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About |
About the Peninsula Gem & Geology Society Purpose The Purpose of the PENINSULA GEM & GEOLOGY SOCIETY INC. as stated in our By-Laws: "ARTICLE I: The primary objective of the Peninsula Gem & Geology Society, Inc., is to promote interest in, and disseminate knowledge of, Geology, Mineralogy, and related subjects. The Society will conduct meetings, seminars, conferences and field trips in furtherance of the objectives stated above." History On a sunny Sunday in April, 1950, while sitting in a quarry on Half Moon Bay Road, the Rock Identification Class at the Palo Alto Adult Education taught by Lawrence Fuller appointed a temporary committee to write up a club's constitution and by-laws. They were approved in October and forty two charter members held their first meeting of the Palo Alto Geology Society. The founding members were interested primarily in rocks, their composition, their origins, their age and transformations. Dr. Gordon Oakeschott, Chief Geologist, and Oliver Bowen, Chief Petrologist, California Bureau of Mines, were honorary members and over the years led the group on field trips all over California. Lapidary and gemology were incidental to begin with but as the interest in lapidary increased, the club changed its name to Peninsula Gem and Geology Society. The change in name in April 1965 reflected the wider geographic range of membership as well as the wider range of interest among the members. Our meetings were held in the Los Altos Garden House, and eventually the Garden House allowed the use of a basement room for a lapidary. Members of PGGS taught lapidary as well as preparing their own outstanding lapidary projects, from classic cabochons to 'grape clusters' and 'stained glass lampshades' As we enter our 60th year, we have an updated lapidary, a Vendor Show and a hope for new members. Meetings Our general meetings are held the 4th Wednesday of most months, at 7:00 PM at the Garden House in Shoup Park, 400 University Ave., Los Altos, California. We feature guest speakers, slide shows, movies and/or demonstrations on various aspects of geology, rock hounding or mineralogy. Programs are followed by refreshments and a 'silent auction' of rocks and rock related materials. We are 'dark' July-August and we schedule a Summer Picnic, a June Dinner Meeting and early dates for the November and December meetings. Details are in our Newsletter and will now be posted online. Bulletin Our monthly newsletter, the "Petrograph," contains information on club activities, feature articles on rocks and minerals, listings of other clubs' shows and field trips, in this area or to other major California collecting sites. Workshops Lapidary Workshops
Craft Workshops
Library The club has a good lending library in geology, rocks, minerals and lapidary skills. Field Trips One-day or weekend trips to nearby collecting sites are arranged throughout the year. Members also participate in field trips offered by the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies, or the North Bay Field Trips Association. Shows Our annual show, Recreation with Rocks, is held at the Los Altos Civic Center, Youth Center on One San Antonio Road, Los Altos, California, in late October. We have exhibits of club crafts and collections and sales of polished stones, rock critters, cutting materials and mineral specimens. Board Meetings Board meetings are now held the 2nd Thursday after the general meeting. The location is announced in the newsletter. Non-Profit Status We are a non-profit, educational club. We are currently in the process of updating our legal status. At the current time, donations are not tax-deductible. Click Here for information on how to send money to our club. Privacy Policy Click Here to read how we value and protect your privacy! |