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By Dave Westol OK, you may be thinking, “Crisis! In our little officials association? Crisis? Dude, it’s a crisis if someone forgets to bring doughnuts for the meeting. It’s a crisis if the door to the room is locked and we don’t have a key. It’s a major crisis if ‘someone’ forgot to reserve the banquet hall for our annual dinner.” Upon further review … What can constitute a crisis? Let’s look at some examples that could happen related to a member of your association. And “member” means a dues-payingRead More

There are more elements to an election than distributing and counting ballots. It’s crucial to follow the bylaws, line up candidates and determine voting procedures. Here are some details. Step 1 — Members must be informed well in advance when and where the election is to be conducted. The notice should include the slate of positions to be filled, the length of their terms and the responsibilities of each position. Be sure the meeting place can accommodate the crowd. Also, be sure only those who are eligible to vote areRead More

By Lawrence Tomei “I used to love officiating — every aspect of wearing the stripes, from rules interpretation meetings to youth leagues games, to Friday night lights. I would work any scrimmage and take every assignment that was offered and still come back for more. I may not be the best official on my crew, but I have always been one of the most enthusiastic. “Then came the pressure. I was asked to join a varsity crew and with it came new pressures to succeed. I enjoyed being on aRead More

Often complaints from association members revolve around meetings: “The meetings are too long.” “The meetings go off-topic too much.” “The meetings don’t cover things that apply to me.” If you’re hearing such rumblings, it’s probably time to organize your association meetings. Members will appreciate the extra effort. Take inventory. Look back at secretary notes from past meetings. Take inventory of all the things you have covered at meetings, including financial business items, educational sessions, elections, community events and more. Check with other groups in your area or outside of yourRead More

Video, video, video. It’s something you can’t escape. And as an association leader, you shouldn’t want to escape it. In fact, you should embrace it. It will make your officials — and your association — better. So how can you take advantage of video? Here are four ways to do it in your association: 1. Individually While that might be the easiest for the “association,” it might be the least effective for your group. Individual members can gather video of their games — either by having someone record them orRead More

Assessments are a big part of officiating. Usually, it means an observer or peer watching you work and discerning your strengths and weaknesses. In the same way an individual is assessed, your association merits a look-see. Recruitment. Are you bringing new people into the fold? If not, do your recruitment efforts need some fine-tuning? There are all sorts of ways to draw new blood to the avocation. One group has rousing success placing help wanted ads on Craigslist. That website isn’t just for used furniture or apartment rentals anymore. Retention.Read More

Local association meetings can come and go quickly. Be prepared and members will show up, learn and benefit from those meetings. If not, poor meeting preparation will gradually hurt the association. There are many must-haves for meetings that will help members prosper. If planning for meetings is a task you have taken on within your association, keep the following in mind to keep those members coming back for more. 1. Video Video for use in meetings is becoming easier to obtain and easier to prepare and organize. Use of videoRead More

What is your role within your association? Do you feel you can help improve meetings and your officiating by taking on a training chair position? The choice is up to you. But if you are thinking about taking on a new, challenging role, it’s time for you to go for it. Decide to change. Not everyone wants to embrace change; not everyone wants to accept being nominated for a training position. In most cases, we resist change and will hold onto something that is no longer working or serving usRead More

The mainstream media has shifted gears over the years. It’s no longer a case of a reporter showing up at a game and simply reporting what happened. In today’s world, the push for instant reaction through social networks and opinions through blogs and columns is much more center stage. At first, the instant commentary focused on the players and the result of the game, but now it’s often focused on the officials or umpires. And when it comes to youth, high school or college sports, sometimes it’s a younger reporterRead More

To ensure your association will be taken care of beyond your reign as president or as a board member, you could start to identify individuals who might be able to lead and replace you one day. Here are recommendations to help you identify the right people. Step 1 — Get to know the members in your association. Find out the types of individuals that are in your group, paying particular attention to those who are a part of various committees. Learn about their experience, their commitment, their personality — whateverRead More