2005 Orchid Dinner is a Success
Orchid Members Celebrate Forum's Achievements at Annual Dinner

This year's Orchid Dinner once again brought Orchid members face-to-face-some for the very first time-to celebrate the achievements and highlight the growth of the Orchid online forum they all support. Three hundred and twenty-five Orchidians attended the ninth-annual dinner event sponsored by Rio Grande and held at the Savoy Opera House in Tucson, making it the largest and most successful Orchid gathering yet.

Orchid, an online forum offered through the Ganoksin website, provides the world's largest free exchange of substantive technical content, spanning a variety of subjects pertaining to the gem and jewelry industries. The 5200-member community exchanges industry-specific information, ideas and opinions, often while cultivating close relationships through frequent interaction. Each year, community members gather to attend the Tucson dinner to further their relationships as well as to share information about Ganoksin and the many benefits of its resources.

In a speech he presented at the dinner, Hanuman, the architect behind Orchid and the Ganoksin project, highlighted significant accomplishments in 2004 that resulted in substantial growth for the online forum. He noted that the number of articles in the Ganoksin library has doubled due to new alliances with leading trade magazines, publications and authors. Through a mutual project with AJM magazine, Orchid will also produce and publish a series of books called "Orchid in Print" which will focus on specific equipment and techniques for the bench jeweler.

In addition, the website has added a video component to allow visitors to view live metals demonstrations, as well as an "Industry Trade Index" containing over 700 websites in 168 categories and a compiled comprehensive bibliography of selected books and magazines covering a broad range of gem and jewelry topics-all available for purchase online through Ganoksin.

Hanuman concluded his speech by saying, "I look forward to the coming year as we are poised to provide even greater service to the trade and public."

Ganoksin and the Orchid forum welcome and encourage everyone in the jewelry industry to experience the community that it offers. To explore the benefits and relationship-building, visit http://www.ganoksin.com.

For additional information, contact
The Ganoksin Project
Dr. E. Aspler
http://www.ganoksin.com