Nebraska Gem and Mineral Club
Author: Tammy Jeanneret
Keywords: Nebraska Gem and Mineral Club, Gem Club; Nebraska Gem Club; Nebraska Mineral Club; Omaha Gem Club; Omaha fossil club; Omaha Rock Club; Nebraska Rock Club

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club

Rockhounds Welcome

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club

Welcome to the Nebraska Gem and Mineral Club
Club Meetings:
Meetings are held the third Wednesday of every month at the Pipal Park community Center in Omaha, NE
(See Schedule of Events for Calendar and Meeting Subjects)
Meetings are held at 7pm.
Doors open at 6:30pm
The purpose of the club is to stimulate scientific and educational interest in geology, archeology, and related earth sciences.
The club promotes interest in the lapidary arts and provides opportunities for collecting and studying rocks, gems, minerals and fossils, learning lapidary arts/crafts, and supporting the study of geology at the University of Nebraska Lincoln and Omaha.
The Nebraska Gem and Mineral Club at Omaha has active adult and youth groups. The youth group includes kids from 6-18.
Among the activities enjoyed by both groups are rock / fossil hunting field trips, opportunities to learn arts and crafts related to rocks and gems including hands on demonstrations and lectures/share and tell opportunities both by members rock hounds and geology or archeology experts from local colleges.
The Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club Inc. is affiliated with the Nebraska Association of Earth Sciences Clubs, Inc. It is a non-profit corporation incorporated under section 21-901RRS, Nebraska 1943 non-profit corporation and shall have perpetual existence
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History

Kids Club

Meetings and
Activities
Gem and Mineral Show
Omaha Rock Swap
Related Links
Lapidary Classes
Rock Hunts
Contacts/Find us

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Kids Club | Meetings and Activities | Gem and Mineral Show | Omaha Rock Swap | Related Links | Lapidary Classes | Rock Hunts | Contacts/Find us

To contact us:

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club
Name and phone number of contact person(s)

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

State Gem: Blue Agate
State Fossil: Horn Coral

History

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club
History
Kids Club
Meetings and Activities
Gem and Mineral Show
Omaha Rock Swap
Related Links
Lapidary Classes
Rock Hunts
Contacts/Find us

Nebraska Mineral & Gem Club History
By September 1958 our membership had grown to about 120 adults and twenty juniors. The show for the first time was held at the Civic Auditorium. The members filled some sixty cases. The show attracted some 900 adults and children, and was the first show with dealers.
In 1959 they begun the Rock Hunt, and it has continued to be the annual event and enjoyed every year since its inception. The show was again held at the Civic Auditorium, boasted fifteen dealers and was open two days, Saturday from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Sunday from 12 - 9 p.m. The membership had now grown to 154 members and meetings were moved to the Luther Memorial Church of Omaha. In 1960 the club formed its own library which has now expanded to 150 volumes. It also moved to the Exhibition Hall of the Auditorium occupying one-half of the area.
In 1961 after a four year storage the workshop was again opened up, this time in the church's boiler room.
In 1966 during the now yearly show, the club donated a Fossil Collection to the Westside High School for their use.
In 1968 the club joined with other Rock Hobbyists Organizations to form the Nebraska Association of Earth Sciences Clubs, Inc.
By 1970 the show now had over 100 exhibits and drew over 1000 people. They had eight dealers that year.
In 1972 at the show the club presented to the Omaha Suburban Area Council of Schools a display to be used by all the out-lying schools. This was the last year the show would be held in the National Guard Armory.
In 1973 the show moved to the Holiday Inn. It was air conditioned and no one had to sit on needles and pins hoping there would be no alert called during the show giving a moments notice to move out. The show had nine dealers, two local dealers and seven out-of-state dealers. The club began a scholarship program.
In 1975 the club had 21 exhibitors with over 100 displays, it had a three day local show and an all time high attendance, 3000. The high attendance was partly attributed to a new promotion idea the club had, members manned two booths, each for a week long, demonstrating all day at two of the city’s large shopping centers. On May 6th, 1975, we lost out Pipal Park Craft Center due to a tornado. The building was demolished and we lost most of our equipment. Classes were held by individual shops until the Center was replaced.

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Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Kids Club | Meetings and Activities | Gem and Mineral Show | Omaha Rock Swap | Related Links | Lapidary Classes | Rock Hunts | Contacts/Find us

To contact us:

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

Kids Club

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club
History
Kids Club
Meetings and Activities
Gem and Mineral Show
Omaha Rock Swap
Related Links
Lapidary Classes
Rock Hunts
Contacts/Find us

The Omaha Gem and Mineral Club has a very active kids group. Currently our members number 27. We’d love to have you join us.
Every month we have a kids activity or craft lesson with make it and take it projects.
Some of our projects have included:
Sapphire Hunt
Christmas ornaments
poly casting and origami with polished stones
Name Bricks
Rock Painting on Slabs
Rock Painting on Round River Rocks
Pet Rocks
Sundial Clocks
Wire wrapped fossil shark teeth
Metal Detecting
We also participate in some of the adult activities as well. Kids are always welcome in the big club meetings especially for Rock Bingo, Silent Auction and Rock Swap.
And of course there are lots and lots of kid activities at the Gem and Mineral Show in October. From a Rock Race, Silent Auction, Fossil Dig, Gem Dig, Rock Pile, Pearl Oyster to the Wheel of Fortune, kids are always welcome.
Every year we schedule at least two kid rock hunts—Adults are welcome also. (One parent is required for each family of kids). We have dug for fossil horn coral, hunted for river gems in the Nemaha River and hunted fossils and other specimens in road cuts. Some pretty interesting things have been found too!
We try to keep these rock hunts within 2 hours of Omaha to minimize travel time with excited kids.
It may get a little dirty but everyone has a wonderful time. Rock Hunt Pictures

Hey Rock Kids from 6-18.
Come Join us for Rock Hunts and Rock Crafts
The third Wednesday of every month.
Rock On.

Rock
Hunts

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Kids Club | Meetings and Activities | Gem and Mineral Show | Omaha Rock Swap | Related Links | Lapidary Classes | Rock Hunts | Contacts/Find us

To contact us:

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

Rock Hunting with the Kids Club

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club
History
Kids Club
Meetings and Activities
Gem and Mineral Show
Omaha Rock Swap
Related Links
Lapidary Classes
Rock Hunts
Contacts/Find us

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Kids Club | Meetings and Activities | Gem and Mineral Show | Omaha Rock Swap | Related Links | Lapidary Classes | Rock Hunts | Contacts/Find us

To contact us:

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club
History
Kids Club
Meetings and Activities
Gem and Mineral Show
Omaha Rock Swap
Related Links
Lapidary Classes
Rock Hunts
Contacts/Find us

Schedule of Events

Club Meetings Schedule

January Bingo Night with Rock/Gem/Mineral Prizes. February UNL: Scholarship
March UNO Scholarship Recipient
April Banquet—Speaker to be announced
May Cabachon 101 Grinding party
June Program to be announced
July Program to be announced
August Show Preparation Meeting
September Junior Night Kids Club and Adult club joint meeting
October GEM AND MINERAL SHOW OMAHA WESTSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER
November Election and Pot Luck Adult and Kids together
December Silent Auction Kids Club activity—Christmas Ornaments

Club Newsletter
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Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Kids Club | Meetings and Activities | Gem and Mineral Show | Omaha Rock Swap | Related Links | Lapidary Classes | Rock Hunts | Contacts/Find us

To contact us:

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

Gem Show Flyer

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club
History
Kids Club
Meetings and Activities
Gem and Mineral Show
Omaha Rock Swap
Related Links
Lapidary Classes
Rock Hunts
Contacts/Find us

Describe your location by landmark or area of town.

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Kids Club | Meetings and Activities | Gem and Mineral Show | Omaha Rock Swap | Related Links | Lapidary Classes | Rock Hunts | Contacts/Find us

To contact us:

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

Date: 10-04-2008 to 10-05-2008

Gem Show

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club
History
Kids Club
Meetings and Activities
Gem and Mineral Show
Omaha Rock Swap
Related Links
Lapidary Classes
Rock Hunts
Contacts/Find us

Omaha Mineral and Gem Club Show

Demonstrations: Rock hunting, polishing, wire wrapping, bead making, fossil cleaning, faceting, beads, rock painting. Pearl oyster opening
9 Dealers with rough rock, mineral specimens, fossils, beads, finished jewelry, jewelry findings, tools, equipment and supplies.
Special Activities: Fossil Hunt, Rock Race, Gem Hunt, Pearl Oysters,, Sapphire Hunt, Silent Auction, Rock Pile, Wheel of Fortune.

Retail Dealers

Demonstrating Dealers

Westside Community Center 3534 South 108th St. Omaha, NE
Saturday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Sunday 10:00 am- 5:00 pm
Admission:
Adults $4 Students and seniors $2 Children 12 & under FREE with paying adult

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Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Kids Club | Meetings and Activities | Gem and Mineral Show | Omaha Rock Swap | Related Links | Lapidary Classes | Rock Hunts | Contacts/Find us

To contact us:

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

Omaha Rock Swap

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club
History
Kids Club
Meetings and Activities
Gem and Mineral Show
Omaha Rock Swap
Related Links
Lapidary Classes
Rock Hunts
Contacts/Find us

Date of Sale: June—Exact Date to be announced

Time of Sale: 00:00

Expiration date:

00/00/00

Join us for a day of Good Old Fashioned Rock Swapping. Members bring special minerals, fossils, gems etc to sell and trade.
The rock swap is open to the general public.

Minerals
Gems
Fossils
Rock Specimens
Carvings
Jewelry
Unusual Items to numerous to mention

Describe your location by landmark or area of town.

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Kids Club | Meetings and Activities | Gem and Mineral Show | Omaha Rock Swap | Related Links | Lapidary Classes | Rock Hunts | Contacts/Find us

To contact us:

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club
History
Kids Club
Meetings and Activities
Gem and Mineral Show
Omaha Rock Swap
Related Links
Lapidary Classes
Rock Hunts
Contacts/Find us

Related Links

Nebraska Mineral & Gem Club
Educational Links
Following is a list of websites that have a focus on educational material pertaining to the fields of minerals, crystals, rocks, fossils. If you have or you know of an educational site that we don't have listed please feel free to suggest it and we will be happy to add it. Please contact the webmistress.
Fossils - dinosaurs, vertebrate and invertebrate fossils, etc.
Mineral and Gem Clubs and Societies - an alphabetized list from around the country
Agates - information on collecting sites, pictures of various agates, and an abundant amount of educational information.
More links to be added on a regular basis!

Custom Gems Omaha Nebraska. Custom Jewelry, Rocks, Lapidary and Silversmith supplies, Mineral Specimens and Carvings

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Kids Club | Meetings and Activities | Gem and Mineral Show | Omaha Rock Swap | Related Links | Lapidary Classes | Rock Hunts | Contacts/Find us

To contact us:

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

Lapidary Classes

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club
History
Kids Club
Meetings and Activities
Gem and Mineral Show
Omaha Rock Swap
Related Links
Lapidary Classes
Rock Hunts
Contacts/Find us

NMGC is proud to announce the introduction of Lapidary classes. NMGC is proud to announce the introduction of Lapidary classes.
Instructor: Bob York
Classes start: November, 2004 Location:
Pipal Park Community Center 78th & Hascall Omaha, NE For more information and to register contact: Metropolitan Community College at 457-5231
All content © 2004-2005 Nebraska Mineral & Gem Club, Inc.
All content © 2004-2005 Nebraska Mineral & Gem Club, Inc.

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Kids Club | Meetings and Activities | Gem and Mineral Show | Omaha Rock Swap | Related Links | Lapidary Classes | Rock Hunts | Contacts/Find us

To contact us:

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

Rock Hunts

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club
History
Kids Club
Meetings and Activities
Gem and Mineral Show
Omaha Rock Swap
Related Links
Lapidary Classes
Rock Hunts
Contacts/Find us

Rock Hounds love Rock Hunts.
Over the years the Omaha Gem and Mineral Club has participated in a number of successful rock hunts over the Midwest.
Many fossil and mineral specimens have been found and the club members have had a lot of fun doing in. From Agates to fossils no rock is safe from these dedicated Rock Hounds!.
Even better: We love to show our rocks and talk about them or to see and try to figure out what someone else has found. Bring your Rocks and Fossils to a meeting and have one (or several) of our expert amateur or professional mineralogists try to identify it for you.
Pictures from successful rock hunts
Pictures from Kids Club rock hunts

Generally the Adult Club averages 2 Rock Hunts per Year in the Midwest.
The Kids club also averages 2 Rock Hunts per year within a 2 hour radius of Omaha, Ne

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Kids Club | Meetings and Activities | Gem and Mineral Show | Omaha Rock Swap | Related Links | Lapidary Classes | Rock Hunts | Contacts/Find us

To contact us:

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

Contact Us

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club
History
Kids Club
Meetings and Activities
Gem and Mineral Show
Omaha Rock Swap
Related Links
Lapidary Classes
Rock Hunts
Contacts/Find us

Joining the Nebraska Mineral & Gem Club
If you would like more information about our club and its activities or to join, please contact Richard Farlow.
Visitors are always welcome. We meet every third Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm at the following location:
Pipal Park Community Center 7770 Hascall St. Omaha, NE
Map to Pipal Park Community Center

Map courtesy of Yahoo.com and NAVTEQ

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Kids Club | Meetings and Activities | Gem and Mineral Show | Omaha Rock Swap | Related Links | Lapidary Classes | Rock Hunts | Contacts/Find us

To contact us:

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

Rear Trunk
The "Rear Trunk" is a Nebraska Mineral & Gem Club monthly newsletter and it is an educational and informative source for the avid rock-hound.
The "Rear Trunk" is free to members. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Richard Farlow.
Following are several articles excerpted from the "Rear Trunk".
President's Message
Jan. 2005
Feb. 2005
Coming SOON "Blood on Rocks!" by Ila K.

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Kids Club | Meetings and Activities | Gem and Mineral Show | Omaha Rock Swap | Related Links | Lapidary Classes | Rock Hunts | Contacts/Find us

To contact us:

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

Retail Dealers

Francina Maria Designs
JJ and L Rocks and Minerals
Lincoln Curios
Peterson’s Rocks and Gems
Pharoah’s Custom Gems,
Ruf Rider Rock
Schoolers Minerals and Fossils
Teton Gems
West Side Agates

Check us out

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Kids Club | Meetings and Activities | Gem and Mineral Show | Omaha Rock Swap | Related Links | Lapidary Classes | Rock Hunts | Contacts/Find us

To contact us:

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

Demonstrating Dealers

Cheryl Barnholdt and Bill Wehr, Wire Wrapping
Tammy Jeanneret
Rock Painting
Meredith Merwald-Gofta
Silver Smith
Roger Pabian
Polishing Agates
Ed Schafer
Preparing Fossils—Green River Fish
Betty Selby-Sislo
Wire Wrapping
Margie Shanahan
Glass Bead Making
Ben Vrana
Fossil Preparation– Niobrara Chalk
Pictures

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Kids Club | Meetings and Activities | Gem and Mineral Show | Omaha Rock Swap | Related Links | Lapidary Classes | Rock Hunts | Contacts/Find us

To contact us:

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

Gem Show Dealers and Demonstrators

Gem show Dealers and Demonstrators bring many wonders to the show:
Gems, Minerals, Custom Jewelry, Fossils, Carvings and Paintings.

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Kids Club | Meetings and Activities | Gem and Mineral Show | Omaha Rock Swap | Related Links | Lapidary Classes | Rock Hunts | Contacts/Find us

To contact us:

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

Nebraska Mineral & Gem Club History
In 1976, the club hosted the state show, it had nine dealers, four special demonstrations and the members themselves operated such things as the lost was casting, faceting, sheet work in silver, rock polishing with other creative ideas. The club also had such things as hourly door prizes, the Rock Pile which over the last couple of years has boasted some fine obsidian and Lake Superior Agates and even Black Jade. The show also has movies and over 125 displays covering every aspect in the field of lapidary, and earth science. The club membership at present is 182 adults plus junior members. The club's monthly meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month, having a program devoted to such things as agate hunting and it's history, core drilling in Antarctica, archaeological work in Nebraska, etc. These programs were put on by the University and historical Society. We have annual field trips, potluck dinner, rock auctions, and the April banquet is our social event of the year.
The club's profits have been and are presently being funneled toward four scholarships a year for the Geology students of the University of Nebraska and to the Omaha Recreation and Crafts Center for use in purchasing equipment for classes and also for other civic projects to better educate the younger people. Three displays are to be given to the Omaha Public Schools along with several magazine subscriptions for the Omaha Library's use. The members have five area dealers with some giving individual or group classes in lapidary work, jewelry design, casting, sheet, wire and rock polishing.
After many years of meeting at the First Federal Lincoln's Homestead Center, it was necessary in 1977 to make a change and we are now meeting at the new Pipal Park Community Center at Westgate School.

Home Page

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club

Phone: 402-873-6515
Email:tjeanneret@hughes.net

Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club | History | Schedule of Events | Gem and Mineral Show | Rock Swap | Related Links | Rock Hunts | Kids Club

History

Meetings and Activities

Gem and Mineral Show

Omaha Rock Swap

Related Links

Kids Club

Members Photo Galleries

Contacts/Find us

Rock Hunts