National Conference Plans Event
The Jewelry and Watch Division of the National Conference of Christians and Jews will hold its annual dinner Dec. 8 at the Hotel Pierre in New York City.
Dinner Chairman Paul W. Nordt III of John C. Nordt Inc., New York City, will honor Howard Hauben, director of the Miller Freeman Jewelry and Gift group, for his commitment to the jewelry industry and to community and humanitarian causes.
NCCJ is a human relations organization dedicated to fighting bias, bigotry and racism in the U.S.
For information or reservations, contact Zita Dorn at The National Conference of Christians and Jews, Greater New York Region, 71 Fifth Ave., Suite 1150, New York, NY 10003; (212) 807-8440, fax (212) 727-0166.
MJSA Honored for web site program
The Manufacturing Jewelers and Silversmiths of America has won an award for offering its 1,800 members free Web sites on the Polygon Network.
The New England Society of Association Executives presented its 1997 Outstanding Achievement Award for Membership Programs to MJSA during the NE/SAE annual meeting in June. The award recognizes outstanding programs that attract and retain association programs.
The Web program gives each member a site with contact information, company logo, information about the company, a condensed photo catalog of products and e-mail response link. The sites are linked to ReferralNet, a search engine located on the MJSA site (http://mjsa. polygon.net).
MJSA, One State St., 6th Fl., Providence, RI 02908; (401) 274-3840, fax (401) 274-0265, e-mail mjsa@internetMCI.com.
JA Offers bench certification guide and tape
Jewelers of America has released a videotape and study guide for its Bench Jeweler Certification™ program, launched in January to develop standards for bench jewelers.
The six-minute videotape explains the skills involved at each level of the certification and testing process, as well as the benefits for the bench jeweler, jewelry store and consumer.
The self-study guide explains the program in detail and outlines what is involved from the beginning to the end of each test. Bench jewelers can review test material and answer sample test questions for each of the four tests: JA Certified Bench Jeweler Technician™, JA Certified Bench Jeweler™, JA Certified Senior Bench Jeweler™ and JA Certified Master Bench Jeweler™.
Jewelers of America Inc., 1185 Ave. of the Americas, 30th Fl., New York, NY 10036; (800) 223-0673 or (212) 768-8777, fax (212) 768-8087, e-mail jewelersam@aol.com, Internet http://www.jewelers.org.
JIC raises $40,000 in membership promotion
The Jewelry Information Center raised more than $40,000 in membership dues and other revenue from a raffle promotion in June.
JIC entered all new members who signed up during the promotion in the raffle. New members competed for three grand prize trips to jewelry trade fairs and other prizes donated by 16 industry organizations. Grand prize winners were Candy Udell of London Jewelers, who won a trip for two to the Vicenza Trade Fair; Isabell Sullivan of Sullivan Jewelers, winning a trip for two to Basel ’98; and Alma Kretchmer of Steven Kretchmer Design, who won a trip for two to the 1998 JCK Orlando Show.
JCK donated $15,000 to the membership drive, and GemKey, Bangkok, Thailand, which developed an Internet information system, donated $10,000. All proceeds will be applied to JIC’s membership drive goal: $1 million by the year 2000.
In other news, JIC presented $2,000 worth of jewelry to the winner of its consumer contest in the December issues of Elle and Elle Decor magazines, asking readers “Why is Fine Jewelry So Special to You?”
Melissa Cohen of Long Beach, Cal., was picked from more than 1,200 entries for her slogan “Fine Jewelry. It’s as precious as you are.” She chose a diamond solitaire pendant and a pair of diamond studs as her prize from her jeweler of choice, Tiffany & Co. at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Cal.
Jo Anne Qualls (left), vice president of Tiffany & Co. in Costa Mesa, Cal., helps Melissa Cohen of Long Beach, Cal., pick out her award for winning the Jewelry Information Center’s consumer contest in Elle and Elle Decor magazines.
AGSLAB Confirms board members
The American Gem Society Laboratories Board of Managers reconfirmed its current board and elected three new members during the AGS Conclave in April.
New board members are Clayton Bromberg of Underwood Jewelers Corp., Jacksonville, Fla.; Jim Vernon of Frank Vernon Diamond Brokers, Los Angeles, Cal.; and Walter Feinblum of Carl K. Gumpert Inc., Los Angeles, Cal.
Members who were reconfirmed included Chairman Bill Underwood of Underwood’s Jewelers, Fayetteville, Ark.; Mark Moeller of R.F. Moeller Jeweler, St. Paul, Minn.; Andrew Meyer of Andrew Meyer Jewelry Inc., Fort Washington, Pa.; Sheldon David of American Diamond Syndicate, New York City; Lee Christensen of M.J. Christensen Jewelers, Las Vegas, Nev.; Tom Tivol, Tivol Inc., Kansas City, Mo.; Bill Elliott of Ross Elliott Jewelers, Terra Haute, Ind.; Bob Green of Lux, Bond & Green, West Hartford, Ct.; and Charles Lacy of Lacy & Co., El Paso, Tex.
GIA makes appointments
The Gemological Institute of America has made several appointments in its Gem Trade Laboratory and in its education, development and marketing departments.
Bruce Lanzl was named general manager of the Gem Trade Laboratory. Lanzl, who has worked for the lab for more than 20 years, will oversee the daily operations of the West Coast diamond grading services and work closely with the New York City laboratory.
Phil Yantzer was promoted to GTL manager after 17 years with the lab. Previously the grading assurance supervisor, Yantzer will coordinate grading assurance teams on both coasts.
Susan B. Johnson, formerly director of alumni relations, was named dean of students at GIA’s Carlsbad, Cal., campus. She replaces Darryl Botten, who retired.
Patrick Ball, previously with GIA in New York City, was promoted to director of alumni relations.
Dan Campbell, who has worked with GTL and the education department in his 11 years at GIA, was named director of GIA education in New York City.
Michael McBride was hired as manager of distance education.
Victoria Morrison is the new GIA public relations coordinator and will handle all communications with trade, consumer and regional media.
WIMA releases directory
The 1997-98 WIMA Directory is now available from the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association.
The directory features profiles, a detailed product listing and certification information on more than 140 domestic and international manufacturers of writing instruments, components, machinery and related products.
It’s available for $50 from WIMA Inc., 236 Route 38 W., Suite 100, Moorestown, NJ 08057; (609) 231-8500, fax (609) 231-4664, e-mail wima@ahint.com.
Silver users reelect officers
Ronald Davies, president of Ames Goldsmith, Glen Falls, N.Y., was reelected to another one-year term as president of the Silver Users Association of Washington, D.C., representing manufacturers of silver products.
He previously served as treasurer and vice president/chairman of the executive committee.
John W. Eschenlohr, executive vice president of the Degussa Metal Group, South Plainfield, N.J., was reelected vice president and chairman of the executive committee. Durland E. Evans, vice president of Engelhard’s Materials Group NA in Carteret, N.J., was reelected treasurer.