About the Payson Rimstones Rock Club, Inc.
Why We Are Here
The primary mission of the Rimstones Rock Club is to educate our members, students, and the larger community about the delights of rock hounding. Detailed throughout this website are descriptions of presentations, field trips, and our annual gem and mineral show. Through these activities we work year-round to bring the science and wonders of geology to life for all who are interested in sharing them with us.
Club History
The Rimstones Rock Club was formed in 1992. Our first field trip was for petrified wood, and the first Coalition trip was to Agate Mountain.
We started the Annual Gem & Mineral Show in 1997 at the Payson Junior High School. It is the highlight of the year and is the Club’s main fundraiser. It is held currently at the Mazatzal Hotel and Casino Event Center.
Our club is a 501(c)(3) Non-profit organization.
Everyone is welcome — please join us!
Our monthly newsletter, the Rimstones Review, and our Online Calendar announce upcoming meetings, field trips and rock shows. Visit our Field Trip web page to find a more comprehensive listing of rock-hounding opportunities. Check each month for recent updates! If you would like to join our Club, please visit our Membership web page for more details. For those ready to join now… here is our current Membership Form.
Our Affiliations
We are currently a member of:
- American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS)
- Rocky Mountain Federation & Mineralogical Society (RMFMS)
- Payson’s Rim Country Chamber of Commerce
Rim Country Community Activities
The Payson Rimstones Rock Club creates and maintains an educational display at the Payson Library. In the summer, Club members offer a family presentation for the Payson and Pine Libraries’ reading programs. We also donate books and materials related to our hobby to the Payson and Pine libraries and the local schools.
We sponsor a Junior Diamond Rockhounds Club at Julia Randall Elementary School. For years, Club members have also provided a day of show-and-tell rock presentations for all Julia Randall 3rd or 4th grade students.
The Club also awards scholarships to Northern Gila County graduates going into STEM careers.
In addition, we provide the local Chamber of Commerce with flyers on rock hunting in the Rim Area and fill a basket with Arizona rocks and minerals for visitors to take with them. In the past we also staffed a Community table at the local Farmer’s Market prior to our Annual Gem & Mineral Show in September.
Member Opportunities
We are fortunate to have members and friends of the Club who are experts from a variety of rock-related disciplines. At our monthly meetings members are treated to interesting presentations and demonstrations on wide-ranging topics.
The Club participates in at least one field trip a month hosted by the Payson Rimstones as well as joint excursions with surrounding clubs. As a result, most of us have trunk loads, mantles, garages, yards and china cabinets full of attractive and unique rock specimens.
Everyone is welcome — please join us!
Photos on this page thanks to Rimstones Rock Club members