Manchester Regional Baseball Umpires Association

BY-Laws

ARTICLE 1
Name

The name of this Association shall be the Manchester Regional Baseball Umpires Association (“MRBUA”).

ARTICLE 2
PURPOSE

The purpose of the Association shall be:

  1. To promote the betterment of the game of baseball, its players and officials.
  2. To help develop among the members a thorough knowledge of the rules and proper mechanics of the game and to encourage every official to apply the rules and mechanics in the spirit as well as letter thereof.
  3. To enforce all rules respecting the safety of the players, coaches and spectators consistent with the spirit of sportsmanship, honest and fair play.
  4. To cooperate with other organizations connected with the game of baseball to promote common interests in the game.
  5. To provide a system for the assignment of qualified officials to officiate games of teams/leagues utilizing the services of the Association.
  6. To recruit and provide training for qualified candidate officials.
Article 3
Location

The principal place of business of the Association shall be as designated from time to time by the Officers thereof, but the Association may carry on activities throughout New Hampshire and elsewhere.


Article 4
Membership, Dues
  1. Any person 18 years of age or older who is physically and mentally fit and is interested in the objects of the Association and in the development of the game of baseball and baseball umpiring shall be eligible for membership and may become members by providing satisfactory evidence of their qualifications to the Executive Committee and making payment of the Annual Dues.
  2. Annual membership dues for the ensuing season shall be paid to the Association on or prior to the date of the mid-winter meeting. A late fee of $15 shall be paid in addition to the annual dues for any annual dues paid subsequent to the date of the mid-winter meeting. No person shall be assigned to officiate Association game(s) unless all such person’s dues and late fee(s) shall have been paid.
  3. The amount of annual dues shall be established annually by the Executive Committee. The annual dues shall be determined at the mid point between the highest and lowest single game fee for officiating games to be assigned by the Association in the preceding baseball season.
  4. Membership may be terminated for cause by a two thirds vote of the Executive Committee.
  5. All members of the Association must attend at least one of the following: the annual fall meeting or the midwinter meeting. Persons desiring to become members shall attend a minimum of one official’s training session sponsored by the Association.

Article 5
Officers
  1. The Officers of the Association shall be: President, Vice President, Immediate Past President, Secretary Treasurer, Assignor and Supervisor of Umpires.
  2. The terms of office shall be two years for each position except Secretary Treasurer which shall be three years. At the end of the President’s term(s) in office he/she will become a member of the Executive Committee for a term of two years.
  3. Election of officers shall be conducted at the October Annual Meeting by a majority vote of members in good standing present at such Meeting. Persons so elected shall take office immediately upon election and shall serve until the applicable subsequent election or until resigning or otherwise being removed by the Executive Committee.

To be eligible to run for any “officer” position (Pres., VP, Sec. /Treas., UIC, or Assigner), a candidate must be a member in good standing for a minimum of three (3) consecutive years.

To be eligible to run for any “at large” board position, a candidate
must be a member in good standing for a minimum of two (2) years.


Article 6
Duties of Officers

  1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and the Executive Committee. The President shall determine the dates for the Association’s various meetings and shall notify the Secretary/Treasurer thereof not less than thirty days in advance thereof.
  2. The Vice President shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the President.
  3. The Secretary Treasurer shall be responsible for collection of membership dues, fees, and other funds of the Association, payment of the Association’s obligations as approved by the Executive Committee from its funds, maintain appropriate financial records of the Association, and make a financial report thereof at the October Annual Meeting and such other times as requested by the Executive Committee. The Secretary/Treasurer shall upon receipt thereof from the President , notify the membership of the date(s) and locations of the Association’s various meetings by E-Mail and/or U.S. Mail not less than fifteen days prior to such meeting(s).
  4. The Supervisor of Umpires shall conduct clinic(s) prior to each season with respect to new rules changes. He shall establish appropriate training with respect to new and existing members and shall submit and administer an Umpire Evaluation program.
  5. The Assigner shall assign officials to officiate all games served by the Association according to the experience and availability of Association members. The Assignor shall seek opportunities for placement of umpires at additional leagues and/or levels of baseball competition in Association’s market area. The Assignor shall receive compensation for making game assignments directly from the leagues/teams served. The amount(s) and timing of such payment(s) shall be as negotiated between the Assignor and the teams/leagues served.


ARTICLE 7

Executive Committee

  1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers, the immediate Past President, and three (3) Association members in good standing elected at large at the Annual Meeting for a term of two years.
  2. A vacancy in an at large membership between Annual Elections may be filled by majority vote of the Executive Committee.
  3. The Executive Committee shall carry out any business of the Association as directed by the President.
  4. Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President or by a majority of the Executive Committee. A quorum shall be a majority of the members.
  5. Each member of the Executive Committee shall have one vote. A majority vote of members present and voting shall prevail except in matters requiring a two/thirds majority. A tied vote, or a vote equating to two/thirds of those present and voting shall be deemed a “No” vote.

Article 8
Meetings

  1.  The Annual Meeting shall be held in the month of October each year on a date and at a location specified by the President. Additional meetings, including the mid-winter meeting, the Pre-Season Test meeting, and training clinics shall be held at such times and locations as the President/Executive Committee shall determine.
  2. Members in good standing shall be notified by the Secretary/Treasurer of the date and location of the Annual meeting and the date(s) and location(s) of each other meeting and clinics of the Association.
  3.  In order to maintain good standing each member must attend a minimum of one of the following meetings: the Annual Meeting or the mid-winter meeting. Only members in good standing shall be eligible for playoff assignment.
  4. All meetings shall be presided over by the President or his designee and shall be governed procedurally according to Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised. By majority vote of members in attendance such Rules may be waived.


ARTICLE 9
Suspension/Termination of Membership

  1. All members shall behave in accordance with the aims and objectives of the Association, including, without limitation, adhering to the MRBUA Code of Ethics.
  2. Any member found in violation of these Bylaws may be censured, suspended or expelled from active membership in the following manner.
A) A report specifying the violation(s) shall be in writing and forwarded to the Executive Committee for investigation and action. A written copy of such report shall be forwarded to the individual member(s) subject of such report.

B) The Executive Committee, by two-thirds majority vote, may censure, suspend, or expel a member from the Association after having given such member the opportunity to appear and present such facts and/or argument as such member shall desire.

C) The decision of the Executive Committee shall be in writing and shall be delivered in hand or by mail to the subject thereof. Such decision shall be final.


ARTICLE 10
Income/Funds

All money, funds and income of the Association shall belong solely to the Association. No part thereof shall inure to the private benefit of, or be distributed to and member, officer or member of the Executive Committee nor used for any purpose other than the expenses or obligations of the Association duly approved by Executive Committee.

ARTICLE 11
Amendment

These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members in good standing present at an Annual Meeting or at any other meeting called for that purpose, provided in such case written notice thereof have been provided to each such member not less than fifteen days prior thereto. For purposes hereof notice by E-Mail to members’ most recent e-mail address shall be sufficient. Any member in good standing may submit proposed amendment(s) to the Executive Committee which shall bring such proposed amendment for a vote at the next Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE 12
Miscellaneous

  1. The fiscal year of the Association shall be October 1 to September 30.
  2. The Executive Committee shall from time to time designate the Association approved uniform to be worn by members officiating Association assigned games. All members shall wear such approved uniforms while officiating Association assigned game(s).
  3.  Members shall not solicit assignment of Association customers for games. All Association games shall be assigned by the Assignor. Members shall not accept assignment of association games other than from the Assignor.
  4.  To be eligible to run for any “officer” position (Pres., VP, Sec./Treas., UIC, or Assigner), a candidate must be a member in good standing for a minimum of three (3) consecutive years,
  5.  To be eligible to run for any “at large” board position, a candidate must be a member in good standing for a minimum of two (2) years.

Amended October, 2008