AGS Bylaws Resources

The American Gem Society (AGS) Bylaws revisions reflect contemporary best practices in nonprofit governance—streamlining processes and aligning our structure with AGS’s long-term strategic vision. Ultimately, the goal is clear: to better serve you—our members—today and into the future.

The updated Bylaws enhance how the Society operates by clarifying roles, refining decision-making responsibilities, and strengthening transparency and accountability. They reinforce AGS’s enduring commitment to member excellence, ethical leadership, and consumer protection while providing the adaptability needed to thrive in a dynamic jewelry industry.

Central to these updates is a modernized governance framework that strengthens the connection between our mission and operations. Enhancements include clearer distinctions between officer and Board responsibilities, refreshed election and term policies, and strengthened committee oversight. These improvements position AGS to make more agile, informed decisions while better reflecting the needs of our growing and diverse membership.

Summary of Proposed Bylaws Updates:

• Refined Membership Classifications: Streamlined categories to better reflect today’s industry and support both businesses and individual professionals.
• Titleholders and Credentialing Updates: Titleholders now fall under the individual class of membership. Terminology such as credentials and designations is being integrated across our documents to help those outside of—or new to—AGS to better understand our educational offerings. These changes also provide the availability of credentials and designations to be earned by all membership classes.
• More Efficient Governance: A simplified and strengthened structure to improve clarity, accountability, and overall effectiveness.
• Updated Voting and Proxy Policies: Clearer procedures to ensure fairness, accessibility, and transparency in member voting.
• Modernized Committee Structure: Updated roles, responsibilities, and compositions of key committees—including the addition of a new standing committee representing our vendor partners.
• Nominating and Election Process: Strengthened to ensure balanced representation of leaders.