CONSTITUTION

The name of this organization shall be Snohomish County Board of Women's Basketball Officials. Hereinafter referred to as S.C.B.O.W.B.O..

The purpose of this organization, as a non-profit service organization, shall be to further the interest of basketball for women by:

Section 1: Promoting uniformity in the mechanics and interpretation, or rules of the game for players, coaches, and officials.

Section 2: Encouraging the universal adoption of the latest official rules for women approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Section 3: Providing opportunities for the training of officials.

Section 4: Providing rated, registered and certified basketball officials.

Section 5: Promoting sportsmanship.

Section 1: Any person desiring membership in S.C.B.O.W.B.O. must present his or her application to the assigning secretary with appropriate fees. The Executive Board will approve all applications.

Section 2: Qualifications for Certified Membership:

• a. Officials must attend an annual sanctioned WIAA rules clinic in this sport.
• b. Officials must pass the current state test in this sport with a minimum score of 70%.
• c. Officials must attend 75% of the scheduled meetings.
• d. Officials must have 2 years of officiating experience with any state-approved association.

Section 3: Officials must be certified and meet requirements in Section II, Article III to be assigned varsity and/or post-season assignments.

Section 4: Any member who is assigned to officiate by this association shall be counted present at meetings if the game is at the time of the meeting.

Section 5: Attending the apprentice meetings or other Executive Board approved activities can make up one missed meeting. Making up more than one missed meeting requires permission from the board of directors.

Section 1: The Executive Board shall accept into full membership any official who is a transfer from another association, provided the official is also a member in good standing of the W.O.A. The official who is transferring must present written evidence of prior membership from his/her former local secretary. The assigning secretary shall confirm prior membership and standing.

Section 2: No transfer will be final until an official’s membership transfer form has been filed in the W.O.A. office.

Section 3: Officials transferring or returning into the association shall be evaluated and have their initial rating determined by the executive board or by a paid observer. The number of assignments and level of assignments that a transferring or returning official may receive shall be determined by the board or a paid observer.

Section 4: Transferring officials shall not be eligible for post-season assignments during their first year with S.C.B.O.W.B.O.

Section 5: Transferring officials who are certified shall be eligible to rate during their first year with S.C.B.O.W.B.O. provided that they officiated high school games (freshman level or higher) during the previous year.

Section 6: Returning officials who were at one time certified within SCBOWBO shall be eligible to rate during their second consecutive returning year with S.C.B.O.W.B.O.

Section 1: The annual dues for each member will be determined by the Executive Board and shall consist of local and state fees.

Section 2: Dues are subtracted from your pay each year for the following year. New members must pay dues upon submitting their application to the S.C.B.O.W.B.O.

Section 3: No refunds will be made after the competitive season begins.

Section 4: The Board shall assess an assigning fee for all game assignments. The amount of which shall be determined by the Executive Board. Any increase of more than 1% must be presented to the membership.

Section 5: All pay sheets shall be turned in within two weeks of the last game.

Section 6: The financial advisor will submit a preliminary budget to the Executive Board prior to the start of the season. Upon acceptance, the Executive Board must approve all additional expenditures.

Section 1: Officials shall wear the uniform as described in the current rulebook including the W.O.A. state patch.

Section 2: Officials will wear the v-neck shirt for all JV and Varsity level assignments.

Section 1: If two schools from different classifications meet in a non-league game, the fee of the home school shall be paid.

Section 2: All game fees are established by the W.I.A.A. Executive Board and are listed in the W.O.A. manual.

Section 3: The Executive Board or their designee shall negotiate all other fees, such as administration, mileage, etc.

Section 1: An official who cancels a game assignment after accepting it may be fined $5.00 per canceled assignment.

Section 2: An official who cancels a game assignment less than 24 hours before game time may be assessed a fine of $10.00 per canceled assignment.

Section 3: An official who misses an assigned school game will be fined the amount of the game fee for each game missed. An official who misses an assigned recreation game will only be fined the amount of one game fee regardless of how many consecutive games they were scheduled for provided that a substitute ref is found to work the missed games.

Section 4: An official who misses his/her second game assignment will be fined the amount of the game fee and must appear before the Executive Board before they will be assigned any additional games.

Section 5: An official who works a game assignment alone will receive double the game fee provided that the officials had made prior contact confirming the game assignment. However, only one mileage fee will be paid.

Section 6: Rating sheets for all JV and Varsity game assignments must be turned in no later than April 15. Fines for late rating sheets will be $10.00 plus the official will lose their highest rating. Any incorrect ratings (failure to rate a partner or rating an official that was not worked with) will be a fine of $5.00 per rating and that official will lose their highest ratings equal to the number of incorrect ratings. Any official who fails to turn in their ratings sheet by April 1 will be subject to the fines as listed above and will not be rated.

Section 7: An official who fails to turn in their regular season high school pay sheet before March 15 shall be assessed a fine of 10% of their high school game fees. An official who fails to turn in their junior high pay sheet before May 1 shall be assessed a fine of 10% of their junior high game fees.

Section 8: Officials assigned to a JV game should attend two quarters of the Varsity game in case of an injury by a varsity official.

Section 9: The Financial Advisor shall assess all fines.

Section 1: Charges of unethical behavior or misconduct must be submitted in writing and postmarked within 7 days of the incident to a member of the Executive Board. An Ethics Committee Chairperson may be appointed to form a committee if necessary to review the incident.

Section 2: Any official who misses three meetings, will no longer be a member in good standing and will not receive any game assignments until the meetings are made up.

Section 3: The Executive Board shall designate all general meetings. Officials with absences amounting to 25% of the total meetings will be withdrawn from the post tournament list.

Section 1: A member who requests a leave of absence must submit the request in writing to the president of the Executive Board. The letter must be received by December 1 of the present season to be activated for the leave. A board member who maintains his active membership retains his position on the board of directors. To maintain an active leave of absence, the member will need to fulfill the following requirements:

• 1) Pay annual dues.
• 2) Take the state test.
• 3) Attend the mandatory interpreters meeting.

Any official who suffers a possible season-ending injury while working an SCBOWBO-assigned game, may petition the board for a leave of absence at any point in the season if that official has not yet worked enough games to be rated. The official may withdraw the leave if it ends up being unnecessary.

Upon completion, this leave will entitle the official to retain his/her place on the rating list for one year. This will not include post-season game assignments upon the members’ return.

Section 1: President

• a. Shall preside at all general meetings and Executive Board meetings, and compile appropriate agendas for such meetings.
• b. Shall act as a representative of this organization on correspondence and communication with other organizations.
• c. Shall distribute agendas for the Executive Board meetings and shall plan and distribute (or post) the agendas for the general meetings.
• d. Shall assume duties as deemed necessary by the Executive Board.
• e. Shall appoint committee chairpersons as deemed necessary, including ethics, auditing, nominating and social, as approved by the Executive Board.
• f. Shall have power to replace by temporary appointment, any board member who resigns, misses three executive board meetings and/or leaves the association until a valid election can be held. All appointees to be approved by the Executive Board.
• g. The office of the President shall be filled by the Vice President from the preceeding year.

Section 2: Vice President

• a. The office of the Vice President shall be filled by the board of directors who shall appoint the vice president from within their own ranks. The Vice President will serve as President in the following year.

Section 3: Recall of Officers

• a. Any officer may be recalled through a petition stating reasonable cause and signed by 70% of the active membership.

Section 4: Assigning Secretary Contract

• a. Contracting of the secretary shall be effective July 1, and contingent upon annual review. The board shall notify the assigning secretary by June 1 if the contract shall not be renewed.
• b. Applications shall be submitted to the Executive Board by May 1, to be considered.
• c. Term of the contract shall be one year with the Executive Board having renewable options.

Section 5: Assigning Secretary Duties

• a. Shall maintain status of all officials and ratings. If the assigning secretary is working official he/she will not be involved in compiling the ratings.
• b. Maintain attendance records for all general meetings.
• c. Assume duties as deemed necessary by the Executive Board.
• d. Assign officials to fulfill Board commitments in compliance with the assigning format.
• e. Meet with league representative to review policies and procedures; answer questions and problems as they arise.
• f. Shall not contract officiating assignments without approval of the Executive Board.
• g. Shall be paid an amount according to the decision of the Executive Board each year.

Section 6: Financial Person

• a. Be responsible for the safeguarding and the disbursement of the monies as designated by the executive board.

• b. Prepare and keep annual financial statements.
• c. Bill and make adjustments for payment.
• d. Shall establish a voucher deadline. All monies to be paid within 60 days or a late fee will be assessed.
• e. Check all pay vouchers and disburse funds.
• f. Shall have the financial books audited during the month of June by an auditor selected by the Executive Board.
• g. Will submit a preliminary budget to the Executive Board prior to the start of the season, for acceptance. All additional expenditures must be approved by the Executive Board.
• h. Contracting of the financial person shall be July 1, and contingent upon annual review.
• i. Term of the contract shall be one year with the Executive Board having renewable options.
• j. Shall maintain addresses, phone numbers and personal informationf or all officials.

Section 1: There shall be six members of the Executive Board whose qualification, election and term of office as follows:

• a. To be elected to the Board, a member must be active and in good standing and must remain so during the period of his/her term of office.
• b. Members of the Executive Board are: President, Past President, 3 year representative, 2 year representative, 1 year representative and one more board representative that is either a 1-year, 2-year, or 3-year member.
• c. The term of office for a board member shall be for a period of 3 years. Two members shall be elected each year as two board members who have served three years retire.

Section 2: The Executive Board shall act as the governing body of this organization.

Section 3: The Executive Board shall contract an assigning secretary and financial person whose presence may be required at all Executive Board meetings.

Section 4: The Executive Board shall have power and authority over the affairs of the organization during the interim between general meetings and act as the governing body of the organization. A quorum of the Executive Board shall consist of 4 members. There shall be a minimum of 6 Executive Board meetings each year.

Section 5: The President shall act as the Chairperson of the Executive Board and doesn’t have a vote on the issues presented to the Board. Only in the case of a tie would the President have a vote.

Section 6: The Executive Board shall review all petitions and proposals.

Section 7: The Executive Board shall review and approve all evaluations and ratings.

Section 8: The Executive Board is empowered to discipline members by fining, suspension, probation, and expulsion. An Ethics committee may be formed to aid in any disciplinary actions, with the final decision resting with the Executive Board. Members are guaranteed due process to appeal.

Section 9: All general members are allowed to attend executive board meetings. Any general member wishing to discuss business at an executive board meeting must request it in writing to the president. The written request must be received no less than seven days prior to the meeting.

Section 1: Process

• a. The president shall appoint the one-year board member as chair of the elections committee. The election committee shall propose a slate for election to the association on the 5th general meeting of the year. Additional nominations may be presented through the close of the 6th general meeting of the year. No nominations may be allowed after the 6th general meeting of the year. The elections shall take place during the 7th general meeting of the year.

Section 2: Voting

• a. The elections committee shall be responsible for giving each member of the association present a ballot listing all persons nominated for board positions and instructions to cast a vote for each of the board positions being elected.
• b. Any ballot with more votes than board positions shall be disqualified. The president and two others appointed by the president shall count the ballots. The individuals receiving the most votes shall be declared the winners. In the event of a tie for one position, another vote shall be taken to determine the winner from the persons who had the tie.
• c. Absentee ballots will be provided to those members of the association in good standing, who meet the following requirements.

(1) Request must be made to the Senior Board Member no later than 10 days before the scheduled election or referendum ballot.
(2) Absentee ballots must be received no later than the day of the election or referendum ballot to be valid.

Section 3: Newly elected members assume their duties July 1st.

Section 1: Committee chairpersons will be appointed by the President and approved by the Executive Board as deemed necessary for a term of one year.

Section 2: Chairperson shall select members for their committees, to be approved by the Executive Board.

Section 3: The following committees may be appointed each year as deemed necessary by the Board of Directors:

• a. By-Laws
• b. Nominating
• c. Social
• d. Year-end Party
• e. Ratings

Section 1: Officials will rate all their J.V. partners, their varsity partners, and all the J.V. and varsity officials who they observed (prior to their varsity game or after their J.V. game ) only once at the end of the year. These ratings will be turned in to the assignor no later than March 1.

Section 2: All “certified” officials will fill out ratings. All Varsity and Junior Varsity games are to be rated.

Section 3: For your rating to count, you must attend two full quarters of the game, observing one in the first half and one in the second half of the game.

Section 4: If not in attendance for the required number of quarters of a game, please put a note on your ratings form for that game indicating that you did not rate that official because you were not able to observe them for 2 or more quarters.

Section 5: Ratings will be applied consistently by using supplied descriptors as a resource.

Section 6: Any rating of "5, 6, 7, 8, or 9" must be justified with comments or the rating will be disqualified.

Section 7: Officials are strongly encouraged to give a comment form to to both officials when observing a game. This is not used in ratings, but is a tool that will provide feedback to our officials, helping them to improve. Try to find two things that each official did a good job on and two areas that they need to improve on.

Section 8: A $5.00 fine will be assessed for each incorrect rating (rating officials that you did not work with, failing to rate officials that you did work with etc.) and that official will also lose their highest ratings corresponding to the number of incorrect ratings. Any official who does not turn in their ratings sheet by March 15 will be fined $10.00 and lose their highest rating. Any official who does not turn in their ratings sheet by April 1 will be subject to all the fines listed above and will not be included in the ratings system.

Section 9: To be a "rated official," ten rated games must be completed during the season. Only rated officials are eligible for post-season assignments in the following season. Officials who do not complete ten rated games will have their classification determined by the board of directors the following year.

Section 1: Members chosen to officiate the District Tournaments shall be based on the ratings of the organization. Certified officials who qualify for tournament and post-season game assignments must have completed 12 varsity level game assignments during the same season. The officials who are rated from 1 – 15 may receive District assignments. Officials 16 – 20 may be selected for district assignments when deemed necessary by the Executive Board.

Section 1: All amendments or revisions submitted with signatures of 20% of active members should be accepted for Executive Board Review.

Section 2: This constitution may be amended at any general meeting of this organization by a 2/3 vote of the active members present and voting.

In the event of dissolution of this organization, any funds remaining after payment of all expenses will be applied to the benefit of women’s amateur athletics, as deemed by the general membership.

1) Any official who has not turned in a paysheet dating back three years will have those fees donated to SCBOWBO. This is a last resort and will not occur until at least two weeks after the official has received a certified letter in regards to this action from the board of directors.