About Us/Membership

Thank You for your interest in the South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society!

MUCH TO OFFER, MUCH TO SHARE
Our club offers monthly, open-to-the-public meetings with stimulating, expert speakers and time to meet fellow rock hounds, gem lovers, and earth science enthusiasts.
Field trips, a members-only library, lapidary classes, and more!
All meetings are free to attend and open to all – join us!

OUR PURPOSE
Founded in 1962, The South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to stimulating interest in the earth sciences and lapidary arts by furthering the knowledge of its members and the public, by disseminating knowledge methods and procedures for the study, collections, and classification, of rocks, minerals and fossils, and the methods to cut, alter and fashion and convert earth science for specimens for lapidary purposes.

WE ARE AN ALL-VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION
Members step up to do their share – We look to members for support of club activities, functions, and events. Membership is open to persons with an interest in rocks, minerals, gems, Earth sciences, lapidary, jewelry making, related areas of crafts or collecting, and a general desire to spend time with other enthusiasts.

Membership Application

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP $30/year
ADD’L FAMILY MEMBERS – SAME ADDRESS $10/year

JOIN TODAY!

CLUB MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO ALL

We encourage you to JOIN US!

Each month club and community members are treated to special guest speakers – experts in their fields!

Located in the multi-purpose room at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center (117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente, CA 92672 – Park in the back parking lot off Avenida Rosa and enter through the back door.), club meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of the month, begin at 6:30 pm, are free and open to the public.

Our Club serves San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, San Juan Capistrano, Newport Beach, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Anaheim, Brea, Tustin, Orange, Buena Park, Ladera Ranch – and more.

Traveling and miss your local club and fellow enthusiasts? Join us for a meeting! It’s a great way to expand your circle of rock hounding and mineral sciences friends!

SOCGEMS 2025 OFFICERS and BOARD MEMBERS

PRESIDENT – Ellen Dupuy
VICE PRESIDENT – Warren Holt
RECORDING / CORRESPONDING SECRETARY – Liz Navarro
SPEAKER CHAIR – OPEN
TREASURER – Geri Nealon
FIELD TRIP CHAIR – Susan Schimka
PUBLICITY CHAIR – Ellen Dupuy
HISTORIAN – Lisa Paton
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR – Teri Brudnak
MEMBERSHIP CO-CHAIR – Lisa Paton
HOSPITALITY CHAIR – Geri Nealon
NEWSLETTER EDITOR – Marjorie Woodbridge
WEBSITE – Marjorie Woodbridge
WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR – Marjorie Woodbridge
WAYS AND MEANS CO-CHAIR – Liz Navarro
LIBRARY CHAIR – Marjorie Woodbridge
RAFFLE CHAIR – Warren Holt
BOARD – Teri Brudnak
BOARD – Marjorie Woodbridge

SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY CONSTITUTION

MEMBERS - REQUEST A COPY OF THE LATEST SOCGEMS BOARD MEETING HERE

Member Benefits

monthly meetings, with educated, engaging speakers (and delicious snacks)
informative newsletter keeps you up to date on shows, field trips, special events, industry news, and more
large library of books and dvds
access to programs through CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF MINERALOGICAL SOCIETIES and AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MINERALOGICAL SOCIETIES
access to lapidary equipment and instruction
field trips for rock hounding, educational tours (like GIA), rock shopping (like special holiday privileges at the Jewel Tunnel)
annual holiday party
and much more!

Field Trips

Rock Lovers grab your hammers – let’s get out and EXPLORE!
Join us for single and multiple day field trips to educational events, rock hunting excursions, and more.

Lapidary Classes

Learn to cut, polish, and engrave stones and gems for jewelry making. Members have access to the equipment and the professionals!

Learn!

Club members have access to many learning opportunities including expert guest speakers, skills demos, an extensive lending library, and more.

Add’l Ways to Participate

SOCGES is a 501(c)3 and is run completely by volunteers. In addition to dues, our club relies on other kinds of member support and donations to operate and thrive.
Here are some of the ways our members can and do help:

- next time you are at a rock or gem show, pick up an extra piece for the club! we are always looking for donations for our Annual Silent Auction!
- invite a friend (or two) to a meeting
- take photos or videos at a club meeting, event, or field trip – share them with the club (they may end up in the newsletter) and or on social media
- follow us on Facebook and Instagram like and share club posts – this will help expand our exposure so we can reach more new friends/potential members!
- volunteer to chair (or co-chair) one of the many committees that help keep the whole machine moving organized and forward
- run for a club office
- write an article for the newsletter or our website
- bring a rock or gemstone, along with your supporting acumen, to the next meeting
- make a recommendation for a special guest speaker or general meeting topic
- volunteer to set up, work, or break down at one of our fundraisers (Annual Silent Auction, SC Art Fair)
- share information -through social media posts or by distributing flyers – about our events
- participate in one of our lapidary classes
- slicing slabs? donate a slab or two
- make beautiful jewelry? we are always looking for items to sell and auction at our fundraisers
- share your good ideas – about club activities, fundraising, workshops, speakers, all of it – we are always open, looking, and excited for new information to make the club better for all!

GIVING MADE EASY

Support the SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY

The South Orange County Gem & Mineral Society is a 501c(3) Nonprofit Corporation based in San Clemente, CA. All revenue goes to support Society activities including year round educational events, field trips, member events, research, and publications. Your support goes directly to increasing awareness and growing the knowledge and appreciation for the hobby and science we all love.

Charles A. Bodnar, 1962 Founding President

A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CLUB ...

Back in 1962, while John Glenn circled the earth a group of hobbyists decided to scour the earth for hidden treasures as rockhounds. Their earth science club, now called the South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society (SOCGEMS) is celebrating 60 years this November.

“Cheers to 60 Years,” is their Diamond Anniversary theme, which is a fitting symbol for the club since diamonds are the hardest mineral on earth and one of the most popular. Founded by Charles Bodnar in 1962, the group wanted to stimulate interest in the collecting and cutting of gems and minerals and that meant field trips and learning to use lapidary equipment.

Most of the members were hobbyists and came from teaching, banking, retail, technology, and other careers or as retirees. Carolyn Jungwirth, a club member for over 20 years, recalled the good times she enjoyed with her family and friends. “I’ve always loved rocks, minerals, and geology. I took a class in college and when I found the club, it continued my interest. I enjoyed going to rock shows and finding beautiful jewelry already made or materials I could use to make my own pieces,” said the San Clemente native.

Over the years, club field trips have taken them to the annual Quartzite Pow Wow in Arizona where miners and collectors sell an amazing variety of raw and polished gem material, or to the Hauser Geode Beds for those hidden treasures of crystals inside plain old-looking round rocks. Before the internet, the club used to hand draw maps to meet up for rockhounding adventures. Today, field trips are easier to find and might include a geology trip to Pacific Palisades, fossil hunting in Laguna Beach, a trip to Wrightwood for rhodonite, or a private tour of a gold and jade exhibit at the Bowers Museum.

The free monthly meetings feature a variety of topics. A recent program on Brazilian tourmalines focused on ethical mining practices and resources for the local communities. A fun presentation by a couple from the Coober Pedy opal mine in Australia told the story of one Aussie’s last wish to bequeath his mine to the city if they’d keep a keg of beer on his gravesite. But after a dismal few months of absentee work crews, they decided to honor the miner’s wishes only on his birthday and Christmas. Other programs included a fossil expert who performed original “dinosaur” songs at a meeting. During COVID, monthly Zoom meetings attracted attendees from around the world for programs ranging from Gemstone Hunting in Afghanistan, Ancient Garnets, Rock Art, and Dinosaurs, to Lapis Lazuli at Mt. Baldy.

While the club would love to have a permanent studio or workshop, individual members offer their personal studios for small 2-4 person classes about cutting and polishing stones (the art of lapidary), soldering for making jewelry, and other topics.

Membership in SOCGEMS automatically provides insurance for field trips and other activities. As active members of the San Clemente community, SOCGEMS has been hosting a rock and gem booth at the annual SC Arts and Crafts Fair held every August by the SC Arts Association since the 1960s.

In 1970 when President Richard Nixon was in office and his home in San Clemente served as the “Western White House,” a handmade rock table with stones from 17 states was cut, polished, and presented to the Nixons in honor of their anniversary.

Since its founding, the club has maintained a library of lapidary and gem identification books available for loan. Some books were donated by experts like Renee Newman, a gemologist and author of eight guides on gems and jewelry.

The public is invited to all meetings at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center (117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente, CA 92672 – Park in the back parking lot off Avenida Rosa and enter through the back door.), free of charge on the third Wednesday, 6:30 pm, with speakers, refreshments, and a raffle. While space exploration continues in the 21st century, SOCGEMS continues to keep the earth sciences relevant and fun for future generations.

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

2021

2020

2019

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INHERIT A ROCK COLLECTION?
Use our expertise to your advantage!
SOCGEMS will analyze and value your rock collection, tools and machines included.
Our fee? First dibs on the goods.

Friendly Members - Our People Are The Best!

Club Members are welcoming, inclusive, and happy to share their passion for rocks and minerals and gemstones! Held at the San Clemente Community Center, Monthly Meetings are on the third Wednesday of the month – They are open to all so stop by – WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU!
Please print, complete, and mail in form with a check for your desired membership level.
If you like, you may bring your form and a check with you to our next scheduled meeting.