THE BY-LAWS OF THE WEST MICHIGAN OFFICIALS' ASSOCIATION

 

PREAMBLE

 

In order to promote and maintain high professional standards of sports officiating, and to engender a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation between coaches, athletic directors, other interested parties and the sports officials of this area, the West Michigan Officials' Association is organized and established.

 

ARTICLE I

NAME

This organization shall be called THE WEST MICHIGAN OFFICIALS' ASSOCIA­TION INC. It is a nonprofit, charitable organization.

 

OFFICERS

The administrative authority of the Association shall be vested in the following elected officers.

1.        President

2.        President-Elect

3.        Vice-President

4.        Secretary

5.        Treasurer

6.        Football Registrar

7.        Basketball Registrar

8.        Football Program Chairperson

9.        Basketball Program Chairperson or Co-Chairpersons

10.      Counselor

These elected officers shall comprise the BOARD OF DIRECTORS of the Association.

 

VACANCIES

If a vacancy occurs in any of these offices during the year, such vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the President, with the approval of a majority of the mem­bers of the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE II

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

The PRESIDENT shall serve a one (1) year term. The PRESIDENT shall preside at all meetings of the Association and shall appoint all standing and special com­mittees, except as otherwise stated in Article VIII (Standing and Special Committees). He/She shall be Chairperson of the Board of Directors and preside at their meetings. He/She shall also be Chairperson of the Grievance Committee.

 

The PRESIDENT ELECT shall serve a one (1) year term. The PRESIDENT ELECT shall, in the absence of the President, perform all duties of the President. He/She shall act as liaison between the members, the Board of Directors and the various working committees, and shall assist the committee chairperson whenever possible. He/She shall be co-chairperson of the annual banquet. His/Her duties also include being the coordinator of his/her respective sport as determined when he/she was the vice-president. All correspondence from members and schools shall be directed to him/her for any action if necessary.

 

The VICE-PRESIDENT shall serve a three (3) year term. He/She will become President-elect his/her second year and President his/her third year. The Vice- President shall be co-chairperson of the annual banquet committee. His/Her duties also include being the coordinator of his/her respective sport. All corre­spondence from members and schools shall be directed to him/her for any action if necessary.

 

THE SECRETARY shall arrange for a place of meetings and shall notify all the members of all regular or emergency meetings called by the President. This notice shall be made by newspaper publication and/or most expeditious means. He/She shall be responsible for the recording of the minutes of the executive and election meetings. In addition, the secretary shall act as chair­man of the PUBLICITY COMMITTEE, and shall receive a fee to be recommended by the Board and approved by the membership. Along with the Treasurer, the Secretary shall have the authority to draw or deposit funds of the Association. He/She shall assist the Treasurer in making provisions for the collection of dues. He/She shall assist the Registrars in the recruitment of new members. The Secretary shall be elected for a term of two years.

 

The TREASURER shall be responsible for and have control and custody of all the funds belonging to the Association and shall make disbursements for the prompt payment of any Association obligations incurred. Along with the Secretary, the Treasurer shall have the authority to draw or deposit funds of the Association. He/She shall make provisions for the collection of dues; he/she shall keep records of the current status of the Association's treasury and he/she shall render a financial report at the request of the President or a majority of the members present at any scheduled meeting. The Treasurer will be elected for the period of two years.

 

The FOOTBALL PROGRAM CHAIRPERSON will be responsible for the pro­gram planning for each regular meeting during the Football season. He/She shall, with the Secretary and Treasurer, arrange for all equipment needed for any program and shall conduct the program sessions as chairman. He/She shall appoint committee members as he/she deems necessary.

 

The BASKETBALL PROGRAM CHAIRPERSON will be responsible for the program planning for each regular meeting during the Basketball season. He/She shall, in conjunction with the Secretary and Treasurer, arrange for all equip­ment needed for any program and shall conduct the program sessions. As chairperson, he/she shall appoint committee members as he/she deems neces­sary.

 

The FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL REGISTRARS will be responsible for the recruitment of members, and will conduct an orientation program during both the football and basketballs seasons for new officials with the appropriate Program Chairperson. Each Registrar will also serve as Sergeant-at-Arms and will ensure a parliamentary atmosphere at all meetings. In addition, each Registrar will be in charge of the master schedule for his/her sport and shall receive a fee to be recommended by the Board and approved by the membership.

 

The COUNSELOR is automatically filled by the immediate outgoing or retiring President and shall serve a one (1) year term. The Counselor shall act as an advisor to the Board of Directors, assist the President, and act as a liaison to all standing committees and any new or ongoing project/program as deemed appropriate.

 

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP

There shall be two classes of membership in the organization: ACTIVE MEM­BERSHIP and ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP.

 

ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP shall be open to each duly registered, MHSAA athletic official of the West Michigan Area. Members shall have the opportunity to attain the status of members in good standing. To attain the status of mem­ber in good standing, a WMOA member must attend a minimum of 50% of regularly scheduled rules and mechanics meetings for the specific sport (football, basketball) regis­tered with the MHSAA.

 

All members shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of membership upon fulfill­ment of the membership requirements contained by these bylaws, and shall be eligible for election as an officer, assignment in committees, and to cast one vote in connection with the formal business conducted by the association.

 

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP shall be open to all past members not presently participating in high school athletics who desire mailings and banquet tickets.

 

ARTICLE IV

MEETINGS

The annual ELECTION MEETING shall be held each Spring at the close of the State Boys' Basketball Tournaments. At this meeting, the election of officers and any other business pertinent to another year's activity will be conducted. All members shall be given written notice of the time and place of this meeting at least ten (10) days before that date.

 

ALL REGULAR MEETINGS of each season shall be held at such time and place as the Board of Directors shall designate. The dates of such regular meetings will be published in the Association Directory. Any special meeting may be called by the President, with the approval of a majority of the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE V

DUES

Dues for membership shall be recommended by the Board and approved by the membership.  Active and Associate memberships include WMOA mailings and a banquet ticket.  WMOA Board member dues are waived.

 

Dues shall be payable on or before June 1^st.  A penalty of five ($5.00) will be assessed for payments after June 1st, unless the official joining is a new mem­ber. A member's name will be excluded from the annual Association Directory if dues are not received by the Treasurer by June 15.

 

Each new member will receive two WMOA patches upon payment of dues.  Renewing members will receive replacement patches as needed and requested.

 

A special assessment may be levied by a three-fourth (3/4) vote of the members present at any regularly scheduled meeting, provided that the total number of the majority votes constitutes not less than one-third (1/3) of the total member­ship of Association.

 

ARTICLE VI

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Officers shall be elected at the annual Election Meeting each Spring. The offi­cers who shall be elected shall assume their duties at the close of this meeting, with their terms to extend through the night of the annual Election Meeting the following year, with the exception of the Secretary and Treasurer who are elect­ed for a two (2) year term.

 

After one year, the President Elect shall become President. After one year, the Vice-President shall become President-Elect. There shall not be any restrictions against the reelection of any officer to any position, other than in this Article VI.

 

NOMINATIONS

The NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE shall inform the membership of the nominations process, and solicit names of potential candidates prior to the annual Election Meeting.  The Committee shall then present a list of candidates for the consideration of the members. These candidates shall have been screened by the committee to confirm their availability for election to office.

 

VOTING

Voting shall be conducted by mailed proxy or secret written ballot, which shall be prepared and distributed by the association secretary. Appointees of the president shall count all ballots in the presence of membership at the annual elections meeting. Those nominees who shall receive a majority of votes shall be declared elected. Proxy votes received after the annual elections meeting will be declared void.

 

ARTICLE VII

AMENDMENTS

The By-Laws of the West Michigan Officials' Association may be amended by a majority vote of the members present at any regularly scheduled meeting and/or by mailed proxy, providing the total number of votes cast constitutes one-third (1/3) of the total membership of the Association.

 

ARTICLE VIII

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

1.     PROGRAM COMMITTEES

These committees are to be appointed by the Football Program Chairperson and/or the Basketball Program Chairperson at their discretion.

 

2.     PUBLICITY COMMITTEE

The Chairperson of this committee shall be the Secretary of the Association. Duties of the committee members will be assigned at the discre­tion of the committee chairman. The Publicity Committee will work in conjunc­tion with the Membership Committee in the preparation and publication of the annual Association Directory.

 

3.     MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

The co-chairpersons of this committee are the Football and Basketball Registrars. Duties of the committee members will be assigned at the discretion of the committee chairpersons. The Membership Committee will work with the Publicity Committee in the preparation and publication of the Annual Association Directory.

 

4.     NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE

This committee shall consider a list of candidates for each office, clear with those candidates their availability for service, and present the resulting slate of candidates at the annual Election Meeting.

 

5.     SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Special committees shall be appointed by the President when he/she deems necessary.

 

6.     AUDIT COMMITTEE

Active association members shall be appointed by the Board of Directors to serve on this committee to audit the association books. The books shall be audited at least once a year, prior to the MHSAA deadline for approved associa­tions.

 

7.     COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE

Active association members shall be appointed by the President to serve on this committee.  The committee will have three members; one football representative, one basketball representative, and one Board member liaison. The committee will ensure the association maintains a visible and positive presence in the local community, and is charged with addressing worthwhile functions, donation requests or suggestions, and coordinating any appropriate response or involvement on behalf of the association.

 

ARTICLE IX

The recipients of the Dan Nameth Award will be a girl's basketball, boy's basket­ball and football athlete chosen at the annual elections meeting each spring. Each recipient will receive a scholarship in an amount to be determined by the Board on an annual basis.