A MERICAN GEM TRADE ASSOCIATION PRISM 2008 AGTA Spectrum AwardsTM AGTA GTC JewelFolio™ Bank of America Partnership PRISM I SPRING 2008 Membership Benefits AGTA Board of Directors A MERICAN GEM TRADE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT The American Gem Trade Association is a not-for-profit Association of Barbara Lawrence United States and Canadian gemstone professionals dedicated to promoting Boston Gems and Findings, Inc. awareness and appreciation of natural colored gemstones and cultured VICE PRESIDENT pearls. The Association pursues its aims through the combined use of Robert Bentley educational programs, industry events, industry relations and publicity to the Robert Bentley Company, Inc. trade and consumer. Omi Nagpal Founded in 1981, the AGTA has over 1,000 Members representing Omi Gems, Inc. leading colored gemstone and cultured pearl wholesalers, retail jewelers, jewelry manufacturers, designers, colored diamond dealers, estate dealers SECRETARIES and industry professionals. Betty Sue King King’s Ransom AGTA Members are proud to uphold the highest ethical standards, agreeing to the Association’s strict Code of Ethics, Constitution and full disclosure of Kambiz Sabouri Gem 2000, Inc. gemstone enhancements. Membership provides you with many exclusive benefits and services: TREASURER Sampat Poddar Members are eligible to exhibit in some of the most important annual events Byrex Gems, Inc. in the gemstone and jewelry industry, including AGTA GemFair™ Tucson, AGTA GemFair™ Las Vegas and JA New York Summer. DIRECTORS John Bachman Members earn the privilege of being listed and granted four free John M. Bachman, Inc. listings in the AGTA Source Directory. This is a powerful tool that gives access to a valuable network of fellow gemstone professionals. Over 20,000 copies Peter Bazar Imperial-Deltah, Inc. are distributed! . Members receive preferred pricing for services at the AGTA Gemological Soraya Cayen Soraya Cayen Collection Testing Center. Members receive a discount on our large variety of marketing materials, as well as exclusive advertising opportunities in the AGTA Source Sushil Goyal Directory, the AGTA Electronic Source Directory and the AGTA GemFair™ Liberty Gems, Inc. Tucson Official Show Directory. Benjamin Hackman Members stay informed about all the hot topics surrounding our industry and Intercolor, Inc. the AGTA with the quarterly Prism newsletter and monthly NewsFlashes. Bill Larson Members have access to leading industry programs. These programs include Pala International, Inc. Bank of America Merchant Services, FedEx Express® Shipping, FedEx Declared Value, FedEx Kinkos, insurance programs through Association Health Programs Glenn Lehrer Lehrer Designs, Inc. and the Office Depot: Taking Care of Business program. Aspects of professionalism continue to set AGTA Members apart from Gerry Manning Manning International, Inc. the competition. Joe Orlando Stuller, Inc. Eric Schwotzer Penn Gem International PAST PRESIDENT PRISM FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Eric Braunwart is distributed quarterly Joshua Garcia [email protected] Columbia Gem House, Inc. for the Members of the AGTA www.agta.org American Gem 3030 LBJ Frwy., Ste. 840 www.agta-gtc.org CHIEF EXECUTIVE Trade Association. Dallas, TX 75234 www.addmorecolortoyourlife.com OFFICER Tel: 800-972-1162 Douglas K. Hucker Fax: 214-742-7334 1 PRISM I SPRING 2008 From the President Every year has its challenges, and during this process. JVC has been a terrific 2007 seemed to have more than its share partner and it has been gratifying to see our of challenges for AGTA and our Members. two organizations work together so well. Rather than discuss the doom and gloom of our There are two Members who have given shrinking economy, dollar, and market share, much of their time, energy and expertise to I would like to take this opportunity to share our organization who also deserve special with you the strengths of our organization, our recognition. staff, Board of Directors, and Membership. Bob Kane of Fine Gems International There are a lot of people who are working was appointed to our Board of Directors two very hard to keep our businesses—and our years ago. Unfortunately, he is not running for BARBARA LAWRENCE organization—viable, and I would like to another term on the Board. Bob’s gemological AGTA PRESIDENT recognize them and express my/our gratitude expertise and years of laboratory experience Many of our Members have been generous in for their dedication. have been extremely valuable. Bob worked giving back to our industry. I wish to express I must begin by welcoming back Doug with Dick Hughes to produce the magnificent my gratitude to every Member of the Board Hucker. Doug was sorely missed through the JewelFolio™. Many of us agree that this is for his or her support—and for the hours of last half of 2007, not just by our organization, by far the most beautiful product AGTA has teleconferences, the generous donations of time but by the entire industry. There are few, if delivered in years. I am sorry to lose Bob, and money, and for sharing their experience any, who understand the gemstone and jewelry but he has assured me that he will always be and knowledge. If we work together, network, industry as well as Doug. His dedication to the available for counsel. We have had many long and follow the guidelines that the AGTA AGTA is unparalelled, and we are thrilled to telephone discussions, and I envy the time he stands for, we will all benefit. The AGTA was have him back. will now be able to devote to the trout in the founded on the principle of working together As soon as Doug returned, he was streams of Montana. to improve our individual businesses and the thrown into the NRC irradiation compliance The other Member I wish to thank industry. I believe that our best offense against situation and the Burma boycott crisis. Doug is someone who has already given years the growing competition today is our integrity not only got up to speed immediately, but he of service to the AGTA—Ray Zajicek of and knowledge of our gemstones and our also organized an AGTA Task Force to go Equatorian Imports, Inc. Ray volunteered to industry. We are The Authority in Color. May to Washington to speak with White House study, dissect, and advise the AGTA GTC. we all share in a prosperous and peaceful New Counsel on specific details concerning He spent his own time and funds to be in Year. the boycotting of gemstones. I thank Dick New York for a full week to examine the Greenwood, Ron Rahmanan, and Eric procedures of the Lab from the moment a Braunwart for taking the time in our busiest of gemstone arrives on the premises to the time it selling times to go to Washington to represent is delivered back to the customer. He has made Barbara Lawrence us. I also wish to thank Cecilia Gardner of suggestions to increase efficiencies and save AGTA President JVC for sharing her knowledge and advice money that are already being implemented. From the CEO While there may be significant debate anyone’s guess how the lagging economy will as to which industry issues had the greatest impact our show, but be assured that the entire impact on our Members during the course staff of the AGTA with the help of the Board of the year I believe there would be no of Directors, has been singularly focused on disagreement that the general slowdown in the the production of this event for the last quarter. economy, reflected in overall decreased retail Part of this focus has been increased sales, including jewelry, brought on the most communication to our potential buyers. pain felt by all of our Members. It has been a Thankfully, we are seeing results as hotel tough year. As you read this, you are no doubt reservations are solid, pre-registrations for DOUGLAS K. HUCKER already in the midst of GemFair Tucson, our the show are strong and we have assembled a AGTA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER most important market event of the year. It is terrific line-up of seminars to make sure that 2 PRISM I SPRING 2008 From the CEO (continued from page 2) framework, which is detailed in the brochure. great deal of skepticism as to the effectiveness the GemFair experience can be the best Sellers of the gemstones, who are not direct of these kinds of economic sanctions and a possible for our attendees. importers of these materials, must obtain even greater concern that the people who will Two specific issues, however, that have the proper warrantees from their suppliers be most damaged by the sanctions will be the required a concerted effort to address, are that the materials have met these regulatory one’s who are currently suffering under this the confusion surrounding the regulatory requirements. These requirements are detailed oppressive regime. requirements for dealers of irradiated in the new brochure and will also be available Despite the controversy over the proposed gemstones and the legislative efforts in for review at www.agta.org. boycott of Burmese imports, it seems likely our nation’s capitol to strengthen current The NRC has made it clear that it has that this legislation could become law, prohibitions on the importation of products no intention in pursuing enforcement against sometime in the first quarter of this year. At originating from Burma (Myanmar). As an current inventories of these materials that were that point, it will be the responsibility of the organization, the AGTA has been an integral in our Member’s inventory prior to the release regulatory agencies (U.S. Customs, etc.) to part of the ongoing debate surrounding these of new enforcement guidelines. The net effect devise and implement effective strategies two issues and has been instrumental in is that you may feel comfortable purchasing to enforce this ban.