Chapters
Twin Cities Chapter
Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Western Wisconsin
Upcoming Chapter Events for 2012
Board of Directors
Janel Russell President
Janel Russell Designs, St. Paul, MN
(651) 778-9679
janel@janelrusselldesigns.com
Sara Commers President Elect
Studio C Designs, St. Louis Park, MN
(952) 797-7777
sara@studiocjewelry.com
Nancy Moeller Past President, Central Regional Director
R.F. Moeller Jewelers, St. Paul, MN
(651) 698-6321
nancy@rfmoeller.com
Sue Fritz Past President and Communications
(715)425-5642
susancfritz@gmail.com
Sarah Kiecker Secretary
Shop NBC, Minneapolis, MN
(952)943-6140, (763)528-5098
sarahkiecker@yahoo.com
Carol Brady Treasurer
Exclusively Diamonds, Mankato, MN
(507)345-1658 cell(507)381-1381
cbrady@chartermi.net,
cbrady@exclusivelydiamonds.com
Charlotte Preston Events Chair
Charlotte Preston Catalysts, St. Paul, MN
(651)653-3919
getsitdone@aol.com
www.charlottepreston.com
Kathy Bernu Graphics/Communications
Kathy Bernu Design/Christian Family Jewelers, Minneapolis, MN
(612) 840-2327
kbernu@aol.com
T Lee Education & Ethics Mentor Committee Chair
T Lee Fine designer Jewelry, Minneapolis, MN
(612) 789-2656
tlee@tleegold.com
Julie Burkhart-Haid Web/ Communications Co-Chair
Burkhart Design Studio/Greaton's Designing Jewelers, Hudson, WI
(715) 220-6013
BurkhartDesignStudio@gmail.com
www.burkhartdesignstudio.com
Patricia Liquard Communications Co-Chair
Calidora Designs, St. Paul, MN
(612) 216-4085
sales@calidoradesigns.com
Sue Karr Membership Co-Chair
Gould's Jewelry, Anoka, MN
(763) 421-3205
sue@gouldsjewelry.com
www.gouldsjewelry.com
Dawn Morel Scholarships and Awards
D Morel Gemologist
dbgem@hotmail.com
Kathy Carey Membership Co-Chair
Stebgo Metals South St. Paul, MN
(800) 289-0138
kathy@stebgo.com
http://www.stebgo.com
For information about events, contact:
Charlotte Preston Charlotte Preston Catalysts, St. Paul, MN
(651)653-3919
getsitdone@aol.com
For membership information, contact:
Sue Karr (763)421-3205 sue@gouldsjewelry.com
Kathy Carey (800) 289-0138 kathy@stebgo.com
The board meets on the 2nd Monday of each month.
RECENT CHAPTER EVENTS in 2011
Join WJA-Twin Cities for a docent led tour of - Antiquities from the Ukraine: Golden Treasures and Lost Civilizations at the Museum of Russian Art. Minneapolis, MN Monday, Jan 16th, 3-5pm.
Thursday, November 17th starting at 6pm we will be gathering at Vic's on the Minneapolis riverfront near downtown Minneapolis.
This is an opportunity to meet new and old friends, find a new vendor, or maybe learn a new sales approach.
Enjoy complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Free parking is available in the Saint Anthony Falls ramp.
Cost is just $20 for members and $30 for non-members. Please pay by cash or check at the door. We are not able to accept credit or debit cards.
If you are not a member, this would be
Vic's on the Minneapolis River Front 201 Main Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Please give back this Holiday by donating your gently used women's clothing and accessories to Dress For Success, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the economic independence of disadvantaged women in the Twin Cities by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life
Peggy Jo Donahue 
GOOD TO GO
The importance of sustainability and responsible practices within the jewelry industry.
This pressure-free presentation will define what responsibility means in the jewelry context and detail the major challenges the industry faces in its supply chain. Finally, she will present a series of simple steps you can take to begin or enhance supporting this growing movement.
Monday, September 12, 2011
6:00pm mixer w/ wine & appetizers
7pm presentation - 8:15 round table discussion
At Joule, 1200 Washington Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN
Peggy Jo Donahue is Director of Public Affairs for MJSA and also Editor of MJSA Custom Jeweler Magazine.
She has looked deeply at responsible practices within the jewelry industry, interviewed those who are the front runners, and carried that important message from the trade to the customer.
Cost is $20 for members, $30 for nonmembers, and $25 for GIA Alumni. Cash and check only please.
Register:
https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?llr=4tthlzcab&oeidk=a07e4i8qk69fdc17089&oseq=a0174gffboioo
Thank You to our Sponsor for this event:
Monday July 11, 2011 Summer Social - Secrets and Lies
Share your secret sources for gemstone information
and where (or if) you like to play golf.
If you aren't a member, this would be a great time to join!
Hosted by Sara Commers at
Studio C Designs
6005 Wayzata Boulevard
St. Louis Park
Featuring gemstone cutter Tatyana Vyalkin
WJA Members and one guest: $20/each
This is a WJA members-only event. Members may bring one guest.
Studio C Designs opened its retail doors in 2002 while exploring wholesale production jewelry and offering jewelry repair and custom design services.
For nearly four years, Sara also showed her one-if-a-kind work at the Edina Art Fair, Stone Arch Art Fair and the Wayzata Art Experience, as well as at the International Gem and Jewelry Shows known as Intergem.
The MN/ND Jewelers Association has awarded her seven consecutive design awards. One of Sara's designs was published in Lark Books 500 Gemstone Jewels in April 2010.
Sara currently teaches jewelry design and fabrication at North Hennepin Community College, Minnetonka Center for the Arts, and The Studio at Rush Creek.
Monday May 16, 2011 - Sustainable Gemstone Mining
T lee fine Designer Jewelry - 18 University Ave NE Minneapolis, MN
T Lee, owner of T Lee Fine Designer Jewelry in Minneapolis, will share her passion for sustainable gemstone mining and other practices when she presents photos and stories from her recent gemstone-buying trip to East Africa. T worked directly with a gem broker and experienced the connections in these communities from buyer to broker and broker to miners. T met the miners and visited mines. She has sent the rough stones she purchased to several American custom gemstone cutters.
T serves as the Education and Ethics Mentor Committee Chair on the Twin Cities Chapter Board. She is initiating round table discussions about consumers' increased interest in sustainability, "green" practices, and world-wide mining conditions.
Award-winning author, Nick Tasler
unravels the mystery of becoming a high performer
What does it take to be a high-performance individual or business? Find out on March 28 when the Twin Cities Chapter hosts Nick Tasler, best-selling author of The Impulse Factor: An Innovative Approach to Better Decision Making.
Monday March 28, 2011
6:00 PM to 8:15 PM
Fort Snelling Officer's Club
395 Highway 5 and Post Rd
Minneapolis, MN 55111
WJA members and one guest: $25/each
GIA Alumni: $30/each
Nonmembers: $35/each
If you are bringing more than 5 from one organization, contact us for pricing.
For information, email mailto:wjatwincities@gmail.com
Our first event of the year was a members-only behind the scenes tour of ShopNBC and it's jewelry department. We had a sneak peak at a production in progress. After the tour, we retired to Jimmy's Food & Cocktails for dinner and conversation. It was an informative and fun evening.
PAST CHAPTER EVENTS IN 2010
Wednesday-November 17th, 2010 - HOLIDAY PARTY: Get Ready For The Holidays at Zahtar by Fhima
Evening to Benifit Dressed for Success
Monday Sept. 13th - Selling Colored Stones - with Doug Hucker, CEO of American Gem Trade Association. Doug will be providing strategies to help you sell more color this holiday season. Learn more about AGTA at www.AGTA.org
WHERE: FORT SNELLING OFFICER'S CLUB Designer Showcase - New Opportunity - We are pairing a smaller, intimate Designer Showcase opportunity with the national speakers we have scheduled for 2010. We invite three designers to each event. The first opportunity will be Monday, April 5 at the Pool and Yacht Club in West St. Paul, MN. David Geller is speaking about making a profit. On Monday, Sept. 13, Doug Hucker, CEO of AGTA will present on selling colored stones. Both are evening events with a set up by 6 pm.
Monday July 19th - Summer Social -Tesa Jewellers in Plymouth, MN - WJA Members only
Monday May 17th - Networking with a Purpose - At Pop! Restaurant downtown St. Paul, MN at 6th and Wabasha. "Chat and Chill" event Social Media: Are you using it? How? Why Not?
Monday, April 5th. Pool and Yacht Club in West St. Paul. How to Price, Sell, and Market Custom Designs. David Geller, national speaker and profit guru.
March 8, 2010 Zahtar by Fhima restaurant - Minneapolis, MN
Speed Coaching-You've got questions. We've got coaches! Held at Zahtar by Fhima Restaurant Second floor of the Grand Hotel, downtown Minneapolis 615 2nd Ave South
-
Tara Tollefson-The Buzz Company-Social media marketing for your business
-
Paul Fletcher-MoCo-Marketing/Branding your business and strategies for a tight budget
-
Mark Esslinger-Esslinger and Company-Custom CAD/CAM jewelry sales & design with 3Design
-
Bruce Wadlund and Kathy Carey-Stego Metals-Buying tips for gold and coins
-
Paul Holewa-Senior Editor, JCK Magazine-PR and marketing on a really low budget
-
Peter Nikolai-Attorney with Nikolai & Mersereau PA-A Jewelers Guide to Acquiring Intellectual Property
-
Charlotte Preston-Charlotte Preston Catalysts-Branding
-
Kevin Kramer-RF Moeller Jewelers-Repair procedure protocol
-
TBD-Buying and selling antique and estate jewelry
-
Sue Fritz-Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company-Insurance and security
