Tuscarora Lapidary Society, Inc.
24 Upland Road. Brookhaven, PA. 19015
The Tuscarora Lapidary Society (TLS) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, and Pennsylvania Purely Public Charity, organized to encourage and teach the science and art of lapidary (the cutting and polishing of gemstones), as well as arts and crafts associated with lapidary interests, among any and all members of the general public.
TLS carries out its mission through a series of
General Meetings, an Annual Show, educational Courses and Workshops, and free public displays and presentations, all open to members of the general public.TLS is one of the largest lapidary societies in the Eastern United States and one of the few that is able to provide an educational program because of its
workshop facility.
Membership
TLS has more than 100 members of all ages—teens to seniors—drawn from all walks of life, brought together by our common interest in creating beautiful, decorative, and useful items from rocks and minerals as well as sharing that knowledge with any and all members of the general public.
All TLS officers, directors, instructors, and committee chairs are volunteers, as are all TLS participants in any of our outreach programs.
TLS has an active internal
Skill Improvement Program, known for short as S-K-I-P, in which member's work in several categories is judged against prescribed standards; certificates of accomplishment are awarded.Individual members have frequently exhibited their work in the shows of other clubs and in
Federation shows. They have received many high awards, attesting to the quality of their work. The Society itself has often exhibited, using fine pieces from many different members. These exhibits have frequently taken “Best in Show” awards.Anyone interested in the lapidary arts and sciences is encouraged to become a member of TLS.
Prospective Regular Members in the Tuscarora Lapidary Society must be 18 years of age or older. Requirements include two approved lapidary projects (reviewed by a membership committee), attendance at two General Meetings, and a membership application form along with a modest application fee and annual dues. Beginners are invited to take beginner classes and complete two stones to be judged. If you are interested in TLS membership, please join us at one of our
General Meetings, or take a beginning class, or send us a note on our Contact page.
For a brief history of the Tuscarora Lapidary Society, click on
History.
TLS is one of the largest lapidary societies in the eastern United States and one of the few that has a workshop facility: The TLS nstructional facility, known simply as the
Education Center is located at 24 Upland Road, Brookhaven, PA. The Education Center is a fully equipped lapidary and jewelry arts shop, using the latest in equipment and techniques. The Education Center also houses the TLS Library.
The first issue of the Bulletin of the Tuscarora Lapidary Society appeared in February 1964. Produced 10 months of the year (with the exception of July and August), the Bulletin is distributed to TLS members, and is available to members of the public taking classes at the TLS Education Center. It is also distributed to the
EFMLS and many sister organizations.The Bulletin contains a record of TLS activities, information about classes and other upcoming events and occasional articles on lapidary or related arts and sciences. The Bulletin contains no advertising, unless from members, and is the primary vehicle used to organize members in support of the mission of the Society.
The Tuscarora Lapidary Society is a member of the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies (EFMLS). The Eastern Federation is one of seven regional federations of lapidary and mineralogical societies in the United States:
CFMS - California Federation of Mineralogical Societies
EFMLS Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies
MWF - Midwest Federation of Mineralogical and Geological Societies
NFMS - Northwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies
RMFMS - Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies
SCFMS - South Central Federation of Mineral Societies
SFMS - Southeast Federation of Mineralogical SocietiesThe seven regional federations are all affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS).
Each regional federations has an annual convention that coincides with the annual show of a member society. The American Federation's annual convention coincides with one of the regional federation shows on a rotating basis.
All of the federations are non-profit educational organizations devoted to promoting lapidary and mineralogical knowledge among members of the general public. The federations promote competitive exhibiting at their shows as a way of both increasing the skill levels of individual members and demonstrating those skills to the general public.
The Tuscarora Lapidary Society has a close relationship with two local mineralogical societies.