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Final
Draft (for review by
membership)
NORTH SHORE BASEBALL UMPIRES
ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION (Most Recently Amended: February 2008)
ARTICLE 1: NAME
North Shore Baseball
Umpires Association (Founded 1960)
ARTICLE 2: PURPOSE
To train and develop umpires and promote quality umpiring
throughout the North
Shore.
ARTICLE 3: OFFICERS
The
officers shall-consist of:
1. President
2. First Vice-President
3. Second Vice-President
4. Secretary
5. Treasurer
6. Interpreter
7. Immediate Past President
8. Advisory Board: (4)
Members,
·
(2) Members elected for Two year terms
·
(2) Members elected each year.
The above officers will constitute
the Governing Board of the Association. All Governing Board members must
attend at least 70% of the board's meetings. Failure to do so may result in
removal of the member by a vote of the remaining Governing Board members in
good standing.
In case of the resignation,
incapacity, or suspension of any officers which prevents them from serving in
their elected position, the President and the Board shall appoint a temporary
successor who shall serve until the next election. Term of elected officers
shall run from July 1st to June 30th.
The President is empowered to
appoint a "nominating committee" by the May meeting which will, at
the last meeting in June, present nominations to the membership for all
eligible elected offices. It should be the goal of the nominating committee
and the membership to have a contest for each elected office. After the
committee has made its report, nominations from the floor will be in order.
The committee will also be responsible for having the final ballot printed
and ready for the election meeting. The election meeting,
shall be the last meeting of the year, the date for which shall be determined
by the President and the Board.
Only members in good standing,
as of the date of the election meeting, shall be eligible to participate in
the election.
All positions shall be non-salaried
with the following exceptions:
·
The Secretary and the Treasurer each
shall be compensated $ 300.00 per
annum for their services. If these
positions are combined the fee would be $600.00
per year.
·
The Interpreter shall be paid $500.00 per year for his or her
services.
ARTICLE 4:
MEMBERSHIP
Active - A person, who has
passed all the entrance requirements of the Association, is actively engaged
in umpiring baseball and is a member in good standing. (Note - Article 8)
Inactive - One who has temporarily retired from umpiring but
plans to return to active status in the foreseeable future.
There shall be no limit to the time one may remain in this category. However,
after three years as an inactive member, it will be required that a refresher
examination be taken in order to resume active status.
(Inactive members shall have
all voting rights and shall be required to pay full dues. However, attendance
at meetings is not required.)
Honorary Life Member – This honor can be bestowed upon members of our
Association who are in one of the two following categories. Retired
Honorary life member and Active
Honorary life member. Eligibility
for these categories are as follows:
Retired Honorary life members are elected to
this status by a majority vote of the membership voting at the election
meeting. Retired Honorary life members must have had a minimum of fifteen years with the Association
and must have distinguished themselves by their activity in the Association.
Active Honorary life members are elected to
this status by a majority vote of the membership voting at the election
meeting. Active Honorary life members must have had a minimum of twenty years with the Association and
must have distinguished themselves by their activity in the Association.
Any member may make
nominations for honorary life membership, in either category, in good
standing by written notice to the President at least three weeks before the
annual election meeting. Retired Honorary life members shall have no
voting rights nor shall they be required to pay dues. Active Honorary life members shall have
voting rights and will not be required to pay dues.
Honorary
Professional Member - This member
would be a member of the Association who is presently employed by
Professional Baseball Leagues and is a member in good standing. This member
will have no voting rights, nor have to pay dues. However, this member may
attend meetings of the Association and continue to be listed as a member of
the Association under this status.
In the event that this
member is no longer employed by a Professional Baseball League, the member
may rejoin the Association without having to take a written examination.
Member in good standing- This would be a member of the Association who has met all
the requirements of Article 4 “Active” and whose due are up to date.
Reinstatement as a member in good standing: The
Policy for reinstatement for the member not in good standing would be as
follows:
·
Member would need to
petition the Board through the Secretary requesting reinstatement and the
reason for the problems in the past.
·
Pay all back dues
owed from prior years plus the penalty per year for each one of those years.
·
If the member had an interruption in
services during this period of time greater than one year then he or
she would need to retake the class and meet of the requirements of a “new member”
as stated in Article 8 of this document.
·
If the member feels
that there are extenuating circumstances that should preclude he or she from
having to retake the class and meet of the requirements of a “new member”, as
stated in Article 8 of this document, then he or she may petition the Board
through the Secretary, explaining his or her reason why. The
board will then have the final say on whether or not the petitioner needs to
retake the class. This decision will be levied within 10 days of receipt to
the Secretary and the decision will be final.
Junior Member: This
category would be for kid’s under18 years of age that take the course and
pass the test. Under the Junior Member
status the member would be ineligible to umpire high school baseball until he
or she turns 18 or graduates high school, whichever comes first. Upon
arriving at either one of these life
events the Junior member would automatically be rolled into the “Active
Member” status, as long as he or she has attended all the require meeting and
is current with their dues. (Is a
member in good standing)
A Junior member will only be
required to pay one half of the dues requirement called out in ARTICLE 5
DUES:, but will enjoy all the other privileges of membership with the
exception of two things. 1.) Can’t
Umpire High school baseball as spelled out in the above paragraph and 2.)
Will not be covered under the associations Liability Insurance policy due to
their under age status.
ARTICLE 5: DUES
Dues shall be one JV fee per year payable for the current year before April
1st of that year. This sum shall include the price of the annual banquet. If
dues are not paid by April 1st, there will be an additional sum of Five
Dollars due. If dues are not paid by May 1st, an additional Ten Dollars shall
be due and if not paid by June 1st, the Secretary shall notify the member in
arrears that he or she is summarily expelled from the Association. This will
be done by notice in writing by return receipt mail from the Secretary to the
delinquent member. The member shall have the right to appeal to the Governing
Board of the Association, but under no circumstances shall he or she be
reinstated without a majority vote by the Governing Board present at the
hearing and without paying delinquent dues and all additional payments due.
Note 1: Any member who has
not paid his dues by April 1st is considered to NOT be a
“member in good standing” and therefore forfeits his or her rights to all the
privileges of a member in good standing. (Annual Breakfast, Training
materials, books, and any gifts if presented to the membership that year.)
Note 2: Checks and or money for dues will not
be accepted at the annual business meeting, (lst meeting), to avoid
disruption and to maintain adherence to the agenda in a timely manner. The
first mailing or meeting notice will include the instruction for how to and
where to mail the money for dues.
Note 3: Checks or money
orders should be made out to NSBUA.
Note 4: Exempt from paying
dues:
·
Members of the
Executive Board are exempt from paying the annual dues. This does not include
members of the Advisory Board. (Amended 2003)
·
Any member of the
NSBUA for 25 years is exempt from paying annual dues. (Amended 2003)
Any member changing his home
address or e-mail address shall notify the Secretary in writing immediately.
Note: NSBUA may provide a
list of members in good standing to the local assigning agencies as a
courtesy, upon request. This list in
no way obligates any of the agencies to use or not use the names provided on
this list. It is for informational
purposes only.
ARTICLE 6: MEETINGS
Officers
and Directors shall determine the dates, time and location of all meetings of
the Association. The Secretary shall notify all members “in writing” two
weeks prior to the first meeting of the year.
(In writing may and will include notice in writing via e-mail and/or
posting on the NSBUA Web-site.)
All active-members must attend at least three interpretive meetings.
Failure to do shall result in a fine
of one varsity game fee. Failure to pay such fine within 30 days of
written notice and a review by the Governing Board may result in a possible
suspension and loss of membership in good standing. Note: The election/business meeting can
be counted as an interpretive meeting.
The member has the right to appeal
such suspension to the Board in writing within 30 days of written notice
which he shall receive from the Secretary within 10 days of the final meeting
of the year. This notice shall be sent by return receipt mail to each
suspended member.
The last meeting shall be in June
of each year, and will be an election/business meeting. However, in case of
emergency, the President may call special business meetings at any time
provided members in good standing have all received two weeks notice in
writing from the secretary.
Main discussions at the meetings
shall be rules, interpretations and techniques of umpiring to obtain
uniformity among membership. This portion of the meeting will take place at
the conclusion of the business meeting.
Proposed meeting outline is as follows:
The first, or business, portion of
all meetings is restricted to:
·
The reading of
minutes, (read by the Secretary)
·
The Secretary's
report,
·
The Treasurer's
report
·
Committee reports,
·
And any new business
discussion*.
·
Then adjournment to
the interpretation session which will conclude at the end of the Interpreters
presentation.
*All nonessential business will be referred
to the Governing Board and they will be empowered to make decisions on these
matters in the name of the organization.
Note:
Meeting minutes will be kept by the Secretary; they shall be typed and
available for review within 5 business days.
These minutes will become the official record of the meeting and shall
be kept on file along with the treasurer’s report from that meeting.
A quorum which is required to
conduct the business of the Association shall be 25% of the active members in
good standing at the time of such meeting. Robert's Rules of order will
prevail during business portions of meetings.
Drinking of alcoholic beverages and
smoking is prohibited at meetings.
At the end of each year, this
Association will host a banquet. New "Honorary Members" and any out
going president shall be honored at this time. The Presidents award will also be presented
to our honored guest and recipient at this annual meeting.
ARTICLE
7: COMMITTEES
President may form any committee that he
feels is necessary for the orderly and efficient operation of the
Association. It shall be within his
province to appoint a chairman and the members to all committees. During the period between the final meeting
of the old year and the first meeting of the new year the President with
approval of the Governing Board, is authorized to make any emergency
decisions.
ARTICLE
8: NEW MEMBERS
To
become a member of this association an applicant must pass a written
examination and successfully complete field tests as arranged by the
Interpreter. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age on the date of the
written exam.
Applicants who successfully pass
the written portion of the exam will have a year from that June to complete
the field test requirement for membership.
All new members who successfully
pass the written portion of the exam are also subject to the successful
completion of a CORI check as a qualifying condition for membership.
Passing grade for the examination shall be determined by the
President and the Governing Board. Applicants must submit a written
application which will be accepted up to the date of the examination. This
application must include written recommendations of three active members in
good standing. Such recommendations are to be verified by the Secretary. New
members may only work varsity games in emergencies during the first year of
membership. A fee of Fifteen Dollars shall accompany the written application
as a condition precedent to taking the examination. This fee is not refundable. Those members who choose to take the
classes leading up to the test will not be charged this fee. The $75.00 tuition cost for the class includes
the test fee.
ARTICLE 9. TRANSFERS AM DUAL
MEMBERSHIP
Transfers
from another recognized board and umpires seeking dual membership shall be
accepted into the Association provided they submit written evidence, through
the Secretary, that they are active members in good standing with another
approved Board of Umpires.
These members will also be subject to
the successful completion of a CORI check as a qualifying condition for membership.
ARTICLE 10: FEES AND OTHER WORKING
CONDITIONS
No
member shall accept an assignment to umpire a regular season high school game
for less than the amount established by the Massachusetts Baseball Umpires
Association (MBUA), nor shall any umpire of the Association work with another
umpire who is not in good standing with an approved Board of Umpires. Should
an umpire find that his partner does not have board status, he should fulfill
his assignment and immediately thereafter notify the Secretary of the
Association. Members should try to ascertain the identity of the other
umpire. Penalty for violation of either of the above shall result in
immediate suspension with right of appeal to the Governing Board. Original
assignments must be honored unless release is obtained from the assigning
authority.
ARTICLE
11: DRESS
Dress
uniform of the Association will conform to the code set by the Massachusetts
Baseball Umpires Association, MBUA, Effective for the 1991 season, the code
is as follows: charcoal grey slacks, a red turtleneck with a navy blazer (or
the N.S.B.U.A. pullover jacket), or a red tee shirt and navy short sleeved,
polo shirt with red white and blue trim on the sleeves and collar, black
socks and belt, a regulation M.B.U.A. “fitted” umpire's hat and umpiring
shoes. A current M.B.U.A. design patch must be displayed on the shirt or
jacket pocket.
ARTICLE 12: AMENDMENTS
This
Constitution or any of its by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds majority
vote of the members in good standing who are in attendance and voting at the
Annual Meeting or at any special meeting provided that the number of members
in good standing constitutes a quorum.
Amendments may be proposed by any
member in good standing by submitting in writing the proposed amendment to
the President or his representatives at least three weeks before the Annual
Business Meeting at which time the voting will take place. Proposed
amendments must be forwarded in writing to each member in good standing by
the Secretary at least two weeks prior to the time these amendments will be
proposed to the membership for consideration and possible adoption.
ARTICLE 13: Policy on Sick or Deceased Members and
their family members.
This policy is being stated as a
guideline by which the board can act upon in the event of sickness or
death of a member or his or her family member. The
following statements can be amended by majority vote of the Board. This will give the board some leeway to
review every extenuating circumstance on a case by case basis.
·
Member passing: President should contact the family to
extend the Associations deepest sympathy.
At this time the President should ascertain the details of the
forthcoming events and ask the family members what would be more appropriate,
flowers or a contribution to the charity of their choosing, in the member’s
name. Guideline: $100.00 to $150.00,
not to exceed $150.00 without Board approval.
·
Sick or injured member:
President contacts the member and
extends our best wishes for a full recovery.
Guideline: (If appropriate), Presidents call… $50.00 to $75.00, for
flowers or gift, Not to exceed $75.00 without Board approval.
·
Members Mother, Father, Wife or Child passes: President
should contact the member to extend the Associations deepest sympathy. At this time the President should ascertain
the details of the forthcoming events and ask the member what would be more
appropriate, flowers or a contribution to the charity of their choosing, in
the family member’s name. Guideline:
$75.00 to $100.00, Not to exceed $100.00 without
Board approval.
ARTICLE 14: General Board of Director
Guidelines and Privileges
The Governing Board shall be
empowered to make decisions on all nonessential business and issues regarding
the day to day running of this Association in the name of the
organization. (NSBUA)
·
Presidential Authority and spending limit: The President is hereby granted the authority to run the
day to day activity of the organization and is granted the spending power,
not to exceed 250.00 without Board approval, to conduct the required business
and activity of this association.
·
Checkbook coverage: The
organization’s checking account should have two board members that are able
to write checks, just in case the Treasurer for whatever reason becomes
unavailable or is unable to write checks to meet our financial obligations.
·
Board of director’s meetings, General Guidelines: Generally these
meetings take place one hour before the general meetings. Special meetings
can be called by the President as the situation warrants. Each meeting will have a set agenda and
will follow the guidelines of “Robert’s Rules”.
·
President’s Award:
This is an award chosen strictly
by the Present of the NSBUA for someone outside our organization that
exhibits extraordinary effort, lead by example qualities, and good
sportsmanship skills. This award can
go to a player, Coach, AD, or someone from the community who contributes to
the success or betterment of high school baseball. (All Recommendations from the Board or
Membership shall be given the proper consideration. The final decision on
this award shall lie completely with the President.)
·
Special recognition for extraordinary efforts and
accomplishments: This privilege allows the Board the flexibility to
recognize someone within our organization for all they have done for the
association and the community over the years.
This is not a yearly award.
This is an option exercised by the board as a way of paying “living
tribute” to someone in our membership who has charted the way for all of
us. This award from this point forward
will affectionately be called the “Fred Gardner award”. (All Recommendations from the Board or
Membership shall be given the proper consideration. The final decision on
this award shall lie completely on the majority vote of the Board.)
·
Requests to speak in front of the Board: Any member is entitled to speak in front of the
Board. All requests should be made
through the Secretary 2 weeks prior to the general meeting date. No one will be turned away. This action is required to so that the
request can be put in as part of the agenda for the Board meeting and so we
can maintain the governance of Roberts Rules.
·
Presidential exit ceremony, “The Passing of the Gavel”: From 2008 on, all exiting Presidents shall hand the newly
elected President his or her own gavel which he or she will retain when
exiting the office at the conclusion of their period of service.
·
Note: These
ceremonial gavels shall be provided by the Association along with a plate
earmarking there years of service.
ARTICLE: 15 CORI Policy
The NSBUA has chosen to take a leadership
position with respect to CORI checks.
Since 2001 we have been performing checks on all new members.
It will be our policy to
continue performing CORI checks on all new members, as part of the requirements
of membership into the NSBUA.
There are several key administrative
requirements which must be stated in order to successfully continue this
program in accordance with the best practices exhibited in years past and for
protection to the Association and it members, including the new member being
asked to provide personal information require to execute the CORI check.
·
There must
be one CORI Administrator.
Appointed by the President.
·
We must use
only the approved CORI form on file with the State of Massachusetts for our Association.
·
The CORI administrator
will be the only eyes to views the CORI information and then render the final
decision on membership.
·
All CORI
forms and input from the CORI check must be destroyed once the final decision
on membership has been rendered.
·
As laws and policy’s
change and evolve, the NSBUA Executive Board must plan and budget for future
training and administrative cost to support CORI administration and execution
of this policy.
ARTICLE:
16 Implementation and effectivity of proposed Constitutional changes
Articles 1-15 will take effect
upon ratification of the majority of members present at the meeting so
designated by the President.
·
A review of the Constitution and its
relevance to how to run this organization will be conducted every 3
years.
·
During the 3 year period any required
changes will be presented as amendments to the current constitution until
incorporated into the 3 year review.
·
Note: all amendments shall be ratified in accordance with
article 12 “amendments”. A committee
shall be appointed under the guidelines of Article 7 “Committee”.
A CODE OF ETHICS FOR BASEBALL UMPIRES
- I will honor all
contracts regardless of possible inconvenience or financial loss.
- I will diligently
study the rules of the game, observe the work of other umpires and will,
at all times, attempt to improve myself.
- I will remember
that, while my work as an umpire is important, I must conduct myself in
such a way that spectator’s attention is directed, not to me, but to the
boys playing the game.
- I will dress and
maintain my appearance in a matter befitting the dignity and importance
of the great game of baseball.
- I will conduct
myself so as to be a worthy example to the players under my
jurisdiction.
- I will be fair and
unbiased in my decisions, rendering them without regard to the score or
next year’s contract.
- I will give my
complete cooperation to the schools which I serve, and to the
association that I represent.
- I will cooperate and
be professional in my association with my fellow umpires and will do
nothing to cause them public embarrassment.
- I will, in my
actions on the field, be firm but not over bearing; courteous but not
ingratiating; positive but never rude; dignified but never “cocky”;
friendly but not companionable; calm, but ever alert.
- I will be prepared,
both physically and mentally, to administer the game.
- I will not smoke on
or in the vicinity of the playing field, nor drink any alcoholic
beverages on the day of the game.
- I will not give any
information which might be used by a team’s future opponent.
- I will keep in mind
that the game is more important than the wishes of any individual
player, coach, or the ambitions of any individual umpire.
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