The Jewelers Vigilance Committee is presenting “Legal Compliance is NOT Optional” education seminar series in four East Coast cities.

The free seminars will run from 8 a.m. till 10 a.m. and will be held at the following dates and locations:

* Boston, March 25, Hyatt Harborside, 101 Harborside Drive;
* Providence, March 26, Westin Providence, One W. Exchange St.;
* Philadelphia, March 27, Lowes Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St.; and
* New York City, March 28, GIA New York Campus, 270 Madison Ave. (39th St. and Madison Ave.).

JVC said it selected these cities based on the large number of jewelry retailers and suppliers doing business in these areas.

In 2006, JVC developed and launched “Legal Compliance is NOT Optional” to educate jewelers about the legal regulations regarding how they do business. To date, JVC has presented its seminar series in Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Seattle. The 2006, 2007, and 2008 seminars are sponsored by a grant from the JCK Industry Fund.

The seminars, presented by Cecilia L. Gardner, JVC’s president, chief executive officer, and general counsel and Suzan R. Flamm, assistant general counsel, offer practical “how to” actions many jewelers may need to follow legal compliance regulations—including how to comply with anti-money laundering regulations pertaining to the USA PATRIOT Act. Seminar content can help to demystify government regulations for jewelers.

“Government regulations for the jewelry industry have gotten tougher,” Gardner said. “It is important that retailers, manufacturers, and distributors who sell fine jewelry know their legal obligations. JVC’s goal is to help jewelers doing business in the U.S. understand the legal regulations pertaining to the manufacture, sale and advertising of fine jewelry.”

JVC’s “Legal Compliance is NOT Optional” seminar will include important AML legal compliance information.

JVC seminars are free of charge but registration is required. To register, visit JVC’s Web site; email jvc@redjewel.com; fax: 310-734-1636; or call JVC at 212-997-2002.

JCK