Manitowoc County Sports Officials Association Constitution Bylaws updated 5/15/15.

1. Constitution & Bylaws
Manitowoc County Sports Officials Association
Constitution
Article I NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Manitowoc County Sports Officials Association.
Article II OBJECTIVES
It shall be the objective of this organization to advance a high standard of athletic competition, to
develop the highest ideals of sportsmanship, encourage uniform interpretations of the rules of
interscholastic sports, improve the techniques of officiating, and aid league commissioners,
athletic directors and coaches in securing competent officials for interscholastic athletic contests.
Article III MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Membership Qualifications:
Membership is open to any official holding a WIAA Official’s card. Those with
restricted designation from the WIAA may be full members at a reduced cost.
(Individuals who are 18-years old and younger and/or still in high school)
Article IV OFFICERS
Section 1 The officers of the association shall be:
(A) President
(B) First Vice—President
(C) Second Vice-President
(D) Secretary-Treasurer
(E) Games Coordinator
Section 2 The Executive Board
(A) The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers and immediate Past President.
(B) The Executive Board shall handle all grievances upon written complaint of any
member and shall investigate all complaints received by the President and recommend
appropriate actions that the President should take concerning the complaint.
(C) The Executive Board shall accomplish the Constitution’s purpose by making an active,
concerted effort to locate appropriate officiating assignments for aspiring young officials,
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Manitowoc County Sports Officials Association
and shall evaluate the work of these young officials and shall encourage these young
officials to apply for membership in the Association.
(D) After being seated following the annual meeting, the Executive Board will appoint
sport co-chairs for each sport. The Executive Board and sport co-chairs will meet at least
once per year to plan sport meetings.
(E) After being seated following the annual meeting, the Executive Board will appoint the
Games Coordinator Committee.
(F) The Executive Board will appoint mentors to the Mentoring Program and select
mentors for each mentee in the program (Assigning mentors and mentees may be delegated
to a board-appointed committee)
Section 3 Term of Office:
(A) The officers shall be elected for a term of (1) year.
(B) All officers may be re-elected to a second term.
Section 4 Vacancies:
(A) A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the First Vice—President.
(B) Vacancies in the other offices shall be filled by election by the members of the
Association.
(C) A member elected to fill a vacancy shall serve the unexpired term of the previous
office holder.
Article V DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1 The President shall:
(A) Preside over, call, plan, and conduct all regular and special meetings.
(B) Be a member, ex-officio, of all committees.
(C) Receive all written complaints.
(D) Serve as official head of the Association and represent it in all matters concerning its
interests and welfare.
(E) Supervise all special and general elections.
(F) Perform all other duties generally incidental to this office.
Section 2 The First Vice—President shall:
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Manitowoc County Sports Officials Association
(A) Assist the President in such duties as the President may assign.
(B) Perform the duties of the president in the event of the president’s absence or disability.
(C) Accede to the office of President at the completion of his or her term of office (subject
to vote of the membership)
Section 3 The Second Vice—President shall:
(A) Handle all communications within the membership.
Section 4 The Secretary-Treasurer shall:
(A) Record the attendance and minutes of all meetings of the Association.
(B) Discharge all financial obligations upon being so authorized by the
Association.
(C) Give a treasurer’s report at each general meeting.
Section 5 The Games Coordinator shall:
(A) Provide newly elected members with all necessary publications of the Association,
including the Constitution and Bylaws.
(B) Provide members with a resume of conference commissioners contacted and
officiating assignments made on a yearly basis.
(C) Perform such other duties as are usual with this office.
(D) Assign all Varsity and Non-Varsity Officials.
(E) Work with the Games Coordinator committee to assign games
Section 6 Games Coordinator Committee
(A) The committee of at least three (3) people will be appointed by the Executive Board to
assist the Games Coordinator
(B) Games assigned by the committee must be offered to association members first before
being offered to non-members
(C) The committee will use the Mentor Program as a guide in assigning games with the
intention that mentors and mentees will occasionally be assigned to work together.
Section 7 Sport Co-Chairs
(A) Sport co-chairs are appointed annually for a one-year term.
(B) The sport co-chairs are responsible for planning the sport meetings for their sport.
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Manitowoc County Sports Officials Association
(C) The expectation is that there will be 60 minutes of training or education per sport
meeting.
Article VI AUTHORITY ON PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
(A) Robert’s Rules of Order shall be used as the parliamentary guide.
Article VII AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Section 1 Proposals
(A) All proposed amendments to the Constitution or Bylaws will be submitted to the
Secretary-Treasurer prior to the annual meeting, for action at said meeting.
Section 2 Vote
(A) A majority vote of a quorum shall be required to pass any amendments to the
Constitution or Bylaws.
(B) A quorum is the number of members present at a properly notified membership
meeting.
// End of Constitution //
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Manitowoc County Sports Officials Association
BYLAWS
Article 1 MEETINGS
Section 1 Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the Association shall be held in May for the purpose of electing
officers, receiving annual reports, considering proposed amendments and any other
business that needs attention. This shall be the FIRST WEDNESDAY.
Section 2 Special Meetings
Special meetings may be called the President.
Section 3 Football Seasonal Meetings
(A) There shall be three seasonal meetings of football, ALL of which are mandatory
unless excused.
(B) It is recommended that an official participate in a scrimmage before the first regular
contest.
Section 4 Basketball Seasonal Meetings
(A) There shall be three seasonal meetings of basketball, ALL of which are mandatory
unless excused.
Section 5 Volleyball Seasonal Meetings
(A) Volleyball meetings at member’s convenience.
Section 6 Baseball/Softball Seasonal Meetings
(A) Baseball meetings at member’s convenience.
(B) Softball meetings at member’s convenience.
Section 7 Meeting Refreshments
(A) At the request of sport chairs, the executive committee may approve the use of chapter
funds to pay for snacks and/or refreshments at sport meetings
(B) The executive committee may use chapter funds to pay for snacks and/or refreshments
at association sponsored meetings or events
Section 8 Meeting Attendance Requirements
(A) In order to maintain membership, members must attend at least one sport meeting in
the sports in which they participate unless excused.
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(B) Failure to attend at least one sport meeting results in a one-year probation period.
1 – During such probationary period, the member may still receive game assignments
and will stay on the membership roster and web site roster
(C) A Second failure (in a row) brings suspension from the association for one year.
1 – During the suspension period, the member may not be assigned games. He/she will
be removed from the association roster and web site roster.
(D) Further failure (in a row) brings expulsion from association and the WIAA will be
notified that the person is no longer member of our association
Section 9 Meeting Attendance Requirement Appeal Process
(A) Probation, suspension or expulsion may be appealed to the Executive Board, which
may overturn said action for good cause.
(B) Upon notice of violation, the member may appeal to the Executive Board in writing or
via phone to a Board member
(C) The member shall present reasons or circumstances that he/she feels are good cause for
failure to meet the requirements.
(D) The Executive Board may overturn the probation, suspension, or expulsion if it feels
the reasons represent good cause. Such “good cause” reasons could include the following:
A work schedule that makes it impossible to attend, the person happened to be working or
officiating on the nights of meetings, family situations, and other unusual or extenuating
circumstances at the discretion of the board. This list is not intended to be an exclusive list.
Other reason not listed here may also be acceptable reasons for overturning the action.
(E) Overturning the disciplinary action requires a majority vote of the Board present at the
meeting.
1 – A one-week meeting notice is required unless all Board members are available
on shorter notice
(F) Step 1 Appeal
1 – The Board may overturn the discipline without meeting with the member. For
example, a member presents evidence of having to work at the time of every
meeting.
2 – The Board may overturn the discipline without notifying a member of violating
the requirements. For example, the member is serving military duty.
(G) Step 2 Appeal
1 – The Executive Board (or member) may request a meeting (in person or via
phone) in order to discuss the situation and circumstances.
(H) Step 3 Appeal
1 – The member may request the appeal be heard by the membership at the annual
meeting. In such case, a majority vote of the membership is required to approve the
appeal.
Article 2 VOTING PRIVILEGES
Each active member of the Association is entitled to one vote.
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Manitowoc County Sports Officials Association
Article 3 NOMINATION AND ELECTIONS
Section 1 The Executive Board shall act as the Nomination Committee.
Section 2 Nominations will be open from the floor.
Section 3 A majority vote of those present and voting shall be required to decide all elections.
Section 4 The nomination and election of officers shall take place at the Annual Meeting in
May and
the new officers shall take office immediately.
Article 4 SUSPENSION OF MEMBERS
Section 1 Any member may be suspended from the Association for:
(A) Loss of WIAA standing.
(B) Voiding legal contracts in order to take games paying higher stipends. It is suggested
that all contracts that cannot be filled for legitimate reasons be turned in the Association
for re-assigning.
(C) Violation of the meeting attendance requirements delineated elsewhere is this
document.
Section 2 Rulings on suspensions and reinstatements will be acted on by the Executive Board.
Section 3 Fee for Missed Meetings
Failure to attend a scheduled sport meeting for each sport in which he or she officiates
shall carry a fine of $5 per meeting missed. Failure to attend the Annual Meeting, which is
compulsory for all members, shall carry a fine of $10.
Exception: For any excused absence.
Article 5 ELECTION TO MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Applicants for membership must make written or verbal application to the Executive Board
asking for admission and must complete the current application form of the Association.
Section 2 An applicant must satisfactorily meet the following qualifications:
(A) Be a registered WIAA official.
Section 3 Five or more members may, upon written request, ask the Executive Board for an
explanation of why it failed to recommend a membership vote for a given applicant.
Section 4 At the Annual Meeting of the Association, the Executive Board shall submit names of
qualified applicants to the sport memberships for discussion and vote.
Section 5 Membership shall be from May of the each year to the May of the succeeding year.
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Article 6 Mentoring Program
(A) All new members will be offered the chance to have a mentor. It is required of all new
members who have no or little officiating experience. If the new member has experience in
this or another association, membership in the mentoring program is not required.
(B) The mentoring program is available to any member
(C) The Executive Board will appoints Mentors
(D) The Executive Board or a Board-appointed mentoring program committee assigns
mentees to mentors.
Article 7 FEES, DUES, AND ASSESSMENTS
Section 1 Annual dues shall be $30.
There is no additional charge for each sport the member officiates.
Section 2 Officials with a “restricted” license with the WIAA will pay annual dues of $10.
(Individuals who are 18-years old and younger and/or still in high school)
Section 3 Dues and fees shall be paid on or before the Annual Meeting for memberships in the
Association for the succeeding year. If not paid by July 1, membership will be dropped
and members name will be removed from communications and website.
Section 4 Upon death of an active or honorary member, the Secretary-Treasurer shall be authorized
to send a memorial check in the amount of $25.
Article 8 EXECUTIVE BOARD (moved to Section 2 of the Constitution)
Article 9 ORDER OF BUSINESS DURING MEETINGS
Section 1 The order of business during meetings shall be:
(A) Roll Call.
(B) Reading of the Minutes.
(C) Reports.
(D) Unfinished Business.
(E) New Business.
(F) Anything for the good of the order.
(C) Adjournment.
Section 2 At Annual Meeting, new memberships will be considered. Election of officers will take
place at the Annual Meeting in May.
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Manitowoc County Sports Officials Association
Article 10 RETIREMENT
Section 1 Upon written request, retired members will become honorary members of the Association.
Honorary membership will include the privileges of attending all meetings and banquets as
a non-voting member.
Article 11 LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Section 1 A leave of absence will be granted to any member in good standing upon written request
and approval of the Executive Board.
Section 2 Official must apply in writing to the Executive Board when he or she wishes to become
and active member again. Annual dues must then be paid.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS ON ATTENDANCE
(A) Only absences cleared through executive members
will be excused.
(B) Unexcused absences will be treated according to the constitution.
// End of Bylaws //
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Article 10 RETIREMENT
Section 1 Upon written request, retired members will become honorary members of the Association.
Honorary membership will include the privileges of attending all meetings and banquets as
a non-voting member.
Article 11 LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Section 1 A leave of absence will be granted to any member in good standing upon written request
and approval of the Executive Board.
Section 2 Official must apply in writing to the Executive Board when he or she wishes to become
and active member again. Annual dues must then be paid.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS ON ATTENDANCE
(A) Only absences cleared through executive members
will be excused.
(B) Unexcused absences will be treated according to the constitution.
// End of Bylaws //
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