California – Golden Gate
Jan. 10: Gem expert Richard Hughes shared his adventures from "A Visit to Madagascar" at Sinbad's Restaurant in San Francisco. Hughes, who specializes in rubies and sapphires, discussed the modern rediscovery of these gems in Madagascar in 1991.

Feb. 14: Eleven members attended a special workshop by Alan Hodgkinson, F.G.A., D.G.A, who spoke on "Visual Optics" – his name for the "gemstone-to-eye" method of gem identification.

Feb. 22: Alan Hodgkinson, F.G.A., D.G.A., spoke about "Squeezing the Refractometer and Spectroscope" – explaining how to "squeeze" every bit of help out of the instruments – at the monthly meeting.

Contact: Co-President/Secretary Starla Turner, G.G., at (650) 348-4983 or
e-mail: teefam@ix.netcom.com; or Co-President Suzanne Martinez, G.G.,
at (415) 982-2213 or e-mail: suzanne@langantiques.com.

California – Inland Empire
Nov. 16, 2005: Cosmo A. Altobelli, C.G.A., G.G., president of Altobelli Jewelers, Inc., spoke at a luncheon lecture titled, "Modern State of the Jewelry Industry and Jewelers Pertaining to Litigations, Appraisals and Overall Business Practices." Altobelli has 20 years of experience providing criminal and civil litigation support and has 50 years of experience as a third-generation jeweler.

Feb. 19: Alan Hodgkinson, F.G.A., D.G.A., spoke to members and guests at San Bernadino's Arrowhead Country Club about the use of the spectroscope. Attendees worked with the instrument to sharpen their skills.

Contact: President Rebecca Bell at (760) 366-8769 or e-mail: pitown@aol.com.

California – Orange County
Nov. 9, 2005: Gail Brett Levine, G.G., executive director of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers and publisher of Auction Market Resource for Gems and Jewelry, discussed how to detect a piece of altered antique, estate or contemporary jewelry.

Dec. 14, 2005: Members, friends and family gathered at Laguna Niguel's El Niguel Country Club for their first annual holiday party.

Contact: President Ruth Fitzgerald, G.G., at (949) 495-7800 or
e-mail: sales@fitzgeraldjewelers.com.

Colorado
Feb. 23: Arthur Anton Skuratowicz, C.G.A., G.J.G., co-author of Working with Gemstones: A Bench Jeweler's Guide, spoke to attendees in Colorado Springs about jewelry design sketching.

Contact: President Debbie Doty at (719) 633-4671 or e-mail: debdoty@citystar.com.

Hong Kong
Dec. 2, 2005: The chapter's annual dinner was held in conjunction with GIA Hong Kong's 2005 graduation celebration at the Novotel Century Hong Kong. The gathering allowed experienced members to interact and share insights with 45 new GIA graduates.

March 3: GIA Identification and Research Scientist Dr. Wuyi Wang discussed recent developments in the treatment and synthesis of diamond, ruby and jadeite. Attendees were also able to view gemstone samples.

Contact: President Irene Leung Wing Yan, G.G., at 852-2234-9292 or
e-mail: admin@giaaahk.com.

Quebec
Nov. 21, 2005: Bradley Wilson of Alpine Gems took attendees through a virtual tour of recent colored gemstone finds in various areas of Canada, from the pink sapphire and amethyst of Nova Scotia to the emeralds of the northern Yukon Territory. Members were able to view photographs and hold stone samples brought by Wilson.

Contact: Secretary Jacqueline St-Amand, G.G., at (613) 488-3049 or
e-mail: bijoux.js@gmail.com.

New York – Manhattan
Jan. 11: Senior Gemologist of the Gem Certification and Appraisal Lab (GCAL) Sharrie Woodring, G.G., F.G.A., presented a step-by-step look at how GCAL grades and identifies diamonds in, "The Process of Detection in a Gem Laboratory," at the National Arts Club in Manhattan's Gramercy Park. Woodring explained a variety of instruments, including DiamondSure™, DiamondView™, FTIR and Raman spectrophotometers.

Jan. 26: Maggie Campbell Pedersen, F.G.A., A.B.I.P.P. (Associate of the British Institute of Professional Photography), spoke on "Gems from Life" in a lecture at the GIA New York Education department.

Feb. 15: Jeweler's Vigilance Committee (JVC) CEO Cecilia Gardner shared cautionary tales of JVC arbitration and discussed the USA PATRIOT Act in a lecture titled, "Legal Compliance in the Jewelry Industry."

March 13: G. Max Bernheimer, head of Antiquities for Christie's New York's International Department, provided a survey of "Ancient Greek Gems and Jewelry." The lecture was based primarily on objects that Christie's has offered for auction in New York and London.

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

Ohio
March 26: Jerry Root, who holds a Fellowship with Distinction of the Gemological Association of Great Britain, presented a workshop on spectroscopy.

Contact: President Cathy Lee, G.G., at (330) 928-1355 or e-mail: rlee@neo.rr.com.

Pennsylvania – Delaware
Feb. 20: JCK Gemstones Senior Editor Gary Roskin, G.G., F.G.A., provided a recap of Tucson gem and mineral show highlights for attendees. Roskin covered new gem materials and controversies, and the latest on Fair Trade Gems and gemstone identification.

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

Texas – Lone Star and North
Feb. 4: The Lone Star and North Texas Alumni Chapters held their annual Tucson meeting at John Jacob's El Parador Mexican Restaurant.

Contact: Texas-Lone Star President Richard T. Hirsh at (214) 739-4848 or
e-mail: Shellh@aol.com.

Contact: Texas-North Interim President Margaret C. Gronberg, G.G., at (214) 369-5361 or e-mail: mgronberg@sbcglobal.net.

United Kingdom – London
Jan. 18: Maggie Campbell Pedersen, F.G.A., A.B.I.P.P. (Associate of the British Institute of Professional Photography), the author of Gem and Ornamental Materials of Organic Origin, spoke to 40 members about organic gem material.

Contact: Vice President Fiona Biggs at 077-4710-3890 or
e-mail: fleebag98@hotmail.com.

Washington State
March 1: Scottish gemologist Alan Hodgkinson, F.G.A., D.G.A., gave a lecture titled "Some Gemmological Tricks and Treats" at Seattle's Mayflower Park Hotel.

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

Washington, D.C.
Nov. 8, 2005: Dr. Geza von Habsburg's presentation, "A History of the House of Fabergé," gave an overview of the artistic craftsmanship and politics of Russia.

Dec. 4, 2005: President Toby L. Fitzkee led members in a holiday celebration and auction to raise funds for future speakers and networking opportunities.

Jan. 19: JCK Gemstones Senior Editor Gary Roskin, G.G., F.G.A., provided a wealth of new information on tanzanite, green zoisite, rhodochrosite, zultanite, Paraiba tourmaline, Yogo sapphire and Chinese freshwater pearls.

Feb. 28: A special Tucson panel featured chapter members who shared the latest in their fields of expertise. The panel was moderated by Tony Conway and included Bobby Mann, Bruce Gaber, Denise Nelson, Martin Fuller and Hap Williams.

Contact: Secretary Donna Sibley at (202) 342-3943 or e-mail: DonnaSibley@comcast.net .