF MINERALOGICAL SOCIETIES