By-Laws

WORCESTER AREA BASEBALL UMPIRE’S ASSOCIATION

BY-LAWS AND RESOLUTIONS

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE #1. NAME OF ASSOCIATION.

This baseball officiating board shall be known as the Worcester Area Baseball Umpire’s Association.

ARTICLE #2. OBJECTIVES.

The purpose and objectives of this association shall be:

  1. To stimulate and maintain the highest standards of baseball umpiring at all levels of competition.
  2. To cooperate and lend any assistance requested to persons, groups of persons, organizations, or institutions in the interest of promoting better understandings of the game rules. It is hoped that such cooperation and assistance will lead to better relationships between this association and the individuals concerned.
  3. To establish and maintain the highest possible standards of appearance dress and conduct of its members in the performance of their service.
  4. To assist the membership in procurement of assignments.

ARTICLE #3. MEMBERSHIP.

There shall be the following four classes of membership:

  1. ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP. An active member shall be one who has passed all the required entrance examination established by this board, apprenticed during the required interim, paid all dues and assessments and has conformed to all stipulations set forth here-in.
  2. INACTIVE MEMBERSHIP. An inactive member shall be a member who no longer officiates, but who wishes to maintain an interest in this association. An active member may become inactive by written application and subsequent board approval. He/she may attend meetings, and he/she may be heard on issues, but he /she shall not be allowed to make motions, nominations, vote, or hold office on any committee positions. The dues for an inactive member shall be a fee designated by the executive board-so long as he/she is inactive. As long as he/she maintains his/her inactive status, he/she is eligible to apply for active status by written application.
  3. HONORARY MEMBERSHIP. Honorary membership in this association shall be limited to any member of this board in good standing who has withdrawn from active membership; or any member from this area/community who unselfishly has devoted their time and talents to the game of baseball, whether of not he/she has actively participated in officiating.
  4. LIFE MEMBERSHIP. A life membership may be awarded to one who has been an active member of this association in good standing for a period of at least twenty years and has contributed notably to the progress and advancement of this association. He/she will be awarded a Life Membership Token, A life member has all the rights and privileges of an active member, but shall not pay dues or assessments. This type of membership must be approved by a majority vote of the members.

ARTICLE #4. OFFICERS.

The elected officers of this association shall consist of the president, vice president, secretary-treasurer, rules interpreter and three executive committee members.

 The term of office for the president, vice president, rules interpreter and three executive committee members shall be for two years. The secretary treasurer’s term of office shall be for three years.

                         The executive committee shall consist of the president, vice president, secretary-treasurer, rules interpreter, three elected members and the outgoing president.

ARTICLE #5. COMMITTEES.

The president of this association may appoint any committees or minor officers that he/she may deem necessary for the better function of this association. Pertinent items that are proposed by any committee must be approved by the membership unless otherwise stated.

ARTICLE #6. DUES-ASSESSMENTS-ALLOWANCES-STIPENDS

      1. The annual dues shall be the equivalent of one (1) Varsity High School Baseball Fee, as determined by Massachusetts                             Interscholastic Athletic Association. (Adopted March 18,2019)
      2. The dues year shall be from July 1st to June 30th of the following year and these dues shall be paid in advance.
      3. Assessments additional to the annual dues may be determined by a majority vote of the membership for the purpose of   miscellaneous expenditures.
      4. The executive board members shall receive free dues during their terms of office.
      5. The secretary-treasurer shall receive an annual stipend of five hundred dollars

ARTICLE #7. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS.

  1. The president of this association shall preside at all meetings of this association and of the executive committee. He/she may call a special meeting of this association or of the executive committee whenever he/she determines such procedure necessary to carry out aims or objectives of this association. He/she shall exercise all other powers incidental to his office. As a member of the executive committee, he/she is allowed one vote.
  2. The vice president shall preside in the absence of the president. During the absence of the president, the vice president shall exercise all other powers of the president. The vice president is allowed one vote as a member of the executive committee.
  3. The secretary-treasurer shall keep a record of all meetings of this association. He/she shall read and file all resolutions and papers that may come before this association and he shall not allow any to leave his custody without due authority. He/she shall post all notices required to be sent to the membership. He/she shall be responsible for the collections of all dues and assessments and he shall make the required disbursements. He/she shall make a report of the previous meeting as well as a financial report at each regular meeting and at such times as called upon by the membership. He/she shall deposit all incomes in an account in the name of the Worcester Area Baseball Umpires’ Association in a local bank. He shall perform any other duties that are incumbent to the best function of his office. The secretary-treasurer is allowed one vote as a member of the executive committee.
  4. The rules interpreter is allowed one vote as a member of the executive committee.
  5. The executive committee of this association is the governing authority and may approve policies for the function and progress of this association within the guidelines established by these by-laws and approved proposals by the membership. They may determine and establish new policies to be presented to the membership. Each member of the executive committee is entitled to one vote.

ARTICLE #8. OFFICIATING STANDARDS.

  1. All members must be fully equipped and properly attired when appearing to officiate a game.
  2. Members of this association will not officiate with any suspended member from this association if this fact is known before he/she appears at an assignment.
  3. Members having definitely accepted officiating assignments must fulfill their obligation unless properly and officially relinquished from same by the hiring authority.
  4. No member of this association shall criticize on the field or in public the judgements or rulings of any other member, nor shall he/she reflect upon the integrity of another member in the performance of his/her service.
  5. Any questions pertaining to rules, interpretations, or judgements may be brought up at a regular meeting. Specific unsolved items shall be referred to the rules interpreter for final disposition

ARTICLE #9. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP.

  1. Applicants must of 18 years of age or a current Senior in High School
  2. All applicants must be of good character and must be in good health and physical condition.
  3. The membership committee shall determine the fee for application.
  4. All applicants must attend the instructional clinics of this association before being eligible to take the examination of candidates.
  5. Applicants must pass a written examination and a field examination given by this association.
  6. Having passed all required examinations, a candidate will be considered an active member of this association. He/she will be presented to the membership body at the next regular meeting.

ARTICLE #10. TRANSFER OF MEMBERSHIP.

  1. Any active member if this association in good standing may request a recommendation from this board if he/she is about to transfer from this area. This procedure is for that member’s purpose of joining a baseball officiating board in his/her new area.
  2. Any member in good standing with any other bona fide baseball umpiring association may request a transfer to this association by written application to this executive committee. Upon proper approval by the executive committee, he/she must be passed favorably by the membership at a regular meeting.

ARTICLE #11. FORFEITURE-SUSPENSION OF MEMBERSHIP.

The ethics committee of this association shall determine forfeiture and suspension of membership procedures. Members open for suspension will be granted a hearing by the ethics committee.

ARTICLE #12. RESIGNATION.

Any member in good standing may withdraw his/her membership at any time by written application to the executive committee.

ARTICLE #13. REINSTATEMENT.

Suspended members may apply for reinstatement to an active membership status by written application to the executive committee. If the term of suspension is no longer than two years, a payment of two years dues is necessary if the reinstatement is to be approved. If the period of suspension is longer than two years, the suspended member must apply as a new member and he/she must pay all accrued dues and assessments.

ARTICLE #14. MEMBERSHIP ROSTERS.

Membership rosters shall be kept up to date by the secretary-treasurer and a list of all active board members shall be sent to all schools serviced by this board no later than April 1st of each year.

ARTICLE 15. APPROVED UNIFORM.

  1. The regulation uniform for High School Baseball shall be determined by the State Association.
  2. The approved regulation uniform for levels of baseball, other than High School, shall be determined by the membership. Any uniform changes must be approved by the membership.

ARTICLE #16. MEETINGS.

  1. REGULAR MEETINGS of this association shall begin no earlier than February of a given season and they shall continue through no later than the month of June. The president will determine the dates and sites of regular annual meetings.
  2. SPECIAL MEETINGS may be called at any time by the president or by written request of any five members in good standing to the executive committee. Upon proper approval of this written request, it shall be the duty of the secretary-treasurer to notify the membership.
  3. The INSTALLATION MEETING shall take place at the annual banquet.

ARTICLE #17. QUORUMS.

Ten members in good standing at any meeting of the body shall constitute a quorum and it shall be sufficient to transact and act upon any legal business to come before a meeting. Unless otherwise specified, a majority vote of those members present shall govern.

ARTICLE #18. ORDER OF BUSINESS.

Unless the rules of order are suspended by a majority vote of present membership, the following order of business shall be followed.

  1. Sign in sheets/Roll Call
  2. Reading and adoption of secretary’s report of previous meeting
  3. Reading and adoption of treasurer’s report
  4. Committee reports and proposals
  5. Unfinished business
  6. New business
  7. Rules clinic
  8. Adjournment

ARTICLE #19. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS.

  1. The annual nomination of officers shall take place during the regular May meeting and it will be by voice from the floor by members in good standing only. The only exception to this rule is that any officer may be elected at any regular meeting to fill a vacancy caused by resignation, death , or any other valid reason approved the executive committee.
  2. At the last meeting before the banquet, this slate of nominees plus any possible additions at this meeting will be acted upon by all present members in good standing. This vote shall be by written ballot. A majority vote must prevail.
  3. The installation of officers shall take place at the annual banquet.

ARTICLE #20. AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS.

By-laws of this association may be changed by written presentation of such changes or amendments at any scheduled regular meeting. The secretary-treasurer will then notify by mail and/or e-mail each member of the proposed changes. A favorable three fourths majority vote of those members in good standing present at the next meeting is required to make the by-law change or amendment.

ARTICLE #21. SUMMARY OF THE BY-LAWS.

Any member of this association who violates any of these by-laws and who is brought up on written charges same by a member in good standing, a group of members in good standing, or by a committee of this association shall be heard and judged by the ethics committee. Appeals shall be made to the executive committee. The executive committee shall choose the appropriate penalty.

ARTICLE #22. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY.

The rules contained in “Roberts Rules of Order” shall be used to resolve any disagreements in procedure and conduct of meeting unless otherwise specified in the by-laws of this association.

These by-laws were recompiled in February 2011 by

John Cruz, Peter Desy, Steven Vantre Sr., Steven Vantre Jr., and Joseph Hilton

RESOLUTIONS

RULES INTERPRETATIONS: In case of a question or a dispute regarding a rule interpretation, the decision of the rules interpreter-properly supported by the State Association Rules Interpreter, the “Official Baseball Rules” or the MIAA Baseball Rules-shall govern and the membership will abide.

POSTPONEMENT OR CANCELLATION OF CONTRACTED GAMES: The responsibility of notifying contracted officials of postponed or cancelled games due to inclement weather or for any other reason rests with the hiring authority for that game. The officiating members involved are responsible to the extent that someone must be available at their listed telephone number. If this is not possible, then the umpire is responsible for contacting the hiring authority on possible bad weather days.