New ICA Committees Will Address Key Issues

The International Colored Gemstones Association recently announced the composition of its working committees for 2005–2007. Headed by ICA board members, these committees help bring important issues to the forefront.

One of the more interesting new committees that ICA established is the Mining Committee, headed by ICA director Bhadresh Pandit of Arusha, Tanzania. Pandit's committee is responsible for gathering worldwide information on new production, old mines, and any other data relating to mines and mining. Pandit notes that ICA is in a unique position capable of assembling the most comprehensive information about what's happening in gem-producing areas. Suppliers, jewelers, and jewelry designers could benefit from knowing what colors can be sourced and what is currently available from the mines. ICA plans to publish an "ICA Mining Report," as a special issue of the ICA Gazette.

Another new committee is the Mining Certification Committee, chaired by ICA director Sergio Martins of Brazil. The goal of the committee will be to put in place "protocols and standards that may be used to recognize mine operators' exemplary performance in areas of ethical, environmental, ecological, or humanitarian issues, and to establish a clear understanding of conflict-free merchandise, throughout the pipeline, or from mine to market."

In order to bridge the communication gap between the organization and the trade, ICA established a Communications Committee, headed by ICA vice president Jean Claude Michelou. The committee will supervise the ICA Gazette, the periodic "Ambassador Reports," the issuance of news releases, and the publishing of intra-industry articles and articles aimed at the consumer press. It will also oversee the ICA Web site and ICA Gembureaus' activities.

To communicate effectively with its members in each country, ICA-appointed "ambassadors" function as the ICA's local contact hub.

In other committee news, the ICA board appointed new ICA director Edward Boehm, of San Diego, to head and revitalize the ICA Membership Committee. Boehm is a third-generation ICA member, grandson of Eduard Gübelin, the legendary Swiss gemologist who recently passed away. Gübelin was a founding organizing member of ICA.