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FBOA By-Laws

Last Revised March 23, 2020

Article I - Name

The name of the Association shall be "The Fruit Belt Officials Association."

Article II - Purpose

The Fruit Belt Officials Association is an organization serving high school athletic officials in southwest Michigan. Our members officiate the following sports: football, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, baseball and softball. The mission of the Association is:

  1. To provide training.
  2. To provide a forum for regular rules and mechanics study.
  3. To promote the positive image of officials in our community.
  4. To further our avocation by recruiting, training and integrating new officials.

Article III - Membership

Section I - Membership in this Association shall be of two kinds: active and associate.

Section II - An Active Member shall:

  1. Be an MHSAA registered official.
  2. Pay the yearly dues as determined by Article IV, below.
  3. Attend at least one of the three general meetings of the Association.
  4. Attend at least 60% of the Association rules meetings of each sport officiated.
  5. One excused absence from any rules meetings, per sport, will be accepted as attendance if requested in advance from the trainer of each sport officiated.

Section III - Associated Members shall:

  1. Consist of coaches, and athletic directors, and others who may or may not be registered officials as the membership may choose to admit.
  2. Not be required to attend meetings or pay dues.

Section IV - Be it understood that in the event an active member fails to qualify in ALL of the above listed requirements, they shall no longer:

  1. Be a member of the Association.
  2. Be a member in good standing.

Section V - In the event an active member of the Association becomes delinquent in the payment of annual dues (as outlined in Article IV, Section II below) he/she shall:

  1. Forfeit his/her right to membership in the Association.
  2. Be stricken from the roster of "Members in Good Standing."
  3. In order to be re-admitted to membership, all delinquent membership dues and fees may, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, be required to be paid-and a confirming vote obtained from the Board of Directors.

Article IV - Dues

Section I - The fiscal year of this Association shall begin August 1 of each year.

Section II - Amount and Collection of Dues

  1. A change in the annual dues and late fees shall be determined by the Board of Directors, subject to confirmation by a majority of members present at a general membership meeting.
  2. Dues are to be paid in advance of the upcoming school year.
  3. Dues are considered delinquent after August 1 of each year. The first notice of delinquency shall be sent to each member (on the previous year's roll of members) prior to the first general meeting of the next school year.

Article V - Officers' and Trainers' Duties

Section I - Officers

  1. The elected officers of this association shall consist of: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Recruiting and Membership Coordinator, and two Trustees.

Section II - Duties

  1. The President shall:
    1. Schedule and reside at all meetings.
    2. Secure a meeting place.
    3. Appoint any committees as deemed necessary for the most efficient operation of the affairs of the Association.
    4. Be an ex-officio member of all committees.
    5. Act as the Association's liaison with the MHSAA.
  2. The Vice President shall:
    1. Perform all the duties of the President in case of the absence of the President.
    2. Ensure all post-season awards are voted upon and distributed to the recipients.
  3. The Secretary shall:
    1. Record the minutes of each meeting of the Association.
    2. Carry on all necessary correspondence.
  4. The Treasurer shall:
    1. Collect dues and any financial assessments called for by the Board of Directors, as approved by the general membership.
    2. Be responsible for the safe keeping of all Association funds.
    3. Make expenditures from the treasury only when ordered to do so by the President or Board of Directors.
    4. Keep an accounting of all monies received and all expenditures.
    5. Upon the election of a successor, turn over an audited report to his successor. All monies shall be transferred to his successor at the time his term of office expires.
  5. The Recruiting and Membership Coordinator shall:
    1. Attend mandated MHSAA meetings.
    2. Act as the Association's liaison to the MHSAA on all things recruiting and retention.
    3. Develop a continuity and succession plan for the Association.
    4. Be responsible for the fulfillment of requirements for "rookie" meetings.
  6. The Trustees shall:
    1. Represent members’ concerns and forward members’ recommendations to the Board.
    2. Accept those responsibilities delegated to them by the President in keeping with the purpose of the association.
    3. Foster the welfare of officials of all sports in which the Association is active.
    4. Be open to accept feedback and input from the membership regarding Association activities and initiatives.
    5. Serve as role models for the members of the Association, pursuing his/her own personal path of officiating self-improvement.
    6. Monitor the activity of the sports trainers, forwarding reports of praise and/or concerns to the Board.
    7. Assist to carry out the purpose of the Association.
    8. Serve as the Constitution Committee responsible to regularly review the bylaws for association compliance, forwarding their and members’ recommendations for amendments and revisions, if any, to the Board
  7. The Sports Trainers shall:
    1. Serve for a term of one year and are eligible for reappointment with no term limits.
    2. Be appointed or reappointed annually by the Board upon an annual review which shall be conducted by the Board following the spring general meeting.
    3. Be accountable to the Board to maintain a training program in accord with the responsibilities expressed in the most current MHSAA "Officials' Guidebook."
    4. Give an account at each general meeting of previous training held and upcoming training planned. In the case that attendance is not possible due to schedule, valid excuse shall be communicated to the President prior and another representative of that sport appointed by the trainer to issue the report.
    5. Organize and schedule at least three rules/mechanics meetings for baseball, basketball, football, softball, volleyball and wrestling member officials each year.
    6. Prepare and distribute educational, training aids, and recommended officiating procedures to members.
    7. Record unusual game situations encountered by members and ascertain correct rulings, utilizing the state association as a resource if necessary.

Section III - The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers provided for in Article V Section I, above plus two Trustees appointed by the President. The initiative and operations of this association shall rest solely and entirely with the Board of Directors.

Section IV - Any member of the Association may hold office if they are members in good standing, provided they have been members of the Association for a period of one year or longer.

 Section V - It shall be the responsibility of the Board of Directors to review all reports of questionable conduct by any member which has been reported to the Association by an official representative of a school. The Board may take whatever action it deems necessary in order to maintain the integrity and ethical standards of the Association.

Article VI - Nomination and Election of Officers

Section I - Every other year, the President shall appoint a nominating committee at the second general meeting. This committee shall present a list of candidates for the five elected officers and two elected Trustees at large at the last general meeting of the year. Additional names may be submitted as candidates for any office from the floor.

Section II - Elections

  1. The biennial election of officers shall take place at the last general meeting of the year.
  2. The election shall be by secret ballot, cast by each member in good standing at or before said meeting: each member shall cast his or her own ballot at said meeting or by online vote, starting one week prior to said meeting but no later one day before said meeting by members that are in good standing but who cannot attend said meeting.
  3. The candidate receiving the majority of all votes cast for the said office shall be declared the winner.
  4. Duly elected officers shall take office each year on April 1 following the election.
  5. Any vacancy created by circumstance shall be filled by an appointment for the unexpired term by the Board of Directors.

Article VII - Meetings

During the fiscal year, three general meetings shall be held preceding each major seasonal sport, as follows:

  1. September.
  2. November.
  3. March or April.

Article VIII - Amendments

All proposed amendments to this constitution shall be presented at a regular general membership meeting. At the next succeeding general membership meeting, the amendment shall be effective, if approved by a majority vote of the membership present at said meeting.