Arlington Gem And Mineral Club

Programs: Arlington gem and mineral clubs purpose is to encourage the study of earth sciences, lapidary arts, and other related fields, and to enjoy good fellowship with those who share like interests in the hobby. The club meets once a month to enjoy a potluck dinner, a program or speaker, and a general business meeting. Meetings are open to the public. The club sponsors several field trips each year that include collecting, trips to museums or other exhibits, and other trips of general interest to the membership. In addition, the club hosts an annual gem and mineral show that is open to the public with the goal of promoting the hobby. That show includes educational exhibits, competitions, classes, childrens activities, and vendors of rocks, gems, fossils, tools, and other hobby-related items. The club publishes a monthly newsletter, also available to the public on its website, containing educational articles along with information on club activities and events. The club maintains a facebook page to promote the club and the hobby to the general public. The clubs lapidary shop, which includes slab saws, trim saws, and cabochon cutting equipment, is open to members approximately 8 days a month, in addition to 4 scheduled classes on cabochon cutting. Classes taught by member volunteers are offered every weeknight and most weekends. On average, over 30 members volunteer over 1500 hours each year to teach classes or supervise the lapidary shop. Those classes include silversmithing, stone setting, casting, glass fusing, enameling, faceting, metalsmithing, blacksmithing, precious metal clay, lapidary arts, and tool making. In addition, the club offers regular labs so that so that members can continue developing their skills outside of class. Those labs include silversmithing, casting, glass fusing, and enameling.