The Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Introduction
- Founded in 1876 the Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland is one of the oldest existing societies devoted to the study of molluscs.
- Snails, slugs, sea slugs and most seashells are molluscs, as are octopus, squids, chitons (coat-of-mail shells), and limpets. So are bivalves, both freshwater and marine. Many of the marine bivalves are of commercial importance as a food source thoughout the world, including clams, cockles, oysters, razor shells, scallops and mussels, and it is important that over-exploitation is avoided and that stocks are maintained.
Objectives
- The object of the Society is the promotion for the benefit of the public the study of Mollusca in its widest aspects. It is a Registered Charity which anyone, anywhere may join.
- The Society achieves its objective of promoting the study of molluscs and their conservation, through meetings, workshops, publications and distribution recording schemes.
- Subject to the availability of funds the Society may make grants (maximum £1000 per grant) totalling up to £3000 in any one calendar year. The grants will be for projects promoting the objectives of the society.
How the Society is run
- The Society is governed by a Council consisting of the President, the Vice-Presidents, the Society's Officers and nine Ordinary Council Members. Ordinary Council Members are elected for a period of three years, and on the expiry of this term are not eligible for a further twelve months for re-election to the same position.
- The Society's Officers consist of the General Secretary, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, Journal Editor, Recorder for Non-marine Mollusca, Recorder for Marine Mollusca, Editor of 'Mollusc World', Programme Secretary and Conservation Officer, all of whom are elected annually. All Officers are unpaid.
