Orange County Football Officials Association By-Laws
Adopted: September 6, 2000
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By-Laws
ARTICLE I. NAME OF ASSOCIATION
The name of this Association shall be the Orange County Football
Officials Association, a unit of the California Football Officials Association.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE OF ASSOCIATION
Section 1.
Primary Purpose
The primary purpose of this Association shall be to provide an
educational program so that football officials will be qualified to officiate California Interscholastic Federation football games.
Section 2.
General Purposes
The general purposes for which this Association has been formed
are to increase the efficiency and competency of football officials through formal and informal instructions which shall
include, without limitation, the mutual exchange of ideas and constructive criticisms of rules, game situations, and mechanics
of football officiating; to promote the advancement of football by encouraging the spirit of sportsmanship among schools,
coaches, players, spectators, and officials; and to submit to the
Orange County Assignment Coordinator the names of those officials who are qualified to accept assignments and officiate
California Interscholastic Federation football games. However, membership in this Association does not guarantee any
official any number of game assignments.
Section 3. Rights and Powers
This Association shall have and exercise all the rights and powers
conferred on incorporated or unincorporated, non-profit organizations under the laws of the State of California; however,
this Association is not empowered to engage in any activity which in itself is not in furtherance of its’ purposes as set forth in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article II.
Section 4.
Reasons for Organization
This Association is organized and operated for the purposes herein
set forth, and any other nonprofit purposes, and no part of any Monies shall inure to the benefit of any member, except as provided in these by-laws.
Section 5. Statement of Purposes
The foregoing statement of purposes shall be construed as a
statement of both purposes and powers, and the purposes and powers stated in each clause shall be in no-way limited or restricted by a reference to or from the terms or
provisions of any other clause, but shall be regarded as independent purposes and powers.
Section 1. Eligibility of Members
Any person eighteen (18) years of age or older interested in officiating California Interscholastic Federation football games may apply for membership in this
Association.
Section 2.
Classification of Members
A. Qualified Member
A qualified member shall be one who achieves at least the minimum passing grade in a qualifying examination; takes and passes all other required examinations; meets the financial obligations imposed by this Association; attends all general and special meetings; fulfills all game assignments which are previously accepted; and does not engage in any unprofessional conduct, or act in a manner which is detrimental to the welfare and purpose of this Association or its’ members.
B.
Non-qualified Member
A non-qualified member is one who does not meet the requirements as set forth for a qualified member. A non-qualified member shall not have the right to vote, hold office, or receive any game assignments. The Executive Board shall determine whether a member has failed to meet all the requirements of a qualified member. If a member is found to be non-qualified, the President shall immediately notify the member and the Orange County Assignment Coordinator by phone and registered letter, and the Assignment Coordinator shall cancel only those games of the non-qualified member until notified of the results of Board action upon an appeal. After being so notified, the non-qualified member may, within seven (7) days petition the Executive Board by phone and in writing for reinstatement to a qualified membership status. The Board shall review the petition and determine the membership status within (7) seven days of initial notice of petition by the member and duly notify the member and Assignment Coordinator of its decision. If the member has been determined to be non-qualified, the Assignment Coordinator shall cancel the remainder of the non-qualified member's game assignments for the current season. If the board determines the member is qualified, the Board shall reinstate the member.
Any member who retires from football officiating after twenty (20) or more years of having been a qualified member of his Association, may request and be granted a life membership which shall be honorary in nature. The Executive Board may itself decide to grant a life membership to any retiring footfall official having less than twenty (20) years as a qualified member, if such member has rendered distinguished service to this Association. A life member shall have the right to enjoy the privileges and benefits of membership in this Association, but shall not hold office, serve as Chairman on any committee, make any motions, nor have any voting powers.
Section 3. Dues
The amount of dues and the date they are due shall be set by the Executive Board. A penalty for the late payment of dues may be imposed by the Executive Board.
Section 4.
Motions
All motions shall require
a majority of the votes cast in order to pass.
A. The President shall not vote at any general or special meeting unless the vote is by secret ballot, or where the President's vote would change the results.
The President may vote at all Executive Board meetings regardless of how the votes are cast.
Section 5. Resignations and Expulsions
Membership in this Association shall
terminate upon a member's request, or by authority of the Executive Board.
A. Any and all monies paid into this Association's Treasury by a member shall remain in the treasury upon the member's termination from this Association.
B.
All monies due this Association from a member shall become payable in full prior to the member's termination from this Association.
Section 1. President
The President shall be the presiding officer at all meetings and shall conduct the meetings according to parliamentary procedure. The President shall supervise and oversee the affairs of this Association and shall execute the will of this Association. The President shall see that the By-Laws of this Association are adhered to at all times and shall approve all vouchers and co‑sign all checks drawn on this Association.
Section 2.
Vice President
The Vice President shall assist the President and shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the President. If, for any reason, the office of the President shall become vacant, the Vice President shall become the President for the unexpired term.
Section 3. Secretary/Treasurer
The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep a record of all the business that is transacted by this Association and shall issue all correspondence and notices on behalf of the Executive Board and this Association. The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep a record of the minutes of all meetings, and a copy of any minutes shall be made available to any qualified member requesting them. The Secretary/Treasurer shall maintain a current roster listing all qualified, non‑qualified, and life members of this Association and shall issue membership cards and kits to all qualified members. The Secretary/Treasurer shall notify all members of all meetings.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall also be the financial officer of this Association and shall be responsible for all the monies and financial records. The Secretary/Treasurer shall deposit or hold in trust, all funds received on behalf of this Association and shall on authorization from the Executive Board, disburse such funds for the benefit of this Association. The Secretary/Treasurer shall submit a financial report in writing to the Executive Board prior to August of each year. The Secretary Treasurer shall be bonded in the sum of no less than five thousand dollars ($5000.00), and the premium of the bond shall be paid by this Association.
A. The
financial report shall be audited by the Auditing Committee prior to September of each year.
B. The
financial report, after having been approved by the Auditing Committee, shall be distributed in writing to all qualified members prior to
the first general meeting of each year.
C. The
financial report shall then be presented for approval at the first general meeting of each year.
D. Financial status shall be reported at each executive board meeting.
Section 4. Instructional Chairman
The Instructional Chairman shall direct and supervise the program of instruction for all members of this Association and shall direct and organize discussion for classroom groups. The Instructional Chairman shall preside over portions of the meetings relating to football rules and officiating mechanics. The Instructional Chairman shall prepare, maintain and update a list containing the names of those members who qualify to officiate California Interscholastic Federation football games. This list will be submitted to the Rating Chairman to be used in the ratings of each member. The instructional Chairman and Rating Chairman shall evaluate any new Member with prior officiating experience who joins this Association and determine in which classification to place the new member.
Section 5. Rating Chairman
The Rating Chairman shall prepare,
maintain and update folders containing the names and classification of all members who are qualified to officiate California Interscholastic Federation football games.
He will submit a list of all members and their classification to the Executive Board for their approval.. He will also notify each member of the Association, by
letter, dated no later than March 1 of each year, if there is any change to his/her classification. The Executive Board will forward the qualified list to the Assignment
Coordinator.
All qualified members will be classified
as follows:
A. Approved Officials
Approved Officials are new officials with no prior officiating experience and those officials who are yet to be certified. Approved Officials shall not be assigned any varsity football games.
B.
Certified Officials
Certified are officials who have demonstrated their ability to officiate all levels of football games. Certified Officials are eligible to be members of a crew, and are eligible for playoff assignments.
Officials transferring into this Association must have a minimum of one (1) year as a Certified Official in the Orange County Football Officials Association to be eligible for assignment as a regular crew member.
Section 6. Executive Board
The Executive Board shall consist of the
President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, Instructional Chairman, Rating Chairman, and six (6) elected qualified members.
Section 7.
Election of Officers
The
candidates for vacancies on the Executive Board shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee and/or any qualified member at the fourth (4th) regularly
scheduled general meeting of each year.
A.
The vote shall be by secret ballot and shall be conducted at the fifth (5th) regularly schedule meeting of each year.
1.
The Nominating Committee shall prepare a written ballot containing all the names of those persons nominated for office with space for a write-in candidate for each
office. These ballots shall then be distributed to all qualified members at
the fifth regularly schedule general meeting of each year.
B. The votes shall be counted by the Nominating Committee.
1. No candidate for any office shall serve on the Nominating Committee.
2. The results of the election shall be announced immediately after the votes have been counted, and the number of votes each candidate received shall be made available to any qualified member requesting it.
C. A candidate shall receive a majority of the votes cast in order to win an election.
1.
If a candidate does not receive a majority of the votes cast, a run-off election shall be conducted at the fifth
regularly scheduled general meeting immediately following the ballot count between the top two (2) candidates for the same office.
2.
The candidate(s) then receiving a plurality of the votes cast will be declared the winner.
Section 8.
Term of Office
A. All elected officers shall hold office for two (2) years or until a successor is selected. ( In the year 2000 only, the President and the Secretary/Treasurer shall be elected for a three (3) year term or until a successor is selected.)
Section 9. Impeachment and Removal from Office
Any Association Officer whose actions or conduct are detrimental to this Association, or who fails to adhere to the by-laws of this Association may be removed from office by the following procedure:
A.
Any qualified member may prefer charges against an Association Officer.
1.
The qualified member shall notify the Executive Board in writing of the preferred charges against the accused officer, only after obtaining a minimum of twenty
(20) signatures from qualified members who have requested the impeachment of the accused officer.
2.
The Executive Board shall, within fourteen (14) days, call a special meeting for all qualified members of this Association and shall notify the accused officer in
writing of the scheduled meeting date and of the preferred charges.
3.
The meeting shall be conducted as a hearing according to parliamentary procedure.
4.
After the conclusion of the hearing a vote shall be taken by secret ballot and removal from office shall require two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast.
Section 1. General Meetings
A minimum of six (6)
general meetings shall be held during the current football season.
A. The meeting dates shall be scheduled by the President and the Instructional Chairman.
B. A minimum of two (2) meetings shall be held prior to the first game each year followed by two (2) meetings in October.
C.
All members shall be required to attend all general and special meetings with the following exceptions:
1. A member may be absent provided he has a valid excuse for said absence, which excuse shall be submitted, in writing, no later than ten (10) days after the absent date, and the excuse shall be subject to approval by the Executive Board.
2.
Any missed meeting without Executive Board approval must be made up by (1) attending a scheduled make-up meeting, or (2) attending another Southern California
Football Officials Association meeting. After attending such a meeting, the member shall, within fourteen (14) days, submit written verification from the other
Association to the Executive Board for approval.
3. Any member who has missed two (2) meetings during the current football season, without a valid excuse that has been approved by the Executive Board, shall lose all remaining and future game assignments for the current season and shall be classified as a non-qualified member for the following football season.
Section 2. Executive Board Meetings
A minimum of four (4)
Executive Board meetings shall be held during the year and current football season.
A. A Board Member may be absent provided he has a valid excuse for said absence, which excuse shall be submitted in writing no later than seven (7) days after the absent date, and the excuse shall be subject to approval by the remaining Board Members.
B. Any Board Member who has missed two (2) consecutive meetings during the year without a valid excuse that has been approved by the remaining Board Members shall be removed from the Executive Board.
Section 3. Special Meetings
The President may, after approval by the Executive Board, call a special meeting when necessary, only after all qualified members have been notified in writing fourteen (14) days in advance of the meeting date and have been informed as to the purpose of the meeting.
Section 4.
Quorum
A.
After being properly notified of any general or special meeting, any number of qualified members present shall constitute a quorum sufficient for conducting the
business which is brought before them.
B.
A majority of the members of the Executive Board at any of their meetings shall constitute a quorum sufficient for conducting the business brought before them.
Section 1. Duties of the Executive Board
The Executive Board shall conduct, manage, and administer all the affairs of this Association and shall control and supervise the handling of all its funds and properties. They shall approve the expenditure of any funds and shall set the amount of fees or expenses that are paid to any member of this Association; however, at no time shall they permit the funds of this Association to be depleted. They shall enforce the provisions of these By-Laws and shall make recommendations and decisions regarding all matters affecting this Association. They shall approve all special meetings and shall appoint a Nominating Committee prior to September of each year. They shall attend all Executive Board meetings and shall review and make a disposition regarding all absences. They shall prepare an operating budget prior to July of each year.
Section 2.
Termination of Board Members
A.
If the President terminates for any reason, the Executive Board shall appoint a qualified member to fill the unexpired term of the Vice President.
B.
If any other Board Member terminates for any reason, the Executive Board shall, within fourteen (14) days, appoint a qualified member to fill the unexpired term.
Section 1. Committees
All Committees and
committee chairmen shall be appointed by the President, except the Nominating Committee.
A.
The President shall be a member ex-officio of every committee except the Ethics Committee and the Nominating Committee.
B.
All committees and committee chairmen shall be appointed prior to September of each year.
Section 2. Auditing Committee
The Auditing Committee shall consist of
three (3) qualified members of which one member shall be appointed as Chairman. The Committee shall audit the books of this Association annually and a financial report
shall be submitted to all qualified members for approval at the first general meeting of each year.
Section 3.
Ethics Committee
The Ethics Committee shall consist of five (5) qualified members of which one member shall be appointed as Chairman. The Committee shall be responsible for determining whether a member has engaged in unprofessional conduct or has acted in a manner which is detrimental to the welfare and purposes of this association.
A.
No member of the Executive Board shall be a member of the Ethics Committee.
B. The following procedures shall be adhered to regarding the filing of a complaint against any member of this Association.
1. Any complaints of unethical conduct brought against any member shall be done so in writing and given to the Ethics Committee Chairman, by the complainant, within thirty (30) days of the incident.
2.
The Ethics Committee Chairman shall, within fourteen (14) days, notify the accused member, in writing, of a scheduled hearing date, the name of the complainant,
and the nature of the complaint.
3.
The Ethics Committee shall arrange to have any witnesses that are necessary present at the hearing.
4. The accused member shall not contact the complainant, any members of the Executive Board, or any members of the Ethics Committee prior to the hearing.
5. After the conclusion of the hearing, the Ethics Committee Chairman shall, within fourteen (14) days, notify the accused member and the Executive Board, in writing, of the Committee's decision and any penalty if applicable. Penalty may include, but is not limited to, forfeiture of game assignment(s), fines, suspension and/or expulsion from the association.
6. The accused member shall then have fourteen (14) days to appeal the decision of the Ethics Committee in writing, to the Executive Board.
7. After receiving the appeal, the Executive Board shall, within fourteen (14) days, either uphold the Ethics Committee's decision or conduct another hearing.
8. After the conclusion of this hearing, the President shall, within fourteen (14) days notify the accused member, in writing, of the Executive Board's decision.
9. The decision of the Executive Board shall be final.
C. If any assignments are missed, the other officials(s) who worked the game shall notify either the President or Assignment Coordinator within seventy-two (72) hours, and if deemed necessary the following procedures shall be adhered to.
1. The official who missed the assignment(s) shall be contacted immediately by the Ethics Committee Chairman, and the Official shall, within fourteen (14) days, submit in writing to the Chairman the reason for missing the assignment(s).
2. After reviewing the explanation with the official, the Ethics Committee shall decide whether or not to accept the explanation as valid, and the Chairman shall, within fourteen (14) days, notify the official and the Executive Board, in writing, of the Committee's decision.
(a) For the first unauthorized missed assignment of the current football season, the official who missed the assignment shall, within fourteen (14) days, pay to this Association’s Secretary/Treasurer the total amount of the game fee.
(b) For the second unauthorized missed assignment of the current football season, the official who missed the assignment shall lose all remaining and future game assignments for the current season and shall be classified as a non-qualified member for the following football season.
3. The official shall then have fourteen (14) days to appeal, in writing, to the Executive Board the Ethics Committee's decision.
4. After receiving the appeal, the Executive Board shall, within fourteen (14) days, either uphold the Ethics Committee's decision or re-interview the official.
5. At the conclusion of this interview the President shall, within fourteen (14) days, notify the official, in writing, of the Executive Board's decision.
6. The decision of the Executive Board shall be final.
Section 4. Instructional Committee
The Instructional Committee shall
consist of certified officials who shall be appointed as instructors by the Instructional Chairman. The instructors shall be responsible for providing an educational and
instructional program to increase the efficiency and competency of football officiating. The instructional Chairman shall have the power to decide all matters relating to
interpretations of rules, game situations, uniforms, and mechanics of football officiating. The Committee shall establish and conduct the qualifying examination and all
other examinations which they deem necessary or appropriate for their instructional purposes.
Section
5. Nominating Committee
The nominating
committee shall consist of a minimum of three (3) qualified members of which one member shall be appointed as Chairman. The committee shall be appointed by the executive board and shall present their recommended candidates for the offices of this association at the
fourth regular scheduled general meeting of each year. The committee shall then distribute, collect, and tabulate all the
ballots at the fifth regularly scheduled general meeting of each year. The committee’s decision regarding the voiding of any ballots shall be final.
Section 6. Rating Committee
The Rating Committee shall consist of a minimum of ten (10) qualified or life members. The committee shall prepare and maintain folders on all qualified members and shall compile the ratings that are received on officials from instructors, officials, coaches, and observer reports. The committee shall arrange to have observers attend local games to critique and evaluate officials. The committee shall classify each qualified member as Approved or Certified at the completion of each season.
Section 7. Social Committee
The Social Committee shall consist of a minimum of three (3) qualified members of which one member shall be appointed Chairman. The committee shall be responsible for all matters pertaining to the social welfare of this Association.
Section 8. By-Laws Committee
The By-Laws Committee shall consist of a minimum of three (3) qualified members of which one member shall be appointed as Chairman. The committee shall be responsible for making proposed amendments to revise and update the by-laws as necessary, and shall accept any proposed amendments, that are submitted in writing, by any qualified member. The By-Laws Committee will then submit the proposed amendments, in writing, to the Executive Board for further action.
ARTICLE VIII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Section 1. Parliamentary Law
Robert's Rules of Order shall be the authority on all questions on parliamentary procedure.
Section 2.
Parliamentarian
A parliamentarian may be appointed by the President. His primary duty shall be to advise the President to see that the by-laws of this Association are adhered to at all times.
ARTICLE IX. AMENDING THESE BY-LAWS
These Articles may be amended only in
the following described manner:
A.
The proposed amendment(s) shall be presented, in writing, to the Executive Board by the By-Laws Committee.
B.
The proposed amendment(s) shall be presented, in writing to each member in order to be discussed at the next regularly
scheduled meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose.
C.
At the next regularly scheduled meeting the proposed amendment(s) shall be voted upon by the qualified members. The vote shall be by secret ballot.
D.
An amendment shall require two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast in order to be adopted. However, amending a proposed amendment to these by-laws shall require only a
majority of the votes cast in order to pass, prior to the vote for adoption.
Date Adopted: September 6, 2000