MSDC Calendar
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Planned, then pre-empted by coronavirus -- Behind-the-scenes tour of minerals and new mineralogical research technology at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Mineral Sciences Department.
Nearby Club Meetings
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Gem, Lapidary, and Mineralogical Society of Montgomery County (MD) - GLMS-MC: 2nd Mondays except July and August, 7:30 pm, Rockville Senior Center, 1150 Carnation Drive, Rockville, MD 20850
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Chesapeake Gem and Mineral Society: 2nd Fridays except July and August, 7:30 pm, Westchester Community Center, 2414 Westchester Avenue, Oella, MD (if using GPS, use Ellicott City)
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Gem, Lapidary, and Mineralogical Society of DC – GLMSDC: 3rd Fridays except July and August, 7:30-10 pm, Chevy Chase Community Center, 5601 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20015 - no longer on web; this info is uncertain.
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Maryland Geological Society: 3rd Sunday of every other month, 11 am – 3 pm, Bowie Community Center, 3209 Stonybrook Drive, Bowie, Maryland 20715
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Northern Virginia Mineral Club: 4th Mondays except July and August, 7:45 pm, Long Branch Nature Center, 625 Carlin Springs Road, Arlington, VA, 22204.
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Southern Maryland Rock and Mineral Club: 4th Tuesday except July and August, 7 pm, Clearwater Nature Center, 11400 Thrift Road, Clinton, MD 20735
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Micromineralogists of the National Capital Area, 4th Wednesdays except July and August, 7:30-10:00 p.m., Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington, VA 22204
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Southern Maryland Lapidary Club, 4th Saturdays, Clearwater Nature Center, 11400 Thrift Road, Clinton, MD 20735
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American Fossil Federation, alternate months, Bowie Community Center, 3209 Stonybrook Drive, Bowie, MD 20715
Wildacres
- Annual Spring and Fall week-long learning vacations
- Great experiences at a great price
- Daily hands-on workshops led by experts
- Daily lectures by accomplished speakers
- Modern lodging and plenty of good food
- On the Blue Ridge Parkway 40 miles north of Asheville, NC
- Wide covered porch and patio overlooking Grandfather Mountain, full of rocking chairs and camaraderie
- Sponsored by the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies (EFMLS)
- $435 per person for room, board, classes, lectures in 2020
- Possible additional fees for materials, depending on the class. These fees reflect only the instructor's direct costs.
- Approximately 2/3 of the cost of attending Wildacres is generously underwritten by the Blumenthal Foundation.
- Example: Spring 2020: May 18-24
- Hands-on classes in faceting, cabochons, chainmaille, micromounting, silversmithing, soapstone carving, wire wrapping, precious metal clay
Speaker in residence: Bob Jones, luminary of the world of minerals and gems, editor of Rock & Gem magazine
- Hands-on classes in faceting, cabochons, chainmaille, micromounting, silversmithing, soapstone carving, wire wrapping, precious metal clay
- Example: Fall 2020: August 24-30
- Speaker in residence: TBA
- Hands-on classes in low-tech casting, Viking knit, wireworks, intarsia, silversmithing,UV and fluorescent minerals
- Registration starts Jan. 1, 2020. Wildacres is a great experience.
Shows and Events of Special Interest
February - Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, Tucson Convention Center and many other sites in the city
March - Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies annual convention, hosted by the Catawba Valley Gem & Mineral Club at its annual show, Hickory, NC.
March - Delaware Mineral Society, Doubletree by Hilton, 4727 Concord Pike, Wilmington, NC.
April – Atlantic Micromounters Conference, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Alexandria,
6055 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22303
April – Annual Rochester Mineralogical Symposium, Radisson Hotel Rochester Airport, 175 Jefferson Road, Rochester, NY 14623, hosted by the Rochester Academy of Science
April - Annual Super Dig and mine tours at Sterling Hill Museum and Mine, 30 Plant Street, Ogdensberg, NJ
May – Chesapeake Gem and Mineral Society, Ruhl Armory, Towson, MD
Sept -- Denver Gem and Mineral Show, Expo Hall of the Denver Mart, Denver, CO
November - Northern Virginia Mineral Club, George Mason University Dewberry Hall, Johnson Center, Braddock Rd & Rte 123; Fairfax, VA.
Full list of Eastern Federation shows