MID-FLORIDA OFFICIALS ASSOCIATIONI
4709 N.E. 21st Court
Ocala, Florida 34479
April 15, 2008
Dear Fellow Officials,
The MFOA’s annual business meeting will be held at North Marion High School on Saturday, May 3, 2008. Donuts and coffee will be ready at 8:30 A.M. and the meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 A.M.
An agenda for the annual meeting will be provided at the meeting.
The offices listed below are up for election and the committee has suggested the following candidates for consideration.
Office Nominee
Vice President 2 year term Al Summers
Treasurer 2 year term Jeffrey Pole
Football Director
North 2 year term Carlton Dill
Central 2 year term Ted Bedford
Basketball Director
Central 2 year term Terry Lee
Baseball Director 2 year term Paul Gery
Attached is a copy of the proposed amendments to the Constitution and Policies and Procedures. If you wish to have a copy of the Constitution/Policies and Procedures available to you during the presentation of the proposed amendments, you may go to the MFOA Web site and print copies of each. Please read the proposed amendments and be prepared to vote on each presentation. Your prior preparation save valuable time.
Please come prepared to vote for the Lee Scruggs Memorial Sportsmanship Award. This award is given to the school whose players, coaches, administration, and fans displayed the best sportsmanship during the 2007-08 school year.
Terri Adams will give an update on the banquet, which will be held at the Elks’ Club on Saturday, June 14, 2008. This event is Member and Spouse/date only. No Children. Please RSVP Terri @ 3351 SE 4th Street, Ocala, FL 34471.We must have a count prior to the banquet.
I am looking forward to seeing each of you at the meeting and the banquet. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me at mfoa@cox.net.
Sincerely,
Ralph Messer
Ralph Messer, Secretary
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO MFOA CONSTITUTION AND POLICIES AND PROCEDURES - 2008
Policies & Procedures
Submitted by Dick VanAuker
Section to Change: SECTION...003 BOOKING POLICY Sub. 7.Under Local Clinics
Currently reads: Officials may receive 2 additional points (1 clinic Credit) up to a maximum of 4 points (2 clinic credits) for working non-paid scrimmages, booked and sanctioned by the MFOA.
Change to Read: Add: All scrimmages must be posted by the Booking Commissioner in a timely fashion so that all interested members may attend. Those planning to attend should notify the Booking Comm. ASAP so he may post an accurate list.
Reason for Change: All members should be made aware of available scrimmages so they may attend and receive proper credit. These scrimmages should be posted, as soon as available, the same as clinic dates, since they involve points for the "Relative Rating"
Section to Change: SECTION...003 BOOKING POLICY, Subsection 8
Currently Reads: In the event of a tie, the 1st tie breaker will be the FHSAA exam score, the 2 nd, total number of clinics attended, and the 3 rd, if needed, the number of years of FHSAA recognized service. No member, regardless of the number of points accrued, shall be rated above a member of the next higher state rating.
Change to Read: Change the order of tie breakers
1st Tiebreaker Total number of clinics attended (including scrimmages)
2nd Tiebreaker Years recognized service
3rd Tiebreaker Test score
Reason for Change: The FHSAA has clearly de emphasized the importance of closed book, monitored rules testing. With the latest on line testing procedure, to many questions are arising as to officials who take the test as a committee, or, individually as intended. Even those who take the test alone have an opportunity to refer to the books, with the time allotted. The test is no longer an indication of an officials rules knowledge on the field or from a closed book. The test should not be considered as the primary tie breaker in our rating system.
By considering clinic attendance 1st, those officials who attend meetings and participate in scrimmages are the ones who have a true interest in officiating and should have their participation recognized in the rating system. What better way to promote meeting attendance than to use this as a our primary tie breaker. The order of the 2nd and 3rd items are up for debate.
MFOA Constitution
Submitted By Al Summeers
Section to Change: ARTICLE VI. SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS – COMMITTEES (Add Relative Rating Committee.
Purpose: This committee will be responsible for receiving all of the information from the different sport director and to create the relative rating for each sport.
Reason for Change: This committee chairman will be a member of the MFOA Board, and three to five members from the Association. This will develop a balance system. Many times question has arise about the points and/or lack of points. With a committee creating the Relative Rating roster and maintaining the information then this should being discussion to the bare minimum.
MFOA Constitution
Submitted by Carlton Dill
Section to Change: ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVE:
Currently Reads: The MFOA is a not for profit organization which cooperates with the National Federation, Florida High School Athletic Assn. (FHSAA), and area high schools to provide competent, standardized officiating. To serve the membership by securing game assignments and educational opportunities for each member. NOTE: If any section of this constitution is found to be in conflict with the FHSAA's Officials' Manual or by-laws, that section is immediately superseded by the FHSAA rule or by-law.
Change to Read: The MFOA is a not for profit organization which cooperates with the National Federation, Florida High School Athletic Assn. (FHSAA), and area schools to provide competent, standardized officiating. The MFOA serves the membership by securing game assignments and educational opportunities for each member. NOTE: If any section of this constitution is found to be in conflict with the FHSAA's Officials' Manual or by-laws, that section is immediately superseded by the FHSAA rule or by-law.
Justification: We do not just serve high schools. Remove the word “high” from between “area high schools.” This is simply an editorial change to make a complete sentence of “The MFOA serves the membership by securing game assignments and educational opportunities for each member.”
Section to Change: ARTICLE III. ELECTIONS, Number 4:
Currently Reads: Ballot will be counted by Board members not on the ballot.
Change to Read: Ballots will be counted by Board members not on the ballot.
Justification: Hopefully, we have more than one ballot.
Section to Change: ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS, Number 5: (Change #1)
Currently Reads: If a member misses 3 consecutive meetings or a total of 6 during the term, he/she shall be replaced. Replacement shall be accomplished as provided for the Article VII, 6.
Change to Read: If a member misses 3 consecutive board meetings or a total of 6 during the term, he/she shall be replaced. Replacement shall be accomplished as provided in Article IV, 6.
Justification: This ensures specificity for board meeting, not all meetings. Also, Article VII, 6 does not exist.
Section to Change: ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS, Number 5: (Change #2, assuming #1 passes)
Currently Reads: If a member misses 3 consecutive meetings or a total of 6 during the term, he/she shall be replaced. Replacement shall be accomplished as provided for the Article VII, 6.
Change to Read: If a member misses 3 consecutive board meetings or a total of 6 during the term, he/she shall be replaced. Replacement shall be accomplished as provided in Article IV, 6. If a board meeting is called without advance notice, executive board members who are not in attendance shall not be counted as having missed the meeting in regards to this provision (Article IV, 5).
Justification: MFOA Policies and Procedures SECTION…002, Number 2 provides for a board meeting to be called without notice following a regularly scheduled clinic for a particular sport. A board member should not be penalized for missing a meeting of which he or she was not aware.
Section to Change: ARTICLE V. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD:
Currently Reads:
THE SECRETARY SHALL: c. Mail registration forms to members from the previous year.
Change to Read: c. Ensure registration forms are available to current members and new registrants.
Justification: Many of us download forms from the website. Therefore, the requirement to mail the forms is not need.
Section to Change: ARTICLE V. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD:
Currently Reads:
THE SECRETARY SHALL: g. Distribute to each member, a copy of the MFOA constitution and all changes. Members are required to sign for same at the beginning of each season.
Change to Read: g. Ensure that current MFOA Constitution and MFOA Policies and Procedures are available to all members.
Justification: These are available from the website. There is no longer a need for distribution and signing.
Section to Change: ARTICLE VIII. BUDGET, FEES, AND COMPENSATION, Number 8
Currently Reads: Referee or Umpire In Chief shall turn in all games for payment through the association to the Treasurer within 14 days following the contest or will be reported to the Board for possible corrective measures. All reports shall be in written form.
Change to Read: Game and travel fees shall be paid to officials according the following:
a. If the game/travel fee is received at the game-site and funds are available, each crew member shall be compensated the applicable game fee and travel fee at the site on the day of the contest.
b. If the game/travel fee is received at the game-site and funds are not available to compensate crew members, payment will be made through the association. The Referee or Umpire In Chief shall submit a game report AND the game/travel fee check to the Treasurer within 14 days following the contest.
c. If the game/travel fee is received by the association from the school, payment will be made through the association. The Referee or Umpire In Chief shall submit a game report to the Treasurer within 14 days following the contest.
A Referee or Umpire In Chief who fails to comply with the above provisions for game/travel fee payments will be reported to the Board for possible corrective measures.
Justification: This specifies methods of game and travel fee dissemination. Also, the original language could be interpreted as all games must be paid through the association.
Policies & Procedures.
Submitted by Carl Dill
Section to Change: SECTION…001. MEMBERSHIP (Number 5)
Currently Reads: Applications will be mailed to members when received from the FHSAA.
Change to Read: MFOA members should register with the FHSAA online via the FHSAA website. Do not send the FHSAA application to the MFOA. (NOTE: For those who choose to register with the FHSAA by mail or in person, an application is available for downloading at the FHSAA website. The FHSAA requires a $20.00 processing fee for registrations received by mail or in person.)
Justification: FHSAA registration is most easily accomplished online. The MFOA no longer mails these applications to its members.
Policies & Procedures
Submitted by Ralph Messer
Section to Change: SECTION..003 BOOKING POLICY, SUBSECTION 24
Currently Reads: Supporting officials shall contact the Referee/Umpire in chief (listed 1st on booking) at least 48 hours prior to game time to make travel arrangements. The Referee/Umpire in chief is responsible to insure the crew is intact at least 36 hours before game time.
a. In addition to fixing place to meet for travel, the Referee/Umpire in chief will predetermine the arrival time at the game site for all crewmembers during initial contact.
b. If the member makes numerous attempts to contact the Referee/Umpire in chief, to no avail, he/she should notify the Commissioner immediately.
c.If no contact is made by the 36-hour deadline, the Referee/Umpire in chief should also contact the Commissioner.
Change to read: After travel arrangements, add new sentence: Contact may be by voice to voice contact, e-mail, fax in addition to acceptance through booking web site.
Reason for change: Keep up with the current technologies.
Section to Change: New section
Currently Reads: New
Change to Read: Add New Section: 008 Amendments
1. These Policies and Procedures may normally be amended at the annual business meeting for those sections that pertain to all sports worked by the MFOA.
2. These Policies and Procedures may be amended at the meeting of any sport provided the Executive Board has been notified so that the appropriate members may be present to conduct the meeting Those members include the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Web Master and the Directors of the sport(s) concerned.
3. The members of the sport(s) in question must also be made aware of the meeting and have the opportunity to attend.
4. The changes made at the meeting of a particular sport(s) must affect that sport only.
5. Any change to the Policies and Procedures shall require a majority vote of that sport’s membership present and voting
6. Amendments become effective at the end of the special meeting unless otherwise specified.
Reason for Change: Specifies a method and time in which the Policies and Procedures can be modified other than at the annual business meeting.
MFOA Policies and Procedures
Submitted by Bob Leahy
Section to Change: SECTION 003 Booking Policy - Paragraph 7
Currently Reads: 7. A relative rating roster shall be prepared and distributed by the first booking if the FHSAA exam has been taken and the muster received. If the muster has not been received, the final relative rating roster from the previous year will be distributed and used until that muster is received from the FHSAA. This roster pertains ONLY to the booking of varsity games. It will be used as a guide, along with geographic areas, when booking JV/9th grade contests. New officials will be listed in alphabetical order. The roster shall be based on the number of points accrued from the previous year, using the following scale:
STATE RATING EXAM SCORE YEARS EXPERIENCE
1 = 10 Points 95-100 = 30 Points 10 = 20 Points 5 = 10 Points
2 = 8 Points 90-94 = 25 Points 9 = 18 Points 4 = 8 Points
3 = 6 Points 85-84 = 20 Points 8 = 16 Points 3 = 6 Points
3a = 2 Points 80-84 = 15 Points 7 = 14 Points 2 = 4 Points
75-79 = 10 Points 6 = 12 Points 1 = 2 Points
Meeting Attendance/State Rules Clinic = 10 Points
Meeting Attendance Points Computed From Previous Year Credits
All Day Clinic or State Field Clinic = 10 Points
Local Clinics may receive 2 additional points (1 Clinic credit) up to a maximum of 4 points (2 clinic credits) for working non-paid scrimmages, booked and sanctioned by the MFOA.
Change to read: A relative rating roster shall be prepared and distributed by the first booking if the FHSAA exam has been taken and the muster received. If the muster has not been received, the final relative rating roster from the previous year will be distributed and used until that muster is received from the FHSAA. The relative rating roster pertains ONLY to the booking of varsity games. Geographic areas can be considered when assigning varsity games but should not be the norm. The relative rating roster will be used as a guide, along with geographic areas, when booking JV/9th grade contests. New officials will be listed in alphabetical order. The relative rating roster shall be based on 25% from each category: Years Experience, Exam Score, Clinics and Evaluations.
Years Experience
10 years - 100 Points 5 years - 80 Points
9 years - 96 Points 4 years - 76 Points
8 years - 92 Points 3 years - 72 Points
7 years - 88 Points 2 years and under - 70 Points
6 years - 84 Points
Exam Score(Current Year) - 25% of your score
Local Clinics Attended (Previous Year), Current Year All Day Clinic or Current Year State Field Clinic, and Current Year State Rules Clinic*
Local Clinics - 2 points per clinic
Current Year All Day Clinic or Current Year State Field - 20 Points
Current Year State Rules Clinic - 20 Points
*Officials may receive 2 additional points (1 clinic credit) for working non-paid scrimmages, booked and sanctioned by the MFOA.
Evaluations 25% (Evaluation Forms would have to be changed to be graded on a score of 25 to 100 points)
Calculation Example:
Years Experience 10 years = 25
Exam Score 100 = 25
Local Clinics (15) and Current Year All Day Clinic or Current Year State Field Clinic, Current Year State Rules Clinic
1. 30 Points for Local Clinics (Previous Year)
2. 20 Points for Current Year All Day Clinic/Current Year State Field Clinic
3. 20 Points for Current Year State Rules Clinic
4. 70 Total Points
5 25 % = 17.5
Evaluations (Current Evaluation Form) - 80 Points = 20.0
Total MFOA Points = 87.5
Reason For Change:
Section to Change: SECTION 003 Booking Policies - Paragraph 8
Currently Reads: In the event of a tie, the 1st tiebreaker will be the FHSAA exam score, the 2nd, total number of clinics attended, and the 3rd, if needed, the number of years of FHSAA recognized service. No member, regardless of the number of points accrued shall be rated above a member of the next higher state rating.
Change to read: In event of a tie, the 1st tiebreaker will be the clinics attended section, evaluations, exam score, years experience. No member, regardless of the number of points accrued shall be rated above a member of the next higher state rating.
Reason for Change:
Section to Change: SECTION 003 Booking Policies - Paragraph 16
Currently Reads: Schools may scratch two officials in each sport from the MFOA membership upon written notification signed by the individual or position expediting the Officiating Agreement for the sport.
Change to read: Schools may scratch one (1) official in each sport from the MFOA membership upon written notification signed by the individual or position expediting the Officiating Agreement for the sport. The official will ONLY be scratched at the home site and not when that school is playing away. This scratch must be resubmitted on an annual basis. If the scratch is not resubmitted, that official would be available to work that school.
Reason for Change:
Section to Change: SECTION 004 Playoffs - Add New Paragraph 6 to read:
The top three rated officials in Baseball and Softball can recommend their crews to the Recommendations Committee for approval. They may select any FHSAA playoff eligible official. If this is approved, current paragraph 6 would be renumbered paragraph 7.
Reason for Change:
MFOA Constitution
Submitted by Bob Leahy
Section to Change: Article IV. Officers - Paragraph 5
Currently Reads: If a member misses 3 consecutive meetings or a total of 6 during the term, he/she shall be replaced. Replacement shall be accomplished as provided for the Article VII,6.
Change to read: If a executive board member misses a total of six (6) executive board meetings during their two year term, he/she will forfeit their position. A new replacement will be appointed by the executive board according to MFOA Constitution, Article IV, Paragraph 6.
Reason for Change:
MFOA Policies and Procedures
Submitted by Larry Huxley
Section to Change: SECTION...003 - Booking Policy - sub. sec. # 10.
Currently Reads: Eligible members will be booked 3 times in a week for varsity basketball, softball and baseball games until all eligible members have been booked once.
Change to read: add the word - NO - at the beginning of the sentence.
Justification: Adding the word no clarifies the intent of the policy.
Section to Change: SECTION...004 - Playoff - sub. sec. # 5
Currently Reads: The top ten rated basketball official can recommend their crews for either boys or girls playoff crews, but not both. They may select any FHSAA play-off eligible official (3 times the number of crews to be submitted). The rest of the crews will be put together using the relative rating scale as a guide. The crews will be rated by the combined points of the crews. Any FHSAA official can be excluded from playoff consideration based on performance, appearance, and evaluations. The performance and the appearance must documented on an evaluation form and submitted to the basketball directors and the recommendations committee.
Change to read: Remove entire section and replace with the following: Playoff crews will be put together using the relative rating as a guide. The top ten rated basketball officials may select any position (R,U1,U2) on either side, boys or girls, on crews one thru ten. Once this selection is made these officials cannot be placed on another crew on either side until all eligible playoff members have been selected for a crew. Any FHSAA Official can be excluded from playoff consideration based on performance, appearance, and evaluations. The performance and the appearance must be documented on an evaluation form and submitted to the basketball directors and the recommendations committee.
Justification: Individual members (those ranked on - 10) are making decisions that should be made by the playoff recommendations committee, additionally the top ten officials are getting two shots at a playoff crew, while a large number of qualified officials are not placed on top crews.
MFOA Policies and Procedures
Submitted by Reid Sergent
Section to Change: SECTION.. 003 - Booking Policy sub. sec. # 7
Currently Reads: Officials may receive 2 additional points (1 clinic point) up to a maximum of 4 points(2 clinic credits)for working non-paid scrimmages, booked and sanctioned by the MFOA.
Change to read: Officials may receive up to 3 additional points up to a maximum of 6 points for working non-paid scrimmages, booked and sanctioned by the MFOA.
Reason: This provision has been very effective. Restraints should be loosened to promote on field/court work. It will reward officials for taking part in training sessions for younger officials.
Section to Change: SECTION..003 Booking Policy sub. sec. #14
Currently Reads: Five man crews will be booked for varsity football games.
Change to read: Five man crews will be booked for all high school level games, when officials are available.
Reason: Other associations use 5 man crews for JV/F games. This will provide more training for the back judge position. Currently officials do more work for less pay on sub varsity games.
Section to Change: SECTION 006 - Conduct of members - sub. sec. 3 & 4.
Currently Reads:
3. Members will purchase no alcoholic beverage in any town where they are about to officiate or have just completed officiating an athletic contest.
4. Members will not purchase alcoholic beverages at any time or place while wearing the uniform of an official, or any part of the uniform that indicates he/she is an official.
Change to read: Remove 3 and 4 and replace with: No member will use alcoholic beverages in an unreasonable or disorderly fashion at any time or place while wearing the uniform of an official, or any part of the uniform that indicates that he/she is an official.
Reason: It is not illegal to buy or drink alcohol or have a responsible drink in public.
MFOA Constitution
Submitted by Reid Sergent
Section to Change: Article IV -Officers
Add new section #11 - At board meetings all officers present must vote on granted motions. The board members name and how he/she voted will be recorded and posted in the meeting minutes.
Reason: MFOA members have the right to know how board members voted. Additionally, officers need to vote on all issues. That is why they were elected.