A Short History of Tualatin Valley Gem Club

The Tualatin Valley Gem club was organized in June of 1957 at the home of Vergil Brannock in Forest Grove. In the fall of 1957 the charter was closed with 33 members, mostly from Gales Creek, Forest Grove, Cornelius, Hillsboro, and Gaston. One year later the membership was 125. In the 1970's membership persisted at over 200 members, but in later years membership in all "rock" clubs all over the United States began to dwindle. Present Membership is 162 including 6 junior members

In September 1960 TVGC sponsored the Rockamites, a club for juniors 4th grade through high school. The club was active for many years before it was dissolved due to lack of participation. To continue to interest juniors, TVGC each year offers a scholarship to an OMSI camp. We once again have an active juniors club thanks to all of our volunteers.

Our first show was in 1958 in an empty store in Forest Grove as were the next few years. Later the show was held at the Forest Grove Armory until the Armory was Moved, and the site was move to the Washington County Fairplex. In 1974 TVGC sponsored the Northwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies Show at Pacific University's Field House. We again hosted the NFMS show in 1999 at the Washington County Fairplex.

TVGC was the 100th club to join the Northwes Federation and 4 of our members have served as presidents of that regional organization. Ones has served as president of the American Federation . Many others have served on Federation Committees.

Field trips are a favorite part of the club's activities and a field trip chairman tries to have several during a year.