A rock-solid gathering
Gem show attracts over 1,000 people

The Lake Havasu Gem & Mineral Society’s 40th annual Gem & Mineral Roundup attracted more than 1,000 rockhounds seeking jewelry, raw materials, gemstone faceting techniques, silversmiths and how-to advice.

A layer of uncertainty was present among the cluster of gem show vendors about where and if the show will go on next year.

“Havasu should continue having the show. The arts are what give a town an identity, if you start doing away with it — well it is like the lake, if you drain the water, what’s left?” said Bill Purkiss of Deseirto Inc.

Purkiss and wife Christina of Meadview, have been selling handcrafted items for two years but traveled to Havasu as newcomers to the roundup.

The semi-precious gemstone wire-wrap jeweler said he feels every effort should be taken to preserve the 40-year-old show.

“Membership has grown this year. And that is really going to be the ticket to the continuation of the show,” said Stan Sutton, president of Lake Havasu Gem & Mineral Society.

The club may have to search for a fresh site to set up its annual gem show next year to avoid the Aquatic Center’s new fees. The club’s 138 members will soon vote on how to handle the looming Relics and Rods Hall rental fees. The final decision will be made after the club’s board meets in upcoming weeks, Sutton said.

“In my opinion, I think the club will vote to do the show again. So I am keeping my fingers crossed. It is nice once a year to show off the club during a show like this,” he said.

According to the club’s count, there were at least 1,000 visitors Saturday — an increase from last year’s Saturday, which is normally the busiest event day. A fair amount of event attendees appeared to be flooding through the door late Sunday morning.

There were reportedly19 vendors in-house at the Aquatic Center during the two-day event. Five were new and 14 were returning vendors, said club helper Renee Good.

“Because of the economy, I think there are maybe three of four fewer vendors this year,” Sutton said.

Good has participated in the show since 2003 and explained that, years ago, the event was held outdoors at the Nautical Inn. Goode said she thinks a different location could be the answer to the show’s financial hurdles in the year to come.

The event itself remains in its entirety to at least one local rockhound.

“It is a good place to find raw material for jewelry making,” said Havasu resident Gary Giesinger. “I am kind of a collector.”

Giesinger said he has attended the event off and on in the past few years and thought there were a lot of new faces this year as far as vendors go.

The vendors, however, said the slow economy was the reason for sluggish sales.

Hale Stones vendors Bert and Jan Hale, of Rathdrum, Idaho, are a repeat vendor and reported slower sales this year than last.

Bert Hale said his jewelry-making began about 15 years ago as a hobby and grew from there. The couple drives 1,468 miles each year from northern Idaho to a winter stay in the Quartzite area, Hale said.

Second-time vendor Laurette Kennedy, of Phoenix, who was showcasing her BeeJeweled & BeadDazzled original jewelry designs at the roundup, said she thought there were a few less visitors compared to last year.

“The (Havasu) club is very supportive and they know how to put on a good show. It is just too bad there is not more visitors,” Kennedy said.

Lake Havasu Gem & Mineral Society Ron Murphy, of Yucca, was not sure about the event’s attendance compared to last year but was sure there were more than a few who stopped to watch him work with his gemstone faceting machine Saturday. Murphy began faceting stones four years ago.

“I traded a generator for a faceting machine and I’ve been doing it ever since,” he said of his skills.

The annual show has been one of the longest running community activities in Havasu. Proceeds from the shows have funded science scholarships for numerous local college-bound students throughout the years.

The Lake Havasu Gem & Mineral Society meets 6:30 p.m. on the second Friday of each month at the parish center at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church located at 2170 Havasupai Blvd. For more information, call 928-505-2865 or 928-680-4535.

You may contact the reporter at jhanson@havasunews.com.