CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
OF THE
ARIZONA FOOTBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE 1. Name
This organization shall be known as the Arizona Football Officials Association (AzFOA).
ARTICLE 2. Purposes
The primary purposes of this association are for the general betterment of officiating high school games in zones as defined by the Arizona Interscholastic Association, Inc, (AIA), and for the clarification and interpretation of the rules thereof, the training, evaluation, and rating of persons for the specialized work in cooperation with the AIA, and for the improvement of the coach/official relationship, the public image of the official, and the general welfare of its members.
ARTICLE 3. Membership
Section 1 - Eligibility
Any person eighteen (18) years of age or over, of honorable reputation and good moral character associated with and interested in high school football, who is registered with the AIA as a football official is eligible for membership in this association.
Section 2 - Membership Classifications
A. Probationary Member – A new member shall be placed on probation for a period of not less than the required time to complete the first and second year training classes. A transfer official shall be a probationary member for at least one (1) football season. During the probationary period, a member shall participate in academic and practical training as established by the Training Committee, and his/her performance as an official shall be observed and evaluated by the Mentor Program.
B. Member – A member is a person who has paid an annual membership fee, takes an approved football rules test annually, and is eligible to officiate high school football in Arizona.
C. Honorary Member – Based on service and/or contributions to the AzFOA, an individual may be nominated for a lifetime honorary membership. An Honorary Member shall receive all benefits of regular members. In addition, the annual membership fee shall be waived. A majority vote of the Board of Directors members present is required to designate an individual as an Honorary Member. An Honorary Member shall not serve on the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE 4. Government
Section 1 - Board of Directors
The business, affairs, and property of the Association shall be managed, conducted, and controlled by the Board of Directors. (“The Board”). The Board shall have the right and power to negotiate, mediate, and contract for, and on behalf of its membership with any organization approved for such purpose by the board.
Section 2 - Youth Football and Other Football Leagues
The Board shall appoint a Board Member to act on behalf of the association to conduct business with youth football and other football associations. The Board shall ask current Board Members to be assignors for each league’s football games in the various areas. It is recommended that Board Members who assigned games in the previous year be given first consideration for assigning games in the following year. If no Board Member wishes to participate as an assignor, then the Board can appoint a non-Board member of the association on a yearly basis to assign football games. All assignors shall insure that all officials working these league games are AzFOA members.
Section 3 - Election
Members of the Board shall be elected for two (2) year terms. No more than half of the number of representatives in each area shall be elected in a single year. Elections shall be held at or before the last meeting the group holds prior to the start of the football season. The elected representatives shall take their places on the board at the January meeting following their election. Newly elected Board members are encouraged to attend all Board meetings held between the date of their election and the following January meeting.
Section 4 - Change in Membership
The number and qualifications of members of the Board may be altered by a majority vote of the Board.
Section 5 - Meetings
The Board shall meet not less than six (6) times per year. Meetings of the Board shall be announced during the first month of the calendar year, but may be subject to change with advance notice through the association’s web page, or other means of media. All Board meetings are open to all AzFOA members. The Secretary shall provide notice of meetings to all Board members by mail, telephone, e-mail, or personally at least ten (10) days prior to any meeting. The first meeting of each calendar year shall be held on the fourth Monday of January (unless moved by holiday or other special occasion).
Section 6 - Special Meetings
Special Meetings of the Board may be called by the President upon ten (10) days notice to each Board member either by mail, telephone, e-mail, or personally by the Secretary. Special meetings may be held by teleconference, electronically or by email.
Section 7 - Quorum
A majority of members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. If a quorum is not present, a lesser number may adjourn to a later date, not more than thirty (30) days later.
Section 8 - Vacancy
Whenever a vacancy occurs on the Board by death, resignation, or otherwise, a member meeting the participation requirements in the Area Meeting Group in which the vacancy occurs may be appointed for the remaining term without undue delay by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board at a regular or special meeting.
Section 9 - Removal
Any one or more of the members of the Board may be removed for cause, at any time, by a vote of two thirds (2/3) of the Board members at a regular or special meeting called for that purpose. Any member not registered with the AIA as a football official by September 1st of each year, or who is suspended or removed as an official by the AIA, shall be automatically suspended as a member of the Board. If such member is not registered or reinstated by the AIA within thirty (30) days, he/she shall automatically be removed from the Board and the board shall appoint a replacement member.
A. The term, Cause, for the purpose of the Bylaws shall include, but not be limited to, failure to fulfill the requirements of the office by non-participation in meetings and functions of the AzFOA, which includes, but is not limited to, four (4) or more successive absences at board meetings, or four (4) unexcused absences during any year, and/or any act or omission which, by its nature, constitutes a breach of requirements of membership in the association, or is judged to bring disrepute on the association, its members, or officiating.
Written notice, specifying all charges and allegations justifying removal, shall be provided to the member being suspended and that member shall have twenty (20) days from the date of such notice, to respond to the executive committee and request a hearing before the board. Such hearing shall take place within thirty (30) days of the date of notice, at which time the respondent may present his/her case before the Board. Upon completion of such meeting, or non-reply to the written notice, the vote of the Board shall be taken. The decision of the board shall be final.
ARTICLE 5. Area Meeting Groups
Section 1 - Area Meeting Groups
The AzFOA shall divide itself into Area Meeting Groups for purposes of election of the Board and training as follows: area groups for certified officials each electing four (4) representatives and two (2) at-large members appointed by the Board for the training group for first and second year officials. These at-large members shall serve two (2) year terms. The Board shall also appoint the following additional at-large Board members to one-year terms: the state rules interpreter(s); the association’s webmaster; and the chair of the Mentor committee.
Section 2 - Area Meeting Group Leadership
Any two certified officials who are approved for the task by the Board shall conduct each Area Group. The number of Board members from each area may be modified by a majority vote of the Board. The Board will make all decisions on the locations of the area meetings. The Board may change the number of Area Group Meetings and the number of Board members from those areas by a majority vote at any regular meeting. Nominees receiving the greatest number of popular votes at the area meetings shall be elected to a staggered two (2) year terms on the Board.
Section 3 - Composition of Area Meeting Groups
A minimum of seven (7) AzFOA members shall be required to elect Board members and to retain the status of an area-meeting group, except as may otherwise be provided by a majority vote of the Board.
ARTICLE 6. Officers
Section 1 - Number
The officers of this association shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 2 - Election
The Board shall elect all officers for a term of one (1) year from its membership. A majority of the Quorum present shall be necessary to elect officers. The election shall take place at the first meeting of each calendar year, and all officers shall take their places at the second meeting of the calendar year.
Section 3 - Presidential Term Limit
The term limit for the office of president of the Board shall be four (4) consecutive years. After holding the office of president for this time, the member shall not hold that office for at least two (2) years.
Section 4 - Duties
A. President. The president shall preside at all meetings of the association and be the chairman of the Board. He/she shall be the chief executive officer of the association and see that all orders and resolutions of the board are carried into effect. He/she shall have the general power and duties of supervision and management usually vested in the office of president of a non-profit corporation. He/she shall appoint the members of the advisory committee.
B. Vice President. The vice president shall, in the event of the absence or inability of the president to exercise his office become acting president of the association with all the rights, privileges and powers of the president.
C. Secretary. The secretary shall keep the minutes and records of the Association and see that they are published on the association’s web site. He/she shall be the official custodian of the records of the association and shall give all notices to members of the association. He/she shall exercise all duties incident to the office of secretary.
D. Treasurer. The treasurer shall have the care and custody of all monies of the association. He/she must be one of the officers who shall sign checks of the association. He/she shall render reports of the financial affairs of the association to the Board at each meeting thereof. He/she shall exercise all duties incident to the office of treasurer.
All officers shall by virtue of their office be members of the Board. No officer shall for reason of his office be entitled to receive any salary or compensation.
ARTICLE 7. Resignations and Suspensions
Section 1 - Resignation
Resignation of members shall be made in writing to the president who shall turn the same over to the Board with a statement of such member’s account. No member who has resigned shall be reinstated until he/she has paid all indebtedness owed to the Association.
Section 2 - Suspension
Any member shall be automatically suspended for non-payment of dues.
ARTICLE 8. Committees
Section 1 - Standing Committees
The AzFOA shall have the following standing committees: Executive Committee, Advisory Committee, Mentor Committee, Awards Committee, Pre-Season Scrimmage Committee, Youth Football Committee, Business Committee and Tracking Committee.
Section 2 - Membership
The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the Board. It shall appoint a member as Chairman of each standing committee. The Chairman of each standing committee shall report on the proceedings and activities of such committee to the Board. Committees may consist of any qualified members.
Section 3 - Duties
The duties and powers of the committees shall be as follows:
A. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall act as a liaison between the AzFOA and the AIA, the news media, schools, and other associations. The committee shall meet as required with the Commissioner of Officials and Executive Director of the AIA, to make recommendations to the AIA. The Committee shall have such other meetings as may from time to time be determined by a resolution of the committee.
B. Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee shall advise the president and the board regarding recommendations for the betterment of football officiating and for improvements in the association. Included in these recommendations will be training of all officials, uniformity of mechanics, rules interpretations and rules meeting curriculum.
C. Mentor Program Committee. The Mentor Program Committee shall be responsible for the maintenance and monitoring of the Mentor Program. This program is designed for the education of non-certified officials, and recommending classifications to the Board for all officials. This committee shall incorporate changes to the program each year and appoint an individual(s) to oversee the implementation of the program during each football season. It shall also oversee the scheduling of Freshman/JV games.
D. Tracking Committee. The Tracking Committee will document the minimum criteria needed to be eligible for play-off assignments. The criteria include the kick-off meeting, rules meetings, White Hat seminar attendance and test scores. This information will be reported to the AIA.
E. Youth Football Committee. The Youth Football Committee shall act on behalf of the association when conducting business with youth football and other football associations.
F. Awards Committee. The Awards Committee shall maintain records and be responsible for awarding "Years of Service" awards. The committee shall also present the annual Matt O.Hanhilla Sportsmanship award to the high school team that exhibits the best sportsmanship during the regular season. Also included are Ron Lemon Youth Football, Jim Murphy and Hall of Fame awards.
G. Pre-Season Scrimmage Committee. The Pre-Season Scrimmage Committee, with the AIA, shall be responsible for the coordination of all Pre-Season Inter-School Scrimmage assignments.
H. Business Committee. The Business Committee shall oversee matters regarding AzFOA gear to be ordered and made available to all members.
I. Ad-Hoc Committees. When necessary, other committees shall be formed and members appointed by the president based on special needs identified during regular or special meeting business.
ARTICLE 9. Dues
Section 1 - Dues
Annual dues shall be fixed by the Board and shall be due and payable on or before September 1st, of each year.
Section 2 - Delinquency
The failure to pay dues by a member on or before the DUE DATE shall result in suspension of the member from the Association.
Section 3 - Reinstatement
Any member suspended for non-payment of dues shall automatically be reinstated as a member upon the payment of dues and assessments owed by the individual.
Section 4 - List of Suspensions
At the first Board meeting after the time set for payment of dues, the treasurer shall publish a list of all suspended members to the Board.
ARTICLE 10. AFFILIATES
Section 1. Organizations
Any non-profit organization located in the state of Arizona whose purpose is the betterment of high school football officiating under the auspices of the AIA may, upon approval of the board, become an affiliate member of the AzFOA. Affiliate members shall pay dues as established by the Board from time to time. Dues may be based on the number of members in each affiliate. Affiliates and their members shall adhere to the principles of the AzFOA. Affiliates shall be entitled to have a representative attend all meetings of the board and members of each affiliate shall be entitled to attend all camps, clinics and meetings held by the AzFOA upon payment of any fee charged to regular members of the AzFOA for such event. The Board may terminate an affiliate for non-payment of dues and/or fees; upon a determination that the affiliate’s operations are not in accord with AzFOA purposes and objectives; or for any other reason it deems appropriate.
Section 2. Individual Affiliate Members.
Any high school football official residing outside of Maricopa County who is registered and in good standing with the AIA may apply to become an affiliate member of the AzFOA. Individual affiliate members shall pay dues as established by the Board from time to time. Affiliates and their members shall adhere to the principles of the AzFOA. Individual affiliate members shall be entitled to attend all meetings of the Board and all camps, clinics and meetings. The Board may terminate an individual affiliate member for non-payment of dues and/or fees; the failure to register or remain in good standing with the AIA, or for any other reason it deems appropriate.
ARTICLE 11. Emblem and Uniforms
Members of the AzFOA shall wear the emblem approved by the AIA and shall wear the uniforms prescribed by the AIA.
ARTICLE 12. Order of Business
Unless otherwise covered in this Constitution and Bylaws, “Roberts’ Rules of Order” shall govern all meetings.
ARTICLE 13. Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the AzFOA shall be held in conjunction with the AIA “Kick-Off” meeting.
ARTICLE 14. Amendments
The Bylaws may be amended or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted in whole or in part by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the Board or by a majority vote of the entire membership of the AzFOA, provided the proposal therefore is stated in substance in the notice of such meetings.