WJA PRESENTS 12 SCHOLARSHIPS

The Women?s Jewelry Association has presented 12 scholarships to help women further their education in the fine jewelry field. The scholarships range from $500 to $2,000 and were awarded on the basis of recommendations, mission statements, and photographic samples of applicants? work. Applicants were required to be enrolled in a jewelry study program and to demonstrate need for financial assistance.

Staci Kerman of Clarkston, Mich., Bonita Lynn of Carlsbad, Calif., and Anne Wolf of San Diego received $2,000 scholarships. Mi-Sook Hur of Madison, Wis., Ingrid Psuty of San Diego, and Wendy Thurlow of Philadelphia were given $1,500 scholarships. Jahjehan Bath of Philadelphia, Valerie Marriman of Belchertown, Mass., and Debra Ferguson of Carlisle, Pa., earned $1,000 awards. Awards of $500 went to Elisabeth Soscia of Rochester, N.Y., Michelle Kast of Shelter Island, N.Y., and Tessa Rickard of Royal Oak, Mich.

WJA is planning a June Herman Scholarship Fund in memory of the board member and Hall of Fame honoree who enthusiastically supported WJA?s scholarship program.

Applications for 1999 scholarships are due May 30. For information, contact the WJA Scholarship Committee, 333B Route 46 West, Suite B201, Fairfield, NJ 07004; (973) 575-7190.

BOYAJIAN TO SPEAK AT AGS CONCLAVE

William Boyajian, president of the Gemological Institute of America, will be the closing speaker at the 1999 American Gem Society International Conclave, April 7-11 in New Orleans. The theme of the event is ?Designing Your Profits.?

Boyajian will speak on Saturday, April 11. A reception will follow his talk.

In addition, GemKey, an information service company, will cosponsor a buffet lunch for all Conclave attendees on Thursday, April 8 and will sponsor an Internet Café in the Conclave networking area, allowing attendees to access their e-mail.

GIA NAMES TWO TO BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Matthew G. Stuller and Lee Michael Berg have been named to the Gemological Institute of America?s board of governors.

Stuller is founder and CEO of Lafayette, La.-based Stuller Settings Inc. as well as Stuller Manufacturing Inc., Stuller Thailand Inc., and Stuller Israel Ltd. He is on the board of GIA?s Vision 2000 campaign and is a past director of the Jewelers Board of Trade.

Berg is president of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, based in Baton Rouge, La. He is president of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee and a director of Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co.

Paul Campbell and Bert Krashes have retired from GIA?s board of governors. At the institute?s biannual board of governors meeting, Krashes received the Richard T. Liddicoat Award for Distinguished Achievement in honor of his 49 years of service to the institute.

William E. Boyajian, left, president of the Gemological Institute of America, received the Humanitarian Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice at a dinner on Dec. 7 in New York. Presenting the award to Boyajian is Ralph Destino of Cartier Inc. Paul W. Nordt III of John C. Nordt Co. also received the Humanitarian Award. More than 600 industry leaders attended the dinner. The event raised more than $300,000 for the organization, which fights bias, bigotry, and racism in America. Efraim Grinberg of Movado Group Inc. was chairman of the dinner.

BRINKS INCREASES SERVICE TO AGS LAB AREA

High demand for American Gem Society lab documents and services has prompted Brinks to offer inbound as well as outbound service to the Las Vegas area five days a week. The increased service will make it easier for customers to ship goods to the lab.

According to Peter Reingold, Brinks? domestic manager, diamond and jewelry services, the company has received numerous customer requests for service to the Las Vegas area.

For information, call AGS Laboratories at (702) 255-6500.

APPRAISERS TO MEET IN 2000

The American Society of Appraisers (ASA) will join with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and the Appraisal Institute to sponsor Valuation 2000 on July 10-13, 2000. The meeting, to be held at the MGM Grand Hotel and Conference Center in Las Vegas, is expected to attract 3,000 attendees.

Educational sessions will address various fields of valuation, consultation, and management, including international issues. Plenary sessions will include speakers from government, banking, insurance, and law.

This fall, the sponsors will issue a call for papers. Appraisal professionals, academics, and members of related organizations will be invited to submit topics for consideration as educational sessions.

For more information, call Edwin W. Baker at (800) 272-8258 or visit ASA?s Web site at www.appraisers.org.

GIA GEM INSTRUMENTS LAUNCHES CHARGE CARD

GIA GEM Instruments has introduced its own charge card (14.4% APR) and customer rewards program, the Platinum Plus Account. Platinum Plus customers can earn points redeemable toward gemological equipment and publications. Award points are earned with every dollar spent with the card. There is no initial or yearly membership fee.

Warranties will be extended ? most by a full additional year ? for equipment bought with the Platinum Plus Account charge card. Platinum Plus Account product consultants at the California headquarters of GIA GEM Instruments will assist customers with equipment-buying decisions, special orders, and delivery arrangements. In addition, Platinum Plus Tip Sheets, free practical guides to using the instruments as a retail selling aid, will be issued.

Account holders can opt to become members of the Platinum Plus Book Club, which offers discounts on gemological and jewelry books each month.

For more information, call (800) 937-0550 or (760) 603-4200 or visit www.gia.edu/giagem.

MJSA WINS GRANT TO TRAIN JEWELRY CRAFT WORKERS

Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America has received a $60,990 grant to develop a training curriculum for craft workers in the Rhode Island jewelry manufacturing industry. The grant was awarded by the Rhode Island Human Resources Investment Council. It will help MJSA train workers in polishing, casting, electroplating, soldering, and findings/machining.

The grant will fund curriculum development for a Virtual Training Institute. The institute?s goals will be to provide ongoing training to craft workers currently employed by jewelry firms, to create industry-recognized apprenticeships and certificates in craft skills, and to create an industry-recognized career ladder by providing training for entry-level workers.

Grant funds will be managed by MJSA, which will contribute an additional $22,900 to supplement the grant money. Additional funds will be provided by MJSA members.

WIMA ELECTS ?99 OFFICERS

The Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association of Moorestown, N.J., has elected new officers for the 1999 term.

Carl Pfizenmaier, president and CEO of Hoover Precision Products, Cumming, Ga., is the new president. Thomas Kelleher, senior vice president, administration, BIC Corp., Milford, Conn., was elected vice president. Laurence Hood, president and CEO, Hudson I.C.S., San Leandro, Calif., is secretary, and Yoshio Shigoka, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Pencil Corp. of America, Chatsworth, is treasurer.

PGI HAS NEW N.Y. ADDRESS

Platinum Guild International USA has a new address in New York.

The new address is 675 Third Ave., Suite 1600, New York, NY 10017; (212) 661-1188, fax (212) 661-3498.

RICHARD HORNE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF CJA

Richard Horne, president of Shreve & Co., San Francisco, has been elected president of the California Jewelers Association (CJA) for 1999.

Horne served as cochairman of the 1996 and 1997 Pacific Jewelry Shows. He has been in the jewelry industry since 1964 and has been president of Sheve & Co. since 1993.

Marion Halfacre of Traditional Jewelers in Newport Beach is CJA president-elect. Peter Hess of Snyder & Snyder in San Juan Capistrano is first vice president. Keith Norris of K. Norris Jewelers, Riverside, is second vice president. Allen Kessler of Kessler?s Jewelers in Burbank is treasurer.

JEF HONORS JUNE HERMAN WITH NAMED FUND

The Jewelers Education Foundation (JEF) of the American Gem Society has instituted a named fund honoring the memory of June Herman. JEF provides targeted business and management training to the jewelry industry.

Herman, who died Oct. 14, was a vice president of Jabel Inc., an Irvington, N.J., company founded by her father, Jack Abelon. She was an active AGS member.

Contributions may be sent to June Herman Named Fund, Jewelers Education Foundation, American Gem Society, 8881 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89117. Checks should be made payable to the Jewelers Education Foundation.

JVC HAS MOVED

The Jewelers Vigilance Committee has moved to 25 W. 45th St., Suite 400, New York, NY 10036-4902. The new local phone number is (212) 997-2002; the new fax number is (212) 997-9148. The toll-free number, (800) 564-6582 (800 JOIN JVC), has not changed.

GIA?S HEADQUARTERS RECEIVES DONATIONS

A classroom at the Gemological Institute of America?s world headquarters and Robert Mouawad campus in Carlsbad, Calif., has been named the ?Christie?s Classroom? in recognition of a $125,000 contribution from the venerable fine art autioneers.

Also at GIA, Jack and Ohan Der Abrahamian have donated $50,000 to name a jewelry display case in honor of their father, Krikor Der Abrahamian, who founded Derco Jewelers in San Francisco.

The donations were made through GIA?s New World Headquarters Campaign, which offers individual and corporate sponsors the opportunity to permanently associate their names with GIA while contributing to its new facilities.

For information about the campaign, contact Jim Littman, GIA?s chief development officer, at (800) 421-7250, Ext. 4144 or (760) 603-4144, fax (760) 603-4199.

JEF SPEAKERS AVAILABLE

The Jewelers Education Foundation of the American Gem Society offers seminars led by experienced retail jewelers.

Bill and Kathy Sustachek of Rasmussen Diamonds, Racine, Wis., are available to discuss ?Family Business.? Mark Moeller of R.F. Moeller Jewelers in St. Paul and Edina, Minn., can speak about ?Profitability in the Diamond Market.? David Rotenberg of David Craig Jewelers in Langhorne, Pa., can address audiences on ?Using Direct Mail Effectively.?

For information, call Rotenberg at (215) 968-8900.

JEF ADDS FIVE TO BOARD OF GOVERNORS

The Jewelers Education Foundation of the American Gem Society has named five new members to its board of governors.

The five new governors are: Jeffrey Abell of Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers in Westwood, Calif.; Gary Gordon, president of Samuel Gordon Jewelers in Oklahoma City; Barbara Mooty, West Coast director for Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America and advertising director for AJM magazine; Doug Hucker, executive director of the American Gem Trade Association; and Peggy Jo Donahue, editor-in-chief of Professional Jeweler.

FLORIDA GOLDSMITHS SET WORKSHOP

The West Coast Chapter of the Florida Society of Goldsmiths will conduct its 13th annual Jewelry and Metalsmithing Workshop June 26 to July 2 at Wildacres in Little Switzerland, N.C.

The workshop instructors are nationally recognized art jewelers. Scheduled sessions include ?Jewelry Fold Forming,? ?Jewels of the Dark Ages,? ?Intarsia,? and ?Lampwork Beads.? Kurt Matzdorf, an emeritus professor at the State University of New York in New Paltz, will present a slide retrospective.

Some scholarships are available. For information, contact Bob Maier, Registrar, Wildacres Committee, 4215 Orchid Dr., Hernando Beach, FL 34607; (352) 596-3062.

BOSTON JEWELERS CLUB ELECTS OFFICERS

The Boston Jewelers Club recently elected officers at its 110th annual meeting.

Curtis A. Ley, president of B.A. Ballou, a Rhode Island manufacturer of findings and finished jewelry, was elected president. A former vice president of Tiffany & Co., he is vice chairman of Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America, a current director and past chairman of the Jewelers Board of Trade, and a member of the 24 Karat Club of New York.

Fredric J. Hammerle of Stern Metals Inc., a former MJSA president, was elected vice president. Robert W. Paul, former president of the Jewelers Board of Trade, was re-elected secretary-treasurer.

BRINKS INCREASES SERVICE TO AGS LAB AREA

High demand for American Gem Society lab documents and services has prompted Brinks to offer inbound as well as outbound service to the Las Vegas area five days a week. The increased service will make it easier for customers to ship goods to the lab.

According to Peter Reingold, Brinks? domestic manager, diamond and jewelry services, the company has received numerous customer requests for service to the Las Vegas area.

For information, call AGS Laboratories at (702) 255-6500.

APPRAISERS TO MEET IN 2000

The American Society of Appraisers (ASA) will join with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and the Appraisal Institute to sponsor Valuation 2000 on July 10-13, 2000. The meeting, to be held at the MGM Grand Hotel and Conference Center in Las Vegas, is expected to attract 3,000 attendees.

Educational sessions will address various fields of valuation, consultation, and management, including international issues. Plenary sessions will include speakers from government, banking, insurance, and law.

This fall, the sponsors will issue a call for papers. Appraisal professionals, academics, and members of related organizations will be invited to submit topics for consideration as educational sessions.

For more information, call Edwin W. Baker at (800) 272-8258 or visit ASA?s Web site at www.appraisers.org.

GIA GEM INSTRUMENTS LAUNCHES CHARGE CARD

GIA GEM Instruments has introduced its own charge card (14.4% APR) and customer rewards program, the Platinum Plus Account. Platinum Plus customers can earn points redeemable toward gemological equipment and publications. Award points are earned with every dollar spent with the card. There is no initial or yearly membership fee.

Warranties will be extended ? most by a full additional year ? for equipment bought with the Platinum Plus Account charge card. Platinum Plus Account product consultants at the California headquarters of GIA GEM Instruments will assist customers with equipment-buying decisions, special orders, and delivery arrangements. In addition, Platinum Plus Tip Sheets, free practical guides to using the instruments as a retail selling aid, will be issued.

Account holders can opt to become members of the Platinum Plus Book Club, which offers discounts on gemological and jewelry books each month.

For more information, call (800) 937-0550 or (760) 603-4200 or visit www.gia.edu/giagem.

MJSA WINS GRANT TO TRAIN JEWELRY CRAFT WORKERS

Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America has received a $60,990 grant to develop a training curriculum for craft workers in the Rhode Island jewelry manufacturing industry. The grant was awarded by the Rhode Island Human Resources Investment Council. It will help MJSA train workers in polishing, casting, electroplating, soldering, and findings/machining.

The grant will fund curriculum development for a Virtual Training Institute. The institute?s goals will be to provide ongoing training to craft workers currently employed by jewelry firms, to create industry-recognized apprenticeships and certificates in craft skills, and to create an industry-recognized career ladder by providing training for entry-level workers.

Grant funds will be managed by MJSA, which will contribute an additional $22,900 to supplement the grant money. Additional funds will be provided by MJSA members.

WIMA ELECTS ?99 OFFICERS

The Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association of Moorestown, N.J., has elected new officers for the 1999 term.

Carl Pfizenmaier, president and CEO of Hoover Precision Products, Cumming, Ga., is the new president. Thomas Kelleher, senior vice president, administration, BIC Corp., Milford, Conn., was elected vice president. Laurence Hood, president and CEO, Hudson I.C.S., San Leandro, Calif., is secretary, and Yoshio Shigoka, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Pencil Corp. of America, Chatsworth, is treasurer.

PGI HAS NEW N.Y. ADDRESS

Platinum Guild International USA has a new address in New York.

The new address is 675 Third Ave., Suite 1600, New York, NY 10017; (212) 661-1188, fax (212) 661-3498.

RICHARD HORNE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF CJA

Richard Horne, president of Shreve & Co., San Francisco, has been elected president of the California Jewelers Association (CJA) for 1999.

Horne served as cochairman of the 1996 and 1997 Pacific Jewelry Shows. He has been in the jewelry industry since 1964 and has been president of Sheve & Co. since 1993.

Marion Halfacre of Traditional Jewelers in Newport Beach is CJA president-elect. Peter Hess of Snyder & Snyder in San Juan Capistrano is first vice president. Keith Norris of K. Norris Jewelers, Riverside, is second vice president. Allen Kessler of Kessler?s Jewelers in Burbank is treasurer.

JEF HONORS JUNE HERMAN WITH NAMED FUND

The Jewelers Education Foundation (JEF) of the American Gem Society has instituted a named fund honoring the memory of June Herman. JEF provides targeted business and management training to the jewelry industry.

Herman, who died Oct. 14, was a vice president of Jabel Inc., an Irvington, N.J., company founded by her father, Jack Abelon. She was an active AGS member.

Contributions may be sent to June Herman Named Fund, Jewelers Education Foundation, American Gem Society, 8881 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89117. Checks should be made payable to the Jewelers Education Foundation.

JVC HAS MOVED

The Jewelers Vigilance Committee has moved to 25 W. 45th St., Suite 400, New York, NY 10036-4902. The new local phone number is (212) 997-2002; the new fax number is (212) 997-9148. The toll-free number, (800) 564-6582 (800 JOIN JVC), has not changed.

GIA?S HEADQUARTERS RECEIVES DONATIONS

A classroom at the Gemological Institute of America?s world headquarters and Robert Mouawad campus in Carlsbad, Calif., has been named the ?Christie?s Classroom? in recognition of a $125,000 contribution from the venerable fine art autioneers.

Also at GIA, Jack and Ohan Der Abrahamian have donated $50,000 to name a jewelry display case in honor of their father, Krikor Der Abrahamian, who founded Derco Jewelers in San Francisco.

The donations were made through GIA?s New World Headquarters Campaign, which offers individual and corporate sponsors the opportunity to permanently associate their names with GIA while contributing to its new facilities.

For information about the campaign, contact Jim Littman, GIA?s chief development officer, at (800) 421-7250, Ext. 4144 or (760) 603-4144, fax (760) 603-4199.

JEF SPEAKERS AVAILABLE

The Jewelers Education Foundation of the American Gem Society offers seminars led by experienced retail jewelers.

Bill and Kathy Sustachek of Rasmussen Diamonds, Racine, Wis., are available to discuss ?Family Business.? Mark Moeller of R.F. Moeller Jewelers in St. Paul and Edina, Minn., can speak about ?Profitability in the Diamond Market.? David Rotenberg of David Craig Jewelers in Langhorne, Pa., can address audiences on ?Using Direct Mail Effectively.?

For information, call Rotenberg at (215) 968-8900.

JEF ADDS FIVE TO BOARD OF GOVERNORS

The Jewelers Education Foundation of the American Gem Society has named five new members to its board of governors.

The five new governors are: Jeffrey Abell of Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers in Westwood, Calif.; Gary Gordon, president of Samuel Gordon Jewelers in Oklahoma City; Barbara Mooty, West Coast director for Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America and advertising director for AJM magazine; Doug Hucker, executive director of the American Gem Trade Association; and Peggy Jo Donahue, editor-in-chief of Professional Jeweler.

FLORIDA GOLDSMITHS SET WORKSHOP

The West Coast Chapter of the Florida Society of Goldsmiths will conduct its 13th annual Jewelry and Metalsmithing Workshop June 26 to July 2 at Wildacres in Little Switzerland, N.C.

The workshop instructors are nationally recognized art jewelers. Scheduled sessions include ?Jewelry Fold Forming,? ?Jewels of the Dark Ages,? ?Intarsia,? and ?Lampwork Beads.? Kurt Matzdorf, an emeritus professor at the State University of New York in New Paltz, will present a slide retrospective.

Some scholarships are available. For information, contact Bob Maier, Registrar, Wildacres Committee, 4215 Orchid Dr., Hernando Beach, FL 34607; (352) 596-3062.

BOSTON JEWELERS CLUB ELECTS OFFICERS

The Boston Jewelers Club recently elected officers at its 110th annual meeting.

Curtis A. Ley, president of B.A. Ballou, a Rhode Island manufacturer of findings and finished jewelry, was elected president. A former vice president of Tiffany & Co., he is vice chairman of Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America, a current director and past chairman of the Jewelers Board of Trade, and a member of the 24 Karat Club of New York.

Fredric J. Hammerle of Stern Metals Inc., a former MJSA president, was elected vice president. Robert W. Paul, former president of the Jewelers Board of Trade, was re-elected secretary-treasurer.