The American Gem Society’s 2003 Conclave, held in April in Austin, Texas, drew a crowd of nearly 600 retailers, designers, manufacturers, and gemological educators. Among the highlights of the event was the famous “AGS Town Meeting,” (See “Cut From the Same Cloth,” JCK, June 2003, p. 114.), during which the subject of diamond cut grading progressed from “Can we?” to “Should we?” The event also featured a rousing lineup of inspirational keynote speakers; a steady stream of gentle and not-so-gentle bantering between Conclave jeweler chairs Ellen Lacey of El Paso, Texas, and Mark Moeller of Minneapolis; and the annual presentation of the group’s Robert M. Shipley Award to veteran jeweler Admiral Herb Bridge.

Plans for 2004 and 2005 Conclaves are under way. The 2004 event will be held March 31 through April 2, 2004, at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, while the 2005 event (slated for April 13-16) heads west to the historic Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, Calif.

AGS also is looking forward to its annual Circle of Distinction dinner, to be held July 29 at the Rainbow Room in New York City. The evening’s honorees will include recipients of the 2003 AGS Lifetime Achievement Award, its Triple Zero Awards, the Richard T. Liddicoat Journalism Award, and contributors to its Partnership for Excellence Campaign.