Council Rolls Out New Initiatives

By Mauricio Minotta

The GIA Alumni Association held its annual breakfast meeting in Tucson to discuss the Association’s latest developments and the programs it plans to roll out in the coming months.

Linda Ellis Harmeling, vice president of Development for GIA, welcomed the group of more than 50 GIA Alumni Association members at the meeting held at the Tucson Convention Center.

Starla Turner, G.G., Alumni Executive Council chair, announced the establishment of the Mentor Program Committee as a vehicle to garner more support from GIA graduates. The program is designed to provide Distance Education students with access to GIA graduates who are available to tutor them on using their gemological equipment properly.

Richard Drucker, G.G., Alumni Endowment Fund chair, announced that approximately $94,000 had been raised to date for the Alumni Endowment Fund through the silent/live auctions and donations from many philanthropists. (See related column page 36).

He took a moment to introduce and thank Barry S. Block, president of The Jewelry Judge, a national network of jewelry appraisers and the president of the Association’s New York Long Island Alumni Chapter. Block donated a $10,000 matching gift at this year’s live auction in Tucson.

“The reason I am giving back to the Alumni is that I am where I am today because of the GIA,” Block said. “I would encourage each and every one of you to consider doing the same.”

Gail Brett Levine, G.G., formally announced the roll out of the Alumni-2-Alumni Benefit Program. Two years in the making, it is designed to promote networking and assistance among GIA graduates by offering discounts for goods and services between them.

Alumni Manager Rose McKenna recapped the Association’s successes in 2003 and outlined the initiatives for 2004 to conclude the general meeting.

The session that followed was devoted to committee discussions. After breaking into individual committees, the members regrouped to discuss the successes of the year and to offer suggestions for improvements in various areas.

The Alumni Travel Program, which last year included a two-week trip to Thailand, was among the topics of discussion that all agreed was a positive step forward for the Association.

Ted Resnick of the Texas Lone Star Chapter asked for suggestions on how communication between chapters could be improved. Resnick said the Association could be even better with clearer dialogue or transfer of information.

Levine told the group about the Web site the New York Manhattan Chapter had developed to keep its members informed of upcoming events.

“Our Web site is linked with the GIA’s [Alumni] site,” she said. “We also have regional mailings that have helped attendance at our meetings tremendously.”