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BY-LAWS OF THE SSOA
ARTICLE 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 agenda for 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.
c. Committee on Training and Development which shall be responsible for SSOA referee development, mentorship, development and other responsibilities.
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 VI-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 VII-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 VIII 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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