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“As a member of the professional currency dealers association
(PCDA), I pledge;
(1) To furnish advice on numismatic matters to the best
of my ability;
(2) To deliver material that I sell promptly unless otherwise
agreed between myself and my customer;
(3) To pay for material I have purchased promptly unless
otherwise agreed between myself and my customer;
(4) To refrain from publishing any misrepresentations
relating to the prices, quality or guarantees attached to my merchandise
or that of my competitors;
(5) To assist government authorities in investigating
and prosecuting individuals regarding stolen numismatic material where
appropriate;
(6) To refrain from knowingly dealing in stolen material;
(7) To refrain from knowingly dealing in spurious material
without fully disclosing its status to my customer;
(8) To grade material accurately to the best of my ability;
(9) To refrain from any of the following in selling material
to retail customers:
a) using high pressure sales techniques;
b) using misleading performance data;
c) intentionally misrepresenting the origin, provenance,
or pedigree of any material;
d) intentionally misrepresenting the genuineness
of any item;
e) intentionally misrepresenting the value of any material
using auction prices realized, wholesale trading prices or any other pricing
data;
f) intentionally misrepresenting the investment potential
of material;
g) intentionally misrepresenting an affiliation between
myself and any governmental agency;
(10) To respect all my numismatic contracts with fellow
PCDA members, whatever written or oral;
(11) To respect my fellow members’ contracts with third
parties and not interfere with same;
(12) To freely exchange non-proprietary information with
my fellow members when requested to do so;
(13) To refrain from intentionally defaming the character
of a fellow member or the quality of that members’ products or services;
(14) To publish clearly my return policy for material
in advertisements, catalogs, booklets or other places where my material
is offered for sale to retail customers.”
Section 1.
The name of this organization is the “Professional
Currency Dealers Association, Inc.” being incorporated under the laws of
the State of Wisconsin.
Section 2.
The objective of this organization shall be to promote,
stimulate and advance the profession of dealing in all forms of currency
and related items, to advance the study of paper money, and to promote
honest, knowledgeable and ethical dealing between member dealers and the
public.
Section 3.
The fiscal year of the Association shall be from
January 1st through December 31st.
Section 1.
The Association shall be composed of Regular Members
and Honorary Members.
Section 2.
Regular Members shall be those individuals now Regular
Members in good standing and those hereafter admitted as Regular Members
on the manner hereinafter set forth:
(a) Any individual 18 years
of age or over and of good moral character and reputation shall be eligible
for membership.
(b) Application for membership
shall be made on forms prescribed by the Association.
(c) All applications for
membership must be sponsored by two (2) Members in good standing.
(d) To be accepted for Regular
Membership in the Association, applicants must demonstrate that they have
some meaningful commercial effect upon the field of paper money and related
items.
(e) All duly sponsored completed
applications for Regular Membership shall be sent to the Secretary of the
Association. The Secretary shall, within thirty (30) days of receipt of
the complete application, poll all Regular Members by mail to determine
the fitness of the proposed new member for admission to the Association.
(f) All applications for
membership in the Association shall be deemed approved thirty (30) days
after being forwarded to the membership by the Secretary as outlined above,
unless 20% or more of the Regular Members polled indicate in writing their
disapproval of the applicant for membership. Such disapproval need not
be accompanied by specific reason(s).
(g) The Secretary shall
notify each applicant for membership as to the status of his (her) application
upon completion of the application process as outlined above.
Section 3.
Annual dues shall be determined by the Executive
Board and shall be payable to the Treasurer in advance of January 1st of
each year. Any member who fails to pay his (her) dues within thirty (30)
days from the of receipt of a past due notice, which shall be sent by Certified
Mail by the Treasurer, shall be liable to suspension, in which case his
(her) name shall be dropped from the membership rolls. Any member suspended
for non-payment of dues, or any member who has previously resigned, may
be reinstated upon payment of arrearages due at the time of suspension
or resignation, as well as all subsequent dues to date, provided no charges
are pending against such member, and in any case, only if the charges are
withdrawn or dismissed. If aforesaid payments are not made, then the individual
must apply for Regular Membership under the provisions as outlined in Article
II, Section 2.
Section 1.
Any member violating the by-laws of the Association,
committing any unethical act in his (her) dealing with others, unjustly
defaming the character of any other member, committing a criminal offense
under the laws of any state of the United States, or engaging in conduct
prejudicial to the welfare of the Association shall be subject to expulsion
or other disciplinary action as hereinafter provided.
Section 2.
Proceedings for expulsion or other disciplinary
action shall be initiated by written charges signed by the person making
them. Said person may, but need not be, a member of the Association. Such
charges, with particulars thereof, shall be filed with the Secretary, who
shall thereupon mail a written copy or summary thereof in an envelope sent
by Certified U.S. Mail to the accused member at the last address furnished
by him (her) to the Secretary. The accused member shall be afforded a reasonable
opportunity, which shall in no case be longer than forty - five (45) days
from the date of the receipt of the charges, to enter a written defense
to such charges. The matter shall then be referred to the Executive Board,
which shall determine the case under such rules and regulations as it may
adopt. The Executive Board may dismiss such charges, or it may recommend
censure, suspension, or expulsion of the accused member. Should the Executive
Board recommend censure, suspension, or expulsion of any member, the Secretary
shall, within ten (10) days, poll the membership, excepting the member
in question, as to whether the decision of the Executive Board shall be
upheld. The decision of the Executive Board shall be deemed upheld unless,
within thirty (30) days, two - thirds of the total membership votes to
reject the recommendation of the Executive Board. Should this occur, the
Secretary shall poll the membership to determine the appropriate disposition
of the matter, which shall then be decided by the majority of the members
voting. The Secretary shall notify all members as to the disposition of
all disciplinary actions.
Section 3.
Until the final decision of the Executive Board
is put forth, as ratified by the membership, the accused member shall continue
as a member in good standing of the Association
Section 4.
Any member convicted of a felony under the laws
of any state or the laws of the United States of America shall automatically
be expelled from membership in the Association.
Section 5.
No Regular Member shall be permitted to resign from
the Association while charges are pending against him (her). Additionally,
suspension or resignation will not abrogate indebtedness by said member
to the Association under any circumstances.
Section 6.
The Executive Board may vote to reinstate the membership
of any person who has been expelled from the Association, save for person
expelled by reason of conviction of a felony. A majority vote of the entire
membership shall be required before such individual is reinstated.
Section 1.
The elected officers of the Association shall be
the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and four (4) Governors.
Section 2.
The Association's immediate past - President shall
automatically become a member of the Executive Board for a two year term
immediately upon expiration of his (her) elected office.
Section 3.
The President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer,
and four (4) Governors, plus the Association's immediate past - President,
shall constitute the Executive Board who shall manage, operate, and conduct
the affairs of the Association.
Section 4.
The President shall have general supervision over
all the affairs of the Association. His (her) duties shall include, but
not limited to, the following:
(a) To preside at all meetings
of the Association.
(b) To call meetings of
the Executive Board and preside thereat.
(c) To appoint all committee
chairpersons that may be necessary to achieve the objectives of the Association
and to remove them at will.
(d) To serve as spokesperson
for the Association in all dealings with outside individuals, groups, or
media.
Section 5.
The duties of the Vice President shall be:
(a) To assist the President,
at his (her) request, in the discharge of his (her) duties.
(b) To act in the place
of the President in the case of his (her) absence or disability.
(c) To succeed to the position
of President in the case of his (her) death or resignation.
Section 6.
(a) To act as Secretary
to the Executive Board, and keep a true record of its proceedings.
(b) To receive all properly
prepared applications for membership as described in Article II.
(c) To handle all correspondence
relating to Association matters.
(d) To perform other such
functions as described in the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association.
Section 7.
The Executive Board shall have the power to act
on the affairs and business of the Association, including but not being
limited to:
(a) Decide on the time,
place and arrangements for holding conventions and Association meetings.
(b) Prescribe the form of
membership applications.
(c) Rule on the disposition
of formal charges brought against a member.
(d) Determine the amount
of annual membership dues.
(e) Remove from office any
elected officer, or Executive Board member, who does not or cannot meet
the requirements of his (her) office.
(f) Prescribe the time and
manner of publication and distribution of a directory of members.
(g) A quorum for the transaction
of business at meetings of the Executive Board shall consist of five (5)
out of the (9) Members.
(h) Each member of the Executive
Board, without exception or limitation, shall have an equal right to vote
on any matter.
(i) A majority vote of the
Executive Board shall be required in order to amend the Constitution and
By-Laws of the Association, subject to ratification by a majority of the
membership.
(j) Members of the Executive
Board may vote by mail, facsimile or telephone, but affirmative mail or
facsimile votes of a majority of all members of the Executive Board shall
be required for By-Law amendments.
(k) Meetings of the Executive
Board shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order.
(l) The Executive Board
shall meet at least twice per year, at times and places to be determined
by the President.
(m) In addition to the meetings
mandated by Article IV Section 8 (l), the Executive Board may hold additional
meetings at times and places to be determined by the President, or by a
majority vote of said Board, which vote may be initiated by any member
of said Board.
Section 9.
Terms of office for all Association officers shall
be two (2) years.
Section 1.
Officers shall be elected at the annual meeting
of the Association held in odd numbered years. Any Regular Member in good
standing shall be eligible for election to any office. Election shall be
decided by a majority vote of Association members in attendance at the
annual meeting.
Section 1.
The Association shall hold at least one (1) general
membership meeting per year.
Section 2.
In those years in which the Association sponsors
or co-sponsors an annual convention, the general membership meeting shall
take place during the time and at the place of said convention. In years
in which the Association does note sponsor or co-sponsor an annual convention,
the general membership meeting shall take place during the annual Memphis
International Paper Money Convention.
Section 1.