Today is January 06, 2009 
Background and History
The Association was founded in 1925 to serve the interests of Agricultural Arbiters, to provide them with advice and opportunity for discussion of practical and legal problems, and to promote uniformity of practice in arbitration procedure and associated valuation work.
The current membership of the Association now exceeds 200, comprising practical valuers, arbiters, auctioneers, surveyors, solicitors, accountants and others having professional or personal interests in the conduct of private and statutory arbitrations and valuation work within the landward sector.
One of its original purposes was to bring together the interests of the then numerous regional and local Agricultural Valuers' Associations for the more effective representation and promotion of their interests. The four remaining local associations are affiliated members.
The Association is one of the promoters of the Rural Arbiters' and Valuers' Nomination Committee, set up after the passing of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003 to nominate arbiters and/or valuers to resolve disputes between those who agree this method of dispute resolution in place of the Land Court.
The Association provides a degree of training and continuing education in the relevant law and practice, and a forum for meetings and exchange of views amongst members. In particular it organises events including an Annual General Meeting with guest speakers on topical subjects, a Field Day with practical valuation exercises, and occasional meetings with other organisations on matters of shared interest. There is also close collaboration with the Scottish Government in regard to opration of the dispute resolution system introduced by the 2003 Act.
The organisation is managed by an elected Council, representing the geographical distribution of the membership throughout Scotland, and thereby maintaining close links with individual members and awareness of their interests and concerns.
The Association Secretary is available for informal consultation by members on a "first aid" basis in relation to legal and procedural problems encountered in the course of arbitration or valuation references.
The Assotiation is governed by a Council of 14 members:-
President - Ian Duncan Miller president@saava.org.uk
Vice President - David Seed vp@saava.org.uk
Secretary - Malcolm Strang Steel - secretary@saava.org.uk
Members of Council - James Dick, Will Downie, George Forbes, James Forbes, Rob Forrest, George Gourlay, Martin Hall, Hugh Jones, George Lumsden, Norman McIver, Hamish McCall, George Neill, Philip Reid, Kenneth Robebertson, Alan Stannett, James Stewart, Ian Thornton Kemsley, Ian MacMartin.
If you have any any points you wish raised at a meeting of Council please contact the Sectretary, or any of the above.