Club meetings provide opportunities to meet people, learn about the club, and share stories and ideas about the hobby. Meetings also provide a forum for late-breaking updates on upcoming events that may not be covered in the club newsletter. A typical meeting includes transaction of official club business, some "birthday babbles" in which club members recount their lifelong romance with rocks, possibly a presentation by an invited speaker, and refreshments. Some meetings are highlighted by special events, such as the August ice cream social and auction and the November election of officers. Guests and prospective members are always welcome.
For those members interested in rockhounding, field trips are the ticket. A typical trip is a Saturday outing to one of the quarries or mines within a couple of hours of Raleigh. Occasionally the club organizes a longer trip to the far reaches of North Carolina or neighboring states. The provisions you will need for collecting vary by site, but typical items include boots, hardhat, sun hat, safety glasses, gloves, shovel, rock hammer, pry bar, sledge hammer, chisels, spray bottles of water for cleaning specimens, bags/boxes/newspaper for wrapping specimens, insect repellent, sunscreen, water, and lunch. Field trip plans are usually published in the club newsletter, but check with the organizers for late-breaking updates. Suggestions for field trip destinations are appreciated.
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Mineral Show
Every April the club hosts its annual gem, jewelry, and mineral show in the Kerr Scott Building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Vendors of jewelry, gems, minerals, beads, and books set up their booths at the show. The club organizes exhibits of gem and mineral specimens, demonstrations of lapidary and other arts, and a geode cutting booth. Of all the club's activities, the show is the most dependent on member volunteers to keep things running smoothly.
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and Education
A number of activities are oriented toward community service and education. The club coordinates with local museums and university geology departments to foster interest in geology and gemology, through participation in public events as well as through monetary donations to educational programs.
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