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FLORIDA HOCKEY OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
Table of Contents:
ARTICLE I-----NAME
ARTICLE II-----ORGANIZATION
ARTICLE III-----PURPOSE
ARTICLE IV-----AFFILIATION
ARTICLE V-----MEMBERSHIP
ARTICLE VI-----ADMINISTRATION
ARTICLE VII-----CONDUCT AND PROFICIENCY
ARTICLE VIII-----MEETINGS
ARTICLE IX-----GAME ASSIGNMENTS
ARTICLE X-----DUES AND FEES
ARTICLE XI-----AMENDMENTS
The name of the corporation shall be the FLORIDA HOCKEY OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION. (there in after referred to as the Association), and may be referred to in abbreviation form as FHOA.
Section 1: The Association shall generally conduct its operations within, but not necessarily limited to the state of Florida. The operations and activities of the Association shall be based on a fiscal year beginning July 1, of each calendar year and ending June 30, of the following calendar year.
Section 1: The Association is established for the following purposes;
a: Foster the development and growth of amateur ice hockey by providing trained, qualified and impartial officiating services to amateur Hockey Organizations operating in the FHOA geographic area of responsibility.
b: To promote good sportsmanship and fair play in connection with all events and to cooperate with all Organizations officially connected with Amateur Ice Hockey in furthering interest in the sport.
c: To provide leadership, training, and clinics in order to foster, develop and refine the officiating skills of the members of the Association for the mutual benefit of the members and the Organizations which employ the members to officiate their athletic events.
The Association shall be affiliated with and generally subscribe to the philosophy, principles, rules and regulations of USA HOCKEY.
Section 1: Membership in the association shall be made available to any individual who satisfies the following general criteria;
a: Demonstration of an acceptable level of physical ability, emotional stability, and soundness of judgment, consistent with the requirements of Hockey officiating, as determined by vote of the FHOA membership
b: Submission of a completed membership application form provided by FHOA and payment of current FHOA sues.
c: Registration as a member of the officials section of USA HOCKEY.
d: Completion of all tests and other criteria specified by USA HOCKEY, including specifically attendance at an annual USA HOCKEY OFFICIATING SEMINAR and attendance at two meetings.
Section 2: There will be two Association membership classifications which are defined as follows;
a:Provisional: Conferred on new members after receipt and approval of a completed membership application and payment of current dues. Provisional members will not have yet completed USA HOCKEY registration and testing requirements, may fully participate in FHOA activities and may vote and hold office in the Association.
b:Active: Conferred on Association members completion of USA HOCKEY registration and testing requirements, attendance at a minimum of two general membership meetings, completion of a minimum of ten officiating assignments, and upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the active members in attendance at any general meeting. Active members may participate in all of the activities of the FHOA, may participate in debate and are eligible to vote and hold office.
Section 1: Board of Directors. Administrative and operating authority within the Association shall be vested in a Board of Directors ("Board") which shall consist of five members, three Officers, and two Directors. Each Officer and each Director shall be elected at the annual meeting by majority vote of the associations members present at such meeting. The Officers shall include a President, A vice-president, and a secretary/Treasurer. The Directors shall be a Director of scheduling and Director of Training and Evaluation. Within the Board, each officer and Director shall have one vote.
Section 2: Authority. The Board shall collectively be responsible for the overall management and directive of the Association, and is empowered to levy and collect appropriate fines and fees, make recommendations related to applications for membership, temporarily suspend members for violation of performance or disciplinary standards, as specified in article IX of this document, and make recommendations to the membership concerning the expulsion of members. In addition, it shall prepare annually a manual of standard operating procedures to govern the associations detailed policies, practices and procedures. Such manual shall be presented to the members for adoption by a majority vote at the first meeting of each fiscal year.
Section 3: Duties. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all membership meetings of FHOA, To execute the affairs of the Association in accordance with the Constitution and the standard operating procedures, preside at all Board meetings and such other duties that may be required from time to time. Serve as the sole representative of the association with USA HOCKEY, client hockey organizations, and to the general public except when such functions have been duly delegated to other officers, directors or active members. Appoints members to serve on standing or special committees and conducts the affairs of the association with the advice and consent of the Board. All members in good standing are eligible for this office
b: It shall be the duty of the vice-president to assume the duties of the President when necessary. Reports to the President and is generally responsible for developing, implementing and overseeing the business interests of the Association. He shall serve as the liaison between the FHOA and the hockey organization with which the association has arrangements to provide officials. This includes, but is not limited to negotiation of fee arrangements for members and other terms and conditions of the members employed by the organization, subject to the approval of the members of the association.
c: It shall be the responsibility of the Secretary/Treasurer to report to the President and serve as the administrative and financial officer of the Association. He maintains the minutes of all Board, membership and special meetings and gives due notice of all such meetings to the membership. Periodically notifies the members of items of interest and special concern. Maintain membership lists and records attendance information.
As Treasurer, maintains custody of the Associations funds and such records as may required by the Board, state and federal law. He shall be empowered to maintain a checking account in the name of the FHOA for purposes of collecting dues and making any disbursements as are authorized by the Board and affirmed by the membership. He shall collect all dues and maintain a membership roster showing Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all Association members. Only active members in good standing are eligible for this office.
d: It shall be the responsibility of the Director Of Scheduling to coordinate the scheduling of member officials at each arena where games are played. Responsibility of the Director of Scheduling to act as an overseer of the league coordinators. Maintain copies of all scheduled games and periodically schedules special assignments from client organizations.
e: It shall be the responsibility of the Director Of Training and Evaluation to develop and implement Association policy governing the training, evaluation and skills progression of all members, and administers a structured evaluation program to monitor individual proficiency and provide skills assessment to each member. Integrates appropriate training topics into the agenda of each general meeting and coordinates the arrangements for the annual USA HOCKEY required training seminar. Manages the quality assurance program of the Association and integrates the results of such evaluation into the training program.
ARTICLE VII-----CONDUCT AND PROFICIENCY
Section 1: It is the duty and responsibility of each member of the Association to conduct himself in a manner that reflects credit on himself, the Association and USA HOCKEY, both on and off the ice while fulfilling his duties as an official. Incidents of misconduct of any member may be penalized by suspension of membership or expulsion from the Association, or by such other sanctions as members may authorize to the Board.
Section 2: Impositions of suspensions shall require a majority vote of the Board. Expulsion from membership shall require a majority vote of the Board and two-thirds vote of the active members present at any regular meeting on which the matter of expulsion of a member is on the agenda.
Section 1: General membership meetings shall be conducted quarterly during the fiscal year. These meetings would generally be in July, October, January, and April. Each meeting shall include training topics.
Section 2: The Board shall meet at the call of the President as he considers necessary.
ARTICLE IX-----GAME ASSIGNMENTS
Section 1: It is emphasized that the Association acts solely as a record keeper for the assignments of the officials for games sponsored by the client Hockey Organization. Each member is an independent contractor and is not employed by the Hockey Organization nor by the Association.
Section 2: The Director of Scheduling and the league coordinators will prepare a schedule of game assignments as required. The Director of Scheduling will verify the accuracy of the schedule and then will approve the schedule to go out to the members. The members will review the assignments and accept or reject those assignments in accordance with the standard operating procedures of the Association. The assignments will take into consideration any restrictions imposed by a member and will provide game assignments to all qualified members on a regular basis and equitable basis.
Section 3: Payment to a member will be made by the Hockey Organization to which officiating services are provided. The Association will at the request of the members or Organization, collect all fees for an entire organization and for all officials and pay to the officials on a regular basis, no later than the fifteenth of each month.
Section 4: In the case of postponement or cancellation of a game, if the officials assigned are not notified by the client organization, and they arrive at the ice rink, payment of the usual game fee will be due.
Section 1: Each member shall pay dues in an amount determined by the membership at the meeting designated for dues determination by the Board. Dues shall be payable at that time and no assignments will be made until dues are paid.
Section 2: The fees paid to members of the FHOA for officiating amateur Hockey contests for client Organizations, shall be determined by the Board and ratified by a majority of the members attending the first general meeting of the fiscal year.
Section 3: It is the duty of the Secretary/Treasurer to prepare a budget for the Association and make a recommendation for the annual dues based on the budget. The budget shall be adopted by the members. In the event of a shortage of funds at year end, the Board may asses an equal amount to each member to cover the shortage, but in no case more than five dollars per member.
Section 4: Officers and Directors may be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties for the Association upon approval by a majority of the Board. Presentation of receipts where applicable, and if included in the approved budget.
Section 1: These by-laws may be amended at any general membership meeting and such amendments be proposed by any member. Proposed amendments will be considered enacted immediately upon two-thirds vote of the members present at the meeting at which the request of amendments is on the agenda. Copies of proposed amendments must be distributed by the sponsor to all members a minimum of thirty days prior to the date a vote is scheduled.
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