Rollin' Rock Bulletin

Submissions

Monthly Newsletter Publication

The Rollin’ Rock Bulletin reflects the activities, discoveries, and creativity of our Society and members. We welcome and encourage a wide range of submissions, from Society news and photos to educational articles and creative pieces. Your contributions help us keep each issue informative and engaging.

Email Your Submissions

All submissions should be properly cited when including borrowed information, quotes, or images. Articles may be sent as Word documents or included in the email body. Photos should be JPG or PNG format. Include your name, title or description, and any photo captions.

Deadline: Submissions for the following issue are due by the 3rd Tuesday of the month.

SUBMIT

General Submissions

All members, volunteers, and chairpersons are invited to submit updates, photos, and announcements for inclusion in our monthly bulletin. These contributions make the newsletter informative, engaging, enjoyable and helps keep everyone informed about what’s happening across the Society.

  • Society News & Reports

    • Upcoming and past reports for meeting programs, field trips, lapidary and craft classes, and events
    • Meeting minutes and committee reports
    • Member news and accomplishments
    • Volunteer needs and reminders

  • Federations News & Reports

    • Summaries or articles from the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS)
    • Regional Federation news, including reports or show announcements
    • News of other clubs, shows, or hobby-related activities

  • Articles

    • Educational or hobby-related pieces
    • Tips, hints, safety information, book reviews, or humor
    • Original articles, features, and poetry.
    • Articles from exchange bulletins or other reputable sources

  • Photos & Visuals

    • Pictures from meetings, field trips, workshops, shows, or events
    • Member projects, lapidary creations, or notable finds
    • Include captions and names of people featured, if appropriate

CFMS Bulletin Contest Submissions

Adult and Junior Society members are encouraged to contribute original work related to any aspect within the earth sciences and lapidary arts that may be eligible for the annual CFMS Bulletin Contest. Your submissions help strengthen our newsletter and may be selected to compete at the Federation level. Whether you enjoy writing, drawing, photographing your finds, or sharing lapidary knowledge, we’d love to feature your work.

Below are clear, simplified explanations of each contest category and link to the full CFMS guidelines and score sheets is provided at the end of the section. For members who want to view the official guideline and individual scoring sheets, visit the CFMS website below.

CFMS BULLETIN CONTEST

Original Articles

These are educational articles written by members related to some phase of the earth science or lapidary hobby. An article is considered educational if it provides a description of a particular mineral or fossil; or if it is a safety study on hazardous minerals, shop practices, or field work. They must be original, unpublished elsewhere, and printed in The Rollin’ Rock Bulletin. If research of any kind is done, a bibliography must be included.

The articles cannot be a summary, review, or book report. Field trip or vacation reports are not eligible unless further educational and technical information is included, such as historical or geological factors, descriptions of material found, or research to enhance educational value.

  • Informational

    How-to topics, tips or hints, safety topics, lapidary techniques, workshop or equipment procedures, or historical overviews.

  • Collecting Localities

    Descriptions of collecting sites—old or new. These should include geology, what can be found, and practical details.

  • Club Activities & Member Interests

    Reflections on Society programs, shows, judging, educational outreach, community involvement, or personal interests tied to the hobby.

  • Science

    Articles on mineralogy, geology, paleontology, gemstones, earth processes, or fossil formation written for a general audience.

  • Humor

    Lighthearted articles, stories, or observations that relate to the hobby in a meaningful way.

Original Features

Features are original work that are less formal than articles. They may be informative, creative, humorous, or visual. A possible entry would include a humorous anecdote, shop hints, play on mineral names, special club contest, or club history commentary. They must be original, unpublished elsewhere, and printed in The Rollin’ Rock Bulletin. Research of any kind must include a bibliography. Drawn features should be accompanied by a description or heading.

  • Message

    Informative, uplifting, or clarifying messages—such as a President’s Message or committee reflection.

  • Historical Commentary

    Interesting facts from history presented in a way that ties into the present.

  • Travelogue

    A narrative focusing more on the journey or experience, including directions, locations, times, purposes, and observations.

  • Humorous Feature

    A light piece intended for fun; may relate to the hobby but does not need educational value.

  • Poetry (Non–Rock Related)

    Poems that are creative, expressive, or entertaining, even if not directly tied to earth science or lapidary.

  • Cartoon

    Original comics, humorous, or satire illustrations.

  • Sketch or Drawing

    Original artwork or diagrams from which the reader can learn something (for example, crystal forms or fossils).

  • Puzzle or Quiz

    Activities appropriate for the intended age group that are challenging but not overly simple.

Poetry

This category is for original poems that relate directly to rocks, minerals, geology, fossils, field trips, lapidary, our Society. Poems may be serious, humorous, educational, or expressive, as long as the subject ties back to earth science, lapidary arts, or our activities as Roseville Rock Rollers. Poems not related to the hobby go under the Features category instead.

Poems are evaluated on the following criteria:

  • Audience

    • General audience (hobbyists anywhere), or
    • Specialized audience (our club, juniors, workshop users, field trippers, etc.)

  • Meter & Rhythm

    • Open verse (unrhymed), or
    • Rhyming poetry

  • Tone

    • Serious (educational, inspirational, reflective), or
    • Just for fun (lighthearted or humorous)

  • Format

    • Short forms: haiku, acrostic, limerick, single short stanza
    • Long forms: ballads, narrative poems, or poems with multiple stanzas

  • Originality

    • Fresh or unusual insights into familiar subjects
    • Use of imagery, alliteration, or poetic devices
    • Creativity in rockhounding themes
    • Engaging or unexpected format for the topic

Special Publications

Special Publications are standalone pieces created outside the regular monthly bulletin. These may include brochures, show guides, educational booklets, workshop handouts, class materials, field trip guides, commemorative publications, or other one-time documents produced by members, committees, or officers.

Judges score only one of the two sections below, whichever best fits the publication’s purpose.
All Special Publications are judged on educational value to the intended audience, how well it serves its intended purpose, originality, presentation quality, participation and contributions from members, use of diagrams and illustrations, presence and appropriate use of sponsorships or advertisements, and distribution and cost-effectiveness.

  • Publications of General Interest

    These are materials intended for a broad audience, such as the general public, show attendees, new members, or hobbyists at large.

  • Publications for a Specific Group

    These are created for a particular audience, such as a workshop class, a committee, junior members, or another specialized group.

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Email Your Submissions

All submissions should be properly cited when including borrowed information, quotes, or images. Articles may be sent as Word documents or included in the email body. Photos should be JPG or PNG format. Include your name, title or description, and any photo captions.

Deadline: Submissions for the following issue are due by the 3rd Tuesday of the month.

SUBMIT

Bulletin Director

Jacqueline Parker

EMAIL