club news BY eILEEN mOSS

Our shop is now back to full scheduling with additional open shop times. For full details, please check the calendar on this website.

Open Shop & Courses
Our current open shop times are Sundays from 1-4pm; Tuesdays from 10 to 1pm and 6:30 to 8:30pm; Wednesdays from 10-1pm; and Thursdays from 10-1pm. 
On Tuesday evenings (6:30 to 8:30pm) and Wednesday mornings (10 to 1pm), we teach lapidary skills or how to cut and polish gemstones.  Training is free and all equipment is provided. By the end of the shop time, you will have created a polished cabochon and have learned how to use the small saw, grinders and sanders.  If you wish to learn how to use the large saws, please schedule your visit for Thursday mornings.
Open shop times are designed for members to work independently on their silver or stone projects.  An instructor is on hand to provide direction or assistance when needed. Only students who have taken the beginner silversmithing course and are familiar with the equipment should use the shop at these times. Upon successful completion of your beginner silversmithing course or lapidary instruction, you will be given a certificate to show upon entry to the shop (when requested).  This is a new procedure that we have implemented this year.  As well we will have 1-2 instructors on hand for assistance at each open shop.
If you would like to take a beginner course, please email Eileen Moss at [email protected] to be put on an email notification list for upcoming courses

Meetings for the Spring
Thursday March 14 at 630pm will be a presentation by McLean Trott.  McLean will be giving a hands-on talk and demonstration about different ore deposits (in layperson terms).  He will show some snazzy ore samples from around the world that he has picked up along the way. These get-togethers are open to everyone.  They are informal, informational and in short, a lot of fun. Hope to see everyone out.
Saturday March 23 from 10am - 1130am. Judy Wall, one of our talented members will be giving an overview on electroforming/electroplating. she will discuss
What is Electroforming, Electroplating
Samples of Objects you can cover
How to prepare objects- drying, add jump rings, 
Sealing, conductive paint
Equipment required
Solutions required:
Cost for basic set-up
Show how to set-up equipment
How to keep light objects from floating to the surface
Calculations for amperage settings
Thickness coverage, removing, cleaning then repeat
Cleaning acid bath
Brushing, polishing, patina, burnishing, sealing (optional)
Source for supplies
She will bring lots of samples, those that worked and those that didn't work.  This will be a great learning experience for this technique.  Open to all interested.

Annual Auction & Annual General Meeting (AGM) 
Friday, April 19th at 6:30 pm we will be holding our Annual Auction and AGM in the Rehearsal room at the Tett Centre on the 2nd floor.  Auction items can be viewed beginning at 6pm with the AGM and auction starting at 6:30pm   This is a great opportunity to bid on and purchase minerals, gemstones, jewellery or related items, books, tools, storage components etc.  The auction is open to all, so please invite your friends, neighbours and family members.  Hope to see everyone out for the evening.  If you have any items to donate, related to the hobby, please bring these along with you as well.