What it is

The Michiana Gem & Mineral Society (MGMS) is a not-for-profit rock, gem and lapidary club in South Bend, Indiana, serving the “Michiana” area of northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. Its home page says its purpose is “to promote the study and enjoyment of the earth sciences and the lapidary arts, and to share lapidary knowledge and techniques.” The club is affiliated with the Midwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies.

The club says it welcomes “friends, families, anyone whom has an interest in the fields of geology, mineralogy, lapidary arts, or earth sciences in general.”

Who it’s for

Rockhounds, beginning cutters, collectors and families in the South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart and southwest Michigan area who want a low-cost club with monthly programs, a newsletter and a yearly show with lapidary demonstrations. Junior memberships are offered for children 16 and under with a sponsor.

Why it’s listed

It is a long-running federation club with its own website, a published meeting calendar, printed dues and a membership application, and a dated yearly show. It is Lapidary Plaza’s first Indiana club (the state’s only other listing is SUVA Lapidary Supply in Kokomo).

Official URL

https://www.michianagms.org/

Calendar: https://www.michianagms.org/calendar.html
Annual Show: https://www.michianagms.org/annualshow.html
Links: https://www.michianagms.org/links.html
Membership application (PDF): https://www.michianagms.org/documents/MGMS%20Membership%20Application%20-%20Jan%202025.pdf
2026 show flyer (PDF): https://www.michianagms.org/documents/2026%20MGMS%20Show%20Flyer.pdf

(All checked 2026-11-04 and returned HTTP 200 to curl with a Chrome user agent.)

Location

General meetings are held in the basement of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 805 S. 29th St., South Bend, Indiana. The home page says doors open at 1:30 p.m., and visitors should “take the stairs to the basement to the left of the Wall Street main entrance.” The program begins about 2:45 p.m.

The annual show is held at the St. Joseph County 4-H Fairgrounds, 5117 South Ironwood Road (Ironwood and Jackson Road), South Bend, Indiana 46614, per the 2026 show flyer.

The website lists a webmaster email ([email protected]) and a newsletter editor email. It does not print a phone number or a mailing address.

This is a club. It is not a store or a school.

Notes

Meetings (home and Calendar pages): usually the fourth Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. Eastern, with board meetings before the general meeting. Regular exceptions: the April or May meeting moves to the third Sunday around Easter or Memorial Day, July is a members’ picnic, August is the show, and November/December is a short meeting and Christmas party.
What’s next on the calendar (check date): the 2026 calendar says there is no club meeting in November. On Sunday, December 6, 2026, there is a short meeting with the election of 2027 officers and a potluck Christmas party for members and their families.
Dues (home page): Individual $10, Family $20 (two adults per household and children 4 to 16), Junior $1 (16 and under with a sponsor), and Subscriber $7.50 (newsletter only). Dues are payable to the treasurer by December 15, and the membership application PDF is linked from the home page.
Newsletter: The Rockfinder is published monthly except July and August.
Annual show (Annual Show page and 2026 flyer): the 2026 Rock, Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show ran August 21–23, 2026 (Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–4 p.m.; adults $5, kids 12 and under free), with mineral and jewelry dealers, displays, lapidary demonstrations, a kids’ corner, door prizes, a silent auction and educational exhibits. The show page lists shows back to 2009. The 2027 date was not posted on the check date; the home page says it is “usually held the third weekend of August.”
Members area: some pages are for members only, and access is requested from the webmaster.
Small source note: the public site does not describe a club lapidary shop, member classes or a founding year, so none are claimed here.
Not affiliated with Lapidary Plaza. No email, phone call or form was used.

FAQ

Q: Where does the Michiana Gem & Mineral Society meet?
A: In the basement of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 805 S. 29th St., South Bend, Indiana, usually at 2 p.m. Eastern on the fourth Sunday of the month. Doors open at 1:30 p.m.

Q: Can visitors come to a meeting?
A: Yes. The club says guests are always welcome at general meetings.

Q: Is there a meeting in November 2026?
A: No. The 2026 calendar lists no November meeting. The next gathering is a short meeting, officer election and Christmas party on Sunday, December 6, 2026.

Q: How much does it cost to join?
A: $10 a year for an individual, $20 for a family, $1 for a junior with a sponsor, or $7.50 for a newsletter-only subscription. Dues are due by December 15.

Q: When is the club’s show?
A: Usually the third weekend of August at the St. Joseph County 4-H Fairgrounds in South Bend. The 2026 show ran August 21–23 and included lapidary demonstrations.

Q: Is the club part of a federation?
A: Yes. It is affiliated with the Midwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies.