AGS announces Sallie Morton Guild Award

by eyetee | March 20, 2014 8:34 pm

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The American Gem Society (AGS) has created an award in honour of its first female president.

The Sallie Morton Guild Award will be handed out on April 25th at the group’s annual conclave in San Diego. It is given in recognition of individuals who have gone over and above in their service to AGS guilds each year.

“An award in Sallie’s name is very fitting,” said Ruth Batson, chief executive officer (CEO) of the American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories.

“Given her immense contribution to the AGS, what better way to recognize a member’s outstanding service to our guilds than by giving them an award named after this legend.”

Morton was very instrumental in developing the AGS national guilds, a system that is in place today.

“For my entire professional career, I have heard stories about Sallie Morton,” said Laura Stanley, chair of AGS’s International Guilds Committee. “Chatting with her and planning this award has just reinforced what a dynamo she is, especially considering the considerable glass ceiling she shattered in the jewellery industry. She has always been a role model, and I’m delighted this award honours her life and future legacy. Having personally experienced the exponentially growing energy of our AGS guilds helps me understand how exciting it was when Sallie and Al Woodill—former executive director of AGS—first worked their magic decades ago in developing our guilds.”

Morton became president of AGS in 1974, and in 1982, she became the first woman to receive the prestigious Robert M. Shipley Award.

Conclave will be held April 23 to 26 at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego.

Source URL: https://www.jewellerybusiness.com/news/ags-announces-sallie-morton-guild-award/

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