Health & Safety Protocols

The American Gem Society places the health and safety of our community above all else. That’s why we’ve taken steps and implemented guidelines and policies to help support a safe and comfortable experience. We will continue to update you here as safety standards evolve. Please review the protocols below for more information about what you can expect at American Gem Society events.

COVID-19 Event Safety and Responsibility

As COVID-19 continues, AGS is both cautiously optimistic and prepared to manage our in-person events with the health, safety, and well-being of all event participants.  Event participants include but are not limited to, member and non-member attendees, speakers, sponsors, guests, press, AGS staff members, and service providers (“participants”). All participants are expected to abide by our Code of Conduct and all policies in effect for the event.

We will continue to monitor and update safety precautions regularly and coordinate with trusted national resources, state and local public health agencies, and the venue hosting our event. In all cases, we will continue to assess the risks in the area local to the event and the status in the United States.

We reserve the right to modify these policies and procedures at any time given the rapidly changing nature of the current global pandemic.

COVID-19 Notice and Waiver

As part of the event’s Registration Terms and Conditions, AGS will require event registrants to understand that in-person conferences are taking place during COVID-19. Registrants are required to acknowledge to these terms and conditions, which include the waiver information. The waiver language is listed below:

As COVID-19 continues, AGS will continue to monitor and update safety precautions regularly and coordinate with trusted national resources, state and local public health agencies, and the venue hosting our event. In all cases, we will continue to assess the risks in the area local to the event and the status in the United States; however, AGS cannot guarantee that participants will not become infected with COVID-19. Event participants include but are not limited to, member and non-member attendees, speakers, sponsors, guests, press, AGS staff members, and service providers (“participants”).

By registering for this event:

• I acknowledge the contagious nature of COVID-19;
• I voluntarily assume the risk that I may be exposed to or infected by COVID-19 by attending the AGS event which exposure or infection may come from the actions, omissions, or negligence of myself and others, including, but not limited to, all participants of the event;
• I acknowledge that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, or death; and hereby release, covenant not to sue, discharge, and hold harmless AGS, its employees, agents, and representatives, of and from any injury to me resulting from being exposed to or infected by COVID-19 in connection with my attendance at an AGS event (including claims based on the actions, omissions, or negligence of AGS, its employees, agents, and representatives).