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. (WMOA) It is a nonprofit, charitable organization.
OFFICERS
The administrative authority of the Association shall be vested in the following elected officers:
1. President
2. Vice-President
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer
5. Football Registrar
6. Basketball Registrar
7. Football Program Chair
8. Basketball Program Chair
9. 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 office of PRESIDENT is the second year of a three (3) 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 Committees). He/She shall be Chair of the Board of Directors and preside at their meetings. He/She shall also be Chair of the Grievance Committee if one is established. All correspondence from members and schools shall be directed to the President or Secretary for any action, as needed.
The office of VICE-PRESIDENT is the first year of a three (3) year term, to be followed as President and Counselor. The Vice-President shall be Co-Chair of the annual Banquet Committee.
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. He/She shall be responsible for the recording of the minutes of the executive and membership meetings. All correspondence from members and schools shall be directed to the President or Secretary for any action, as needed. Along with the Treasurer, the Secretary shall have the authority to draw or deposit funds of the Association. The Secretary shall assist the Treasurer in making provisions for the collection of dues. He/She shall also assist the Registrars in the recruitment of new members. The Secretary shall be elected for a term of two years, alternating years from the treasurer.
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. The Treasurer shall make provisions for the collection of dues, keep records of the current status of the Association’s treasury, and render a financial report at the request of the President or a majority of the members present at any scheduled meeting. The Treasurer shall also make arrangements for a third-party audit of the Association’s financial records, which shall occur at least once a year and prior to the MHSAA deadline for approved associations. The Treasurer shall be elected for a term of two years, alternating years from the secretary.
The FOOTBALL PROGRAM Chair will be responsible for the program planning for each regular meeting during the football season, and will conduct an orientation program during the football season for new officials with the appropriate Registrar. The Chair shall appoint committee members as deemed necessary. The Program Chair shall be elected for a term of one year.
The BASKETBALL PROGRAM Chair will be responsible for the program planning for each regular meeting during the basketball season, and will conduct an orientation program during the basketball seasons for new officials with the appropriate Registrar. The Chair shall appoint committee members as deemed necessary. The Program Chair shall be elected for a term of one year.
The FOOTBALL and BASKETBALL REGISTRARS will conduct an orientation program during both the football and basketball seasons for new officials with the appropriate Program Chair. 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. Each registrar shall be elected for a term of two years, alternating years by sport.
The COUNSELOR role is filled by the immediate outgoing President and is the third year of a three (3) 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 currently registered football and basketball MHSAA officials. Members shall have the opportunity to attain Member In Good Standing (MIGS) status by (1) attending a minimum of 50% of regularly scheduled WMOA rules/mechanics meetings for each designated sport in the year preceding such designated MIGS status, (2) having paid the current dues and special assessments for their designated sport(s) on or before July 31 of the current year, and (3) having paid the assessed dues for the prior year of membership in each designated sport for which they are seeking MIGS status. Current year is defined as August 1 to July 31.
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, assignments on committees, and to cast one vote in connection with the formal business conducted by the association. Privileges afforded to Active Members, including but not limited to game assignments, may be suspended or revoked by the Board of Directors if all dues, special assessments and/or late fees are not paid as required.
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 MEMBERSHIP 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 notice of the time and place of this meeting at least ten (10) days before that date.
All REGULAR RULES 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 to the membership and placed on the WMOA website. 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 established by the Board. Active and Associate memberships include WMOA mailings and a banquet ticket. WMOA Board member dues are waived.
Dues shall be payable on or before July 31 for the current year of membership. A penalty will be assessed for late payments received after July 31. If an official is joining as a new member, no late fee will apply. A new member is an official who has never been a previous member of the WMOA, not a former member who has not maintained active membership.
A special assessment may be levied upon the recommendation of the current board by a 3/4 affirmative vote, with participation of not less than ⅓ of the current membership.
ARTICLE VI
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Officers shall be elected each spring. The officers who are elected shall assume their duties May 1, with their terms to extend through the following year, except the Secretary and Treasurer who are elected for two (2) year terms. There shall be no 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 Membership 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 and be members in good standing (MIGs).
VOTING
Voting shall be conducted by appointees of the President. Those nominees who receive a majority of votes shall be declared elected.
With respect to the offices of Football and Basketball Registrars, and Football and Basketball Program Chairs: Only members registered with the WMOA as football officials shall vote for the Football Registrar and the Football Program Chair positions; only members registered as basketball officials shall vote for the Basketball Registrar and the Basketball Program Chair positions.
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENTS
The By-Laws of the West Michigan Officials Association may be amended by a 3/4 affirmative vote, with participation of not less than 1/3 of the current membership.
The Secretary is authorized to correct non-substantive errors to these bylaws in spelling, grammar or numbering without amendment, subject to approval of the Board of Directors.
The Policies of the WMOA may be established and amended by a majority vote of the Board.
ARTICLE VIII
STANDING COMMITTEES
AWARDS COMMITTEE
This committee shall solicit and compile a list of candidates for various association and student-athlete awards.
BANQUET COMMITTEE
This committee shall organize and implement the annual WMOA Banquet.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE
This committee shall ensure the association maintains a visible and positive presence in the local community, and is charged with addressing worthwhile functions, donation requests or suggestions, etc., and coordinating any appropriate response or involvement on behalf of the Association.
DIRECTORY COMMITTEE
This committee shall handle the responsibility of preparing and publishing the annual Association Directory. Committee members will be appointed by the President.
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 (for each office) to the membership.
ARTICLE IX
STUDENT-ATHLETE AWARD
The recipients of the WMOA Student-Athlete Award will be a girls basketball, boys basketball and football athlete chosen each spring, and announced at the annual Membership Meeting. Each recipient will receive a scholarship in an amount to be determined by the Board on an annual basis.
ARTICLE X
CONDUCT OF MEMBERS
Members shall at all times conduct themselves in a positive manner in accordance with conduct outlined in the MHSAA Officials Guidebook. Any member acting in an inconsistent manner with the MHSAA Officials Guidebook may be subject to disciplinary action from the Board of Directors up to and including revocation and/or rejection of membership. Any member subject to disciplinary action is entitled to due process.
ARTICLE XI
DISCRIMINATION
No member or prospective member will be denied equal opportunity because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, age, disability (physical or mental), genetic information, parental status, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation or belief, or any other prohibited factor.
These by-laws were revised and approved by membership vote on 03/19/2018. Additional revisions made 05/2019.
ASSOCIATION POLICIES
(Established by Board Vote)
Membership Dues – Single sport membership dues (football or basketball) shall be fifty dollars ($50.00). Dual sport membership (football and basketball) shall be sixty dollars ($60.00). A penalty of twenty dollars ($20.00) will be assessed for late payments for single sport or dual sport registration received after July 31 (revised effective 5/1/2019)
Payment Refunds – Members who make payments multiple times in error will be refunded upon request once overpayment has been verified. Refunds will be made less any account fees or transaction fees associated with the refund. (Effective 09/02/2021)
WMOA Patches – Each new member will receive two WMOA patches upon payment of dues. Renewing members will receive replacement patches as needed and requested.
Association Voting – Elections and surveys of the membership shall be conducted through YopPoll (on WMOA website).
Membership Roster – A current membership roster shall be maintained on the WMOA website with access by all members.
Member in Good Standing (MIGs) – Members are allowed an opportunity to attend and receive credit for one (1) non-WMOA sponsored, but MHSAA approved rules/mechanics meeting for each sport the official desires credit for. In order to receive credit, the rules/mechanics meeting must be approved, and attendance verified by the existing Program Chair for that respective sport.
West Michigan Officials Association