DATES OF UPCOMING GOLD COAST MEETINGS

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February 2012 Issue 398 Silver smithing instructor,jadwiga, with her first class for 2012 DATES OF UPCOMING GOLD COAST MEETINGS NEXT GENERAL MEETING MARCH GENERAL MEETING MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Committee and general information 3. Presidents report 4. New Courses. Club competitions 5. Meet Malcolm 6. February birthstone. Gem Show dates 7. In a Nutshell. An exciting position.

1 February 2012 Issue 398 Silver smithing instructor,jadwiga, with her first class for 2012 DATES OF UPCOMING GOLD COAST MEETINGS NEXT GENERAL MEETING MARCH GENERAL MEETING MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETINGSs ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING SATURDAY, 25 FEBRUARY at 11.00am TUESDAY the 13th at 7.30pm 2 nd TUESDA Y in the MONTH 3 rd TUESDAY in MAY IN THIS ISSUE 1. Meeting dates. Pic of the month 2. Committee and general information 3. Presidents report 4. New Courses. Club competitions 5. Meet Malcolm 6. February birthstone. Gem Show dates 7. In a Nutshell. An exciting position. Monthly Newsletter of the Gold Coast Lapidary Club Inc Members of Queensland Lapidary & Allied Craft Associations Inc. 80 Pacific Avenue, Miami. Queensland. PO Box 12, Nobby Beach Queensland 4218 Phone: Hon Patron: Joan Cardwell

2 2 The Management Committee President Geoff Saunders Vice President Ken Wilks Secretary Wayne Schulz Treasurer Trevor Nelson Committee Mal Wanchap Committee Wendy Pollock Committee Chris Loughlin Committee John Nelmes Show Coordinator Allen Frentz Management Positions Snippets Editor Elaine Arch-Rowe Competition Steward Allen Frantz Purchasing Officer Committee Senior Librarian Liz Nicholas Raffle Coordinator Jenny Farmer Show Case Steward Rob Lachlan Saw Master Ray Tolley Field Trip Coordinator Kerry Chadwick Judges Faceting - Robert McGregor Cabochons - Ken Wilks Carving - Ken Wilks Instructors & Workshop Times Cabbing Tuesday 10.00am Shirley Sunderland Wednesday 10.00am Dennis Burton Wednesday 10.00am Ray Tolley Thursday 10.00am Shirley Sunderland Thursday 10.00am Joan Caldwell Thursday 10.00am Ron Barr Wednesday Night 7.00pm John Nelmes Terry Houghton Jadwiga Siwka Friday Night 7.00pm Malcolm Wanchap Adv/Cab/Carving PMC Classes to be announced to be announced FreeFrm/Boats Tuesday (1 st & 2 nd week of month/book with instructor) Laurence Yannaccelli Carving/Bone Tuesday 10.00am John Tonkin I nvesting Wednesday (book with instructor) Geoff Saunders Casting Thursday (book with instructor) Geoff Saunders Faceting Wednesday night 7.00pm Peter Smith Chez Siwka Thursday 10.00am Rod Turville Brian Brown Silver/Cab/Setting Thursday 10.00am Ron Barr Silver Jewellery Wednesday 10.00am Jadwiga Siwka Basic Silver Wednesday night 700pm (list) Jadwiga Siwka Paul Galea Friday night 7.00pm (list) George Leskys Jenny Farmer Wire Wrapping Wednesday 7.00 pm (list) Chris Loughlin Creative Metal Arts Thursday 7.00pm Trev Nelson Soap Stone Carving Friday 7.00pm Mervyn Scott

3 3 PRESIDENT S REPORT February 2012 HELLO to all members If you have forgotten to renew your membership you have till the end of February. If you don t renew by then you will incur another joining fee. I think it is only fair to have a cut off date or we would be chasing fees all year. We have started the Saturday classes. These have not taken off as I expected they would but I don t think we will give up on them just yet as I know that the members attending on Saturdays really like the day there. I think it will be a matter of time and the class will be popular; please feel free to talk to me about it. Please don't forget to support the first Saturday monthly meeting being held on the 25th February at 11.00am. The meeting should take about one hour then we will enjoy a Bar-B-Q lunch for the cost of a gold coin. If this brings more people to our meeting we shall hold about three Saturday day monthly meeting a year. It does give the members who don t drive at night a chance to have input into the club matters. We have been making some in roads in the saw room. The saws have been cutting with success thanks to Rod Turville and Brian Brown. I appreciate Rod's and Brian's input. I would like members who are using these saws to keep in mind they are not heavy duty and if you follow the procedure of using them, we will keep them working. Please don t forget to pay the fee. We are nearly in the third month of the year, our annual general meeting is held in the fifth month and the way the time flies it will be on us in no time. Please start to give serious consideration in running for position such as president, secretary, treasurer and vice president and for the four committee positions available. There are heaps of other little jobs available to make our club a success. Please don't sit back, your input could be just what our club needs to make it a bigger and better club. Soon after the annual general meeting, on Saturday, 30th June, we have our annual Gem Show. That is one time we call on ALL members to assist with the running of the show, so please ask your instructors or approach the show coordinator Allen Frentz to find out where you can help. The money the club makes from our show helps to keep our fees down, so please be prepared to put the an effort in. Would the SMOKING members of the club please use the containers located around the tables in the court yard to discard their butts, and, please empty the containers out now and again. I wish to thank Wayne Schultz for the great job he did sorting out the keys. If it was left to me they (the keys) would be still rolling around in the boot of my car, thanks Wayne! Seeing there are five Saturdays in March the committee has agreed to hold another day for instructors at the club to do their own work. This is free except for the cost of materials. The day will be SATURDAY, 31st MARCH, 9.00 to I would like instructors take advantage of this day as it is the only reward the committee can offer you for your dedicated service, other than a THANK YOU. I think I have said enough for the February president Snippets report. I hope you are enjoying your time at the club and making many pieces of your own creations. Be tolerant to your fellow members. President

in Australia, where the cost varies between $117 to $120 plus freight and USA $130 plus freight (dependant on conversion rate.

4 4 TWO NEW COURSES Soap Stone Carving with Mervyn Scott at 7.00pm Friday nights. Please phone Merv on if you would like to attend Instructor Merv offering soap stone carving tips to Chez PMC (Precious Metal Clay) COURSE Cost of material varies in price between suppliers in Australia, where the cost varies between $117 to $120 plus freight and USA $130 plus freight (dependant on conversion rate.) If five to ten members order materials together this will reduce the cost. Payment will be required in advance. Each course will consist of four students however the time frame for completion of the course is only two to three weeks so your name will move up the list quickly. Interested members please contact Shirley and have a chat specifically at the club on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Phone AN AUSTRALIAN SUPPLIER IS RUNNING A SPECIAL FOR FEBRUARY The picture on the right shows a P.M.C. Pinky ring made at the last course run by Shirley. The ring incorporates one of the many imprinted patterns which are available on the course. CABACHONS CLUB COMPETITIONS FOR 2012 MATERIALS MONTH OPEN NOVICE & JUNIOR February cushion cut square or oblong min 40mm any any March double fancy (heart) any any February March Sir Paul Howard trophy for wire wrapped pendant or ring with lapidary item hand created silver work with lapidary item If you are unsure about the different categories or have any questions about competitions please ask an instructor. Entries are handed to the competition entry steward at the monthly general meetings. If you are unable to attend a meeting please give your entry to the instructor. NOVEMBER 2011 COMPETITION WINNER Novice Cab Malcolm Wanchop

5 MEET MALCOLM WANCHAP who has been an involved member of the Gold Coast Lapidary Club for nineteen years. Malcolm was born and bred in Mount Isa, the mining town.

He was a member of the Mount Isa Gem club from the age of twelve. Malcolm and his wife moved to the Gold Coast, where his parents lived, twenty two years ago.

5 5 MEET MALCOLM WANCHAP who has been an involved member of the Gold Coast Lapidary Club for nineteen years. Malcolm was born and bred in Mount Isa, the mining town. So, Malcolm s interest in lapidary started as a kid where all the talk in the town was about rocks and minerals. A favourite pastime of Malcolm s was to walk on the railway line and pick up rocks. He was a member of the Mount Isa Gem club from the age of twelve. Malcolm and his wife moved to the Gold Coast, where his parents lived, twenty two years ago. A sign advertising the Gold Coast Lapidary club s show was all that was needed to inspire Malcolm to check out the show and John Bowdon soon talked him into becoming a member. John Tonkin, Malcolm s first instructor, encouraged Malcolm to becoming an instructor in cabbing. Faceting and silver smithing soon became new interests for Malcolm at the club and when asked which area does he prefer to work in he replied that he doesn t really have a favourite area. He s got a big collection of stones; mainly minerals. He constantly has his eyes on the ground outdoors and when in a jewellery shop he is looking for ideas for a piece of jewellery. Malcolm does have a favourite rock. A museum piece of Stelite What is your biggest flop? he was asked. And his reply, I m an expert in making big stones into small ones! He adds that if you haven t made a mistake, you haven t tried hard enough. Malcolm says he has never had an accident during a lapidary process but adds he is very careful. Malcolm has served time in various roles as a committee member and spent five years as show coordinator. He has been one of the maintenance men in the club, fixing equipment such as the saws and grinders. When asked about his satisfying moments as an instructor, he said I love to see beginner students turning something ordinary into a nice piece of jewellery. He continues You need to be dedicated and committed to be an instructor. You must have patience and give your pupils confidence. You need to praise them. And does Malcolm have a favourite piece he has made? Ask my wife; he says, "she gets all the jewellery! ******** We wish to express our sincere thanks to Christine Smith, local MP, who has offered the facilities of her office for photocopying our Snippets Newsletter.

6 FEBRUARY BIRTHSTONE This stone, from North Queensland, is 14cm x 14cm The gemstone Amethyst is the birthstone for February. It is also the Zodiac stone for the constellation of Pisces.

6 6 FEBRUARY BIRTHSTONE This stone, from North Queensland, is 14cm x 14cm The gemstone Amethyst is the birthstone for February. It is also the Zodiac stone for the constellation of Pisces. Amethyst is associated with spirituality, wisdom, sobriety, and security. Amethyst is the purple variety of the mineral quartz and is a popular gemstone. Although it must always be purple to be amethyst, it can and does have a wide range of purple shades. Its colour is unparalleled, and even other, more expensive purple gemstones are often compared to its colour and beauty. If it were not for its widespread availability, amethyst would be very expensive. The name "amethyst" comes from the Greek and means "not drunken." This was perhaps due to a belief that amethyst would ward off the effects of alcohol, but most likely the Greeks were referring to the almost wine-like colour of some stones that they may have encountered. Amethyst can occur as long prismatic crystals that have a six sided pyramid at either end or can form as druzes that are crystalline crusts that only show the pointed terminations. As a mineral specimen, amethyst is popular for its colour and nice crystal shapes that produce a handsome, purple, sparkling cluster. However, amethyst is not the same everywhere. Different localities can produce a unique amethyst to that particular region or even to that particular mine. Experts can often identify the source mine that a particular amethyst came from. The key to this is the specimen's colour, shape of crystal, inclusions, associations and character of formation. GEM SHOWS FOR MARCH AND APRIL 3 4 March North Brisbane Gem and Jewel Festival. Aviation High Secondary School, Hendra Address: Widdop Street, Clayfield QLD Hours: Saturday Sunday March Minerama Fossicking and Gem Show. cnr Land and Gray St, Glen Innes Gem show hours: Friday and Saturday Sunday Fossicking field trips Friday and Saturday see web site or contact club for times 24 March Gatton Lapidary Club Gem, Wood and Pottery show Gatton Sports Centre, Showgrounds. Hours: April 48 th Gemboree, National Gem and Mineral show, Bundaberg Showgrounds Hours: Friday 12noon 5.00 Saturday Sunday Monday noon 6 9 April Easter Rock Swap. Warwick Showgrounds Hours:

7 7 IN A NUTSHELL NEXT GENERAL MEETING AND BARBECUE Saturday, 25 February. Meeting starts at 11.00am followed by a gold coin barbecue. DONATION Many thanks to John Tonkins for the donation of three books to the club library. The books are: Identification Guides Fossils Identification Guides Rocks and Minerals The Creative Jeweller These books are available now. JUNIORS The age group for Juniors is 12 years to 16 years and must have a adult or guardian at minimum associate membership with them whilst in the club. JANUARY RAFFLE WINNERS 1st Rod Turville 2nd Wayne Schulz Raffles are drawn each month at the general meeting. Please see your instructor for tickets SURVEY The committee looks forward to your comments. NEW MEMBERS FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY WELCOME to Robert Butler, Peter Mcgregor, Peter Williams, Kanako Williams, Craig Stachen, Ras Manikan, Peter Gardiner, Kelli Harker. APRONS Most people prefer to have their own but there are a few in the club rooms if you forget yours. We ve seen suitable aprons at Spotlight, Crazy Clarks, Sam s Warehouse and the kitchen shops. CLUB COMPETITIONS Please check the notice board for these. The Annual general meeting will be held on the 15th May Treasurer s duties: TREASURER - IS THIS EXCITING POSITION FOR YOU? The treasurer is responsible for, and deals, with the management of the clubs financial transactions. A basic sense of account keeping practices and some computer knowledge is really all that is required. Currently the club is using Quick Books accounting program and Trevor with the accountant has it set up so that basically mainly data entry is required and this involves entering amounts that are paid to suppliers (this list doesn t change much) and recording any cheques that have been written although nearly all transactions are now done on line. The treasurer is responsible for receipting money that has been payed to the club, class fees, stone sales etc and entering this data into the system. Banking of this money is done on a weekly basis as is entering this data. At the end of each month pressing the right buttons on the computer will deliver your Bank Account Reconciliation balance. The accounting program takes care of this and providing the input data has been entered correctly no problems will arise. The treasurer is supported by the president and secretary as well as the committee members and all payments apart from Direct Debit customers require two signatures for authorising. Accounts requiring payment on line are instigated by the treasurer, then the treasurer contacts a fellow signatory to co sign in the net bank site. This sounds simple and in reality, it is. It involves a bit of time for the data entry and money counting and if you can manage your personal finances you can pretty well manage the Treasurer position. The Treasurer is required to deliver the reconciliation at the committee meeting and the general meeting each month. If you are interested in this position please speak to Trevor Nelson or Geoff Saunders and they will assist you with the information required.

If you think we re a bit strange, check out pages 5 and 6. Monthly Newsletter of the Gold Coast Lapidary Club Inc

May 2014 Issue 424 If you think we re a bit strange, check out pages 5 and 6 GOLD COAST MEETINGS and EVENTS MANAGEMENT MEETINGS: 2nd TUESDAY in the month NEXT GENERAL MONTHLY MEETING/AGM Sunday, 25th MAY