bylaws
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FEDERATON OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN GEM &<br />
MINERALOGICAL SOCIETIES (FOSAGAMS)<br />
1. OUTGOING OFFICE BEARERS<br />
BYLAWS<br />
1.1 A suitably engraved memento, such as an Estwing rock hammer, shall be presented to<br />
the outgoing President at an Annual General Meeting as a token of appreciation from<br />
the Federation.<br />
1.2 The Secretary shall be responsible to procure and prepare the memento.<br />
1.3 Certificates bearing the name of the person, office and year of office shall be<br />
presented to outgoing Executive Committee members unless they are re-elected. The<br />
certificates shall be signed by the incumbent President and forwarded to the persons<br />
concerned by the Secretary.<br />
1.4 Similar certificates of appreciation may, on approval by the Annual General Meeting,<br />
be presented to any other person.<br />
2. NATIONAL SHOWS AND GEMBOREES<br />
2.1 Members shall be responsible for the organisation of Gemborees, according to a roster<br />
which shall be agreed and reviewed annually at the Annual General Meeting.<br />
2.2 The profits and/or losses of National Shows and Gemborees shall be shared between<br />
the organising Member/s and the Federation on a 60/40 basis.<br />
2.3 A Member may request funds in advance from the Federation for the initial financing<br />
of a National Show or Gemboree. This advance must be approved by the Executive<br />
Committee and will be regarded as a loan to be repaid within sixty days after the<br />
event.<br />
2.4 Members arranging a National Show or Gemboree will decide the financial policy,<br />
including profit or loss margins, for the event.<br />
2.5 The organising Member/s shall provide a full financial statement to the Annual<br />
General Meeting following a National Show or Gemboree, for including in the<br />
minutes.<br />
3. “ SOUTHERN AFRICAN GEMS AND MINERALS” (FORMERLY “SOUTH<br />
AFRICAN LAPIDARY MAGAZINE”)<br />
3.1 Members shall elect annually a sub-committee in terms of paragraph 4.2 to publish<br />
the “Southern African Gems and Minerals” (formerly “South African Lapidary<br />
Magazine”). The sub-committee shall consist of an editor, a treasurer, an advertising<br />
manager, a circulation manager and the sub-committee may co-opt other persons to<br />
assist them as they deem necessary.<br />
Bylaws Page 1
3.2 The magazine will act as the mouthpiece of the Federation to promote communication<br />
and co-operation between members in terms of paragraph 6.2.<br />
4. VISITS BY FOREIGNERS<br />
4.1 Members knowing of visits to Southern Africa by foreign groups or individuals likely<br />
to interest other Members of the Federation, must convey this information to the<br />
Executive Committee.<br />
4.2 The Executive Committee in turn will convey the information to all Members, and if<br />
necessary appoint a liaison officer to co-ordinate and oversee the visit in the interests<br />
of the Federation.<br />
4.3 Costs incurred by Members in receiving foreign visitors on request of the Executive<br />
Committee may be borne by the Federation if so requested by Members and provided<br />
funds are available.<br />
5. RULES OF CONDUCT<br />
5.1 Clubs and societies must ensure that they and their members comply with all local,<br />
provincial and state laws and regulations with regard to the collection, purchase,<br />
exchange, sale and working of cut and uncut material and specimens. It should be a<br />
regular activity of clubs and societies to inform their members of relevant laws and<br />
regulations.<br />
5.2 Clubs and societies must ensure that their members comply with the Rockhounds<br />
Code of Ethics for collectors of material – especially regarding prior permission from<br />
owners to enter their property – removing only as much material as members can<br />
reasonably use themselves, leaving sites in good order, and not returning to sites<br />
visited by clubs without the prior written consent of club committees.<br />
5.3 Clubs and societies must ensure that visitors in their care conduct themselves ethically<br />
at all times.<br />
6. AMENDMENTS OF BYLAWS<br />
6.1 These <strong>bylaws</strong> may be amended by a simple majority at an Annual General Meeting<br />
after notice has been given of the proposed amendments along with the regular notice<br />
of the pending Annual General Meeting.<br />
6.2 Notice of proposed amendments must be sent to the Executive Committee in time to<br />
be circulated to Members of the Federation.<br />
Date of approval:<br />
………………………………………..<br />
Bylaws Page 2
CHAIRMAN:<br />
………………………………………..<br />
SECRETARY:<br />
………………………………………..<br />
Bylaws Page 3