Pine Country Gem and Mineral Society Annual Rock Show and Sale
Jasper – It’s that time of year! The Pine Country Gem and Mineral Society’s Annual Rock Show and Sale is just around the corner on August 25 and 26. Once a year, the society sponsors the show to provide the public with an opportunity to share in their hobby and a better understanding of all phases of the earth sciences and lapidary arts.
The Pine Country Gem and Mineral Society is a member club of the South Central Federation of Mineral Societies (SCFMS) and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS). The Club conducts field trips in the surrounding area to search for materials of interest to mineral and fossil collectors. (Club membership is open to all who are interested in the earth sciences and the lapidary arts. Annual dues for the current year (2011) are $24.00 for families, $18.00 for singles, and $2.00 for young people ages 16 and under.) These field trips are restricted, for liability reasons, to club members only. Those participating in field trips are asked to sign a release absolving the club and land owner of any responsibility for accidents that might occur in the field. Participants are required to obey all laws and regulations involving trespass and preservation of any endangered natural resource or archeological site encountered.
The Club presents a Show, usually the fourth week-end in August, in an attempt to bring outside displays to the area. Various vendors have booths to provide members and the general public with the opportunity to add to their collections. Club members have displays of rocks, gems, minerals, and fossils from their collections in an effort to educate and entertain the public.
Emphasis is placed on the younger visitor by providing exhibits, demonstrations, and specimens to encourage their interest in the natural sciences. Special trips to other locations requiring overnight stays are organized on occasion. Visits to shows presented by Clubs in other areas are encouraged in order to provide support to these organizations.
Proceeds from any activity are used to provide the area libraries and schools with publications, both books and magazines, to be used as reference materials and general reading. Displays are set up in various locations in the area during the year to keep interest in the earth sciences and lapidary arts alive.
The regular monthly meeting is held on the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Club building at 110 North Zavalla Street in downtown Jasper, Texas. Fellowship begins at 6:30 p.m. Visitors are invited to attend any of the regularly scheduled meetings.