The 12th Annual Tucson Orchid Dinner, sponsored by ganoksin.com, will be held Feb. 8, 2008, at the Savoy Opera House, in Tucson’s historic “Trail Dust” section of the city. Dinner events include a raffle and a silent auction.
The annual Tucson event is one of several major trade events in the U.S. that provide occasions when Orchid members meet outside the virtual world. Members of the Orchid Forum gather together for dinner, allowing an opportunity to interact with other “Orchidians,” put together names and faces, and meet people from trade publications and suppliers. Every year the Orchid Dinner grows in popularity and is fast becoming the “must attend event” for gem show enthusiasts.
To register for the dinner, visit http://www.ganoksin.com/events/ and fill out the form. Questions can be answered at http://www.ganoksin.com/faq/contact.php.
Orchid Silent Auction. Each year a silent auction is held at the Tucson Orchid Dinner to raise funds to help maintain the costs of Ganoksin’s servers: Titania and Soi11. These servers house thousands of technical protocols, video, bench tips, galleries, and the Orchid Archives.
Members of the Orchid community make great donations to this very worthwhile annual event. The silent auction creates a lively interaction between orchid members with furious bidding among participants as well as raises money. Donations come from “newbies to giants” in the jewelry profession, as well as companies of all sizes. Both new and used items are acceptable. Here’s a great opportunity to clear out your studio of those odd-and-ends, and help support Orchid at the same time.
For more information about the Silent Auction, visit http://www.ganoksin.com/contact/silent-auction.htm
Orchid Raffle. Also, in conjunction with the dinner, is the Orchid Raffle with the grand prize package totaling $23,187.90. You don’t have to attend the Orchid dinner in order to participate. All raffle proceeds go directly to support Ganoksin and its exchange of free information.
Prizes include tools, equipment, education, business opportunities, and works of art. Seven winners will be drawn on the night of the dinner.
Tickets are $39. For more information and to buy raffle tickets, go to http://www.ganoksin.com/events/raffle-08.htm
Contents of the Grand Prize package are:
* Gold banner advertising account on Ganoksin – $1,599
* Hill Management Consulting – Business Consultation – $1,080
* Durston – Durston Rolling Mill DRM C130 Manual Mill – $1,195
* Reactive Metals – Gift Certificate for Metals Products – $1,000
* Discount Digital Art – Gift Certificate for image scanning – $1,000
* Jewelry Training Center – Workshop in including lodging – $1,000
* McKinnon Global – Custom Web Programming and Business Plan – $1,000
* Foredom – Foredom TX Flexshaft and Book – $428.90
* Myron Toback – Ambassador Collection Dapping Set – $415
* Gemz – Workshop voucher including gravers and materials – $414
* Otto Frei – A collection of Lindstrom pliers and cutters – $400
* Swanstrom Tools USA – 3 sets of high quality pliers – $393
* Gesswein – Gift Certificate from their Tool Catalog – $300
* Allcraft – A selection of hammers – $300
* MJSA – Selection of books and a subscription to MJSA Journal – $300
* Racecar Jewelry – Model Making and Casting Workshop – $300
* Bob Rush – Gift certificate for a variety of cabochons – $300
* RHB Enterprises – Gift certificate for stones – $300
* JewelerProfit – Geller’s Blue Book to Jewelry Repair Cost – $299
* Fretz Design, LLC – Exclusive Forming Hammers – $250
* The Contenti Company – Gift Certificates – $100
Second Prize:
*Pat Pruitt – Bracelet Stainless Steel, Industrial diamonds – $2,500
Third Prize:
* Chris Ploof Studio – A custom Mokume Gane Ring – $2,500
4th Prize:
* Don Friedlich – Hand fabricated brooch: Glass and 18K Gold – $1,800
Fifth Prize:
* Beth Rosengard – Brooch: Tourmalines, 14k & 22k Gold – $1,500
Sixth Prize:
* Asphalt Apache Design – Web design & hosting for one year – $1,400
* The Contenti Company – Gift Certificates – $100
* Seventh Prize:
* Amy Burkholder – Brooch and Eearrings: 22k keum-boo diamonds – $500
* Gemz – Workshop voucher including gravers and materials – $414
* The Contenti Company – Gift Certificates – $100
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