ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this association shall be the Granite State Umpires Association
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The purposes for which this association is organized are as follows;
1. To unite in one organization, all approved and registered baseball umpires in New Hampshire.
2. To promote the study and improvement of the mechanics of umpiring baseball.
3. To conduct and encourage meetings for the interpretation of the rules of baseball and demonstrations of the proper umpiring mechanics.
4. To study the revision and administration of the rules of baseball and softball from the standpoint of the umpire.
5. To promote the uniform interpretation and administration of the rules of baseball.
6. To foster the advancement of baseball as a sport for the development of character, good sportsmanship, citizenship and wholesome recreation.
7. To register and train new candidates for membership.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP STATUS
Membership in this association shall be open to all persons of the age of eighteen years or older who are of good morals and character. No person shall be denied membership in this association solely on account of race, religion, national origin or sex. A candidate for membership may only become a member of this association by providing satisfactory proof of health and character.
1. Active member: A person who has been duly accepted for membership and who has complied with all the requirements of membership and is in good standing shall be considered an Active Member. Active-members can work games.
2.Inactive member: A member who has represented unavailability to work as a baseball umpire during the season but desires to remain a member of the Association.
ARTICLE IV: QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS
1. Active Member: By accepting membership as an Active Member, a member holds himself/herself out as being available for work as a baseball umpire on a regular basis. This provision shall not be construed as limiting the right of any member to accept or reject any offer of work.
2. Inactive Member: An Inactive Member will have no responsibilities for meeting and clinic attendance or test completion but is required to pay Inactive Membership dues as set up by the Executive Committee and after doing such maintain all rights and privileges of membership.
ARTICLE V: MEMBER CERTIFICATION
Active members shall be certified to facilitate the assignment of games during the spring and summer season. Member certification shall be a function of the following criteria; Longevity, Rating and Status. A member shall be considered in ‘Good standing’ when he/she has met the following provisions; current year dues and fees are paid, attendance at the annual rules and mechanics clinic has been certified by the Rules Interpreter.
ARTICLE VI: DUTIES AND FEES
1. Dues. Members shall be required to pay dues to maintain their membership as follows:
A. Active Members: the amount of dues to be collected annually from each member shall be equal to $40.00 for the following year. Any member, whose dues are not paid by January 1st, shall be subject to a late fee in an amount to be determined by the Executive Committee. As of January 28, 2007 the late fee is one-half the game fee. If the dues and late fee are not paid by September 1, the member shall be suspended and shall be ineligible for work until reinstated by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VII: CONTINUING EDUCATION
1. The minimum continuing education requirements for maintaining membership in ‘good standing’ shall be attendance at one interpretation/mechanics clinic organized by the Rules Interpreter
ARTICLE VIII: DISCIPLINE OF MEMBERS
1. Grounds: Any member of the association may be disciplined for incompetence, conduct reflecting discredit upon the association, failure to pay dues, failure to attend required continuing education programs and violations of these by-laws and any rules and regulations promulgated hereunder. In addition, a member may be disciplined for knowingly officiating an GSUA sanctioned game, with any suspended or expelled member. It shall be the duty of each member to report to the association any nonmember hired to work with the member for any organization which has an agreement with the GSUA to hire members exclusively and to comply with any order of the Executive Committee to cease working with non members when working for such organization.
2. Reprimand: The Executive Committee may reprimand any member for any violation of the by-laws or rules except those requiring automatic suspension.
3. Suspension: The Executive Committee may suspend any member for violation of these by-laws or any rules or regulations promulgated hereunder for a period not to exceed 365 days. No member who has been automatically suspended for nonpayment of dues or failure to complete required continuing education may be reinstated until all arrears of dues have been paid or until all required continuing education has been completed.
4. Expulsion: Any member may be expelled by the Executive Committee for conviction of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude: for flagrant or repeated violation of these by-laws or any rules or regulations promulgated hereunder; or for accepting employment for pay while under suspension. A member who is under suspension may also be expelled for committing the same violation (for which the member was suspended) while held in abeyance.
5. Procedure: In cases of automatic suspension for nonpayment of dues or failure to complete required continuing education, the Secretary shall mail the suspended member notice of suspension together with a statement of the action required to secure reinstatement. If the member takes the action required for reinstatement within 15 days after the date of the notice by payment of all arrears of dues or by registering with the Secretary for the continuing education required by the Executive Committee, then the notice of suspension required to be sent to the organizations having agreements with the Liaison Committee (chairman) shall not be sent until the Secretary is ordered to do so by a vote of the Executive Committee. In all other cases disciplinary action shall be instituted by notice setting forth the conduct alleged to have been engaged in and the date and time, which shall not be less than thirty days after the date of the notice, at which the Executive Committee intends to consider disciplinary action.
6. Hearing: Any member subject to discipline shall be entitled to a hearing before the Executive Committee at the time and date and place set forth in the notice or at such other time and place as may be agreed upon between the member and the Executive Committee. At said hearing the member may appear and give either oral or written statements and may present oral or written statements by any person in his behalf.
7. Notice of Suspension or Expulsion: Subject to the provisions of Paragraph 5 of this Article, upon the suspension or expulsion of any member, the Secretary shall cause notice of such suspension or expulsion to be given to each member of the association at the annual meeting and to the governing body or executive director of each organization which has agreements with the GSUA setting forth the dates of the disciplinary action and, in the case of suspensions, the date the suspension terminates.
ARTICLE IX: ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The officers of the Association and the elected members of the Executive Committee shall be elected biennially in the odd numbered year.
1. Nominations: Prior to each annual meeting of the Association taking place during the odd numbered year, the president shall appoint a nominating committee. This committee shall report its nominations at the annual meeting.
2. At the time set for the election of officers, after the nominating committee has made its report, the President shall canvass the members present to determine if there are any other nominations; and if there are none the Secretary shall, on motion by any active member, cast one ballot for the unanimous elections of the persons nominated by the Nominating Committee. If there be other candidates, the election for each contested office shall be by secret ballot which shall be counted by two tellers appointed by the President, who shall announce the results thereof.
ARTICLE X: OFFICERS/EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1. Elected Officers: The officers of the association shall be a President, a President- Elect and a Secretary/Treasurer; each of whom shall serve for a term of two years and until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified.
2. Executive Committee: The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the association; a Supervisor of Umpires, Three At-large members, a Secretary/Treasurer, Assignor and assistant Assignor, Rules Interpreter, and Website Supervisor(s).
A.The Supervisor-of-Umpires, Performance Review Coordinator, Umpire Development Chairman, Assigning Chairman, and the Website Supervisor shall be appointed biannually by the Executive Committee.
B. The Rules Interpreter, who shall be appointed by the President, will serve a term, which will run coterminous with that of the President. The newly appointed Rules Interpreter will assume duties on July 1st following his appointment.
C. The At-large members elected by the membership, shall serve terms of three years and until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified. Their term on the Board shall run so that one At-Large Member shall be elected every year.
3. Executive Committee Attendance Requirements: Each member of the Executive Board is required to attend 50% or greater of the yearly March to March Executive Board Meetings. A member, who fails to comply, may be removed and an interim member will be appointed by the President
ARTICLE XI DUTIES OF OFFICERS / EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1. The Executive Committee: Shall be the governing board of the association. It shall have the power to act upon all matters not reserved to the membership in these by-laws.
2. President: The president shall be the chief executive officer of the association and shall preside at all meetings of the association. The president shall have the power to call special meetings of the association and to assemble the Executive Committee whenever, in his opinion, the need therefore exists. The President shall also perform such other duties as the Executive Committee shall direct.
3. Secretary/Treasurer: The Secretary/Treasurer shall be the custodian of all records of the association, of all funds coming into the possession of the association and shall prepare an annual report on the financial condition of the association. The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep a record of each meeting of the association and Executive Committee and shall arrange for the annual audit of the books of the association. This member shall be compensated for his services in such sum as the Executive Committee shall provide. The Secretary/Treasurer shall give bond to secure the faithful performance of his duties in such sum as the Executive Committee shall direct.
5. Rules Interpreter: The Rules Interpreter shall be the official interpreter of all rules for the association and shall be responsible for the conduct of interpretation meetings and training programs for the members. The Rules Interpreter shall be compensated for his services in such sum as the Executive Committee shall provide. The Rules Interpreter shall also participate in all grievances by members.
6. Supervisor of Umpires: The Supervisor of Umpires shall supervise the performance of all contacts with organizations having agreements with the association. The Supervisor will also be responsible for supervising the conduct of the members in the performance of such contracts and their grievances. The Supervisor of Umpires shall be compensated for his services in such sum as the Executive Committee shall provide.
7. Assignor: The Assigning Chairman shall supervise the collection, allocation and distribution of regular season game assignments for members .