By Jaime Kautsky

The GIA Alumni Association has officially opened the call for auction items for the 2007 Tucson Dance Party.

The party, held each February during the Tucson gem and mineral shows, usually draws more than 500 people and is a highlight of the week for many alumni and friends. It features a casual atmosphere for dancing, networking and enjoying food and drinks.

There's also a ceremony to present Alumni Awards and honor recipients of the Richard T. Liddicoat Scholarships, and a spirited auction, which features a live and silent portion and raises money for the Alumni Endowment Fund.

"All proceeds from our events – including the dance party and auction – benefit the Alumni Endowment Fund," said Rose McKenna, G.G., GIA's Alumni Relations manager. "The fund was established to provide financial support that enhances chapter activities, supplies gemological equipment for our Distance Education students and helps access world-renowned speakers."

Past auction donors include GIA governor Susan Jacques, president of Borsheim's Fine Jewelry and Gifts, and Margee Swarovski. Jacques provided a Berkshire Hathaway (Borsheim's parent company) Diamond Edition Monopoly game autographed by Warren Buffett for the 2006 event; Swarovski donated crystal stem wine glasses with cut crystal bases.

Alumni have also provided items like gemstones, mineral specimens, jewelry and books.

Chapter members have been known to rally together and provide themed gift baskets. The Orange County chapter supplied a basket of GIA gemological charts last year, and the Golden Gate chapter donated a collection of Bay Area specialties like Ghirardelli chocolates, a cable car Christmas ornament and two private label bottles of wine.

Michael and Kay Quinn of Taylorsville, Utah are regulars at the Dance Party, and have placed winning bids on everything from gemological book sets and a custom inscription loupe to a behind-the-scenes tour and lunch with Dona Dirlam, director of the Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center.

Michael Quinn, an Accredited Jewelry Professional and the owner of Mike's Jewelry Corner in Salt Lake City, is working toward his Graduate Gemologist diploma through Distance Education and says he's honored to help strengthen the Alumni Endowment Fund.

"I'm proud to be part of the GIA Alumni Association," he said. "The education I've received through GIA has helped me better educate my customers, and that credibility is essential in building a foundation of trust with them. By supporting the auction, I feel that I'm contributing to the education of other gem enthusiasts who share my passion."

For more information on how to contribute to the auction, please contact Global Events Manager Jan Tilton at (760) 603-4139 or jtilton@gia.edu.

The Alumni Association is accepting nominations for the 2007 Alumni Awards. Log on to the Alumni Association's Web site and let us know about fellow alumni who regularly go the extra mile for their chapter. Awards will be handed out before the 2007 Tucson Dance Party.