Columbia Football Officials Association

Bylaws

ARTICLE 1 - NAME
The name of this Association shall be the "Columbia Football Officials Association" and will be referred to as CFOA.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
The Purpose of this organization includes the following:

To encourage the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship in contests played at the high school level or below;
To aid all officials, coaches, and players in acquiring a thorough working knowledge of the rules, ethics and mechanics of football officiating;
To provide training and education to promote uniformity and consistent mechanics in football officiating;
To encourage the recruitment and development of qualified football officials for amateur football contests;
To provide a forum for the discussion of game situations, rules, mechanics and interpretations;
To provide services to schools and officials for scheduling games and officials for such games, and
To support the mission and purposes of the Missouri State High School Activities Association and the National Federation of State Associations.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

The membership categories shall be Regular, Rookie and Probationary.

A member shall cease to be a member if s/he does not pay dues by date specified in dues letter prior to football season or fails to register with MSHSAA.
Any member may resign in good standing unless s/he has been notified of pending disciplinary action.
Regular Member - person with more than three (3) years membership in CFOA and/or who transfers into CFOA with more than three (3) year registration with MSHSAA or similar state association.
Rookie Member - person with three (3) years or less membership in CFOA and/or registration with MSHSAA.
Probationary Member - person who does not meet the above requirements or fails to maintain acceptable status with MSHSAA or who committed any conduct conclusively established to by contrary to the best interest of the CFOA. They will not have a vote but may participate in discussion.
An honorary official - person who is not an active official but who supports the purposes and goals of the CFOA.
Revocation or Change of Status - The Executive Officers may change the membership status of any member for conduct which tends to injure the CFOA or is destructive of its purposes or infringes upon the professional conduct expected of officials. An official considered for membership revocation or change of status, except for non-payment of dues, shall be provided written notice of the proposed action by the Executive Officers and be given an opportunity to show cause as to why the membership should not be revoked or status changed. Executive Officer action is required to reinstate the membership of any official who is removed by such action.
Members must attend a minimum number of regular membership meetings as determined by the Executive Officers. The Executive Officers will provide a schedule of regular membership meetings meeting this requirement and the number of meetings for which attendance is required prior to each football season. Absences from any meeting may be excused if (1) the official has provided documentation of the reason for his/her absence and (2) the Executive Committee approves such absence.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

The officers of the Association shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary/Varsity Scheduler, Treasurer, and Immediate Past President.
The President and Vice-President shall serve a term of two (2) years and shall not be re-elected to the same office. The Vice-President shall be elected at the Annual Meeting held during even numbered years. Secretary and Treasurer may serve unlimited terms, until a successor is installed by a majority vote of the members present at the Annual Meeting.
The Vice-President shall accede to the office of President at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.
The President shall:

Preside at all meetings of the Association and the Executive Officers meetings and may call special meetings of the Officers and membership;
Be the official spokesperson for the Association;
Report to the membership at each meeting of the actions of the Executive Officers;
Sign checks in the absence of the Treasurer;
Provide a schedule of regular membership meetings;
Provide a notice to the membership of the number of required meetings;
Provide a method to document reasons for meeting absence;
Work with the Past Presidents Committee on subject matter presentations and meeting schedule format;
Produce an agenda for each meeting to be posted for the membership through the internet or other acceptable method and;
Make accessible the training materials produced for the CFOA meetings to the membership.

The Vice-President shall:

Assume the duties of the President in his absence;
Be the chair of the Crew Committee;
Be responsible for assignments for soap scrimmages or jamborees;
Be responsible for merchandise sales;
Assist the President in the development of subject matter presentations for the membership.

The Secretary/Varsity Scheduler shall:

Keep records of attendance at all meetings;
With the President, and any other acceptable regular member(s), prepare the Varsity Game assignments;
Mail out dues notices;
Mail out schedules of games, meetings, and other correspondence as may be required;
Keep records of the Association;
Be paid a fee of $200 annually.

The Treasurer shall:

Supervise the financial records of the Association;
Make a financial report to the membership at the Annual Meeting;
Sign checks for payment of Association obligations;
Prepare the books for review by the Audit Committee.

The Immediate Past President shall:

Serve as an advisor to the Executive Officers;
Be the contact person for the Past Presidents;
Help determine revocation or change membership status.

The Executive Officers shall appoint a Non-Varsity Scheduler to make game assignments for all non-varsity contests and be paid a fee of $200 annually.
If the President is unable to complete the term of office, the Vice-President shall serve out the un-expired remainder of the term plus his/her own elected term of office as President.
Any vacancy on the Executive Officers shall be filled by an appointment of a replacement for the un-expired term until the next Annual Meeting at which time an election shall be held.

ARTICLE V - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The operation and management of CFOA shall be vested in the elected Executive Officers of the Association.
The Executive Officers shall be responsible for the day-to-day operations, for general direction of policies and activities of CFOA and for the execution of the expressed desires of the membership. They shall manage the property, business and affairs of the CFOA.
The Executive Officers shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary/Varsity Assignor, Treasurer and Immediate Past President.
The Executive Officers shall seek advice and counsel from the Past Presidents Committee.
The Executive Officers shall appoint a Regular Member as a Non-varsity scheduler.
The Executive Officers shall have the power to recognize honorary officials.

An honorary official is a person who is not an active official but who supports the purposes and goals of CFOA
The Secretary shall maintain a list of honorary officials.

The Executive Officers shall have the power to select the schools which the CFOA will provide officials. The Executive Officers shall annually prepare a listing of priority schools. Priority Schools shall be defined as schools the CFOA will attempt to fill all games dependent upon the availability of officials. All other schools will be Alternative Schools. Alternative Schools shall be defined as schools the CFOA may serve after all Priority School assignments have been completed and dependent upon the availability of officials.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

There shall be a minimum of eight (8) meetings held each year including a preseason social function and the season ending banquet. The Executive Officers may alter the minimum number of meetings at their discretion and dependent upon facility availability. However, the membership must be notified in advance of a previously scheduled meeting.
The Executive Officers shall set the Annual Meeting as a season ending banquet on a date between October 25 and November 15.
During the Annual Meetings a business meeting will be held to ratify actions of the Executive Officers, any amendments to the Bylaws, elect officers each even numbered year, honor members and contributors and for the consideration of any other business as required. The Executive Officers may determine it is appropriate to utilize one of the other eight (8) scheduled meetings to conduct the annual business meeting.
A plurality of regular and rookie members present is needed for approval of any item.
The Executive Officers may invite guests to the Annual Meeting, which would be a benefit to the members.

ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES

The Past President Committee shall be composed of all Past Presidents whose dues are currently paid. They shall serve as an advisory group to the Executive Officers.
The Crew Committee shall be composed of six (6) elected Regular Members and the President and Vice-President. The President may appoint a Rookie Member as a non-voting member. Members will serve three year staggered terms. All Regular members are eligible except those with terms that are expiring and those who requested not to be considered. The Committee may establish criteria for approval of the membership for crew selection which is incorporated herein by reference. The Committee shall review the list of Regular Members, make a tentative crew list, seek advice and counsel from the Past Presidents Committee and finalize the list. The Chairman shall insure the list is mailed to all members. The Committee shall review the participation of each member in the activities of the Association. The Crew Committee may establish criteria for crew selection such as:

No more than fifty percent (50%) are eligible for crews;
Regular members on crews must be able to work at least 9 varsity game nights;
Regular members on crews must be able to leave at least 2 or 3 times by 4:00 pm for games;
Regular members on crews must be available to work at least one (1) sub-varsity game per week;
Regular members on crews must be available for at least the first two rounds of post regular season dates;
All regular crew members must attend at least four (4) CFOA meetings per year.

The Audit Committee will be appointed annually by the President to review the Treasurer books and records and report to the Executive Officers and to the Membership at the Annual Meeting or the meeting identified as the Annual Business Meeting.
The Awards Committee will be appointed by the President under the Chair of the most recent Past President still a member, and shall be composed of 3 to 10 members. The Committee shall review the contributions of the members, both past and present and determine if, and to whom, the Jay Gunn Award (rookie official) and Red Weir Award (experienced official) should be presented. The membership may be asked to vote on the Red Weir Award.
The Nomination Committee shall be appointed by the President under the Chair of the most recent Past President still a member, and shall be composed of not less than three (3) members. They shall select a slate of officers, secure their consent and place them in nomination at the Annual Meeting or the meeting identified as the Annual Business Meeting. Nominations may be taken from the floor provided the nominee has given permission.
The President shall appoint, with the approval of the Executive Officers, other committees as necessary.

ARTICLE VIII - DUES AND FEES

Membership dues and game fees shall be established by a vote of the Regular Members present at the Annual Meeting/Banquet or the meeting identified as the Annual Business Meeting each even numbered year and is incorporated herein by reference.
There will be no refund of dues.
Dues payment shall not be accepted from anyone not meeting the requirements of the membership categories.

ARTICLE IX - QUORUM

A Quorum for the Executive Officers shall be fifty percent (50%) of the Executive officers, provided all were notified.
A Quorum for a membership meeting shall be twenty-five percent (25%) of the total of Regular and Rookie Members.

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

Proposed amendments shall be provided to the Executive Officers and the membership at least two weeks prior to voting on the proposed amendment.
Proposed amendments will become effective upon favorable vote of at least sixty-six percent (66%) of the Regular and Rookie Members present.
Proposed amendments may be voted on at a regularly scheduled meeting, a special meeting called by the Executive Officers, or by mail-in ballot.

ARTICLE XI - DISSOLUTION

The Association may consider a Resolution for the purpose of dissolving the Association. Such resolution shall be presented to the Executive Officers at least two (2) weeks prior to the Annual Meeting and shall be effective upon the favorable vote of at least sixty-six percent (66%) of the Regular and Rookie Members present at the Annual Meeting.
If CFOA becomes dissolved, all assets will be dissolved and shall be applied to the unpaid obligations of the Association. Any remaining funds will be donated to the Missouri State High School Activities Association and earmarked for the Officials Training and Recognition Program.

Passed, Approved and Adopted at the Annual Meeting on November 4, 1998
Amended at the Annual Meeting on November 3, 1999.
Amended at the Annual Meeting on November 1, 2000.
Amended at the Annual Meeting on October 18, 2006.