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BY-LAWS OF THE SSOA
ARTICLE I–MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Any individual who qualifies under the Constitution of
the SSOA as a regular or inactive member, who has paid dues by December
31 for the following year, and who has been certified by the Secretary
as being in good standing, shall be a member of the SSOA.
Section 2: An individual who has enrolled in the cadet program and
who has paid dues as determined by the SSOA shall be designated as
a Cadet Member until such time as the individual may be admitted to
full membership.
Section 3: An individual may be removed or excluded from membership
because of a failure to pay dues, fines or assessments. In addition,
a member may be excluded from membership because of conduct that is
inimical to the goals and objectives of the organization, that causes
injury to the organization, or that affects the reputation of the
SSOA adversely.
Section 4: All dues, fines, or assessments shall be paid by January
31 for the following year. After notification by the Secretary/Treasurer,
the failure of a member to pay such dues, fines or assessments by
January 31 shall cause such a member to be suspended from membership
in the SSOA for one year. Failure to pay such dues, fines or assessments
for second year by January 31 after notification by the Secretary/Treasurer
will cause termination of membership in the SSOA.
Section 5: A member in good standing of the New Jersey Soccer Officials'
Association (or of an Association similarly constituted which complies
with standards established by the NJSOA and the NJSIAA) may apply
for membership in the SSOA and will be admitted to membership upon
the payment of appropriate dues as determined by the Executive Committee.
Section 6: A chronological seniority list of members in the order
in which an individual qualified for membership shall be maintained
by the Secretary/Treasurer and made available to the Assignor. Varsity
assignments will be made using the following criteria: Group I shall
consist of the most senior 25% of working members in good standing
who shall be assigned 60% of the varsity games. Group II shall consist
of the next most senior 25% of working members in good standing who
shall be assigned 25% of the varsity games. Group III shall consist
of the next most senior 25% of working members in good standing who
shall be assigned 15% of the varsity games. Group IV shall consist
of the last 25% of working members in good standing who shall not
receive any varsity assignments. A working member shall be defined
as a regular member in good standing who has indicated availability
for varsity contest assignments.
ARTICLE II-DISCIPLINE AND GRIEVANCE
A charge against any member alleging misconduct, or failure to maintain
professional standards may be presented in writing to the President
of the SSOA and signed by at least three regular members and one member
of the Executive Committee. The President must submit such charge
to the Grievance Committee within ten days after receipt of such a
charge and the Grievance Committee shall hold a hearing on such a
charge within twenty days after notification by the President. The
date, time and place of the hearing shall be determined by the Grievance
Committee after consultation with the parties involved. All parties
shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appear before the Grievance
Committee. However, any member so charged may instead answer any such
charge in writing. Within 15 days of the hearing or of receipt of
the written answer of the member, the Grievance Committee shall submit
its findings of fact and recommendation for action to the Executive
Committee for appropriate action. The Executive Committee, by majority
vote, must act on the recommendations of the Grievance Committee within
ten days of the receipt of the findings of fact and recommendations
of the Grievance Committee, a copy of which shall be forwarded to
the member so charged. Before taking any final action, the Executive
Committee shall permit the member so charged to appear in person before
the Executive Committee or to submit any information to Executive
Committee in writing. The actions of the Executive Committee shall
be final in any such matters and a final report shall be given to
the member so charged and shall be retained by the Secretary for appropriate
action.
ARTICLE III-EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Section 1: Nominations: The Nominations and Elections Committee shall
make nominations for executive officers and the executive committee
of the SSOA no later than October 1 of each year. The Nominations
and Elections Committee shall announce the nominations to the membership
at the next scheduled membership meeting. Additional nominations may
be made from the floor or by written petition of five members of the
SSOA sent to the Secretary by October 5 of that year.
Section 2: Elections: Election of executive officers and of executive
committee members shall take place at a membership meeting after nominations
shall have been announced to the membership. The Nominations and Elections
Committee shall conduct the elections by ballot and a majority of
votes is required for election to a position as an executive officer.
In the case of the election to the Executive Committee, those individuals
receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected. The President
shall cast a vote in any such election only in cases where a tie has
resulted. In a case where the election of executive officer(s) and
executive committee member(s) is uncontested, the Secretary/Treasurer
shall cast a unitary ballot for such positions and all such individuals
shall be duly elected.
Section 3: Duties of Officers:
a. The President shall set the agendafor all meetings, preside at
all meetings of the Executive Committee and all general meetings of
the membership. The President shall make appointments to the standing
committees of the SSOA with the approval of the Executive Committee.
The President may appoint ad hoc committees with a written charge
of responsibilities. The President shall appoint a parliamentarian
to assist the President in relevant duties. The President, or the
designee of the Executive Committee, shall be reimbursed for reasonable
expenses incurred in connection with representing the SSOA at designated
functions or meetings.
b. The Vice President assists the President, presides in the absence
of the President, and shall be the Chairperson of the Program Committee.
c. The Secretary/Treasurer supervises all aspects of the SSOA's finances;
prepares and submits the annual budget, reviews and approves financial
transactions, and is responsible for the payment of all debts of the
SSOA upon presentment of a proper bill or invoice. The Secretary/Treasurer
shall collect dues, fees, fines and assessments.
d. The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes of all regular meetings
and meetings of the Executive Board; shall take and keep all attendance
records, and shall assist the President in other duties and responsibilities.
e. The Interpreter shall conduct annually at least one "interpretation
meeting," and shall prior to each soccer season conduct a "refresher
test." The Interpreter shall attend any relevant NJSIAA or NJSOA
meetings and shall be reimbursed by the SSOA for reasonable costs
of such attendance. The Interpreter shall keep the membership advised
of the latest official state and national rules' interpretations,
including eligibility standards for officials. The Interpreter shall
be appointed by a majority vote of the Executive Committee and shall
serve a one year term concurrent with the term of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE IV-THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1: Responsibilities: The Executive Committee shall hold at
least two meetings annually and shall advise the President on all
matters relevant to the welfare and operation of the SSOA. The Executive
Committee shall operate under the principle of majority vote, except
as otherwise provided in these by-laws.
Section 2: Assigning Officials: The Executive Committee shall be responsible
for assigning officials to all SSOA sanctioned contests under terms
and conditions outlined in the by-laws. In order to carry out this
responsibility, the Executive Committee may employ an assignor who
shall at all times operate under policies adopted by the Executive
Committee concerning assignment of officials. The assignor shall upon
appointment become a member of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE V-ORGANIZATION
Section 1: Meetings: Members must attend two-thirds of meetings held
during the year. Included in the scheduled meetings shall be one “Interpretation
Meeting,” attendance at which is required of all members. Should a
member be unable to attend the SSOA interpretation meeting, the member
may attend an interpretation meeting held by another chapter of the
NJSOA and must present a written confirmation of such attendance to
the Recording Secretary of the SSOA. Failure to attend the annual
interpretation meeting shall result in the deletion of the member's
name from eligibility for assignment to sanctioned games until the
obligation is met under terms outlined by the Interpreter with the
consent of the Executive Committee.
Section 2: A fine of $20.00 per meeting shall be levied against any
member who fails to attend the required number of meetings during
any season.
Section 3: Committees:
a. Banquet: The Banquet Committee schedules and conducts the annual
banquet for the membership.
b. Grievance: The Grievance Committee shall hear complaints and grievances
raised by or against members of the SSOA or other parties having recognized
business with the SSOA.
• Level I: Except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, a member
with a grievance must file such a grievance with the Chairperson of
the Grievance Committee, with a copy to the President, within 5 calendar
days following the incident or situation, including all the relevant
elements of the grievance. Upon receipt of the grievance, the chairperson
of the Grievance Committee shall convene a meeting of the committee
within 15 calendar days. After conducting a hearing, at which time
all parties will be given a reasonable opportunity to present all
relevant information, facts, or call witnesses, if desired, the Grievance
Committee shall make a determination by a majority vote and shall
notify the individual who filed the grievance and the Executive Committee
of the findings fact and the conclusions of the Grievance Committee
within 5 days after the hearing.
• Level II - If the grieving party is not satisfied with the decision
of the Grievance Committee, the grieving party may file an appeal
of the decision of the Grievance Committee within 5 calendar days
after receipt of the decision of the Grievance Committee with the
Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall conduct a de novo
hearing on the matter of the grievance, at which time all parties
will be given a reasonable opportunity to present all relevant information,
facts, or call witnesses, if desired. The Executive Committee shall
decide the matter of the appeal by a majority vote. The decision of
the Executive Committee shall be final.
c. Nominations and Elections: The Nominations and Elections Committee
shall consist of three or more members, one of whom shall have been
an officer or served on the executive committee of the SSOA. The Nominations
and Elections Committee shall make nominations pursuant to Article
III of the Bylaws.
d. Professional Standards Committee: The Professional Standards Committee
shall be composed of not less than three and no more than five members
and shall be responsible for establishing, maintaining and promoting
the highest standards of conduct for the SSOA. The Professional Standards
Committee shall develop reasonable fines for violations of the Professional
Standards of the SSOA.
e. Program Committee: The Program Committee shall be chaired by the
Vice President and is responsible for arranging and organizing appropriate
programs for the SSOA. The Program Committee shall develop criteria
for any awards presented by the SSOA and shall develop a program suitable
for presentation at a meeting of the SSOA.
f. Welfare Committee: The Welfare Committee shall be chaired by the
Recording Secretary and shall consist of three members. The Welfare
Committee shall provide services to members of the SSOA or their families
as appropriate in case of injury, accident or death.
ARTICLE V-FINANCES AND DUES
The Secretary/Treasurer, in consultation with the Executive Committee,
shall prepare the annual budget for the organization, which shall
be presented for approval to the general membership of the SSOA at
the first regularly scheduled business meeting of the organization.
The budget shall fix and assign dues and/or special assessments (including
the provision for adequate insurance) for the organization. The budget
shall contain funding sufficient to conduct the necessary and proper
business of the SSOA.
ARTICLE VI-AMENDMENTS
Amendments to the Bylaws must be presented in writing to the Secretary/Treasurer
by either 5 members of the Executive Committee or by a petition signed
by at least ten percent of the regular members. The Secretary/Treasurer
shall submit the proposed amendment(s) to the membership at a regularly
scheduled meeting and any such amendment must be voted upon at the
next regularly scheduled meeting. An amendment to the bylaws must
be adopted by a majority vote of the regular members present and voting.
The effective date of these bylaws shall be the date of their adoption
according to the provisions of Article VII of the proposed constitution,
and shall be submitted in conjunction with the adoption of the Constitution
of the SSOA. The bylaws shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote of those
present and voting.
ARTICLE VII–POLICIES
The Executive Committee shall act in the place of the membership
of the SSOA between regular meetings and shall develop legislation,
policies and procedures (including, but not limited to, seniority,
misconduct, assessments, testing, code of conduct, etc.) for the operation
of the SSOA. Any such policy or procedure may be amended, changed,
or rescinded by a majority vote of the membership of the SSOA at any
regular or special meeting.
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