Oxnard Performing Arts Center

Guests are always welcome at our meetings! They are held on the first Wednesday of the month (excluding holidays) at 7:30 PM. The format includes an educational presentation, followed by refreshments, and a short business meeting. We meet at the: Oxnard Performing Arts Center Thousand Oaks Room 800 Hobson Way Oxnard, California 93030
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2010 Monthly Program Schedule

September 1st Oxnard Gem & Mineral Society Members will be Sponsoring a Silent Auction. This is open to everyone interested in getting something new to add to their collection and an opportunity for anyone wanting to get rid of some things from their collections. Everyone is requested to bring at least three items from their collections to donate to the Auction. We would like to see those extra minerals, spare cabochons, miscellaneous jewelry, assorted tools, various nonessential fossils, additional rough stones to be worked, surplus slabs ready for cabbing, and all other gems of plenty. This will be fun for all ages and a great way to start a collection for your junior rockhounds. Bring the kids and show them all about this exciting hobby.
August 4th “How to Rockhound from Home”. This presentation will be a guide on how to search for new dig sites, find an old mining claim, add to your collection, and find other rockhound friends without leaving the comfort of home. The Internet has been the most useful tool to rockhounds since the invention of the rock hammer. With a little creative thought and insatiable curiosity, you can find most anything on-line. So, come join us for all the important information on being a rockhound from home.
July 7th In honor of the up and coming Jade Cove Field Trip (hosted by the Conejo Gem Club – July 31st & Aug. 1st)  We will have another wonderful and interesting presentation by guest speakers Fred and Charlotte Ward. The Wards' will be sharing their knowledge of “Jade – Treasure of the Ages”.  There will be slide show of the many gems Fred has photographed over the many years of his career with National Geographic.  Then, they will answer any of our questions on the subject of Jade and give us a better understanding of why this mineral is so valued, beautiful, and alluring. Afterward, the Ward’s will be available to sign copies of their books and discuss the evening’s topic.
June 2nd At 6:30PM Our summer potluck will be the activity for the June 2nd general meeting. Remember, this potluck will start one hour (6:30pm) earlier than our normal meeting time. Bring your favorite dish, enough for four persons as everyone can get a small sample of every dish brought. Every type of meal is recommended: salad, pasta, fruits, vegetables, hot and cold foods, sweets. You decide what to share. Also be sure to bring your own table service and a good appetite. We will have a good time, enjoy wonderful food, and catching up on each other's current endeavors. See you at 6:30pm on June 2nd and bring your appetite!
May 5th Due to the many and recent earthquakes,  we thought this would be a good time to have a discussion on Earthquakes.  We will present a video of the 100th anniversary of the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.  The video, titled “Shock Waves, One Hundred Years after the 1906 Earthquake” gives an in-depth view and history of earthquake science, shows how engineering and science have evolved to address threats from future quakes, and explain exactly what happened following the 1906 Great San Francisco earthquake.
April 7th Member Sponsored Silent Auction.  This is open to everyone interested in getting something new to add to their collection and an opportunity for anyone wanting to get rid of some things from their collections. Everyone is requested to bring at least three items from their collections to donate to the Auction.  We would like to see those extra minerals, spare cabochons, miscellaneous jewelry, assorted tools, various nonessential fossils, additional rough stones to be worked, surplus slabs ready for cabbing, and all other gems of plenty. This will be fun for all ages and a great way to start a collection for your junior rockhounds.  Bring the kids and show them all about this exciting hobby.
March 3rd We will present an in-depth review of an up-coming Field Trip to Tajiguas Beach of Santa Barbara County.  Ron Wise and Brett Johnson will discuss the discovery of fossilized “whale” bone that has been found on the beaches of Santa Barbara County.  They will have samples of fossils, jewelry, and many other stones and gems from Tajiguas Beach.  Ron will give details on when, where and how to participate on the Field Trip and this will be a great opportunity to learn more about what can be found on our beaches. Come join us for the discovery, prehistoric wonder, and adventures of Santa Barbara’s County Beaches.
February 3rd Our guest presenter, will be Sandra Butchko of Cottontail Creations. Sandra will be showing us how she creates her beautiful jewelry with the use of Precious Metal Clay (PMC). PMC is a clay-like medium used to make jewelry, beads, and small sculpture. It has very small particles of metals (such as silver, gold, or platinum) mixed into the clay. By shaping the PMC as she wishes, Sandra can fire the pieces (as one would in ceramics) which burns the clay away and leave the precious metal behind. Some of you may remember, Sandra displayed at our 40th annual Gem Expo in November. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about her art. So, come join us for an interesting and inspiring tale of beauty and imagination. Afterwards, Sandra will be available to talk one on one about her craft and the classes she offers.
January 6th We will have two wonderful guest speakers, Fred & Charlotte Ward. They will give us a slide show presentation and discussion of "Opals - Chameleon of a Thousand Colors". The photos will be from Fred's many years of reporting on gems and minerals from around the world for the National Geographic magazine. There will be Opals from Australia, Mexico, the USA, and other sites and a discussion of their mining, processing, sales, and care. This will be an open discussion of Opals, so feel free to ask the Wards questions. Afterward, they will be on hand to sign copies of their many books on gems and minerals