Shell Collectors SA
Passionate about Shells
"To further the study of Mollusca in general, and South African Mollusca in particular, and secondly, to add to the existing data and scientific records concerning South African Mollusca."
About
Shell Collectors SA, or SCSA, is the umbrella organisation for the regional Shell Clubs within South Africa. Our Mission is to create a favourable, inviting, open and relaxed environment within which the shell collecting community may function.
SCSA has an illustrious history which began in May 1958 as the Conchological Society of Southern Africa (CSSA). The initiative to start the CSSA followed after a group of collectors realised that the stretch of coastline where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, is a treasure trove for collectors. Our coast is home to a large number of endemic species, and the CSSA provided the official grounds through which information about our species could be communicated to all.
The Mission statement, established in the 1960's, is carried over to the SCSA, and reads:
"To further the study of Mollusca in general, and South African Mollusca in particular, and secondly, to add to the existing data and scientific records concerning South African Mollusca."
On a more personal level, our goals are to encourage shell collectors from all walks of life to share their experiences, learn from each other and grow their collections through various forms of trade.
To this end we invite all collectors to participate in monthly Club meetings and shell-related events, contribute to our local publication - The Strandloper - attend Workshops and events, where all can share and learn, and actively participate in our shell raffles, auctions and other trading opportunities within the Clubs.
We invite newcomers to this hobby, or to our organisation, to navigate the Site to see who is who in the zoo, where our meetings are held and how to get hold of us.
Constitution
Our Constitution has been revised again and was approved on the 4th of June 2018. You may download a copy here.
Application Form
Membership to SCSA is R100 or $25 per year. Membership affords individuals with the opportunity to receive new copies of The Strandloper, the SCSA Newsletter (Sea Bones), as well as other forms of communication. Automatic appropriation to the Annual General Meeting is also guaranteed.
To download the Membership Application Form, click here for the MS Word version, and here for the PDF version.
Completed Application Forms should be routed to the SCSA Treasurer (contact details at the bottom of the page).
Who's Who
SCSA Patron
We are in the process of selecting a new Societal Patron
Current SCSA Committee
Andre Meredith
President
Anton Groenewald
Secretary
Maurice Evans
Treasurer
Ken Brown
Editor
Alwyn Marais
Scientific Officer
Shell Clubs
Regional Shell Clubs
The following regional Clubs or Groups resort under Shell Collectors SA:
Pretoria Club
Durban Club
Cape Town Club
Jeffreys Bay Club
Shelly Beach Club
Click on the arrow next to the Club name for more information, including location, meeting times and Club Chairperson contact details.
Club Fees
Fees for membership at the regional Shell Clubs is R50 per year.
Shell Club membership affords the individual the opportunity to attend Club meetings, partake in monthly shell raffles, qualify for special Club discounts, partake in outings and enjoy meeting refreshments.
Links to International Shell Clubs
Shell collecting is a true "international hobby": many collections contain specimens from around the world, and this requires collaboration with overseas collectors and dealers. It is important to network with other Shell Clubs worldwide - sharing of knowledge is very important, and building ties with other collectors is not only recommended to strengthen our knowledge base, but, of course, to make new friends.
Below are links to the websites of some of our international collecting friends - please click and visit!
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Broward Shell Club, USA
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CenPenn Beachcombers, USA
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Englewood Shell Club, USA
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Oregon Shell Club, USA
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San Diego Shell Club, USA
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Sarasota Shell Club, USA
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Sea Shell Searchers, USA
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St Pete Shell Club, USA
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Conquiliologistas do Brasil, Brazil
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Belgian Society for Conchology, Belgium
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Malacological Society of Australasia, Oceania
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Sydney Shell Collectors Club, Australia
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German Shell Collectors Club, Germany
If you would like to be added to our website, please email the Webmaster and we will gladly do so!
We would love it if you could post a link to our Website on yours as well...)
News & Info
News
New Regional Shell Clubs
We are proud to introduce the establishment of four new regional Shell Clubs / Groups! Since August 2018, the Committee has been working tirelessly to see this come to fruition. Some work remains to get all the ducks in a row until all are running efficiently, but the foundations have been laid and Members residing within the proximity of the new Clubs will now have a "home" and a place where meetings can be held, questions can be answered and shelly banter can be entertained.
Refer to the "Shell Clubs" section above and follow the links for more information on each one.
AGM 2019
The 2019 AGM was yet again a jovial affair and was well-attended by our "northern" Members. Now-regular visitor John Hobbs once again graced us with his presence, representing the Western Cape Group. It was not a voting year, and no special matters were tabled for discussion, but all the regular standing items were covered. Many of the attendees submitted beautiful Shell Exhibits for all to drool over, and four worthy winners each received a trophy for best display in one of the four prize categories.
Long-serving Member and diver Christelle Deysel, and her hubby Ed, treated us to a wonderful account of their recent dive trip to Bali and surrounds, sharing many of the stories from their trip and many underwater photographs of their beautiful Javan Seas where they dived. We look forward to more accounts from future dive expeditions from our resident diving couple.
The AGM was concluded on another high note when our evergreen auctioneering team (Maurice Evans, Anton Groenewald and Christelle Deysel) took to the stage and conducted yet another fun-filled AGM Auction. Many beautiful shells (courtesy of Roy Aiken, John Hobbs and the Society's Du Preez Collection) were auctioned off at ridiculously low prices to the eager "contestants", with all proceeds going to the Society.
Click on the link below for a photo report of the 2019 AGM.
Correspondence from the Society President
Download the latest letter written by our President here:
Older letters can be downloaded here:
Info and Downloads
Click on any of the boxes above to learn more about our fascinating hobby!
We'd love to hear from you!
Please complete the form below and hit the send button.
Alternately, send an email to one of the addresses at the bottom of the page.
Get In Touch
President: andrepm32@gmail.com
Secretary: anton.groenewald@netcare.co.za
Treasurer: levans@yebo.co.za
Editor: brownkenneth924@gmail.com
Scientific Officer: alwyn@deark.co.za