A prominent group of American Gem Society retailers journeyed to southern
Africa during the first two weeks of August 2010 in order to see the role
diamonds play benefiting those countries.

Led by Diamond Trading Company sightholder Julius Klein Group and supported by the AGS,
the group began their journey in London, followed by South Africa, Botswana,
and Namibia.

Highlights of the trip include a behind-the-scenes tour of diamond-sorting
facilities in London; in-depth tours of both Julius Klein Group’s South African
and Namibian offices and manufacturing facilities; a visit to De Beers Marine
Namibia’s offshore mining vessel, MV !Gariep, off the coast of Namibia; a visit
to the world’s richest diamond mine, Jwaneng, in Botswana; “meet and greet”
sessions with the highest-level government officials from Namibia; and visits
to local charities like SOS Children’s Village in Botswana and the Embizweni
Day Care Center in Soweto, South Africa.

AGS retailers that participated in the trip were Cathy Calhoun of Calhoun
Jewelers in Royersford, Pa., president of the AGS board of directors; Lawrence
and Kathy Bock of Bachendorf’s in Dallas; Clayton and Christy Bromberg of
Underwood Jewelers in Jacksonville, Fla.; Frank and Theresa Brown of Brown
& Company in Roswell, Ga.; Jim and Carolyn Clark of BC Clark Jewelers in
Oklahoma City; and Mark and Candy Udell of London Jewelers in Manhasset, N.Y.

JCK