By-Laws of the Southwestern Oregon Football Officials Association

I.    General Constitution

        The general constitution and by-laws of the organization are contained in the        Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) handbook.

II.    Name

        The name of the association shall be the Southwestern Oregon Football Officials  Association.

III.    Members Relationship

        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 football games by the date specified by the OSAA, payment of all dues and fees and fulfilling other association requirements as set forth within these bylaws.

    B.   The amount of dues shall be determined by the Executive Committee prior to the association's first scheduled meeting of the year.  The amount of the dues shall be based on the anticipated expenses of association business, special assessments, if any, and a fee to be paid to the commissioner of this association.

        1.   Dues and/or fees shall be paid to the association treasurer at the first association meeting following the first game officiated by the member each season.

        2.     Failure to make the timely payment of 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, Past-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 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 and then will become the president the following year.

        3.    The Past-President shall advise the executive board on association matters and perform association duties as needed.  The term of the past-president shall be one year, following his term as president.

        4.    The Secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings, take 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.

        5.    The Treasurer shall be responsible for all monetary affairs of the association including the collection of all local dues and fees, 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.

        6.    Members-at-Large: There shall be two members-at-large and they shall act as general liaisons with the members of the association.  One member-at-large shall be elected each year to alternating two 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, OAOA or these by-laws.

        1.    The executive committee shall consist of the elected officers of the association, the immediate past-president and the commissioner of the association.

        2.   The executive committee shall negotiate the service agreement with member schools, on behalf of the association.

        3.   The executive committee shall be charged with assuring compliance with the terms of the service agreement by both member schools and the association

    C.    The Commissioner shall be elected by the association for a three year term and shall have sole responsibility for assigning officials to scheduled games under the terms of the service agreement or 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 the media.

        3.   The commissioner shall investigate all complaints filed 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 by the association, member schools, the OSAA or OAOA.

        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

    The Service Agreement shall be negotiated by the executive committee, with the member schools and shall be the only contract between the association and member schools.

    A.    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:

        1.    Officials fees and travel reimbursement.

        2.    Compensation of the commissioner by the individual schools.

        3.    Provide the exclusive method by which a member school may restrict an officials opportunity to officiate games of that school.

    B.    No part of the Service Agreement may abridge the By-Laws.

    C.    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 by Roberts 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 scheduled basis determined by the executive committee and announced to the membership at the first association meeting of the season.

    C.    The executive committee shall meet prior to the first regularly scheduled association meeting.  In addition, executive committee meetings may be called at any time by the president, commissioner or any two members of the executive committee.

    D.    A member must attend a minimum of two (2) regularly scheduled association meetings prior to receiving his or her first assignments of the season.  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.

    E.    Failure to attend a meeting, unless excused by the President, Secretary or Commissioner may result in forfeiture of game assignments for the next assignment period and will result in the member being assed a three dollar ($3.00) fine.

        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 a forfeiture; am assed fine for an unexcused absence cannot be appealed.

        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 .

        5.    Members excused from meetings shall be responsible for obtaining their game assignments and other such information they may have missed.

VIII.    Members 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 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 executive committee.

        4-1.   A member who fails to fulfill or fails to notify the commissioner in sufficient time to acquire a replacement for a game assignment, without a valid excuse, shall be penalized in the following manner:

            a)    First Offense - pay to the association a sum equal to game fee(s) which would have been paid for game(s) missed.

            b)   Second Offense - first offense penalty plus no game assignments for a two week period beginning with the next assignment period.

            c)   Third Offense - expulsion from the association.

            d)   An emergency, approved by the commissioner is the only valid excuse for missing a game assignment.

            e)    The commissioner may request the executive committee to dtermine the validity of the excuse prior to imposing a penalty.

            f)   The member may appeal the commissioner's decision to the executive committee prior to imposition of a penalty.

        4-2.   A member shall not be late for a game assignment, without a valid excuse and shall be penalized in the following manner:

            a)    First Offense - pay to the association a sum equal to one-half of the game fee(s) which were paid for game(s) which wre not timely made.

            b)   Second Offense - first offense penalty plus no game assignments for a two week period beginning with the next assignment period.

            c)   Third Offense - pay to the association a penalty of a sum equal to one game fee(s) which were paid for game(s) which were not timely made plus no game assignments for a two week period, beginning with the next assignment period. 

            d)   Subsequent Offense -  pay to the association a penalty of a sum equal to one game fee(s) which were paid for game(s) which were not timely made plus suspension for the remainder of the regular season and post-season games, beginning immediately.

            e)   Late shall be defined as not available for the opening kick-off of the first half of play.  If the member is not available for the kick-off to start the second half, he or she shall be deemed to have failed to have fulfilled their assignment and shall be penalized as prescribed by section VIII, article A-4-1 (a-f).

            f)   An emergency, approved by the commissioner is the only valid excuse for missing a game assignment.

            g)    The commissioner may request the executive committee to dtermine the validity of the excuse prior to imposing a penalty.

            h)   The member may appeal the commissioner's decision to the executive committee prior to imposition of a penalty.

            i)   The disciplinary procedures described herein apply to the current season.  All sanctions imposed on a member will be lifted at the end of the last OSAA sponsored game of the current season.

        5.   Once assignment schedules have been presented in accordance with officials availability or prior notification to the commissioner, a $2.00 fine, payable to the association will be assessed to any official causing a change of game assignment to be made.

            a)    Scheduled game assignments may only be traded 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 referee for sub-varsity games.

        6.   The assigned referee is the member responsible for travel and/or transportation arrangements for all officials assigned to the same scheduled game and shall, for varsity games leave in sufficient time to arrive at the dressing facility at least sixty minutes prior to the scheduled game time and be on the field at least 30 minutes before the scheduled game time and fifteen minutes before a sub-varsity game.

        7.    Alcoholic beverages or other intoxicants shall not be consumed by any official on the day of a game prior to completion of the assigned game.

        8.   Officials shall not consume any tobacco product on school grounds.

    B.    Each member of the association shall wear the prescribed uniform of the NFHS, the OSAA and 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 is outlined in the NFHS rule book.

        2.    Each official shall have the following equipment:  Whistle, Penalty marker, White bean bag, Watch with ability to time seconds, Game card and pencil, Down indicator or rubber band, Clipping device (Linesman), Flipping coin (Referee).

        3.   The OSAA certification emblem shall be worn on the shirt over the left breast.

    C.   The executive committee shall review 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 of 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 by one or more of the following methods:

        1.    Verbal reprimand.

        2.   Written reprimand.

        3.   Probation for a specific 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 majority vote, discipline the member in a manner deemed appropriate, but not less that forfeiture of game assignments for one or more assignment 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 office holder may be removed from office at any regularly scheduled association meeting by a two-thirds (66%) majority of eligible voting members.

    E.    Vacancies caused by retirement, transfer 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 associations next regularly scheduled meeting of the same season.

Historical List of Amendments

Article V-A-1,2,3,4;    Amended October 10, 1989

Article V-A-4,5;          Amended August 25, 1992

Article VIII-B-1f ;       Amended August 25, 1994

Article VIII-A-4;         Amended September 23, 1999

Editorial Update;          August 22, 2005

Article VII-E, E-2;       Amended August 28, 2006