Chapter Notes
Compiled by Larne Boyles

The Florida Chapter held a presentation on “The Good, Bad and Ugly Side of Appraising” and “How to Profit from Retailing Emeralds” by William D. Hoefer Jr., G.G., F.G.A., Oct. 26. Members learned about various appraisal for-mats, such as estate and tax liability appraisals, and litigation and insurance appraising.

Contact: Chapter President Joseph W. Tenhagen at (305) 374-2411 or joeten@bellsouth.net 

Members of the Georgia Chapter learned to “Have Greater Success by Changing Sub-conscious Beliefs” by clinical Hypnotherapist/Success Coach Marian Massie Sept. 11. The chapter also welcomed Mike Fallaize, of the Fallaize Insurance Agency, Inc. and Georgia state representative of the Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, to present “Security for Jewelry.” He addressed safety issues concerning employees, customers and vendors.

Contact: Chapter President Kathy Kinev, G.G., at (404) 634-8355 or kkinev@jewelcreations.com

The Golden Gate Chapter invited Elise Misiorowski, G.G., director of GIA’s Museum, to speak on “Then and Now: Jewelry at the Turn of Two Centuries” Oct. 16. Members received lessons on estate jewelry and how to date pieces based on characteristics.

Contact: Chapter Co-President Starla Turner, G.G., at (650) 599-9471 or teefam@ix.netcom.com

Members of the Illinois-Wisconsin Chapter took a tour of the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art in Elmhurst, Illinois, Oct. 27. Dorothy Asher, G.G., director of the museum, gave members a personal tour of the museum’s large collection of Chinese jade and other stone carvings from around the world. The chapter also welcomed GIA Instructor Katrina Sustachek, G.G., for “Advanced Diamond Grading Lab” Aug. 6.

New officers for the Illinois-Wisconsin Chapter are: President Jodie Diegel, G.G.; Vice President Susan Alby, G.G.; Secretary Ruth M. Thuston; Treasurer Mechele J. Premo, A.J.P.; and Member-at-Large Richard Drucker.

Contact: Chapter President Jodie Diegel, G.G., at (847) 858-4421 or jdiegel3@comcast.net

The Inland Empire Chapter took a field trip to the Stewart Lithia Mine in Pala, California, Sept. 21. Mine owner and operator Blue Sheppard shared details of the mine’s history before members went underground to get an inside view of pegmatite. Dona Dirlam, M.S., G.G., F.G.A., director of the Richard T. Liddicoat Library and Information Center at GIA, spoke to the chapter about “Pearls and the Pearling Industry” Aug. 24.

Contact: Chapter President Ronald L. Base, G.G., at (909) 941-4500

Members of the Las Vegas Chapter heard “Update on Created Gemstones” by Tom Chatham, president of Chatham Created Gems, Inc., Sept. 17. He also gave members a first look at samples of the new created pink, blue and yellow diamonds offered by Chatham Created Gems, Inc.

Contact: Chapter President Robert F. Trapp, G.G., at (702) 363-0991 or bobtrapp@cox.net

The Long Island Chapter participated in an “Ask the Experts” fundraising event held at the Hicksville Gregory Museum Oct. 18. Members and local, professional appraisers donated their time to speak with the public about the treasures they had tucked away in their attics and basements. Proceeds from the event supported the GIA Alumni Scholarship Fund and the nonprofit Hicksville Gregory Museum.

Contact: Chapter President Barry Block, G.G., at (516) 248-8130 or bblock@jewelryjudge.net

The Manhattan Chapter welcomed Carolyn Jacoby, G.G., manager of the Australian Pearl Centre (USA), to discuss “Pearls in Paradise, an Adventure Continues” Oct. 14. She showed members slides of remote pearl farms off the shores of northwest Australia and views from the Paspaley pearl room in Darwin where pearls are sorted for the wholesale market.

Cindy Edelstein, of Jeweler’s Resource, Inc., advised the chapter on how to “Increase Your Design Vocabulary – Techniques, Trends and Monikers of Today’s Most Exciting Designers” Sept. 17. She spoke about what it takes to enter today’s designer market and stay there.

“There is a contemporary American jewelry designer movement flourishing and becoming more professionalized,” said Merle Koblenz, G.G., chapter president. “Designers are growing into major entrepreneurs.”

Contact: Chapter President Merle Koblenz, G.G., at (860) 927-0179 or merle@koblenzestatejewelry.com

The New England Chapter invited Robert C. Linares, Ph.D., president of Apollo Diamonds and an expert on crystal growth technologies, for a presentation on “Apollo Diamond” Oct. 15.
He discussed the high level of purity of Apollo Diamond’s material that provides new opportunities for uses of diamond.

Contact: Chapter President John A. Caruso, G.G., at (617) 529-4367 or Jcgems@surfree.com

Members of the North Carolina Chapter heard a presentation on cultured pearls with Philip Schneider of International Cultured Pearls of the Orient Inc. Oct. 19.

“Mr. Schneider educated us on how pearls are created and how difficult it really is to get a top quality cultured pearl,” said Brandt Scholz, president of the chapter. “The program was very educational and a good time was had by all.”

Contact: Chapter President Brandt Scholz at (336) 368-3050 or bscholz@infoave.net

Twenty five members of the Ohio Chapter welcomed Joyce Jonas, historian, lecturer and workshop leader, who presented “Understanding Antique & Period Jewelry” Sept. 21. She gave advice on what to look for to identify authentic period jewelry, from Georgian to Art Deco and brought samples from her personal collection for the group to examine. 

“Everyone who attended said they enjoyed the program and found it beneficial in the identification and appraisal of period jewelry,” said Catherine Lee, chapter secretary.

Contact: Chapter President Kiran Khaitan, G.G., at (330) 630-1103 or Kiran@gemologists.org

The Pennsylvania-Delaware Valley Chapter invited Gary Roskin, senior editor of JCK magazine, to speak about carbon vapor deposition Oct. 27. George Rodriguez, of Hoover and Strong, was also on hand to speak to the group about refining services. The evening drew a record attendance of more than 100 people. 

Contact: Chapter President John Anthony Jr., G.G., at (610) 664-8777 or jajr@johnanthonyjewelers.com

The Washington State Chapter invited Elise Misiorowski, G.G., director of GIA’s Museum, to speak on “Then and Now: Jewelry at the Turn of Two Centuries” Oct. 15. Members learned lessons on estate jewelry and the dating of jewelry based on the years of discovery of gemstones included in pieces.

Contact: Chapter President Joseph Paul II, G.G., at (360) 479-2668.

The Washington D.C., Chapter welcomed Edward Boehm, museum consultant for GIA, for a slide show on his travels to Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Madagascar in October. He also shared stone samples from those locales.

Al Gilbertson, research associate at GIA, gave an update on GIA’s latest studies on diamond brilliancy and a history of the American round cut diamond in September.

Peter Keller, Ph.D., president of the Bowers Museum, spoke to the chapter on gemstones of East Africa and the Michael Scott collection that were both displayed at the Bowers Museum.

“We regret that we did not have the opportunity to see it,” said Lisa Carp, chapter secretary. 

Contact: Chapter President Martin Fuller, G.G., at (703) 442-6690 or diamondful@aol.com
International

The Quebec, Canada Chapter held an event on amber with speaker and importer Oscar Perdion Oct. 7. During the slide show and hands-on workshop, he discussed how amber is found, mined, treated and appraised.

GIA Instructor Marisa Zachovay presented an “Advanced Diamond Grading Lab” for members July 8.

The chapter held a “Security and Fraud Prevention” seminar May 5. Representatives from a major bank, a credit card company and the Montreal Police fraud division helped members learn to identify false money and credit cards.

“The hands-on evening was a real eye opener,” said Christiane Beauregard, G.G., chapter president. “We all came away feeling much more confident and secure in protecting ourselves from theft.”

Contact: Chapter President Christiane Beauregard, G.G., at (514) 397-9934 or chbeau@hotmail.com