Associations

Staff -- JCK Online, 2/1/2000 2:00:00 AM

MIDWEST JEWELERS SET CONFERENCE

Jewelers of America and four affiliate state associations—Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska & South Dakota—are sponsoring a regional conference Feb. 26-28 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Overland Park, Kan. The theme is “How to Make Money and Keep It.”

Industry leaders will serve as moderators for roundtable discussions on the following topics: “How to Operate a Profitable Repair Shop,” “Inventory Control,” “The Internet and Internet Sales,” “Supplier Negotiations,” Legitimate Write-offs for Jewelers,” and “You and Your Banker.”

For information, call the office of the JA affiliate state associations at (800) 487-7822.

JIC NAMES NEW MEDIA LIAISON

Elizabeth Florence, formerly public relations and marketing associate at the World Gold Council, has been named media liaison at the Jewelry Information Center, the public relations arm of the fine jewelry and watch industry.

At JIC, Florence's duties will include promoting the jewelry industry to editors of consumer publications and acting as JIC spokesperson for local media tours.

Florence has a BFA degree in theater arts from Drake University. At WGC, she promoted the book Gold Trends 2000, created a companion workbook for jewelry designers, and taught the gold section of Jewelry 101, a retail sales education program.

SPEAKERS ON BOARD FOR AGS CONCLAVE

The American Gem Society has selected speakers for its 2000 International Conclave, to be held in Philadelphia March 22-25. The theme of the event is “Declaration for Success.”

David A. Shore, Ph.D., president of the Institute for Global Ethics—an independent, nonsectarian, nonpolitical organization dedicated to promoting the discussion of ethics in a global context—will be the opening session speaker. Shore is associate dean, executive director, and PricewaterhouseCoopers Director at the Center for Continuing Professional Education at the Harvard School of Public Health. He teaches the popular course “Strategic Marketing: Gaining Competitive Advantage Through Positioning and Branding” and advises a wide range of organizations and industries on creating, building, and managing brands.

Rushworth Kidder, Ph.D., founder of the Institute for Global Ethics, will be the closing session speaker. His latest book is How Good People Make Tough Choices: Resolving the Dilemmas of Ethical Living. Kidder's talk will be cosponsored by the International Jewelers Block and OneService Inter-national Inc.

James Canton, a futurist, digital entrepreneur, and author, will speak as part of Conclave's technology track. Canton is president of the Institute for Global Futures and advises clients on the strategic impact of leading-edge technologies. He is the author of Technofutures: How Leading-Edge Technology Will Transform Business in the 21st Century, a guest host on CNN Financial News Network, and the editor-in-chief of 21st Century Online, a digital video magazine on the Internet. Canton's talk is being sponsored by Hearts on Fire Co.

Gemological Institute of America president William E. Boyajian will speak at the Robert M. Shipley Award luncheon.

For information, call AGS's Glory Looper-Wade at (702) 255-6500.

MJSA APPOINTS NEW STAFFER

Tina Rosa has joined Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America as membership sales coordinator. She has 10 years as sales experience, most recently as a sales representative for findings manufacturer George H. Fuller & Son.

Her duties will include marketing the benefits of membership in MJSA, the national trade association that represents jewelry manufacturers.

UJA TO HONOR 16 AT INDUSTRY EVENT

The Diamond, Jewelry & Watch Division of UJA-Federation of New York will celebrate the past and the future at a Millennium Dinner on April 5 at the Plaza Hotel. Sixteen leaders of the jewelry industry who have been honored by the division over the past decade will be recognized again for their contributions to the jewelry industry and their exemplary leadership on behalf of many community causes.

Scheduled to be honored are Charles Bond, Bond Communications; Bob and Bobbi Bridge, Ben Bridge Jewelers; three members of the Cohen family, Carlyle & Company Jewelers; Jeffrey W. Comment, Helzberg Diamonds; Helene Fortunoff, Fortunoff; Babette Goodman Cohen, I.B. Goodman Diamond Co.; Michael Kaplan, Rocket Jewelry Box Inc.; Larry Pollock, formerly of Zale Corp.; Beryl Raff, Zale Corp.; Jacques Roisen, Michal Ferman Roisen & Ferman Inc.; Stanley Schechter, Honora Jewelry Co.; Bradley J. Stinn, Friedman's; and Raymond Zimmermann, formerly of Service Merchandise.

UJA-Federation of New York is the largest local philanthropic organization in the world and raises more than $200 million annually. Funds are allocated through a network of beneficiary agencies and provide social services, educational programs, and cultural opportunities in New York, in Israel, and around the world.

For information on the event, contact Roni Krinsky at (212) 836-1471 or krinskyr@ujafedny.org.