Schedule of Upcoming Chapter Events
Please See the complete CALENDAR of EVENTS that follows this News Section. Includes details on upcoming Dinner Meetings and Board Meeting schedule.
Board meetings: 09/17/08, 12/03/08, 02/11/09, 4/15/09, 6/10/09
Dinner Meetings: 10/16/08, 01/21/09, 3/25/09, 5/14/09
Next Event - Dinner Meeting Oct. 16, 2008 Organizers: Donna Kiesel,John Regan
Location: Squantum Club, E. Providence, RI
Speaker: Topic: Time: 5:30 Cocktails, Appetizers & Registration. 6:30 PM Dinner & Program
Cost: $40 for IPMI Members, IPMI Sponsors and Associate Members. $45 for unaffiliated non-members
See IPMI Home Page for more information and invitation
NE Chapter Annual Report 2008
The New England Chapter reports that it continues to maintain a solid membership base and remains financially solvent. We currently have approximately 100 members and supporters. Additionally we have 26 corporate Special Sponsors. Much of our Chapters success comes from having a dedicated and active Board. The board extends its gratitude for the ongoing support of our special sponsors, individual members and supporters. Their generosity contributed to another successful season.
This past program year we once again provided a diverse group of speakers and timely topics. Our fall meeting, traditionally hosted jointly with the Womens Jewelry Association, presented Miriam Stoker, Regional Sales Manager of Jewelers Mutual Insurance, speaking on the timely topic of Identity Theft. The winter meeting featured James Steel, Chief Commodities Analyst with HSBC Bank USA. His comments on price volatility and Trends in Precious Metals have proven to be prescient. Our spring speaker, David B. Wray, Jr., Vice President & Senior Portfolio Manager of BNY Mellon presented an Economic Overview and Investment Strategy for 2008. His commentary helped provide context and calmness amidst the turmoil in the credit and financial markets.
Our May meeting doubles as both our annual business meeting and our Annual Jewelry Design Competition Awards night. Three of the four Board members whose terms expired were reelected. Additionally, Mark Oliari of CNT and John Regan of HSBC Bank USA were newly elected to the Board. The chapter expresses its thanks to two long-term members leaving the NE chapter Board Leslie Niejadlik and Carol Tyler. Leslies service included a stint as chapter president and Carol made it to the top as president of national IPMI and will be serving as its past president next year! Well miss these two dedicated individuals.
Attendees to our 18th Annual Jewelry Design Competition & Awards had the opportunity to meet participating students and professors and to understand the truly positive impact our program has upon them. The jewelry auction affords bidders an opportunity to acquire unique, one of a kind pieces by budding artisans. We auctioned off the top four pieces and were able to raise over $1500. The auction proceeds help keep the program at least partially self-funding. The students attending get an opportunity to receive awards, speak about their creations and watch their pieces go to the highest bidders. We continued expanding the scope of the Jewelry Design Awards Programs and once again increased the total value and number of student awards granted. Additionally, we redefined our initiative of providing support at an institutional level. This year, recognizing that the cost of materials has risen, three participating schools received grants (totaling $2,500) to directly support their qualifying programs. Congratulations to UMASS Dartmouth, RI School of Design and RI College.
A total of $3300 was awarded to nine students. The top five entries also received plaques: the LaFazia Memorial Award, the IPMI Presidents Award (sponsored by National), two IPMI New England Chapter Awards and the Award for Technical Merit. Three different colleges had award winners. Last years Presidents Award recipient received the LaFazia Memorial Award. The Technical Award recipient also repeated. Last years top prize recipient became another multiple winner with an honorable mention.
Kudos to the Jewelry Design Committee, chaired by Donna Kiesel, to the students who participate, to the professors who help maintain the quality of the entries over the years, and to the judges who again had difficult choices to make in the competition. Judging was extremely difficult with so many excellent pieces of work. More than 30 creations received votes in the initial round of voting by eight judges!
National IPMI continued its generous financial and logistical support. More importantly, it provided the encouragement for our chapters continued focus on further benefiting the institutions, programs and students. This year our chapter awarded nearly $6,000 in prizes and grants. The chapter is ever grateful for nationals commitment.
At our first Board meeting of the 2008 2009 season, in June, officers will be elected, committees formed, dinner and board meetings scheduled, and responsibilities for speakers and venues assigned. In keeping with the Organizations charter we will continue to present educational programs to our members. Feedback, input and recommendations are welcome. We invite anyone interested to become a member, supporter, sponsor or director of the Chapter.
Respectfully submitted by: John
John H. King, President IPMI New England Chapter
NE Chapter Annual Report 2007
The New England Chapter reports that it continues to maintain a strong and active membership base and remains financially solvent. We currently have 101 paid members and supporters. Additionally we have 27 corporate Special Sponsors, including 4 new ones. Much of our Chapters success comes from having a strong and active Board. The board extends its gratitude for the ongoing support of our special sponsors, individual members and supporters. Their generosity contributed to another successful season.
This past 2006-2007 program year we once again provided a diverse group of speakers and interesting topics. Our fall meeting, traditionally hosted jointly with the Womens Jewelry Association, presented Anna Martin of ABN AMROs International Diamond & Jewelry Group speaking about the evolution of financial products and services in the jewelry industry. The winter meeting featured Steve Crogan and William Walker, agents of DHS Immigration & Customs Enforcement, and their overview of Operation Cornerstone - a cooperative AML initiative. Our spring speaker, Kent W. Gladding of Citizens Investment Management Services, provided an economic overview and 2007 market outlook providing context to operate within the national and global economies.
Our May meeting doubles as both our annual business meeting and our Annual Jewelry Design Competition Awards night. Three of the four Board members whose terms expired were reelected. Additionally, Paul Austin, Linda Kenerson and Chris Sicard were newly elected to the Board. The chapter expressed its thanks to two members retiring from the Board Bob Arcand and Carlos Mariscal. Both served IPMI New England in various capacities for more than twenty years! Bob, the chapters archivist and historian, was a multiple term president and Carlos was a fixture as Treasurer. Well miss these two dedicated individuals.
Attendees to our 17th Annual Jewelry Design Competition & Awards had the opportunity to meet participating students and professors and to understand the truly positive impact our program has upon them. The jewelry auction affords bidders an opportunity to acquire unique, one of a kind pieces by budding artisans. We auctioned off the top four pieces and we were able to raise over $2500 for the jewelry. The money raised helps keep the program at least partially self-funding. The students attending get an opportunity to receive awards, speak about their creations and watch their pieces go to the highest bidders. We awarded a total of $3050 to eight students with the top five entries also receiving plaques: the LaFazia Memorial Award, the IPMI Presidents Award (sponsored by National), two IPMI New England Chapter Awards and the Award for Technical Merit. Three different colleges had award winners and last years Presidents Award recipient became another multiple winner with an honorable mention. Kudos to the Jewelry Design Committee, chaired by Donna Kiesel, to the students who participate, to the professors who help maintain the quality of the entries over the years, and to the judges who again had difficult choices to make in the competition.
We continued to develop and expand the scope of the Jewelry Design Awards Programs. Last year we added an award for technical merit. This year, in addition to increasing the awards to students, we initiated a program to directly grant a qualifying institutional program. Congratulations to UMASS Dartmouth and their graduate student assistant (who coincidentally also garnered the Award for Technical Merit this year).
The Chapter appreciates the continued generous financial and logistical support it receives from National IPMI. More importantly, it provided the encouragement for our chapters initiative to expand the Awards program further benefiting the institutions, programs and students. This year our chapter awarded more than $6,000 in prizes and grants - more than triple the awards made as recently as 2003!
At our first Board meeting of the 2007 2008 season in June officers will be elected, committees formed, dinner and board meetings scheduled, and responsibilities for speakers and venues assigned. In keeping with the Organizations charter we will continue to present educational programs to our respective members. We invite anyone interested to become members, supporters or sponsors of the Chapter.
Respectfully submitted by:
John H. King, President IPMI New England Chapter
NE Chapter Board Openings
Interested in Participating in your Local Chapter? Please consider joining the Board. Elections are held at the Annual Meeting in May. Service is for a two year period.
Contact a Board Member with questions or to express your interest.
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