CONSTITUTION OF

THE HUDSON VALLEY BOARD OF OFFICIALS, INC.

Revised - June 2009

 

 

 

 

Article I - NAME

 

The name of this organization shall be the Hudson Valley Board of Officials, Inc.

 

 

Article II - PURPOSE

 

The purpose of this organization shall be to:

1) Further the interests of sports.

2) Provide sessions for training officials and to rate officials outlined in procedures.

3) Provide a list of approved officials interested in maintaining the highest officiating standards.

4) Interpret rules to players, coaches, instructors and officials in the interest of standardizing and improving officiating.

5) Encourage playing conditions conducive to fair play and sportsmanship.

6) Study and evaluate the needs and problems of officiating in the geographical area of this Board.

7) Assist in providing an educational program in interrelated aspects of officiating for personnel working in sports.

 

 

Article III - MEMBERSHIP

 

Classes of Membership:

 

1) Active - An active member is one who has passed the required theoretical and

practical examinations and who has paid dues as specified in the By-Laws. An active member is entitled to vote at any meeting of the Board, and to receive the Board Directory of Sports Officials.

 

2) Dual - A dual member is a member in good standing from a neighboring board

who pays full dues, attends all meetings and has voting privileges. All tests, both theoretical and practical, must be taken with the parent board.

 

3) Life - To be eligible for life membership, a member shall have served:

 

A) as an Active HVBO member for a period of at least twenty years.

 

B) on the Executive Committee of the Hudson Valley Board of Officials, Inc.

 

To become a Life member, a person must have the recommendation of the Executive Committee and a majority vote of the membership present at the Corporation Meeting.

 

 Life membership privileges shall include the following:

 

A) Inactive Life members shall have the right to vote. They are not required to pay dues.

 

B) Active Life members are only required to attend the interpretation meeting and one regular meeting. They are not required to pay dues.

 

 4) Inactive - An inactive status may be granted to a person who has been an Active member for at least three years immediately preceding the application for such status, unless prevented from remaining active due to a physical disability and/or other extenuating circumstances. The conditions for Inactive membership are:

 

1) Member shall apply to the appropriate sports chairperson in writing, stating the reasons for such a request.

2) Member shall not work any events in the areas serviced by this Board.

3) Member shall pay an inactive fee at the rate established by the Executive Committee.

4) Member shall not be covered by insurance by this Board.

5) Member shall not remain on inactive status for longer than one year, whenever possible. (Extenuating circumstances will be reviewed by the Executive Committee.)

6) Member shall be excused from attending meetings during the inactive period.

7) Member shall renew her/his rating, where applicable, upon return to Active status.

 

 

Article IV - OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, SPORT SPECIFIC GROUPS, AND ELECTIONS

 

 Section I. OFFICERS.

The officers of this organization shall be a President, President Elect, Past President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The President Elect shall automatically succeed the President. These officers shall perform the duties as prescribed in the By-Laws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by this organization. A vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled by the Executive Committee until the next general meeting. This appointment shall be subject to review by the membership at that time.

 

Section 2. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers and Sports Chairpersons.  The Executive Committee shall perform duties prescribed in the By-Laws.

 

 Section 3. SPORT SPECIFIC GROUPS

A Sport Specific Group may consist of the Sports Chairperson, Assistant Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, or Secretary/Treasurer, and Rules Interpreter. The Sport Specific Group shall perform duties prescribed in the By-Laws.

 

Section 4. ELECTIONS

A) By February 1, the Executive Committee President shall have appointed a nominating committee of three Executive Committee members. It shall be the duty of this committee to prepare a slate of one or more candidates for each Executive Committee office.

B) The officers shall be elected by paper ballot of the membership and shall assume their duties at the Spring meeting. In the event there is an, uncontested position, election shall be by a single vote cast by the Board Secretary. Nominations will be closed by March 15. No nominations from the floor will be accepted.

C) By February 1, the current Sports Chairperson of each sport shall appoint a nominating committee of two members from that sport. It is the duty of this committee to prepare a slate of one or more candidates in good standing for a minimum of five years to be considered for Sports Chairperson in that sport, and to send the results to the current Board President.

D) Term of office for elected personnel shall be:

1. Past President - 1 year, taking office in an even year

2. President - 2 years, taking office in even year

3. President Elect - 1 year, elected in odd year

4. Secretary - 2 years, elected in even year

5. Treasurer - 2 years, taking office in odd year

6. Sports Chairperson - 2 years, elected as follows:

 A. Softball - even year

 B. Gymnastics - odd year

 C. Volleyball - odd year

 

 

Article V - MEETINGS

 

Section 1. General meetings of the Board may be called at the discretion of the President.

 

 Section 2. There shall be at least one mandatory interpretation meeting for each sport prior to the sport season. More meetings maybe called at the discretion of the Sports Chairperson.

 

 Section 3. One half plus one of all voting members shall constitute a quorum.

 

 Section 4. The annual meeting of the Corporation shall be the Spring meeting of each year.

 

 

Article VI - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

 

The rules contained in Roberts' Rules of Order (revised) shall govern the Corporation in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this Constitution or these By-Laws.

 

 

Article VII - AMENDMENTS

 

This Constitution or these By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Board by two-thirds of the members present or represented by written proxy, provided the proposed amendment has been presented in writing with the call to meeting.

 

 

 


 

BY-LAWS OF

THE HUDSON VALLEY BOARD OF OFFICIALS, INC.

Revised - June 2009

 

Article I - QUALIFICATIONS AND APPLICATION FOR ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 1. All persons who make application for membership shall become active members upon passing the required theoretical and practical examinations or upon holding an unexpired rating, and upon payment of dues.

 

 Section 2. It is mandatory for all officials (except Gymnastics) to take a written exam every year. Any official not taking the written exam will be dropped from the assignment list until he/she takes it. A written exam resulting in a score below his/her current level will cause an official to be subject to the governing rules of the sport.

 

Section 3. Active Board membership shall be forfeited for:

A. Absences from any mandatory meeting of his/her particular sports without prior written notification to that Sport Chairperson.

B. Repeated complaints or inefficiency after review by the Executive Committee.

C. Failure to pay dues and/or fines by the date specified for payment for the following year.

D. Unethical behavior.

 

 Section 4. An official whose active membership is to be forfeited due to Section 3 above may appeal in writing to the Executive Committee, who shall consider the case and make the final decision concerning the loss or retention of membership.

 

 Section 5. A $40.00 fine will be assessed against any member for failure to attend any general board or required sport specific meeting without prior written notification to the Board's Executive Committee or sport specific chairperson. Failure to pay the fine within thirty (30) calendar days will result in a one year suspension from the Board.

 

 Section 6. A $30.00 fine will be assessed against any official who has been reported out of uniform to the Sports Chairperson by either a fellow official or coach for that game. Failure to pay the fine within thirty (30) calendar days will result in a one year suspension from the Board.  Three (3) such violations will result in a one year suspension from the Board.

 

 Article 11- DUTIES OF OFFICERS, SPORTS CHAIRPERSONS, AND STANDING COMMITTEES

 

Section 1. Officers

 

A. Duties of the Board President:

1. Be familiar with contents of NYSPHSAA handbook.

2. Preside over meetings of the Board.

3. Act as President of the Executive Committee.

4. Coordinate the work and serve as an ex-officio member of all committees of the Board.

5. Keep informed of all Board activities and reports of ratings.

6. Rule on all matters of local Board policy.

7. Review payment of bills as submitted to Treasurer.

8. Be second signatory on Board accounts.

9. Direct individual problems of rules interpretation to the appropriate sport chairperson.

10. Appoint standing committees deemed necessary.

11. Keep an up-to-date list of active members as supplied by the Secretary, Treasurer and Sport Chairpersons.

12. Establish dates for Board meetings.

 

B. Duties of the President Elect:

 

1. Be familiar with contents of NYSPHSAA handbook.

2. In the absence (or disability) of the President, performs all the duties of the latter.

3. Work closely with the President in order to acquaint herself/himself with the Board procedures.

4. Automatically succeed the President.

 

C. Duties of the Secretary:

1. Keep a record of the minutes of all Board meetings and Executive Committee meetings.

2. Send a copy of these minutes to members of the Executive Committee.

3. Notify all members of the meeting dates of the Board.

 

D. Duties of the Treasurer:

1. Receive and hold all funds of the Board and dispense same according to the directions of the Executive Committee.

2. Keep an accurate account of all monies received and dispersed by her/him and make a report of the same at each meeting of the Executive Committee.

3. Submit financial statement to Board prior to any general Corporation meeting and to membership at Spring meeting.

4. Provide Sport Chairpersons with list of members who paid dues.

 

 E. Duties of the Executive Committee:

1. Have the power and authority over affairs of the Board in the interim between meetings; two-thirds of the members of the Executive Committee constitute a quorum.

 

 Section 2. Sports Chairperson, Sport Specific Group Members, and Standing Committees

 

A. Duties of Sports Chairperson:

1. Appoint additional members of standing committees.

2. Appoint clinicians with approval of Executive Committee.

3. Preside over annual rules interpretation meeting for that sport.

4. Conduct theoretical and practical examinations for that sport.

5. Keep accurate records of all classifications and submit this list to the President and Secretary.

6. By February 1st, name a nominating committee of two officials of that sport to prepare a slate of one or more candidates.

7. Report any information from the Executive Committee and State Associations to all their officials.

8. Provide the President with a list of members who have attended meetings.

9. Submit reports, as directed, to State and Section Officiating Coordinators.

 

B. Duties of Sport Specific Group Members:

1. Chairperson - duties as described in Section 2A above.

2. Assistant Chairperson - Appointed by Sport Chairperson to assist Chairperson and act in her/his place when necessary.

3. Secretary - appointed by Sport Chairperson and is responsible for taking minutes and attendance at all sport meetings. Must also mail notices of sport group meetings and all other correspondence deemed necessary by Sport Chairperson.

 

 C. Duties of Standing Committees:

 

1. Constitution Committee:

a) Meet annually to review and revise, if necessary, any section of Constitution and/or By-Laws.

b) Report any proposed changes to President and prepare material for distribution to Board prior to next general meeting.

c) Present report to general meeting of the Board.

d) Serve for length of time designated by Board President.

2. Additional Standing Committees:

a) When appropriate, such committees may be established by the Executive Committee.

b) Meet when necessary.

 

 

Article III - RATING EXAMINATION PROCEDURE.

 

Section 1. A candidate shall be certified according to the requirements of the governing state or national sports organizations.

 

 Section 2. Any newly rated official may receive no more than the assigned entry rating.  Exceptional cases may be made at the discretion of the rating committee.

 

Section 3. On receiving a rating, the candidate must join the affiliated Board from which she/he received her/his rating, or she/he will not be listed as having earned a rating. At this time, a new member fee, in the amount of the current annual dues, must be paid.

 

 

Article IV - DUES

 

Section 1. Annual dues, for the following year, for all members, shall be the fee established by the Executive Committee for each sport in which an official holds a rating. Dues are payable by the date stipulated.  Failure to pay dues by that date will result in a fine of $25 the first year, $50 in a second consecutive year, and $100 in a third consecutive year.

 

Section 2. An official transferring from another Board shall pay dues for the following year by the date stipulated.

 

 

Article V - FEES FOR OFFICIATING

 

 Fees for officiating in each sport shall be those approved in a contract negotiated by the officials associations and assigning agent

 

 Article VI - OFFICIAL UNIFORM

 

 The official uniform shall be that required by the Sports Specific State Association and described and required in the current New York State approved rules guides. It is mandatory that this official uniform be worn whenever board members are fulfilling their duties as officials.