Kalamazoo Officials Association Constitution and By Laws

Article I.           Name

Section 1.01 The name of association shall be the “Kalamazoo Officials Association.”  The principle office shall be in Kalamazoo.

Article II.        Purpose

Section 2.01 To Secure competent officiating for all interscholastic contests and to surround such officials with such safeguards as to warrant public confidence in their integrity and officiating skills and techniques.

Section 2.02 To promote fraternalism among officials, and to protect and promote the mutual interest and welfare of officials.

Section 2.03 To maintain the status of an “Approved Association”, as defined by the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA).

Section 2.04 To actively recruit new officials.

Section 2.05 To promote professional unity and understanding among officials, coaches, and school administrators.

Article III.    Membership

Section 3.01 The general  membership of this association shall consist of any person who meets the requirements of the MHSAA for officiating.

(a)     Members shall be of the following types:

                (i)     Active.  An active member is one who was properly registered with the MHSAA ; who is current in his/her association dues’ who meets the membership requirements set forth here and elsewhere in this constitution; and who annually certifies membership as a registered official through the MHSAA to the association’s Secretary.
 

             (ii)     Lifetime.  An honorary member is one who is nominated for membership in the association by virtue of his/her support of the purpose of the association and evidence of commitment to officiating.  An honorary member shall meet all membership requirements except MHSAA registration and attendance at association meetings.

           (iii)     Inactive.  An inactive member is one who is either not registered with the MHSAA, is not current in his/her association dues, or fails to participate in at least one of the association’s general meetings during the year.

Section 3.02 The Board of Directors (Executive Board) may elect Life Time Members at its discretion.  Life Time Members shall not be required to pay the dues and are accorded all rights and privileges granted to the membership of this association.

Section 3.03 Any member may go on inactive status upon the application to and approval by the Board of Directors.

Section 3.04 There shall be no refund of dues.

Section 3.05 The annual dues for the association shall be $15.00 for on sport or $20.00 for two or more sports.

Section 3.06 Dues must be paid by July 1st each year to be eligible for nominations in their respective sports.

Section 3.07 It is required all members attend the MHSAA Rules Interpretation Meetings.

Article IV.     Termination of Membership

Section 4.01 The governing and enforcement power and the adjudication of all controversies under this agreement shall be vest in the Executive Board and/or the association President as herein after provided.

Article V.         Officers

Section 5.01 The officers shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Trainer (one per sponsored sport). The President and Vice President will be elected to a TWO year term. The Treasurer and Secretary shall be elected to a ONE year term. All elected officers must be present at the banquet to be considered for an officer position.  Only active members in good standing may cast ballots.  There shall be no salary paid to any of the officers.  The fiscal year shall be July 1 to June 30.

Section 5.02 The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and the Treasurer with the President acting as Chairman.

Section 5.03 The Board of Directors shall consist of the Executive Board along with all Sport-Specific Trainers.

Section 5.04 President

(a)     The President shall have the authority usually vested in the executive officer on any organization.  He/She shall perform the duties for such and shall be responsible for such.

(b)    The President shall preside over general business meetings, Board of Directors meetings, and shall be ex-officio chairman of all committee meetings.  The President shall have a vote only in case of a tie or to constitute a quorum when presiding over a meeting.

(c)     The President shall assume any other responsibility as delegated by the Board of Directors.

(d)    The President shall be reimbursed for all expenses actually incurred by him/her (or those designed by him/her) in the services of the association, and at the end of this term of office, he/she shall account for and deliver up to the board, all the property and papers which may have come into his/her hands by virtue of his/her office.

(e)     Should the office of the President become vacant by the death, resignation, or removal of the President, the Vice-President shall become President.

(f)      At the end of his/her term, the departed President shall become one of the members of the Board of Directors.

(g)     The President is a member of the Executive Board and shall act as Chairman.

Section 5.05 Vice-President

(a)     The Vice-President shall fill in for the President in his/her absence.

(b)    At the end of his/her term of office, the Vice-President shall be automatically elected to the office of President.

(c)     The Vice-President shall be in charge of securing a guest speaker for the annual official’s banquet in the spring.  A committee may be organized to help in this venture.

(d)    The Vice-President is a member of the Executive Board.

Section 5.06 Secretary

(a)     The Secretary shall maintain record, including personal and officiating information of each member and shall notify the membership of all regular and special meetings.

(b)    The Secretary or designated representative shall keep minutes of general business meetings and board meetings and present such at the next meeting and keep copies of minutes for association records.

(c)     The Secretary shall be responsible for association correspondence to and from members, schools, individuals and groups.

(d)    The Secretary shall coordinate budgeting concerns affecting the office with the treasurer.

(e)     The Secretary shall serve as association liaison with the MHSAA and other school officials, serve as liaison with area newspapers and radio stations, serve as association liaison with area athletic conferences and assume any other responsibility as delegated by the Executive Board.

(f)      The Secretary is a member of the Executive Board.

Section 5.07 Treasurer

(a)     The treasurer shall keep records of assets, liabilities, income and disbursements of the association.

(b)      The treasurer is a member of the Executive Board.

(c)      The treasurer shall make a Financial Report at each General Meeting

(d)     The treasurer shall coordinate annual dues collection with the Secretary.

(e)    The treasurer shall pay all bills for the association through association accounts.

(f)     The treasurer shall provide an annual budget report and income statement to the Executive Board and assume any other responsibility

Section 5.08 Sport-Specific Trainer

(a)     There shall be on trainer for each sport sponsored by the Kalamazoo Officials Association.

(b)    The trainer shall be a knowledgeable and experienced official in her/her respective sport.

(c)     The trainer may arrange for the members to work scrimmages in their sport and

(d)    The trainer is responsible for arranging all meeting dates, times, and places and relaying that information to the Secretary.

(e)     The trainers are also members of the Board of Directors.

Section 5.09 Board of Directors

(a)     The Board shall consist of the officers of the association plus the previously departed President.

(b)    The Board shall be responsible for enforcement of all association rules.

(c)     The association President shall be chairman of the Board.  A majority of the Board present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any and all business.

(d)    The Board shall approve the expenses and annual fiscal report of the association.

(e)     The Board shall be limited to expenses of under $1,000.00 without membership approval.  Membership approval prior to all expenses exceeding $1,000.00 is required.

Article VI.     Meetings

Section 6.01 The time and place of general membership meetings shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 6.02 Meeting schedules for the year will be handed out at the first fall meeting which shall be held before the first scheduled football contest of each year.  Meeting schedules will also be posted on the association’s website.

Section 6.03 There shall be at least three general meetings held each fiscal year.  Attendance of at least one of these meetings is required to be an active member of the association.

Article VII.  Attendance

Section 7.01 The secretary of a designated representative shall record attendance at each meeting.

Section 7.02 To be nominated by the association for state playoff assignments, he/she must be an active member in the association and be a member in “good-standing” as set forth by the MHSAA below:

1)        Payment of appropriate association dues

2)        Attendance at 50% or more sport-specific meetings

3)        Completion of any required training or certification

4)        Not delinquent in dues payment or subject to any association discipline

5)        Officiate the minimum number of varsity games as required by the MHSAA

Article VIII. Benefits

Section 8.01 It shall be the intention of this association to provide whatever benefits in can to all officials.

Section 8.02 The membership dues shall include the following:

1)        One KOA emblem (new members)

2)        Name, address, phone number, and e-mail address listed in KOA directory

3)        Designation of all sports in which one officiates

4)        Referral of open dates to schools needing officials in an emergency

5)        Admission to all association meetings

Article IX.     By-Laws

Section 9.01 The constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the active members present at regularly scheduled meeting.  The by-laws shall be reviewed bi-annually.

Article X.         Rules of Order

Section 10.01                    All meetings shall be conducted according to Roberts Rules of Order.

Revised August 2009

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