South African Association of Numismatic Dealers (SAAND)

History

The South African Association of Numismatic Dealers (SAAND) was founded in 1983. There is currently a membership of approximately 25 South African dealers with 5 overseas associated members. Members are governed by a strict code of conduct and ethics and must have a proven track record to become members. One can buy with confidence from SAAND dealers with a guarantee of authenticity.

Constitution

Objectives:

To maintain an Association of Numismatic Dealers having the following objectives:

A. To maintain the highest standards within the numismatic trade
B. To guarantee the authenticity of all items offered for sale.
C. To promote and protect the professional interests of members of the Association.
D. To consider any questions connected with Numismatics or the Numismatic Trade.
E. To promote, support or oppose legislative or other measures affecting Numismatic Trade.
F. To promote the settlement of disputes (whether between members of the Association or between a member and his client) by reconciliation or arbitration.
G. To sponsor or organize or assist in the organization of exhibitions, seminars and lectures regarding Numismatics.
H. To join or co-operate with any other society or association concerned with the advancement of Numismatics or of the interest of the Numismatic Trade.
I. To establish and maintain a code of ethics which shall be binding on all members

Ethics

Each existing or new member of the Association shall be bound by the following code of ethics:

A. Each member agrees to support and be governed by such rules and by-laws of the Association as may be in force.
B. Each member agrees to conduct himself in a manner that will bring no reproach or discredit to the Association.
C. Each member agrees to base all his dealings on the highest level of morality, fairness and justice.
D. Each member agrees to neither buy nor sell Numismatic items of which the ownership is questionable.
E. Each member undertakes to take immediate steps to correct any error he makes in any transaction.
F. Each member guarantees the authenticity of any item sold by him.
G. He agrees to fulfil all verbal or written contracts made by him.
H. Each member undertakes to submit any dispute between himself and any other member firstly to the Association to enable them to resolve such dispute, before taking such other action, as he may deem necessary or fit.
I. Each member undertakes to act upon and carry out the objects of the Association as set out in the constitution.
J. Any person present at a convention, bourse or any function of the Association who sees any numismatic item being displayed for the purpose of sale and which he believes to be false whilst purported to be genuine by the person displaying it, shall forthwith indicate his belief to the person so displaying the item. Should the item not be withdrawn immediately from display, the committee shall be notified, verbally then confirmed in writing, as to the belief of the complainant.
Not less than three members of the committee, who may seek expert opinion outside the committee as it sees fit, will then view the offending item. The committee's decision as to the authenticity of the item shall be final and it will be conveyed to the disputing parties. False items will be removed immediately from display. Regardless of the decision of the committee the dispute shall be declared at an end and henceforth will not be referred to by either party.

01. Rules:

Name, Object and Registered Office

01. The organization will be known as THE SOUTH AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF NUMISMATIC DEALERS. It is a non-profit making association.
02. The Association will be founded in Johannesburg.
03. The Association is neutral from both political and confessional points of view.
04. The Association is composed of Numismatic firms and Numismatic departments of other commercial firms (described below as firms).
05. The Association has its object the co-ordination of all efforts and ideas in view of the development of the Numismatic Trade, the encouragement of scientific research and relations among professional Numismatists throughout the world.
06. The registered office of the Association will be in Johannesburg R.S.A.

02. Members:

07. In order to be admitted to membership of the Association, the firm will have to satisfy the following requirements:
A. To have been established in business as Numismatists for at least four years, and to have carried on their businesses honourably for at least the same period.
B. To have given proof of their numismatic knowledge by submitting commercial publications, price lists, books etc. If the committee does not consider the material and names submitted as a sufficient proof, it reserves the right of further investigation.
C. To submit the names of the directors and/or employees who are engaged as fulltime professional Numismatists.
D. The candidate must be of good standing and will be agreeable to the committee obtaining a bank report as to the character and fine standing of the candidate if required.
E. A meeting of the General Assembly has the power to accept a new member even if the applicant does not comply with the four-year qualification period.
F. Should an applicant (firm) not comply with clauses 7a and 7b but comply with clauses 7c and 7d he may be accepted as a candidate member. The candidate member is liable for all fees and may attend meetings but will not be afforded voting privileges. Membership remains provisional for a period of two years whereafter full the Executive Committee will consider membership. No reason will be given for non-acceptance and the committee's decision is final.
08. Three members must propose the firm to the Association.
09. The Executive Committee will submit in writing the names of the firms who fulfil the conditions mentioned in paragraphs 7 and 8, and there is no opposition within a period of one month the application for candidacy will be considered as agreed for admission. In case of opposition on the part of one or more members of the Association, the candidacy shall be submitted for decision by the General Assembly.
10. The following rules are applicable when a firm, a member of the SAAND changes its ownership or if there is a major change in the management:
A. If the firm or its Numismatic department is continued under the direction of a professional Numismatist previously employed in the firm for four years, no change in the membership status of the firm arises.
B. If the firm or its Numismatic department is taken over by a person or organization already a member of the Association who ensures the management thereof, no change will be made in the membership, but no firm can have double membership.
C. If the family of the former owner takes over, the committee shall investigate whether the firm or its Numismatic department can remain a member of the Association. Meanwhile, its membership should be suspended.
D. If the firm or its Numismatic department is taken over by a person or organization not a member of the Association, the original membership will automatically cease and the new owner must make an application according to paragraph 7, 8 and 9 of these rules
11. Any change in the name or ownership of a firm, a member of the Association or a major change in the management of the firm must be notified in the General Secretary by registered letter within three months.
12.
A. All resignations must be notified to the General Secretary by registered letter. They can only be accepted after fulfilment of all obligations towards the Association. A member who has resigned loses his rights as regards the assets of the Association.
B. The Association may name corresponding members, persons who have or have had a professional Numismatic activity (scientific or commercial). The corresponding members may attend the assemblies of the Association but need not pay any subscription and may not vote.
C. The corresponding member is named by the General Assembly on proposal of the committee. The committee will examine each proposal and give its opinion to the Association concerning the qualifications of the candidate.
13. The committee can recommend to the General Assembly that a person may be made an Honorary Life Member for outstanding service in the field of Numismatics. Only one person in that financial year may be given this honour. Only a simple majority of the General Assembly will elect such a person to this position. The award can only be made at an Annual General Assembly. This position is honorary and will entitle the holder to attend General Assembly meeting but no voting privileges will accompany this position.

03. The Organs of the Association

14. The organs of the Association are as follows:
A. The General Assembly
B. The Executive Committee
C. Special Commissions
15. The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the Association and will be convened quarterly in the most convenient city.
16. The Agenda must be enclosed with the invitation to the General Assembly. The invitation must be sent two weeks before the date of the A.G.M. at the very latest. The A.G.M. must be convened before the end of February and must confirm the previous years' reports and business.
17. Extraordinary General Assemblies may be convened at the request of at least five members, or at the request of the President and two members of the committee. The Agenda of such an Assembly is limited to the precise object for which it was called.
18. The decisions of the General Assembly are legally binding if at least one third of the membership is represented. Decisions are taken by a simple majority of the votes. In the case of a tie, the President has a casting vote.
19. The General Assembly takes all decisions that are not within the power of the Committee and has in particular the following prerogatives:
A. Elections of President
B. Election of the other members of the committee
C. Approval of the committee reports
D. Approval of the annual accounts
E. Assessment of the financial obligations of the members
F. Amendments of the rules
G. Decisions on contested admissions
H. Dissolution and winding up of the Association
20. Each member (Numismatic firm) may be represented by several persons at the General Assembly, but will have one vote only at the ballot. Voting by proxy is allowed; no member present however may hold proxies for more than two other members.
21. Elections, admissions and expulsions of members will be decided by secret vote. All other votes will be made by show of hands unless a member asks for a secret vote.
22. The official languages used in the Assembly's meetings and convocations of the Association are English and Afrikaans.
23. A report of the meeting of the General Assembly will be sent to all members of the Association.
24. The Executive Committee is composed of four persons:
A. President
B. Vice-President
C. General Secretary
D. Treasurer
E. Three members (optional)
-In the case of a vacancy, the committee has the right to appoint a member on the proposal of the president, subject to confirmation by the next General Assembly.
25. The committee thus constituted remains in office for two years. Retiring members can be re-elected.
26. The Executive Committee will meet at least bi-monthly. The invitation with the Agenda must be sent to all members of the committee at least fifteen days prior to the meeting. Decisions of the committee are binding if at least four members are present.
27. The Executive Committee is entrusted with the management of the Association and the administration of its finances. It may take any decision provided that it is within the framework of the rules. It has full powers to dispose of the assets of the Association with a view to settling current expenses.
28. The Committee represents the Association in all dealings with the authorities, administrations, etc. in all countries. The signature of the President or Vice-President can only validly commit the Association after the Executive Committee has approved of any course of action.
29. The President (Vice-President) will convene meetings only on the instruction of the Executive Committee.
30. A report of every session of the Committee will be prepared and forwarded to all members of the Committee.

04. Finances and Accounts

31. The capital of the Association is its own property.
32. The assets of the Association consists of the annual subscription paid by the members, the amount of which is determined by each yearly General Assembly for the following financial year, as well as the entrance fees, the amount of which must also be laid down at each General Assembly, and of other resources, initial joining fee of R400 and R400 annual subscription and are payable yearly in advance.
33. The Treasurer is in charge of the accounts of the Association. He has to close the accounts every year prior to the ordinary General Assembly and to submit a statement of accounts to the Auditors. The Auditors will verify the statement of accounts and submit it with their report to the committee who in their turn will submit them to the General Assembly for approval.
34. Members of the committee give their services freely and are not entitled to remuneration.
35. The financial year of the Association is from the 1st January to the end of December (i.e. one calendar year).

05. Exclusions

36. The Executive Committee is entitled to suspend members if it thinks it is conducive to the general interests of the Association, pending decision by the General Assembly. An excluded member loses all rights and benefits to the assets of the Association.
37. In particular, the committee may suspend any member:
A. Who no longer complies with the conditions for membership
B. Who has not paid his subscription
C. Who has committed an act calculated to do harm to the Association
D. Who has been the object of a serious conviction
E. In the case of a change of ownership according to paragraph 10a and 10d of these rules.

06. Dissolution and Winding-Up

38. The dissolution of the Association can only take place following an extraordinary General Assembly called together for this purpose if two thirds of the members represented have decided it. The Assembly will decide on the distribution of the assets of the Association and will entrust the committee with the winding up of the Association.
39. These rule