Gilsum Rock Swap and Mineral Show to be Held June 24-25, 2017
Gilsum, NH — The town of Gilsum, located in the scenic Monadnock Region in southwestern NH, will once again host thousands of people from all over the U.S. who will attend the Gilsum Rock Swap and Mineral Show. Here more than 65 dealers, swappers, distributors, wholesalers and collectors can buy, sell, or swap beryl, quartz crystals, semi-precious stones, and rocks and minerals of all sorts. Displays range from newly found specimens in the rough to fossils, prized collector’s pieces and hand-crafted jewelry.
The event takes place at the Gilsum Elementary School grounds, Route 10 in Gilsum, just north of Keene, NH, and is about 2 hours from Boston. Show hours are 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturday and 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Sunday.
On Saturday at 1:00 PM in the auditorium, James Tovey, owner of Toveco, will show how a freshly mined mineral specimen from the local Tripp Mine moves from rough specimen to fine gemstone jewelry. This presentation is free. Don’t miss “From rough gemstone to finished jewelry.”
Gilsum’s many mines operated until the 1940s and yielded feldspar, mica and beryl. Most are now abandoned, although one, the Beauregard mine, is available to mineral clubs through prior arrangement. Today collectors prize other minerals such as beryl. Maps showing locations of local mines are available during the show.
Since the show’s inception, the town of Gilsum has opened its doors for the event. Activities include a presentation on prospecting Saturday, daily pancake brunch, bake sale, book sale, a traditional Saturday night New England ham and bean supper with homemade pies and a chicken barbeque dinner Sunday afternoon.
Admission is free, although donations are graciously accepted. All proceeds go to youth recreation and community programs.
For more information please contact Robert Mitchell at the Gilsum Recreation Committee, P.O. Box 76, Gilsum, NH, 03448; call 603.357-9636; or send e-mail to gilsumrocks@gmail.com.
How Gem and Mineral Clubs can Recruit More Members
American Geode team members have the good fortune of being members in good standing with many different gem and minerals clubs from New York to Pennsylvania, Vermont to Texas. We have also been vendors at many shows hosted by gem and mineral clubs, and supporters and buyers to even more different shows organized by gem and mineral clubs throughout the US and Canada.
In addition to gems, minerals, geodes, fossils and rockhounding, American Geode has decades of experience in SALES. With this essay, we would like to share tips, tricks and advice for gem and mineral clubs to recruit brand new members!
1. Less is More! We have been to many gem and mineral club tables at various shows, and while giving gifts to prospective members is a nice gesture, usually it’s too much too early. The result can backfire on you! The person has just arrived to the show, they don’t want right from the start to be carrying papers and flyers and bulletins and free sample minerals. That does not create a desire or need for that person to join your club!
Instead, try these steps:
a. Upon introduction, ask the prospective member what his or her interests are? Is it education and lectures? Is it field trips? Is the interest purely social? Find out WHY the prospect may want to join your club so that you can offer them a SOLUTION! Take notes. Are they interested in rockhounding field trip, fellowship or education? Tell the prospect to “Enjoy the show, and be sure to stop by before you leave to learn more about the club.”
2. Don’t “hot box” your prospective members when you meet them! The term “hot box” means expending undue pressure on a person to join your group or affiliation. To the person being “hot boxed,” they will call it a “turn off.” Again, “Less is More.” Educate the prospect about the club, ask questions, that shows mindful and sincere interest in them and will appeal to them, and then “hook” them on the return visit. While the prospective member is touring the show and dealers, plan and prepare a relevant gift, relevant information and means to sign up when they exit the show. For instance, if the prospect says they are interested in rockhounding, have your field trip leader or officer, or someone who has been a frequent field trip rockhound, talk to the prospect about the last trip. Have a schedule planned for the upcoming trips to share! If the person is interested in lapidary and jewelry, be ready to discuss access to equipment if that is a benefit of your club, or discuss the other members who are lapidary experts and how often your meetings are about lapidary. The trick is to make the conversation relevant. While your club has many, many great things to offer, satiating and fulfilling someone’s rockhound or mineral need is going to sign up more users than sharing the other great, but irrelevant strengths your club has to offer.
3. How do you “hook” your new members? Prepare, prepare, prepare! When you meet them the first time, write down their name, note if they are with someone or their family. Be prepared to offer a family membership at the lower price point. Be prepared to sign up people THAT DAY! Have the forms ready, have plenty of pens, have pocket cash to make change if someone pays their dues with cash, and have someone be ready to take credit cards via Paypal device you can attach to your phone. Does your club offer on-line sign-up and membership? Then have a laptop ready for someone to sign up right there! Whether it’s retail sales, high-end luxury good sales, memberships to any organization, when people walk away, and you don’t get the sale, the chances of them returning to complete the sale later are as low as 5%. That would be a terrible shame when you have someone who is a “hot prospect” because they are at your club show!
With these “sales tricks” we know you will succeed!
If your gem and mineral club is seeking a website, or social media account and promotion, American Geode can help. Contact us about designing your club’s new website, with means to have new members renew and sign up on-line conveniently, host, archive and protect all of your club bulletins, and be #1 on google when someone new searches for “gem and mineral clubs” in your region or state! Contact us through our site, http://www.americangeode.com and click the “Contact us” button on the left.
The San Luis Obispo Gem & Mineral Club proudly presents: San Luis Obispo Gem & Mineral Club
Annual Summer Gem & Mineral Show!
Saturday June 18th, 2016, 10am to 5pm
& Sunday June 19th, 2016, 10am to 5pm
Located at the Cambria Vet’s Hall (1000 Main Street)
Free Parking, Admission, & Door Prizes
Featuring vendors selling a fantastic array of gems, minerals, fossils, jewelry,
jade, beads, crystals, meteorites, lapidary-related items & display supplies.
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The San Luis Obispo Gem & Mineral Club holds two shows per year. The annual June gem & mineral show is held on Father’s Day Weekend.
This year, due to the closure of the historic Cayucos Vet’s Hall, the Summer gem & mineral show will be held at the Cambria Vet’s Hall. Admission is always free and we give away some wonderful door prizes donated by the vendors. To learn more about the club, check out the San Luis Obispo Gem & Mineral homepage at www.slogem.org.
Annual Rock and Gem Show
The Lower Umpqua Gem and Lapidary Society is hosting its Annual Gem and Mineral Show. With 25 showcases filled and 8 dealers from around the nation, you will find endless excitement! There will be jewelry, gem and mineral dealers, demonstrators, displays of gems and minerals, door prizes, silent auctions, food vendors, and a raffle. Demonstrations include making cabochons, wire wrapped jewelry, and Jade carvings. Kid’s activities includes “turn me over rocks” and a ball toss. Choose your thunder egg and have it cut.
July 15, 16, & 17, 2016
Annual Rock and Gem Show
Lower Umpqua Gem & Lapidary Society
Reedsport Community Building
451 Winchester Avenue
Reedsport OR
Fri – 10 – 5
Sat – 10 – 5
Sun – 10 – 5
Saturday, July 16 is Kids Day!
Silent auction, raffle and door prizes, demonstrations, several new vendors, roughs, slabs, cabs, petrified wood, jewelry, displays, thunder eggs, and more. The first 50 adults through the door will get a free gift with their door prize ticket.
Contact: Bill Hendrickson 541 271 6816 irlindabarr@hotmail.com
Maplewood Rock and Gem Club Keep up with all the exciting, educational and fun activities happening with the Maplewood Rock and Gem Club!
A great gem, jewelry, fossil and mineral show coming to beautiful Washington by our friends with Maplewood Rock and Gem Club.
This is an excellent group of skilled, knowledgable and fun rockhounds and gem, mineral and fossil professionals.
Be sure to “tell ’em American Geode sen’cha!” The good folks at the entrance will get a kick out of hearing that you are also friends with American Geode. Plan your trip in advance and take advantage of the Washington state and national parks, museums and historic landmarks in the area.
December 10 & 11, 2016
5th Annual MRGC Winter Bazaar
Maplewood Rock and Gem Club
Maplewood Rock and Gem Clubhouse
8802 196th ST SW
Edmonds WA
Sat – 9 – 6
Sun – 10 – 6
Contact: MaryAnne Collins 650 383 7625 info@maplewoodrockclub.com
Maplewood Rock & Gem Club fosters community spirit by encouraging the exploration of lapidary arts and appreciation of the earth sciences of geology, fossils, minerals, and gem stones. Members join together to enjoy each other’s company as we explore new avenues of learning through field trips, lectures, seminars, craft workshops, special shows and events. Maplewood welcomes adults,
youth and junior members who actively contribute to the growth and liveliness of the group.
