EVENTS
Annual Events (Scroll below for current year's EVENTS CALENDAR)
- The Shell Auction held in April is a combined social event and a verbal auction, silent auction and discount shell table(s). Please see a detailed description of the SDSC auctions below the current year's calendar (scroll down on this page).
- The Shell Bazaar held in July is an informal gathering of shell enthusiasts to share shells and shell collecting stories with one another. Many attendees bring shells for sale or trade.
- The West Coast Shell Show held in August is hosted by the San Diego Shell Club. There are award winning exhibits, experts available to answer questions about shells and dealers selling shells from around the world. All children receive a special shell gift just for being a part of this special event compliments of the Club and its members. Please scroll to the bottom of this page for more information about the West Coast Shell Show Registration, Rules and Judging, as well as directions to Balboa Park in San Diego, where the show is held.
- The September Pot Luck Party is a social gathering at one of our member’s homes where we discuss the progress of our club and plan for the upcoming year.
- The Shell Auction held in November is a Club hosted luncheon with socializing followed by a verbal auction, silent auction and $1 and $5 tables. Please see a detailed description of the SDSC auctions below the current year's calendar (scroll down on this page).
- The Holiday Party held in December is an evening event where we enjoy dinner, memorialize the events of the previous year, and usher in the New Year with a presentation by a special guest speaker.
PLEASE NOTE: The San Diego Shell Club enjoys taking pictures of its events! We post them in the "Picture Gallery" on this site. Sometimes we post them in the SDSC Facebook page. If you do not wish to have your photo taken at any event, please speak to the relevant club members at that event, making your wishes known. Thank you.
Board of Director Meetings - Open to General Membership
Please request the Zoom link from the President or the Corresponding Secretary of the club through [email protected]
Please request the Zoom link from the President or the Corresponding Secretary of the club through [email protected]
Schedule of 2026 BOD Meetings:
- January 4, 2026 at 4 pm Pacific Time, via Zoom
- February 8, 2026 at 4 pm Pacific Time, via Zoom (date rescheduled due to Super Bowl)
- March 8, 2026 at 4 pm Pacific Time, via Zoom
- April 12, 2026 at 4 pm Pacific Time, via Zoom
- May 17, 2026 at 4 pm Pacific Time, via Zoom
- June 14, 2026 at 4 pm Pacific Time, via Zoom
- July 12, 2026 at 4 pm Pacific Time, via Zoom
- August 9, 2026 at 4 pm Pacific Time, via Zoom
- September 13, 2026 at 4 pm Pacific Time, via Zoom
- October 11, 2026 at 4 pm Pacific Time, via Zoom
- November 8, 2026 at 4 pm Pacific Time, via Zoom
- December 13, 2026 at 4 pm Pacific Time, via Zoom
2026 Club Events Calendar
Please be aware that there may be changes of dates, times and/or locations of events, so check back here regularly if you plan to attend an event.
JANUARY: General Meeting, Zoom Presentation of a Special Speaker. January 17, 2026
Please be aware that there may be changes of dates, times and/or locations of events, so check back here regularly if you plan to attend an event.
JANUARY: General Meeting, Zoom Presentation of a Special Speaker. January 17, 2026
FEBRUARY: IN-PERSON General Meeting: "Mini-Auction and Social Gathering". February 21, 2026
- This will be a relaxed social gathering with shells as the central theme (of course!). There will be a Mini-auction of SDSC shells, a $5 table, and members are encouraged to bring shells that they might show off or sell, and there will be pizza and drinks provided. Feel free to bring your own beverages, and also, feel free to bring dessert or snacks to share.
- The Mini-auction bid list is attached here. Most of the shells for this Mini-auction are from the John Vedder Collection, from Portola Valley, California.
- Please plan to bring a personal check to pay for SDSC items with (and not cash). Cash may be used for private transactions though.
- Also, it’s recommended that you bring a chair in case all the available chairs become occupied.
- If you plan to sell shells, or have a lot to show off, please bring a table or tables, as well.
- If you need directions, please request them from [email protected]. Or reply to this email with a directions-request.
- Please RSVP if you plan to attend - by replying here or to the email address above.
MARCH: General Meeting, Zoom Presentation of a Special Speaker. March 21, 2026
Topic: "Notes on the Biology of the Amazing Ovulid, The Santa Barbara Simnia,
and How its Soft Bodied Coral Prey Escapes Predation"
by Paul Tuskes
12 Noon Pacific time
This colorful snail was thought to be a deep water species until it was found living on sea pens in Mission Bay. The presumed stationary sea pen is in fact mobile, and attempts to escape the initial attack by the snail. The reproduction of the snail will also be documented.
Zoom link was emailed to SDSC Members in good standing
and How its Soft Bodied Coral Prey Escapes Predation"
by Paul Tuskes
12 Noon Pacific time
This colorful snail was thought to be a deep water species until it was found living on sea pens in Mission Bay. The presumed stationary sea pen is in fact mobile, and attempts to escape the initial attack by the snail. The reproduction of the snail will also be documented.
Zoom link was emailed to SDSC Members in good standing
APRIL: Shell Auction (no General Meeting). April 18, 2026
At the home of Barney and DeAnne Hunold in Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), California
Members in good standing have been emailed the specific location information.
Members in good standing have been emailed the specific location information.
MAY: General Meeting, Zoom Presentation of a Special Speaker. May 16, 2026
Speaker: Stephen J. Maxwell
Time: May 16th at 4 pm Pacific Time, via Zoom
(Zoom link sent by email to members in good standing)
Time: May 16th at 4 pm Pacific Time, via Zoom
(Zoom link sent by email to members in good standing)
JUNE: IN-PERSON General Meeting: "Member's Auction and Social Gathering". June 27, 2026
SDSC members can submit shells to be auctioned off, and will have a chance to add quality shells from other members' collections to their OWN collection!
Details and directions to this event have been emailed to members in good standing.
Details and directions to this event have been emailed to members in good standing.
JULY: The SDSC Shell Bazaar & General Meeting. July 18, 2026
At the home of Larry Buck in Encinitas, California
Additional details to be posted soon
Additional details to be posted soon
AUGUST: Annual West Coast Shell Show (No General Meeting). August 29-30, 2026 (Open to Public)
SEPTEMBER: Fall Party and Potluck. September 19th or 26th, 2026
At the home of Paul and Ann Tuskes
Additional details to be posted soon
Additional details to be posted soon
OCTOBER: General Meeting, Zoom Presentation of a Special Speaker. October 17, 2026
Details to be posted soon
NOVEMBER: Shell Auction & General Meeting/Elections: November 14, 2026
Details to be posted soon
DECEMBER: Holiday Party and General Meeting: December 5th, 2026
Details to be posted soon
Additional Information About the San Diego Shell Club's Auctions
Live, in-person auctions are given twice per year, in April and in November. The club endeavors to provide the highest quality shells for these events, and participants may view the verbal auction and silent auction offerings for about an hour in advance of the auctions. A bid list will be emailed out to members in good standing one or several weeks in advance of the auctions. Sometimes photos of some of the shells available at the auctions will be made available online for advance viewing. Additional details about the auctions will be emailed to all members in good standing!
A note about collection data and auctioned shells: From time to time the club will acquire a large private collection of shells. Sometimes there is a "database" of collection data associated with these collections. Below are link(s) to sets of data associated with particular private collections. If a winner of a shell in unsure of which collection the shell came from, that winner should feel free to reach out to a shell club contact member or through the contact form on this site for additional information.
Data Sets for Specific Collections of Shells. These data sets are also available in the Resources section of this site (click here).
Pratt Collection Data (click here to access pdf).
A note about collection data and auctioned shells: From time to time the club will acquire a large private collection of shells. Sometimes there is a "database" of collection data associated with these collections. Below are link(s) to sets of data associated with particular private collections. If a winner of a shell in unsure of which collection the shell came from, that winner should feel free to reach out to a shell club contact member or through the contact form on this site for additional information.
Data Sets for Specific Collections of Shells. These data sets are also available in the Resources section of this site (click here).
Pratt Collection Data (click here to access pdf).
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Additional Information About the Annual West Coast Shell Show
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West Coast Shell Show Registration, Rules and Judging
If you are considering entering the West Coast Shell Show, please see the Registration Form here:
San Diego Shell Club 2026 WCSS Registration Form pdf West Coast Shell Show Announcement, Rules and Information about judging can be found here: 2026 WCSS Information Packet.pdf Directions to Balboa Park and Casa Del Prado
1. Take Hwy 163 South to Park Blvd Exit. 2. Turn left at Park Blvd and the left onto Village Place. 3. The closest parking would be the Carousel/Spanish Village lot or the lot adjacent to the Natural History Museum. 4. You can also take the Balboa Park Tram to the Prado stop and walk east along the Prado to the Casa Del Prado. |
A few selected images from past Shell Shows
(see link above for more photos)
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