Whether you are an experienced rockhound, a mineral collector, a lapidary artist, or have never cut a stone before, you are welcome here.
Membership connects you with our lapidary workshop, field trip opportunities, monthly meetings, Society projects, events and a community of people who enjoy rocks, minerals and the lapidary arts.
Membership Types
Tri-Cities Lapidary Society offers Adult, Junior and Family memberships. Honourary Membership may also be awarded by the Society in accordance with the bylaws.
| Membership Type | Annual Fee | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $35.00 | Individual membership for a person 18 years of age or older. |
| Junior | $35.00 | Individual membership for a person under 18. Junior members must be sponsored by an adult Society member in good standing. |
| Family | $60.00 | Covers two adults at the same mailing address, or one or two adults together with up to four of their children or grandchildren under 18. The adult member or members automatically sponsor the junior participants included in the Family Membership. Additional children or grandchildren may be added at the cost of a Junior Membership. |
Membership Year
The standard Tri-Cities Lapidary Society membership term runs from October 1 through September 30.
A member is considered to be in Good Standing when the required membership dues for the current term have been paid.
Why Join?
Use the Workshop
Members can attend scheduled lapidary workshop sessions after completing the applicable waiver requirements and any necessary instruction or orientation.
Learn Lapidary
Learn how to cut, grind, shape and polish stone with help from experienced members and workshop supervisors.
Go Rockhounding
Take part in field trips organized locally and through the wider British Columbia Lapidary Society community.
Join the Community
Attend meetings, presentations, Society projects, shows and other activities with people who share an interest in rocks and minerals.
Want to Visit First?
Prospective members may attend up to two guest visits in total before making a formal application. These may be regular Society meetings or observation-only workshop sessions.
Guest workshop visits are for observation only. Use of workshop equipment requires an accepted membership, the appropriate waiver or risk acknowledgement, and compliance with the Society's workshop rules.
How to Apply
Applying for membership is straightforward. A completed membership application and the required dues may be submitted to the Membership Committee at a general meeting, at a special event, or by another method approved by the Directors.
Complete an Application
Download and complete the Tri-Cities Lapidary Society membership application form.
Submit Your Application & Dues
Submit the completed form and applicable membership dues to the Membership Committee at a meeting, special event or through another approved arrangement.
Membership Confirmation
Applications are reviewed in accordance with the Society's bylaws. Once accepted, you will be welcomed as a member of the Society.
Submitting Your Application
Monthly meetings are a convenient place to submit an application and are also a good opportunity to meet members, learn how the Society works and ask questions before getting started.
Can't attend a regular meeting? Please contact our Membership Chair. Applications may also be accepted at special events or through other arrangements approved by the Directors.
New Members and the Workshop
Becoming a member is the first step toward using the Society's lapidary workshop. The workshop is a members-only facility and is not available for casual public drop-in use.
Before using workshop equipment, members must have the appropriate annual waiver or risk acknowledgement on file and meet the Society's safety requirements.
Workshop equipment is used under the direction of the workshop supervisor. Depending on the equipment and a member's experience, instruction or additional supervision may be required before a particular machine can be used.
Junior Members
Junior members are an important part of the Society. A person under 18 must be sponsored by an adult Society member in good standing.
Children aged 10 years and older may use the lapidary workshop when directly supervised by a parent or adult sponsoring member. Equipment use remains subject to the direction and approval of the workshop supervisor.
Joining Partway Through the Year
The bylaws provide reduced or extended membership terms for new members joining later in the membership year:
- A new membership application received at or after the March meeting becomes effective April 1 and is charged one-half of the standard Membership Dues.
- A new membership application received at or after the August meeting is valid through September 30 of the following year.
Renewing Your Membership
Membership renewals are normally handled at the August or September general meetings, at the Annual Rock and Gem Show, or through another method arranged by the Membership Committee.
Membership is formally terminated on November 1 if dues for the new membership term have still not been paid.
A former member whose membership has been terminated for non-payment of dues must submit a new membership application in accordance with the Society's bylaws.
Membership Is Participatory
TCLS is a volunteer-run Society. By applying for membership, members agree to help with the planning, preparation or operation of the Annual Rock and Gem Show, other public events in which the Society participates, or other Society needs as determined by the Directors.
The Society works because members contribute their time, knowledge and enthusiasm as well as their membership dues.
Questions About Membership?
Our Membership Chair, Sonja Stubbings, would be happy to help with questions about joining, family or junior memberships, renewals, the application process or alternative arrangements if you are unable to attend a regular meeting.