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ARTICLE I
NAME
1. The name of the organization shall be: Maine Chapter of NIHOA
(Hereinafter referred to as "The Chapter")
ARTICLE II
PURPOSES
1. General
The Chapter is comprised of ice hockey officials dedicated to the promotion
of ice hockey through the continual training and supply of approved hockey
officials to administer and officiate hockey games
through the knowledgeable, fair and professional application of the game's
rules.
2. Specific
In furthering its mission, the Chapter shall, as determined by its
Executive Committee and with the approval of a majority of Chapter members:
a. Provide approved hockey officials for assignment under contractual terms
with the Maine Principals Association (MPA), Maine preparatory schools, and
other organizations officially connected with the game of ice hockey;
b. Negotiate in good faith with the administering bodies whose
membership(s) require approved hockey officials.
c. Participate in and abide by the decisions made by the National Ice
Hockey Officials Association (NIHOA) with which the Maine Chapter is
affiliated.
d. Provide annual testing and evaluative training to chapter members as a
means to improve the professional performance for approved hockey
officials;
e. Inform and educate those connected to and interested in ice hockey of
the importance of competent, professional, approved hockey officials to the
administration and vitality of the game;
f. Monitor and respond accordingly to developments relating to or affecting
the ability of approved hockey officials to meet their responsibilities;
g. Foster, through the professional application of their officiating
responsibilities, an optimum environment to promote appreciation of the
game and its rules.
h. Provide and maintain a Chapter web page for promotion of all of
the above. Have a protected “members only” section with
procedures and policies of the Chapter listed.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
1. New Members
a. New members must complete a formal application to the chapter. In the
absence of a formal application, he/she must send a letter to
the chapter with a complete background of qualifications and why membership
in the chapter is desired.
b. Any new members to the chapter must be sponsored by an existing member
and invited to try out by the Executive Committee. This includes past
members who have missed more than 2 seasons a period
of time and members of other chapters.
c. New members must attend mandatory meetings and attend mandatory testing
including, but not limited to, written rules test, skating ability, and
game situations.
d. If accepted, new members will be considered Probationary members.
Acceptance to the Chapter shall be by majority vote of the Executive
Committee.
e. New members shall not have voting rights until accepted as Probationary
members.
2. The Chapter shall have three membershipsix
membership classes:
a. 1. Probationary Member: A Probationary
member is an official who may be eligible for JV and woman’s ice
hockey only, all requirements for membership must be completed and the
evaluation committee has recommended said official
before said official receives a schedule.
Probationary members are not eligible for on ice post-season games.
Probationary members are not eligible to run for
office in Maine NIHOA
a. Active
and Probationary members, who remit annual dues, abide by the rules and
procedures of the Chapter, and officiate hockey games to which they are
assigned;
(1) Probationary members meet all the qualifications of Active members, but
may be in their first year of membership with the Chapter, either as new
officials or as transfers from other Chapters affiliated with NIHOA;
2. Apprentice Member: An
apprentice member is a probationary member
that has been asked to return for another season. The apprentice member
will continue to be monitored by the
evaluation committee and may continue to officiate JV and Women’s ice
hockey. All membership requirements must be completed before receiving a
schedule. An apprentice member may
be scheduled varsity
class B ice
hockey games when the evaluation committee approves the
official for advancement. Apprentice members are not eligible for on ice post-season games.
Apprentice members are not eligible to run for
office in Maine NIHOA.
3. Full Member: A full member is a member that
has had a minimum of two seasons of experience with Maine NIOHA or a higher
level. A full member may be eligible for JV, Women’s, Class B,
and Class A ice hockey. Full members may be eligible for Class
B varsity on ice post-season games
with the approval of the evaluation committee. All full members must
complete two seasons at this level before becoming a senior member.
Only a second season full member may run for office in the Maine NIOHA
chapter.
4. Senior Member: A senior member is a member
that has had four seasons with NIOHA and has satisfactorily completed all
association requirements. Senior members are eligible for all JV, Women’s, and Class B and Class A
ice hockey. Senior members may be eligible for on ice post season. Senior
members will be evaluated on an as needed basis. Senior members are
eligible to run for office in the Maine NIOHA chapter.
b. Associate
members, who remit annual dues, abide by the rules and procedures of the
Chapter, but who do not officiate hockey games on assignment by the Chapter;
6. c.
Honorary members, who are recognized by the Chapter for their contributions
to the Chapter or the game, who are inactive for a period of at least two
consecutive years, and who are sponsored for Honorary membership by a
Chapter member.
Note
:Note: (1)
Sponsorship must be submitted to the Chapter, in writing, stating
qualifications for consideration for honorary membership. Honorary
membership nominations must be approved and accepted by the Executive
Committee.
3. Dues
a. Dues shall be established annually by the Executive Committee and voted
upon by the membership for all active members. Probationary members will be
assessed an additional $25.00 the first year. Associate membership dues are
to be $15 10.00 per year.
There will be no dues for Honorary Members.
4. Qualifications (Qualifications:
(note :note: Active
members are current skating members of the Chapter in good
standing.)
a. Members must meet the following functional qualifications:
(1) Active
and probationary All members
must have a minimum of three years of experience in officiating ice hockey
games. (or relevant experience, at the discretion of the Executive
Committee - such Probationary members may be limited to a probationary
period of two years at J.V. level of ice hockey)
(2) All members must remit the annual dues as set by the Chapter.
(3) Active members must take or participate in annual testing, administered
by the Chapter, of the rules of the game.
(4) Active members must participate in training sessions as determined by
the Executive Committee prior to the start of the high school, preparatory
school season.
(5) Active members must attend at least two (2) Chapter meetings conducted
within the ice hockey season to be eligible for Playoff games.
(6) All members must conduct themselves in accordance with the standards
expected by the Chapter and NIHOA for approved hockey officials.
5. Voting Rights
a. All members shall be entitled to one vote, for conducting Chapter
business. Proxy voting is not allowed, providing the proxy votes
are received by the Secretary in
writing and signed by the voting member prior to a scheduled vote.
Members must need not be present to vote.
ARTICLE IV
MEETING OF MEMBERS
1. Annual meeting
An annual meeting of members shall be held prior to the high school Playoff
tournament at a time and place to be determined by the Executive Committee.
The business of the annual meeting shall include, but not be limited to:
election of Officers, presentation of the Chapter's financial report,
consideration and votes on amendments proposed to Chapter by-laws, any
outstanding committee reports, presentation of a report of Chapter
operations establishment of the dues structure for memberships for the
upcoming year, and tournament assignments.
2. Regular meetings
In addition to the annual meeting, the Chapter shall hold no fewer than
three (3) meetings within each high school hockey season, with at least one
of those meetings to be conducted within 30 calendar days of the start of a
new high school hockey season, and the other two to be conducted within the
high school hockey season.
3. Special meetings
Special meetings of the Chapter may be called, should a perceived need
arise, by the President, and the Executive Committee. The Executive
Committee shall set the place and time of any special meeting with the
provision that the meeting be conducted within 10 days of the decision that
a special meeting is needed.
4. Notice of meetings
Written notice of all Chapter meetings shall be distributed via email,
website, or US Mail, to the appropriate address of each member, as it
appears in the records of the Chapter, not fewer than seven (7) days prior
to the meeting.
5. Action at meetings
The vote of a majority of Chapter members present at a meeting is required
for Chapter action, except where otherwise expressly provided in these
by-laws.
6. Adjournment
A meeting of the members may be adjourned by majority vote of the members
present. Notice of the adjourned meeting or of the business to be
transacted there, other than by announcement at the meeting, which the
adjournment is taken, shall not be necessary. At an adjourned meeting, no
business may be transacted which could or should have been transacted at
the meeting originally called.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
1. The Officers of the Chapter shall consist of a President, a Vice
President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers, if any, to be
designated by a vote of the Chapter. ( Secretary & Treasurer Positions may be
combined)
2. Officers' election and terms
a. The Officers shall be elected by the Chapter members at the annual
meeting.
b. The terms of the officers shall be: President, 2 years; Vice President,
2 years; Secretary,: 2 years2 years; and
Treasurer 2 years, 2 years.
c. Officers shall hold office until their successors are elected and
qualified. A term will end on the Monday immediately
following the National NIHOA meeting. unless they Officers that resign
or are removed from office by the Executive committee for their inability
to meet the responsibilities of their office will be replaced by an
appointment of the President
until a new election can be held at the next regularly scheduled . meeting.
d. No
officer The President and Vice President shall
serve no more than three consecutive
terms.
3. Officers' duties
a. President
The President shall preside over meetings of the Chapter at the annual
meeting of the members. The President shall be the chief public
representative regarding procedure and policy issues of the Chapter. The
President shall serve as the Chairman of the Executive Committee and shall
serve as an ex-official member of all committees. The President shall
appoint all committee chairs except as provided in the by-laws. The President,
or assigned designee with approval of the executive committee,
shall have authority to sign contractual agreements for the Chapter.
b. Vice-President
The Vice-President shall preside in the absence or disability of the
President. The V.P. will preside as chairperson of
the evaluation committee.
c. Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for receiving and compiling copies of
all committee meeting minutes as well as all official records, contracts,
correspondence, and communications of, by and to the Chapter. He/she shall
also keep an official list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of all
Chapter members, Officers, and committee members. He/she shall send all
notices of meetings to Chapter members.
d. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be responsible for collecting and disbursing the funds
of the Chapter. The Treasurer shall keep or cause to be kept in full and
accurate accounting of all receipts and disbursements. The Treasurer shall
render an accounting of all Chapter transactions and the financial
condition of the Chapter whenever required by the Executive Committee or
upon the majority request of Chapter membership. The Treasurer shall
deposit all Chapter monies to the name and credit of the Chapter in a
depository designated by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall
report at each Chapter meeting and present an annual financial report at
the members' annual meeting. The Treasurer shall also prepare the financial
records each year at the close of the fiscal year. The Executive Committee
may require the Treasurer to be bonded.
ARTICLE VI
COMMITTEES OF THE CHAPTER
1. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall be composed of the officers of the Chapter,
the immediate past president, and 3 members to be appointed by the
President. The three members appointed, one will be chosen from the greater
Bangor Northern
Maine area, one from the Augusta-
Lewiston Central Maine area,
and one from the Portland-Biddeford Southern Maine
area so that each of these areas may have representation on
the Executive Committee. The assigner shall be a member of the Executive
Committee. The Executive Committee may act on behalf of the Chapter and
exercise general supervision of the Chapter between meetings of the
membership. The President shall serve as a Chairman of the Executive
Committee. The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the Chairman.
The Executive Committee may act in a liaison capacity between the Chapter
and other ice hockey organizations and individuals officially connected
with the game of ice hockey for the purpose of soliciting views, exchanging
information, and receiving communications. The Executive Committee shall be
responsible for any disciplinary actions to be imposed on Chapter members.
2. Membership Committee
The Membership Committee shall be appointed by the President and be
composed of members of the Chapter. It shall be responsible for recruiting
and screening new members, retaining existing members, and shall oversee
the implementation of rules revisions and the “points of emphasis”
requested by NIHOA and the MPA. The Membership Committee shall be responsible
for training and evaluating Chapter members, and may recommend to the
Executive Committee corrective actions, and/or recommend the imposition of
discipline (see disciplinary action outlined in Article IX) of Chapter
members The Membership Committee shall investigate alleged incidents of
misconduct involving approved hockey officials and reports its findings and
recommendations to the Executive Committee. The Membership Committee may
promulgate rules and recommend procedures to the Executive Committee to achieve
the purposes of the organization. The Membership Committee shall report to
the Assignor(s) prior to and following each high school regular season the
evaluations of active Chapter members and other appropriate and relevant
information, and may suggest training recommendations to the Assignor(s)
and to individual active members as deemed appropriate and with the
knowledge of the Executive Committee.
3. Assignor(s)
The Assignor(s) shall be appointed by the President, approved by the
Executive Committee and be composed of a member(s) of the Chapter, and
shall be responsible for meeting the contractual obligations of the MPA,
and any other organization(s) with which the Chapter may enter other such
agreements, regarding the assigning of approved hockey officials to
officiate ice hockey games. The Assignor(s) shall secure from the MPA the
ice hockey schedules of all MPA member schools, as well as preparatory
schools and other schedules involving associations with which the Chapter
is contracted, as appropriate, and assign approved hockey officials to
those contests. The Assignor(s) may receive evaluations and comments
regarding officials from the Executive Committee and act upon them as
needed.
a. The Assignor(s) shall be responsible for timely communications with the
organizations with who the Chapter is under contract to identify the
approved hockey officials assigned to the games. The Assignor(s) is
empowered, during the high school hockey season, to alter and adjust the
assignments of approved hockey officials in the event of their illness,
injury or inability; and, in the event of postponements or other
developments requiring the rescheduling of hockey games already assigned,
to make such changes necessary and to report those changes to the effected
institutions, individuals, fellow Assignor(s) and the Executive Committee
as soon as practicable.
4. Negotiating Committee
The Negotiating Committee shall be appointed by the President and be
comprised of Chapter members, at least one of who must be ana
Active
Senior Member,
and shall be responsible for the receipt, consideration, formulation and
presentation of information pertaining to the securing by the Chapter of
contracts for services with various organizations. The negotiating
committee shall have no authority to sign contractual agreements
for the Chapter.
5. Special Committees
The President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, may appoint
such other special committees from time to time as may be deemed necessary.
ARTICLE VII
PERSONAL LIABILITY
1. The members and officers of the Chapter shall not be personally
liable for any debt, liability, or obligation of the Chapter. All persons,
corporations, or other entities extending credit to, contracting with, or
having any claim against the Chapter, may look only to the funds and
property of the Chapter for payment of any debt, damages, judgment or
decree.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS
1. Chapter by-laws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new by-laws
may be adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present
and voting at any regularly scheduled meeting with a quorum present. The
text of the proposed by-law change(s) shall be communicated via the chapter
website and/or in writing to the membership with the notice of said meeting.
ARTICLE IX.
DISCIPLINARY ACTION.
1. The Executive Committee shall serve as the Disciplinary Board of the
Chapter. They will hold a meeting to discuss with a member all complaints
filed against the member. At least seven days notice of said meeting shall
be given to the member.
2. Any violation of the By-laws, rules and regulations of this Chapter
or decisions of the officers or Executive Committee by any member shall
render such a member subject to suspension by affirmative vote of a
majority of the Executive Committee until the next regularly scheduled
meeting with a quorum present. At that time, such member may be subject to
expulsion by affirmative vote of a majority of active chapter members.
a. While a member is suspended, they shall lose all voting privileges.
3. All players, coaches, referees, teams, or leagues suspended by USA
Hockey or other hockey organization, may also be suspended by this
organization and remain suspended until USA Hockey or other hockey
organization lifts the suspension.
4. Copies of all correspondence between individual teams, programs or
members thereof with members of this organization shall be sent to the
secretary of this organization. Failure to comply shall be considered a
violation of paragraph 2 above.
5. Appeal
Process: Disciplined member(s) may appeal the executive committee
decision by notifying their respective area representative in writing or
email within 30 days. The area
representative will then notify the executive committee of
the decision to appeal. The
President will appoint two non-executive committee chapter members to hear
the appeal along with the President.
The final decision of the appeal committee must be given in writing
to the disciplined member(s) within ten (10) calendar days.
By-Laws approved
by Maine NIHOA on 2.10.08.
Ray Levesque,
President
Greg Dumais, VP
Kevin Forrest,
S/T
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