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Membership

for your membership!

The Spider Club was formed in 1975 to encourage an interest in and study of arachnids in southern Africa.

Newsletter:
We publish a quarterly newsletter with interesting articles for beginners and the more advanced.  A diary of club events and reports of outings, advances in arachnology, news snippets, etc., are included.  Back copies are available at a nominal rate plus postage.

Field Outings:
These are arranged regularly with knowledgeable leaders who are able to help newer members and we have informal meetings and get-togethers during the "off season".

Identification courses:
Identification courses at various levels are offered from time to time.

Displays and promotions:
Public displays, illustrated talks and promotions can be arranged.  Please contact us for more details. Members are encouraged to participate.

Distribution mapping:
The Spider Club and its members are involved in projects with both public and private landowners to map and list the distribution of arachnids in South Africa and specimens collected are deposited in official collections for reference purposes.

The Pet Trade in Invertebrates:
We assist the authorities in monitoring the pet trade. Laws are changing and at present it is illegal to catch or keep certain local arachnids without a permit from Nature Conservation and the import and export of invertebrates is regulated; permits and impact assessments need to be obtained from the relevant authorities.  If you do buy tarantulas or other arachnids please make sure they are not indigenous species.  If in doubt please contact us.

Membership:

• Membership of the Club is open to all persons and institutions interested.
• Membership is by means of an annual subscription fee of R120.00 (SA) payable at the beginning of each financial membership year. (R120.00 (SA) South Africa, R160.00 (SA) Neighboring States, all other countries R100 (SA), $20 (US) / £10 Sterling (UK).
• Payment of annual subscription gives you membership for one year.  Our membership year runs from 1st July till 30th June annually.
• If a member subscribes or renews membership within one membership year, they will pay full membership for that year and receive back copies of any newsletters already sent out that membership year.
• The committee has the right to terminate a membership if it is in the interest of the Club to do so.

Ethics:
The Spider Club of Southern Africa has a Code of Ethics which must be explained by outing leaders to those attending the outing. This Code of Ethics is binding on those attending official Spider Club events.

Remember that our presence and activities may have a huge impact on the environment and Spider Club members must minimize these impacts whenever possible, for example if rocks, logs etc., are moved they must be returned to their original position and if holes are dug they must be filled in.  Animals may only be collected for specific purposes such as species listing and identification.  Breach or contravention of this code will require disciplinary action and a review of a person’s membership of The Spider Club

For further detail:

• "The Spider Club of Southern Africa - Code of Ethics for the collection of arachnids and other arthropods in the field."
• "The Constitution of the Spider Club of Southern Africa"