The Searchers have a long, proud history in the lapidary world. The club was formed back in 1956 and has been active in the hobby ever since. We have a history of community service and education to the greater Anaheim area going back to the days of our formation. We owe out veterans a great deal for their sacrifices and the Searchers likes to do its part by helping to give them new skills and a reason to keep on going. Many veterans have physical or emotional issues after serving and need a new outlet for restoring their heath. The lapidary program is just one of them that many veterans find comfort and peace in by making their own creations. It gives them a sense of accomplishment and builds a positive mental attitude.
Today the Searchers hold two weekly lapidary workshops for club members - one of the few clubs that even has its own workshop. Herb Beckman and Jimmy Petersen do a stellar job hosting these working sessions. Typically there are people making cabochons, jewelry, beading, wirewrapping, silversmithing, etc... If these terms are unfamiliar the best way to find out more is to attend a meeting or visit our workshop.
Our club show helps support our charitable work and we are especially proud to actively support education by teaching at the Long Beach VA Hospital and donating equipment and materials. This effort has been championed by Larry Richey and Clare Gagnon. They manage the highly successful program at the VA Hospital of Long Beach, CA which meets a few days per week. In fact some of the vets that have been in the program for awhile have been nationally recognized and award winners, like John Velasquez. If you are interested in joining the Searchers or are a veteran interested in learning new skills please feel free to contact veterans@searchersrocks.org
We welcome one and all and we invite you to join the Searchers and become an active member!
Walter Mroch, 1st Vice President 2007/2008
HOT OFF THE PRESSES!
2008 NATIONAL VETERANS ARTS CONTEST WINNER
by Larry Richey
This year we want to congratulate Yesenia Rodriguez who took 2nd place at the National Veterans
Creative Arts Contest in the Jewelry Category. Yesenia is from the Long Beach VA Medical center
(VRT).
The Veterans Creative Arts Contest is an annual contest open to all patients from the Veterans Hospitals
worldwide. Each hospital has its own contest and the 1st place winners from that contest move up to the
Regional Level, then the 1st place winners of that contest move up to the National Level. There are
thousands of entries from all over the world. Just to go the National Level is a huge achievement, but to
win one of the top three places is an unbelievable achievement one can be quite proud of.
The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival (NVCAF) is the celebration and grand finale stage and art
show of the culmination of talent competitions in art, creative writing, dance, drama and music for the
veterans treated in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national health care system. Approximately
130 veterans will exhibit their artwork or perform in a gala show. All 1st place winners are selected to
participate at the end of this year-long contest. This yearıs Gala Performance and Art Exhibit will be at
the Riverside Convention Center, 3443 Orange Street, Riverside, California, 92501. The Festival is
October 20-26, 2008; the Art Exhibit is Sunday, October 26, 2008, 12:15-1:45pm.
VA medical facilities incorporate creative arts into their recreation therapy programs. This annual
competition recognizes the progress and recovery made through that therapy, and raises the visibility of
the creative achievements of our nationıs veterans after disease, disability or life crisis.
For Yesenia Rodriguez and the other twelve winners from Long Beach VA Medical Center (VRT) this has
been a life-changing experience. We want to thank you for your support. Your support for our Long
Beach program is the only reason this program is still available to these veterans today. Without your
support this program would not exist today as it is the only lapidary class in the VA System. With your
support Long Beach has won 13 of the top three places at the nationals over the last 9 years. We thank
you for all that you do to support this program at Long Beach.
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