SWUA By-Laws
I. GENERAL CONSTITUTION:
A. The General Constitution and By-Laws of the Organization are contained in the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) Handbook.
II. NAME:
A. The name of the Association shall be the Southwestern Oregon Baseball Official's Association.
III. MEMBER'S RELATIONSHIP:
A. Members of this Association offer their services to the Association as independent contractors and, not withstanding any other provisions of the By-Laws, no other relationship shall be construed or implied while in the performance of their assigned duties and obligations.
IV. LOCAL MEMBERSHIP AND DUES:
A. Any person may become a member of this Association by becoming duly certified by the OSAA to officiate High School baseball games by the date specified by the OSAA, and; payment of all dues and fees, and; fulfilling other Association requirements as set forth within these By-Laws.
B. The amount of dues shall be determined by the Executive Committee prior to the Association's first scheduled meeting of the year.
1. The amount of dues shall be determined by the anticipated expenses of Association business, special assessments, if any, and a fee to be paid to the Commissioner of this Association.
a) Dues and/or fees shall be paid to the Association Treasurer at the first game officiated by the member each season.
b) Failure to pay timely, all dues and/or fees shall preclude further officiating assignments until said dues and/or fees are paid.
V. OFFICERS, DUTIES AND TERMS OF OFFICE:
A. The Officers of this Association shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and two Members-At-Large.
1. The President - shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the Association and Executive Committee, and shall be empowered to appoint individuals to committees and/or duties as required. The President's term of office shall be one year.
2. The Vice- President - shall assist the President and preside in his absence. The Vice-President's term of office shall be one year. The Vice-President shall become the President the following year.
3. The Secretary - shall record the Minutes of all meetings, take the roll, determine quorums and take care of the Association correspondence, as requested. The Secretary's term of office shall be two years. The Secretary shall be elected on even numbered years.
4. The Treasurer - shall be responsible for all monetary affairs of the Association and shall collect all local dues and fees, and shall record all receipts and disbursements and provide a financial statement to the general membership at the first and last regularly scheduled meeting of the season. The Treasurer's term of office shall be two years. The Treasurer shall be elected on odd-numbered years.
5. Member-At-Large - there shall be two (2) Members-At-Large and they shall act as general liaison with members of the Association. One Member-At-Large shall be elected each year to alternating two (2) year terms.
B. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the business of the Association and may act on all matters not specifically prohibited by the OSAA or these By-Laws.
1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of the Association, the immediate Past-President of the Association, and the Commissioner of the Association.
2. The Executive Committee shall, on behalf of the Association, Negotiate the Service Agreement with Member Schools to be serviced by the Association.
3. The Executive Committee shall be charged with assuring the compliance with the terms of the Service Agreement by both Member Schools and the Association.
C. The Commission shall be elected by the Association for a three (3) year term and shall have sole responsibility for assigning officials to scheduled games under the terms of the Service Agreement or as requested by the OSAA.
1. The Commissioner shall provide each Association Member with a list of all assignments for each assignment period and shall notify each member School of the Officials assigned to each game and the compensation and travel reimbursement, if any, to be received by the assigned officials.
2. The Commissioner shall be the primary liaison between the Association and Member Schools and shall be the official spokesman for game related communications with Members, non-members, and/or the media.
3. The Commissioner shall investigate all complaints file by Member Schools and/or their coaches against Association Members. Valid complaints of official's conduct shall be reported to the Executive Committee for appropriate action.
4. The Commissioner shall investigate complaints filed by officials against Member Schools and/or their coaches, that deter the official's proper performance of his assigned duties and shall notify the Member School for appropriate action.
5. The Commissioner shall attend all meetings as requested b the Association, Member Schools, and/or the OSAA.
6. The Commissioner shall receive compensation from Member Schools in accordance with the terms of the Service Agreement and from Members of the Association in accordance with these By-Laws.
VI. THE SERVICE AGREEMENT:
A. The Service Agreement shall be negotiated by the Executive Committee with Member Schools and shall be the only contract between the Association and Member Schools.
1. The Service Agreement shall specify the terms and conditions by which the Association and Member Schools will provide services and compensation, including, but not limited to:
a) Official's fees and travel reimbursement
b) Compensation of the Commissioner by the individual schools, and;
c) Provide the exclusive method by which a Member School may restrict an Official's opportunity to officiate games of that school.
2. No part of the Service Agreement may abridge these By-Laws.
3. The Service Agreement must be approved and signed by the Member School prior to game assignments being made for that school.
VII. MEETINGS AND ATTENDANCE:
A. All meetings shall be governed b Robert's Rules of Order. A quorum shall consist of a majority of members eligible to vote.
B. The Date and Time of the first regular Association meeting of the season shall be determined and announced by the President. Subsequent meetings shall be on a regularly schedule basis determined by the Executive Committee and announced to the Membership at the first Association meeting of the season.
C. A member must attend a minimum of two (2 regularly scheduled Association meetings prior to receiving his or her first game assignments of the season.
1. A member must attend a minimum of six (6) regularly scheduled Association meetings each season in order to remain a Member In Good Standing of this Association.
D. Failure to attend a meeting, unless excused by the President, Secretary, or Commissioner shall result in forfeiture of game assignments for the next assignment period.
1. An assignment period is defined as one calendar week or two (2) game assignments, whichever is the lesser.
2. A forfeiture of game assignments may be appealed to the Executive Committee who shall, by a majority vote, uphold or amend the forfeiture.
3. Members shall be considered absent if they fail to appear within fifteen (15) minutes of the scheduled meeting time.
4. Except as allowed by the Executive Committee, valid excuses for absence from a meeting shall be:
a) Death or illness in the immediate family
b) Obligations of employment
c) An Association Assignment
1) Members excused from meetings shall be responsible for obtaining their game assignments and such other information they may have missed.
VIII. MEMBER CONDUCT AND APPEARANCE:
A. Members of this Association, while in the vicinity of the contest, shall conduct themselves in a manner which brings credit to the Association. An official shall remain in good standing by maintaining a good attitude toward officiating, other officials, Member Schools and regularly attending Association meetings.
1. A member of this Association shall not officiate games with a non-member or for a non-member school, nor accept fees for officiating games other than those approved under the terms of the Service Agreement or approved by the Commissioner.
2. A member of this Association shall not deal directly with Member Schools unless granted permission by the Commissioner or the Executive Committee.
3. A member of this Association shall neither discuss Association business nor the performance of any Member in game situations with non-members, including coaches and/or media, unless granted permission by the Commissioner or the Executive Committee.
4. No member of this Association shall fail to fulfill scheduled game assignments. With the exception of emergencies, officials shall notify the Commissioner in sufficient time for a replacement to be found for any game the assigned Official is unable to fulfill.
5. A member of this Association may refuse a game assignment only at the time the assignment is made. An official refusing an assignment may not be reassigned for that assignment period.
a) Scheduled game assignments may be traded only with the approval of the Commissioner.
b) Except for emergencies, injuries, illness, etc., assigned officiating positions shall not be exchanged without prior approval of the Commissioner for Varsity games, or approval of the assigned official for sub-varsity games.
B. Each member of the Association shall wear the prescribed uniform of the Association while in the performance of his/her assigned officiating duties. It is the responsibility of the official to maintain his/her uniform in a clean and presentable condition.
1. The prescribed uniform shall be:
a) Shirt - Any color pullover shirt for Baseball so long as all members of a crew wear the same color; Powder Blue only for Softball.
1) As per the NFHS Rules, Association members are only required to maintain the Navy Blue Pullover Shirt. If a member of a crew only has the Navy Blue Pullover Shirt, then all members of that crew will wear the Navy Blue Pullover Shirt.
b) Cap - Navy Blue Baseball style with Navy Pullover Shirt; Black Baseball Style for Softball and all other Baseball Shirts
c) Pants - Heather Gray or Dark Gray for Baseball and Softball
d) Belt - Black, 1 1/4" to 2" wide with Silver Buckle
e) Stockings - Black
f) Shoes - Black
g) Windbreaker - Black with White Shoulder Trim for Baseball; Navy Blue with Powder Blue Shoulder Trim for Softball
1) NFHS Rules requires Navy with Red Should Trim, Association members should have this windbreaker if selected to work games on the State Playoff Level or other special games scheduled with split crews from other Associations.
2. Each official shall have the following equipment after officiating one and one-half (1 1/2) seasons:
a) Approved chest protector
b) Approved shin guards
c) Approved face mask
d) Plate shoes; advised, but not required
e) Ball bag
3. The OSAA certification emblem shall be worn on the shirt over the left breast.
C. The Executive Committee shall review any violations of conduct or appearance by a Member, including, but not limited to:
1. Provisions of these By-Laws
2. Arguments between officials, on or off the field.
3. Physical or verbal abuse, including profanity, to players, coaches, followers or fellow officials.
4. Any conduct discrediting the integrity of the Association or its members.
D. For the first offense of misconduct by a Member, the Executive Committee shall, by a majority vote, discipline the Member in the manner deemed appropriate to the seriousness or degree of misconduct in one or more of the following methods:
1. Verbal reprimand
2. Written reprimand
3. Probation for specified period of time
4. Forfeiture of game assignments for one or more assignment periods
5. Suspension of membership for an appropriate period of time
6. Permanent suspension of membership
E. For subsequent offenses the Executive Committee shall, by a majority vote, discipline the Member in a manner deemed appropriate, but not less than forfeiture of game assignments for one or more assigned periods.
F. Any disciplinary action taken by the Executive Committee involving suspension from the Association shall automatically be appealed to the General Membership of the Association. At the next regularly scheduled Association meeting, eligible voting members shall, by majority vote, approve or amend the Executive Committee's action.
IX. ELECTION AND VOTING PROCEDURES:
A. Election of Officers and Commissioner, if necessary, for the following year shall be conducted at the last regularly scheduled meeting of the season.
B. The Secretary of the Association shall provide a list of current office holders and the expiration of their terms and a list of available offices to be voted upon at the last regularly scheduled meeting of the season.
1. Members of the Association may not hold more than one office concurrently.
2. Any Member, in good standing, may be eligible to hold any office for which he/she is elected.
C. For any and all votes prior to the regularly scheduled election of officers, only those members in good standing, having completed one season as a member of the Association shall be eligible to vote on matters before the Association. For the purpose of the regularly scheduled election of officers, all current members in good standing, shall be eligible to vote by secret ballot.
D. Any officer holder may be removed from office at any regularly scheduled Association meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of eligible voting members.
E. Vacancies caused by retirement, transfers or removal from office shall be filled at the next regularly scheduled Association meeting by a majority vote.
X. AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS:
A. The By-Laws of this Association shall be continued from year to year.
B. Amendments to the By-Laws may be presented by the Executive Committee or any Member in good standing. Amendments shall be in writing and presented to the Membership at a regularly scheduled Association meeting, then presented and voted upon at the Association's next regularly scheduled meeting of the same season.