By-laws
REDWOOD EMPIRE WRESTLING OFFICIALS and COACHES ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS
Ratified on October 30, 2012
Amended on September 13, 2013
Amended on March 7, 2016
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this association shall be known as the Redwood Empire Officials and Coaches Association (“REWOCA”) a non-profit organization. Its office and location at which its records are maintained is the home or office of the President or a location to be determined by the Board.
ARTICLE II
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the REWOCA is to provide the services of trained, certified, and insured wrestling officials to schools and other non-profit associations.
The REWOCA’s objectives and purpose is to offer the highest level of officiating competence to the high schools and other wrestling organizations it serves. To meet this objective, the REWOCA shall:
ARTICLE III
MEMBERS
Section One – Membership Policy
All Members of the REWOCA shall adhere to the Bylaws, as well as other rules, regulations, policies, practices and/or procedures that are adopted by the Executive Board.
No Member or prospective Member shall be denied Membership in, access to or benefits of the REWOCA, due to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender, national origin, disability or age.
Roster Size
The REWOCA Board shall establish the size of the roster of active officials for the upcoming year. Membership development begins thereafter each year and continues until such time as the roster limit has been reached.
Recruitment
Based upon roster vacancies of active officials created by Members who retire, move or resign for other reasons, and/or changes in the number of assignments projected for the upcoming year, the Board shall establish recruiting goals at its first calendar meeting of the year to maintain a full roster. Recruiting methods include newspaper ads, recommendations from current and past Members, visiting local high schools and junior colleges in the REWOCA’s service area, and other appropriate efforts.
Section Two –Eligibility Requirements
Coaches
All Member schools’ certified coaches may be REWOCA Members.
Each Member school will be entitled to one vote, to be determined by the head coach.
Officials
To become a REWOCA official, a person must successfully complete the following standards:
Once classified as an Official, a Member retains this status unless he or she fails to meet the minimum standards. If the Member fails to meet the minimum standards, the Member is placed on probation until such time as that Member again meets the minimum standards or his or her Membership is terminated.
An official who takes a leave of absence (See “Leave of Absence” below) from REWOCA may reapply for Membership within two (2) seasons and be reinstated to his or her previous status.
If the official’s leave of absence was greater than two (2) seasons, the official must then satisfy the minimum standards for the most recently completed season.
An Official who is in good standing has one (1) vote in matters brought to the Membership for adoption or guidance. No proxy votes are allowed.
Affiliate Members
In certain situations, officials from other accredited officials associations may also apply for Affiliate Membership in the REWOCA. An Affiliate Member:
Leave of Absence
Any Member may request a Leave of Absence by submitting a written request to the President or the President’s designee. If the request is accepted it will be honored for up to two consecutive seasons. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, a Member who returns after one or two consecutive seasons will be reinstated to his or her previous status within the REWOCA.
Resignation
A Member may voluntarily resign at any time. If a Member who has previously resigned may submit a request to the Board to be reinstated.
A Member who has been asked to resign due to disciplinary reasons, or whose Membership was revoked by the Board for cause, may not reapply for a period of three years. That Member, however, is entitled to a hearing with the Grievance Committee.
Section Three – Membership Fees and Assessments
Fees
Membership Fees are intended to offset REWOCA operating costs.
Coaches’ Membership fees are paid for by their respective Member schools.
Annual Membership Fees for officials are established and approved by the Executive Board prior to the start of the season.
Dues shall be for the fiscal year, which shall run from December 1 of each year to November 30 of the following year. Officials will work a novice tournament in lieu of partial dues for that season. REWOCA will collect fees for all novice tournaments in lieu of Membership dues.
An annual accounting of the Membership fees and the expenses incurred by the REWOCA is available to the general Membership upon request.
Assessments and Fines
An assessment may be levied at the end of each season upon the Membership for the purpose of defraying regular operating expenses in excess of dues.
Officials shall notify the commissioner at least 24 hours prior to the starting time of a match if he is unable to attend. A twenty-five dollar ($25) fine shall be assessed against any official for failure to comply with this requirement.
Officials shall arrive 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the match or tournament to conduct their pre-meet duties. Failure to do so may result in a twenty-five dollar ($25) fine. Coaches will report the official’s late arrival to the Commissioner within 24 hours, and the Commissioner will let the Treasurer know for processing of the fine deduction from the payment for the officiating of the match.
There may be a fine of up to $50 (in lieu of the $25) for arriving after the scheduled start time of a dual meet or tournament.
The Commissioner shall be notified at least 24 hours prior to the starting time of the event of a match is canceled or postponed. The Commissioner may, at his discretion, assess the home school for one half of the varsity wrestling fee, plus mileage allowance, for failure to comply with this requirement if the official showed up at the event.
Outstanding fees, fines, and assessments will be withheld from the final paychecks of officials.
Section Four –Disciplinary Action, Due Process and Grievances
Probation
A Member may be placed on probationary status for:
By the end of the following wrestling season, a Member who is on probation must meet the REWOCA’s standard for Membership. Otherwise his or her Membership with the REWOCA may be terminated.
A Member who is on probation for disciplinary reasons or other reasons recommended by the Grievance Committee (see below) must also take necessary corrective actions as directed by the Assignor(s) and/or the Grievance Committee, otherwise his or her Membership with the REWOCA may be terminated.
Disciplinary Action and Due Process
A Member who has been suspended for cause or who has had his or her Membership revoked is entitled to due process and a hearing by the Grievance Committee.
A Member of the REWOCA who is accused of committing any act that brings discredit to the REWOCA is entitled to due process before any disciplinary action is imposed.
Any Member of the REWOCA who is accused of committing a violation governed by the REWOCA Bylaws or other policies including but not limited to North Coast Section (NCS) and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) or is accused of committing an unethical act for which the Executive Board, another REWOCA Member, or outside entity believes disciplinary action is necessary is entitled to due process before any disciplinary action is imposed.
The President and Commissioner shall immediately undertake a Preliminary Investigation upon becoming aware of the accusation.
If a majority of the Executive Board so votes, the Member may be suspended pending a Grievance Committee Hearing.
Grievances
A Member who believes he or she has been treated unfairly or unjustly by one or more Members of REWOCA may file a Grievance and follow the procedures for a Grievance Committee Hearing.
Preliminary Investigation for Disciplinary Action
If the Commissioner and the President or Vice President, together, deem that sufficient grounds support that a violation has occurred, the Commissioner shall, within twenty-four hours of completing the Preliminary Investigation, notify the accused official by telephone and email that a “Notice to Show Cause” will be delivered to the accused official by registered mail/return receipt requested, state the specifics of the charge(s) uncovered by the Preliminary Investigation, and describe the Disciplinary Action that will occur if the accused official chooses not to challenge the “Notice to Show Cause.”
The Commissioner and the President or Vice President, together, has the authority to impose a disciplinary action. That action shall be based on the assessment of the violation’s severity.
If the accused Member feels the disciplinary action is unjustified, the accused official may request a formal hearing with the REWOCA Grievance Committee. The accused Member must submit a request for a hearing in writing to the appropriate Assignor not later than seven (7) calendar days after receiving “Notice to Show Cause.”
It is recommended that the Member first requests an Informal Grievance Hearing, which is a conference with the Commissioner and a Member of the Board. Most issues can be resolved at such a hearing. If the Member believes the grievance is not resolved to his or her satisfaction, the Member may request a Formal Grievance Committee Hearing.
Grievance Committee
The Grievance Committee is comprised of three (3) Members of the REWOCA Executive Board. The Member requesting the hearing may select any three current Board Members for the committee.
Grievance Committee Hearing
Once the Grievance Committee is selected, a hearing date will be set. The Member and any witnesses will be notified independently.
The Grievance Committee, after conducting a hearing and weighing all the facts presented by the Member and any witnesses, shall dismiss the grievance or take appropriate action to resolve, eliminate or otherwise alleviate the Member’s grievance. In disciplinary hearings, the Grievance Committee shall eliminate or reduce any disciplinary action recommended by the President and appropriate Assignor or otherwise impose such disciplinary action as the Grievance Committee deems appropriate.
Except for those issues that may be appealed to and adjudicated by the North Coast Section (NCS) or the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), which accredits the REWOCA, all decisions rendered by the Grievance Committee is final.
Section Five – Miscellaneous Member Issues
Independent Contractor Status for All Officials
All Members of the REWOCA are Independent Contractors. To document each Member’s Independent Contractor status, each Member shall be required to enter into a Service Agreement.
As an Independent Contractor, the REWOCA shall NOT be responsible for any of the following:
Liability Insurance
Form W-9
Each official is required to have a completed Form W-9 on file with the REWOCA.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Each active official is required to have a completed and current Conflict of Interest Statement on file with the REWOCA.
ARTICLE IV
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section One – Description of Duties
There are nine titled Executive Board position in the REWOCA:
Following the spring general meeting the new executive board shall assign the above nine (9) titled positions. Board assignments will be for one year.
Responsibilities of Executive Board Members
President, who is a Member in good standing, is responsible for:
Vice President, who is a Member in good standing, is responsible for:
Secretary, who is a Member in good standing, is responsible for:
Treasurer, who is a Member in good standing, is responsible for:
Coaches’ Representative, who is a Member in good standing, is responsible for:
Officials’ Representative, who is a Member in good standing, is responsible for:
Commissioner, who is a Member in good standing, is responsible for:
Instructional Chairperson (IC), who is an official in good standing, is responsible for:
Member at Large, who is a Member in good standing, is responsible for:
Executive Board
The Board shall govern the REWOCA in accordance with the By-Laws and Policies.
The primary responsibilities of the Board are:
Section Two – Nomination, Election and Terms Executive Board Members
Election of the Executive Board
Board Members are elected by the general Membership at the spring General Meeting to serve two (2) year terms. Terms begin at the conclusion of the spring General Meeting at which the Board Member is elected. Terms are staggered according to Art IV section four.
One coach form each Member school shall have one vote to be determined by the head coach.
Each official shall have one vote.
Members must be present at the election to vote. No proxies will be allowed.
Replacing Board Members Who Resigns Before Term Expires
Should one or more Board Member(s) resign, the Board may elect one or more interim Board Member(s) by a majority vote at a Board Meeting. The interim Board Member (s) shall serve until the end of that term.
Removing an Executive Board Member
By a three-quarters majority vote, the Board may remove a Board Member for cause.
If the Board Member is so removed, then the Board may appoint an interim Member to serve for the remainder of the term.
Section Three – Vacancies
When any officer or Board Member who misses three (3) consecutive Board and or General Meetings with unexcused absences, his or her position will be considered vacated. If a position is vacated, the Board may adopt a vacancy declaration with a two-thirds majority vote. The Board may then fill the vacant position following the procedures described above.
Section Four – Terms of Office
Elections held at the annual spring meeting will carry a term of two years. Terms shall be staggered so that elections will alternate between four (4) and five (5) seats each year. Each position shall be held for a one (1) year in accordance to Article IV section 1. A member can hold the same board position for multiple years in a row as long as that person is reelected at the end of their term and reassigned to that position by the board in accordance with Article IV section 1.
ARTICLE V
MEETINGS
Section One – Executive Board Meetings
The Board shall meet at least two (2) times each year. Meeting dates are established annually at the Board’s first calendar meeting of the year. At the discretion of the President, additional meetings may be scheduled with a minimum of 48 hour notice to all Board Members.
All votes of the Board shall be carried by at least a majority of the Members present, unless specifically stated otherwise in the by-laws.
Section Two – General Membership Meetings
The General Membership Meetings held annually may include but not be limited to:
These General Meetings shall occur at such times and places determined by the President. Unscheduled General Meetings shall be announced a minimum of seven (7) days prior to the meeting.
Section Three – Amending the Bylaws
Amendments to the REWOCA’s Bylaws will generally be brought to the Membership as recommendations from the Board. However, any Member may bring a Bylaw amendment to the General Membership for discussion and consideration. All proposed changes must be submitted in writing with sufficient copies available to distribute to the Membership or presented for the Membership’s consideration via the REWOCA website at www.REWOCA.com.
If the amendment is voted on during a General Meeting, its passage requires a two-thirds majority vote of the Members present and eligible to vote.
If the amendment is presented digitally (such as via email or via the association website), the amendment’s passage shall require a two-thirds majority vote of the eligible Members who vote. The secretary and the president or his designee will be responsible for tabulating the vote.
Section Four – Minimum Attendance Requirements for Meetings and Training
A Member’s status within the REWOCA determines the number of meetings the Member must attend to maintain his or her good standing.
All Members must attend the Rules Interpretation Meeting.
Section Five – Canceling Meetings
General Meetings
The President may cancel one or more General Meetings due to inclement weather, national emergency or other reasons deemed appropriate by the President. If so, Members will be notified by email and/or telephone as soon as possible regarding the cancellation. Similarly, Members will be notified by email and/or telephone regarding where and when the next General Meeting will be held.
Section Six – Committees
The President shall appoint a Member of the Board to serve as Committee Chairman as committees are deemed necessary by the Board. Committee Chairmen may or may not form a sub-committee to assist them.
The Committee Chairman of each committee will make a detailed report of the committee’s status at each Board Meeting.
ARTICLE VI
DISSOLUTION
Section One – Dissolution of Organization
To dissolve this organization, a resolution in writing, asking for such dissolution shall be adopted by the Executive Board. The Board shall then call a special meeting of the Members for the purpose of considering and acting upon such resolutions. If at such meeting, Members (representing a majority of the Membership entitled to vote under the provisions of the By-Laws) vote for the dissolution, the Board shall take the necessary steps to terminate the affairs of the organization.
Section Two- Disbursements of Funds and Properties
All funds remaining in the treasury upon the announcement of dissolution shall be dispersed in the following manner and order:
Finally, all remaining funds and properties shall be donated to another charitable, non-profit organization by selection of the Board that has an objective similar to the dissolving organization and a Section 501 (c) (3) designation under the Internal Revenue Code.
ARTICLE VII
CODE OF ETHICS
All REWOCA Members must comply with the code of ethics as stated in the NFHS rules book.
ARTICLE VIII
ASSIGNMENTS
The Commissioner has the responsibility to assign officials using the following criteria:
ARTICLE IX
Ranking Committee and Ranking Guidelines
Section One- Committee
A ranking committee shall be made up of at least three (3) and no more than five (5) members in good standing and will responsible for ranking varsity level officials from first (1st) to at least fifteenth (15th). The committee will have the Commissioner, a minimum of one other Executive Board member, and a minimum one member in good standing from the general membership who has a minimum of 10 years of officiating or coaching service and a minimum of 5 years of service with REWOCA. The committee shall meet prior to the due date for association ranking to the North Coast Section for all post-season tournaments. The Committee chair will be by appointment of the REWOCA president.
Section Two- Ranking Guidelines
The committee shall start the process with a list of all varsity level officials and each member submitting a rankings list of their opinion of all officials on that list to the committee chair. The chair will tally the rankings giving 1 point for each first place ranking 2 points for second 3 points for third and so on until all rankings have a point value. The lowest point total shall be ranked first and each next lowest point total ranking next in line. The committee shall discuss any outlying rankings with each member getting to explain their reasoning. After discussion a second ranking tally will be conducted with each member re-ranking the full list of officials. The lowest point total shall be ranked first and each next lowest ranking next in line. If a tie occurs in the ranking the committee chair shall have the final decision on which official shall be rank ahead.
AMMENDMENTS
Amendment #1 (ratified September 9, 2013):
REWOCA will operate on a fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 31.
Amendment #2 (ratified September 9, 2013):
Compensation for all officers will be determined through a vote by the Executive Board. Each year, before the work of REWOCA as a nonprofit organization begins, any board member may request a review of the board’s compensation structure and initiate a vote to make changes.
Furthermore, the compensation of board members will be openly communicated to the REWOCA Membership. If a member has a concern with the compensation structure, they are encouraged to voice them with their representatives so that the concerns can be addressed and, if deemed necessary, voted upon by the board. All communications and votes regarding board compensation will be documented in the minutes of board meetings.
Board stipends will only be paid at the end of the year after all financial obligations have been met and the board determines that the solvency of the association warrants the payment. See appendix A.
Amendment #3 (ratified March 7, 2016): Title change from TMA to Commissioner, language changes to terms of offices, changes to board position descriptions and the addition of article 9.
APPENDIXppendixes
Appendix A (passed by the board of directors on September 9, 2013):
Job Title Yearly Honorarium
Board members must attend a minimum of 6 scheduled board meetings. They will be fined $25 for each missed board meeting.
Ratified on October 30, 2012
Amended on September 13, 2013
Amended on March 7, 2016
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this association shall be known as the Redwood Empire Officials and Coaches Association (“REWOCA”) a non-profit organization. Its office and location at which its records are maintained is the home or office of the President or a location to be determined by the Board.
ARTICLE II
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the REWOCA is to provide the services of trained, certified, and insured wrestling officials to schools and other non-profit associations.
The REWOCA’s objectives and purpose is to offer the highest level of officiating competence to the high schools and other wrestling organizations it serves. To meet this objective, the REWOCA shall:
- Improve the quality of officiating and to standardize techniques.
- To educate coaches, officials, and the wrestling community.
- Continuously reevaluate the needs of the association and its Members.
- Promote good fellowship among its Members.
- Provide clinics for coaches and officials.
- Offer annual commentary on rules, their changes and current interpretations.
- Foster the highest standards of ethics and moral conduct from its Members.
- Continuously foster the spirit of good sportsmanship and fair play by its Members, as well as the coaches, players, spectators, game administrators and others associated with the sport of wrestling.
- Continuously develop its Membership through on-going recruitment of new Members and by assisting its Members with comprehensive, on -going training.
- Assign Members to dual meets and tournaments based on their overall ranking and seniority.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERS
Section One – Membership Policy
All Members of the REWOCA shall adhere to the Bylaws, as well as other rules, regulations, policies, practices and/or procedures that are adopted by the Executive Board.
No Member or prospective Member shall be denied Membership in, access to or benefits of the REWOCA, due to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender, national origin, disability or age.
Roster Size
The REWOCA Board shall establish the size of the roster of active officials for the upcoming year. Membership development begins thereafter each year and continues until such time as the roster limit has been reached.
Recruitment
Based upon roster vacancies of active officials created by Members who retire, move or resign for other reasons, and/or changes in the number of assignments projected for the upcoming year, the Board shall establish recruiting goals at its first calendar meeting of the year to maintain a full roster. Recruiting methods include newspaper ads, recommendations from current and past Members, visiting local high schools and junior colleges in the REWOCA’s service area, and other appropriate efforts.
Section Two –Eligibility Requirements
Coaches
All Member schools’ certified coaches may be REWOCA Members.
Each Member school will be entitled to one vote, to be determined by the head coach.
Officials
To become a REWOCA official, a person must successfully complete the following standards:
- At least 18 years of age.
- A high school graduate or equivalent.
- Resides within the geographical areas or a reasonable distance of the schools serviced by the REWOCA.
- Satisfy the minimum attendance requirements during each successive year for on-mat and classroom training.
Once classified as an Official, a Member retains this status unless he or she fails to meet the minimum standards. If the Member fails to meet the minimum standards, the Member is placed on probation until such time as that Member again meets the minimum standards or his or her Membership is terminated.
An official who takes a leave of absence (See “Leave of Absence” below) from REWOCA may reapply for Membership within two (2) seasons and be reinstated to his or her previous status.
If the official’s leave of absence was greater than two (2) seasons, the official must then satisfy the minimum standards for the most recently completed season.
An Official who is in good standing has one (1) vote in matters brought to the Membership for adoption or guidance. No proxy votes are allowed.
Affiliate Members
In certain situations, officials from other accredited officials associations may also apply for Affiliate Membership in the REWOCA. An Affiliate Member:
- Is recommended by the coordinator or supervisor of the association in which he or she currently is assigned games.
- Provides evaluation(s) of prior experience from the coordinator of the association in which he or she currently is assigned games.
- He or she must have NFIOA (or equivalent) liability insurance coverage.
Leave of Absence
Any Member may request a Leave of Absence by submitting a written request to the President or the President’s designee. If the request is accepted it will be honored for up to two consecutive seasons. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, a Member who returns after one or two consecutive seasons will be reinstated to his or her previous status within the REWOCA.
Resignation
A Member may voluntarily resign at any time. If a Member who has previously resigned may submit a request to the Board to be reinstated.
A Member who has been asked to resign due to disciplinary reasons, or whose Membership was revoked by the Board for cause, may not reapply for a period of three years. That Member, however, is entitled to a hearing with the Grievance Committee.
Section Three – Membership Fees and Assessments
Fees
Membership Fees are intended to offset REWOCA operating costs.
Coaches’ Membership fees are paid for by their respective Member schools.
Annual Membership Fees for officials are established and approved by the Executive Board prior to the start of the season.
Dues shall be for the fiscal year, which shall run from December 1 of each year to November 30 of the following year. Officials will work a novice tournament in lieu of partial dues for that season. REWOCA will collect fees for all novice tournaments in lieu of Membership dues.
An annual accounting of the Membership fees and the expenses incurred by the REWOCA is available to the general Membership upon request.
Assessments and Fines
An assessment may be levied at the end of each season upon the Membership for the purpose of defraying regular operating expenses in excess of dues.
Officials shall notify the commissioner at least 24 hours prior to the starting time of a match if he is unable to attend. A twenty-five dollar ($25) fine shall be assessed against any official for failure to comply with this requirement.
Officials shall arrive 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the match or tournament to conduct their pre-meet duties. Failure to do so may result in a twenty-five dollar ($25) fine. Coaches will report the official’s late arrival to the Commissioner within 24 hours, and the Commissioner will let the Treasurer know for processing of the fine deduction from the payment for the officiating of the match.
There may be a fine of up to $50 (in lieu of the $25) for arriving after the scheduled start time of a dual meet or tournament.
The Commissioner shall be notified at least 24 hours prior to the starting time of the event of a match is canceled or postponed. The Commissioner may, at his discretion, assess the home school for one half of the varsity wrestling fee, plus mileage allowance, for failure to comply with this requirement if the official showed up at the event.
Outstanding fees, fines, and assessments will be withheld from the final paychecks of officials.
Section Four –Disciplinary Action, Due Process and Grievances
Probation
A Member may be placed on probationary status for:
- Disciplinary reasons.
- Other Cause as considered by the Board.
By the end of the following wrestling season, a Member who is on probation must meet the REWOCA’s standard for Membership. Otherwise his or her Membership with the REWOCA may be terminated.
A Member who is on probation for disciplinary reasons or other reasons recommended by the Grievance Committee (see below) must also take necessary corrective actions as directed by the Assignor(s) and/or the Grievance Committee, otherwise his or her Membership with the REWOCA may be terminated.
Disciplinary Action and Due Process
A Member who has been suspended for cause or who has had his or her Membership revoked is entitled to due process and a hearing by the Grievance Committee.
A Member of the REWOCA who is accused of committing any act that brings discredit to the REWOCA is entitled to due process before any disciplinary action is imposed.
Any Member of the REWOCA who is accused of committing a violation governed by the REWOCA Bylaws or other policies including but not limited to North Coast Section (NCS) and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) or is accused of committing an unethical act for which the Executive Board, another REWOCA Member, or outside entity believes disciplinary action is necessary is entitled to due process before any disciplinary action is imposed.
The President and Commissioner shall immediately undertake a Preliminary Investigation upon becoming aware of the accusation.
If a majority of the Executive Board so votes, the Member may be suspended pending a Grievance Committee Hearing.
Grievances
A Member who believes he or she has been treated unfairly or unjustly by one or more Members of REWOCA may file a Grievance and follow the procedures for a Grievance Committee Hearing.
Preliminary Investigation for Disciplinary Action
If the Commissioner and the President or Vice President, together, deem that sufficient grounds support that a violation has occurred, the Commissioner shall, within twenty-four hours of completing the Preliminary Investigation, notify the accused official by telephone and email that a “Notice to Show Cause” will be delivered to the accused official by registered mail/return receipt requested, state the specifics of the charge(s) uncovered by the Preliminary Investigation, and describe the Disciplinary Action that will occur if the accused official chooses not to challenge the “Notice to Show Cause.”
The Commissioner and the President or Vice President, together, has the authority to impose a disciplinary action. That action shall be based on the assessment of the violation’s severity.
If the accused Member feels the disciplinary action is unjustified, the accused official may request a formal hearing with the REWOCA Grievance Committee. The accused Member must submit a request for a hearing in writing to the appropriate Assignor not later than seven (7) calendar days after receiving “Notice to Show Cause.”
It is recommended that the Member first requests an Informal Grievance Hearing, which is a conference with the Commissioner and a Member of the Board. Most issues can be resolved at such a hearing. If the Member believes the grievance is not resolved to his or her satisfaction, the Member may request a Formal Grievance Committee Hearing.
Grievance Committee
The Grievance Committee is comprised of three (3) Members of the REWOCA Executive Board. The Member requesting the hearing may select any three current Board Members for the committee.
Grievance Committee Hearing
Once the Grievance Committee is selected, a hearing date will be set. The Member and any witnesses will be notified independently.
The Grievance Committee, after conducting a hearing and weighing all the facts presented by the Member and any witnesses, shall dismiss the grievance or take appropriate action to resolve, eliminate or otherwise alleviate the Member’s grievance. In disciplinary hearings, the Grievance Committee shall eliminate or reduce any disciplinary action recommended by the President and appropriate Assignor or otherwise impose such disciplinary action as the Grievance Committee deems appropriate.
Except for those issues that may be appealed to and adjudicated by the North Coast Section (NCS) or the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), which accredits the REWOCA, all decisions rendered by the Grievance Committee is final.
Section Five – Miscellaneous Member Issues
Independent Contractor Status for All Officials
All Members of the REWOCA are Independent Contractors. To document each Member’s Independent Contractor status, each Member shall be required to enter into a Service Agreement.
As an Independent Contractor, the REWOCA shall NOT be responsible for any of the following:
- Health and/or Accident Insurance
- Unemployment Compensation Insurance
- Worker’s Compensation Insurance
- State Disability Insurance
- Any other insurance or employee benefit an employer customarily provides
Liability Insurance
- Individual Membership Insurance Coverage: Through Membership in the REWOCA and as a part of REWOCA Member dues, each official becomes a Member of the National Federation Interscholastic Officials Association (NFIOA) and, as such, is covered by NFHS Officials Association insurance policy for Members. Refer to NFHS Officials Association Insurance Summary.
- Board and Entity Insurance Coverage: REWOCA holds Directors and Officers Liability, Entity Liability Coverage, and Employment Practice Liability Coverage. This coverage is for the REWOCA Board and Members for non-property or liability issues such as discrimination, wrongful discharge, etc. The aggregate amount of coverage is commensurate with service agreements the REWOCA has with other organizations.
Form W-9
Each official is required to have a completed Form W-9 on file with the REWOCA.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Each active official is required to have a completed and current Conflict of Interest Statement on file with the REWOCA.
ARTICLE IV
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section One – Description of Duties
There are nine titled Executive Board position in the REWOCA:
- President
- Vice President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Commissioner
- Coaches’ Representative
- Officials’ Representative
- Instructional Chair (IC)
- Member at Large
Following the spring general meeting the new executive board shall assign the above nine (9) titled positions. Board assignments will be for one year.
Responsibilities of Executive Board Members
President, who is a Member in good standing, is responsible for:
- Presiding over the General Meetings and secure REWOCA meeting facilities for all Members
- Negotiating acceptable fee contracts on behalf of the REWOCA Membership with High School representatives and Junior High representatives.
- Presiding over the Board Meetings.
- The overall operation of the association.
- Appoint Committee chairperson for the rankings committee.
Vice President, who is a Member in good standing, is responsible for:
- Presiding over the General Meetings in the President’s absence.
- Presiding over the Board Meetings in the President’s absence.
- The overall operation of the association in the President’s absence.
Secretary, who is a Member in good standing, is responsible for:
- Be the communication liaison between the Board and the Membership.
- Maintain and update the General Membership Roster of Officials and Coaches with current contact information.
- Take minutes at the REWOCA Board Meetings and distribute to the entire Board for approval.
- Take minutes of the General Meetings and distribute for presentation and approval at the next Board Meeting.
Treasurer, who is a Member in good standing, is responsible for:
- Coordinate the collecting of dues and invoice schools receiving services and orders appropriate insurance.
- Receive and disburse all monies of the Association and keep adequate and appropriate records of such receipts and disbursements.
- Maintain all Association bank accounts; coordinate the changing of signatories with new elections.
- Will establish a pay date for all REWOCA payments owed to officials for assignments during the season. This date will be established at or prior to the December meeting. This shall be after the League Finals. There will be NO PAYMENTS before this date.
- Managing the other income and expenses generated by the association and ensuring the association’s fiscal solvency.
- Prepare a budget report for the Board; prepare an annual report for presentation to the Association at the fall General Meeting.
- File any required state or federal financial reports.
- Arrange for an audit/review of the REWOCA books at the request of the Board.
- Collect I-9 forms from all officials.
- Distribute 1099-Misc forms to officials at the end of the year.
Coaches’ Representative, who is a Member in good standing, is responsible for:
- Being the liaison between the Board and the coaching Membership.
- Must be a coach in good standing at a member school for the time of his or her assignment to the position by the Executive board. This personal may also be an official as long as the coaching requirements are met.
Officials’ Representative, who is a Member in good standing, is responsible for:
- Being the liaison between the Board and the officials’ Membership.
- Must be an official in good standing for the time of his or her assignment to the position by the Executive board. This personal may also be a coach as long as the officiating requirements are met.
Commissioner, who is a Member in good standing, is responsible for:
- Working cooperatively with coaches and athletic directors to assign officials.
- Recruiting new officials.
- Establishing and maintaining an evaluation system to accurately evaluate and assess each Member’s officiating potential.
- Working in a cooperative manner with fellow officials to assign them wrestling matches and tournaments.
- Shall be on the rankings committee.
Instructional Chairperson (IC), who is an official in good standing, is responsible for:
- Providing classroom and on-Mat training.
- Attending the annual State Rules Interpretations Meeting and making a report to the General Membership.
- Administering written tests that members take and reviewing questions with Members after the tests.
- Conducting training at each meeting.
- Managing and sustaining a mentoring program.
- Ordering rulebooks and training materials.
Member at Large, who is a Member in good standing, is responsible for:
- Responsibilities to be assigned by the Board.
Executive Board
The Board shall govern the REWOCA in accordance with the By-Laws and Policies.
The primary responsibilities of the Board are:
- Establishing annual Membership fees based upon budget recommendations submitted by the President and Commissioner and Treasurer.
- Establishing a training curriculum annually for the REWOCA.
- Implementing a fair and comprehensive evaluation system to rank each official and assess each Member’s potential.
- Representing the general Membership regarding REWOCA policies and procedures.
- Establishing the rules, regulations, procedures, and practices, as required or necessary, to effectively operate the REWOCA.
- Reviewing, offering input about and approving all fee contracts to be negotiated with REWOCA President, Commissioner, and other selected Board Members.
- Serving, as needed, on the REWOCA Grievance Committee.
Section Two – Nomination, Election and Terms Executive Board Members
Election of the Executive Board
Board Members are elected by the general Membership at the spring General Meeting to serve two (2) year terms. Terms begin at the conclusion of the spring General Meeting at which the Board Member is elected. Terms are staggered according to Art IV section four.
One coach form each Member school shall have one vote to be determined by the head coach.
Each official shall have one vote.
Members must be present at the election to vote. No proxies will be allowed.
Replacing Board Members Who Resigns Before Term Expires
Should one or more Board Member(s) resign, the Board may elect one or more interim Board Member(s) by a majority vote at a Board Meeting. The interim Board Member (s) shall serve until the end of that term.
Removing an Executive Board Member
By a three-quarters majority vote, the Board may remove a Board Member for cause.
If the Board Member is so removed, then the Board may appoint an interim Member to serve for the remainder of the term.
Section Three – Vacancies
When any officer or Board Member who misses three (3) consecutive Board and or General Meetings with unexcused absences, his or her position will be considered vacated. If a position is vacated, the Board may adopt a vacancy declaration with a two-thirds majority vote. The Board may then fill the vacant position following the procedures described above.
Section Four – Terms of Office
Elections held at the annual spring meeting will carry a term of two years. Terms shall be staggered so that elections will alternate between four (4) and five (5) seats each year. Each position shall be held for a one (1) year in accordance to Article IV section 1. A member can hold the same board position for multiple years in a row as long as that person is reelected at the end of their term and reassigned to that position by the board in accordance with Article IV section 1.
ARTICLE V
MEETINGS
Section One – Executive Board Meetings
The Board shall meet at least two (2) times each year. Meeting dates are established annually at the Board’s first calendar meeting of the year. At the discretion of the President, additional meetings may be scheduled with a minimum of 48 hour notice to all Board Members.
All votes of the Board shall be carried by at least a majority of the Members present, unless specifically stated otherwise in the by-laws.
Section Two – General Membership Meetings
The General Membership Meetings held annually may include but not be limited to:
- The fall General Meeting that will generally be held the last week of October.
- The Rules Interpretation Meeting will generally be held the first week in November. This is mandatory for all officials and at least one representative for each Member school. There will be a fine for unexcused absences.
- The rules test will generally be held the second week in November.
- An instructional clinic will generally be held the third week in November.
- Monthly on-going educational officials meetings will be held during the season. These meeting are mandatory for officials. There will be a fine for unexcused absences.
- The spring General Meeting that will generally be held in April.
These General Meetings shall occur at such times and places determined by the President. Unscheduled General Meetings shall be announced a minimum of seven (7) days prior to the meeting.
Section Three – Amending the Bylaws
Amendments to the REWOCA’s Bylaws will generally be brought to the Membership as recommendations from the Board. However, any Member may bring a Bylaw amendment to the General Membership for discussion and consideration. All proposed changes must be submitted in writing with sufficient copies available to distribute to the Membership or presented for the Membership’s consideration via the REWOCA website at www.REWOCA.com.
If the amendment is voted on during a General Meeting, its passage requires a two-thirds majority vote of the Members present and eligible to vote.
If the amendment is presented digitally (such as via email or via the association website), the amendment’s passage shall require a two-thirds majority vote of the eligible Members who vote. The secretary and the president or his designee will be responsible for tabulating the vote.
Section Four – Minimum Attendance Requirements for Meetings and Training
A Member’s status within the REWOCA determines the number of meetings the Member must attend to maintain his or her good standing.
All Members must attend the Rules Interpretation Meeting.
Section Five – Canceling Meetings
General Meetings
The President may cancel one or more General Meetings due to inclement weather, national emergency or other reasons deemed appropriate by the President. If so, Members will be notified by email and/or telephone as soon as possible regarding the cancellation. Similarly, Members will be notified by email and/or telephone regarding where and when the next General Meeting will be held.
Section Six – Committees
The President shall appoint a Member of the Board to serve as Committee Chairman as committees are deemed necessary by the Board. Committee Chairmen may or may not form a sub-committee to assist them.
The Committee Chairman of each committee will make a detailed report of the committee’s status at each Board Meeting.
ARTICLE VI
DISSOLUTION
Section One – Dissolution of Organization
To dissolve this organization, a resolution in writing, asking for such dissolution shall be adopted by the Executive Board. The Board shall then call a special meeting of the Members for the purpose of considering and acting upon such resolutions. If at such meeting, Members (representing a majority of the Membership entitled to vote under the provisions of the By-Laws) vote for the dissolution, the Board shall take the necessary steps to terminate the affairs of the organization.
Section Two- Disbursements of Funds and Properties
All funds remaining in the treasury upon the announcement of dissolution shall be dispersed in the following manner and order:
- All outstanding debts shall be settled and accounts closed.
- All open accounts with no outstanding balances with this organization shall be notified of dissolution and their accounts closed.
- A public notice shall be placed with the local papers announcing the dissolution of this organization and call for all claims of debts to be presented within thirty (30) days, this organization shall not be held responsible for any new or past due debts.
Finally, all remaining funds and properties shall be donated to another charitable, non-profit organization by selection of the Board that has an objective similar to the dissolving organization and a Section 501 (c) (3) designation under the Internal Revenue Code.
ARTICLE VII
CODE OF ETHICS
All REWOCA Members must comply with the code of ethics as stated in the NFHS rules book.
ARTICLE VIII
ASSIGNMENTS
The Commissioner has the responsibility to assign officials using the following criteria:
- Association Ranking
- Years with the Association
- Years of Service
- Location of Contest
ARTICLE IX
Ranking Committee and Ranking Guidelines
Section One- Committee
A ranking committee shall be made up of at least three (3) and no more than five (5) members in good standing and will responsible for ranking varsity level officials from first (1st) to at least fifteenth (15th). The committee will have the Commissioner, a minimum of one other Executive Board member, and a minimum one member in good standing from the general membership who has a minimum of 10 years of officiating or coaching service and a minimum of 5 years of service with REWOCA. The committee shall meet prior to the due date for association ranking to the North Coast Section for all post-season tournaments. The Committee chair will be by appointment of the REWOCA president.
Section Two- Ranking Guidelines
The committee shall start the process with a list of all varsity level officials and each member submitting a rankings list of their opinion of all officials on that list to the committee chair. The chair will tally the rankings giving 1 point for each first place ranking 2 points for second 3 points for third and so on until all rankings have a point value. The lowest point total shall be ranked first and each next lowest point total ranking next in line. The committee shall discuss any outlying rankings with each member getting to explain their reasoning. After discussion a second ranking tally will be conducted with each member re-ranking the full list of officials. The lowest point total shall be ranked first and each next lowest ranking next in line. If a tie occurs in the ranking the committee chair shall have the final decision on which official shall be rank ahead.
AMMENDMENTS
Amendment #1 (ratified September 9, 2013):
REWOCA will operate on a fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 31.
Amendment #2 (ratified September 9, 2013):
Compensation for all officers will be determined through a vote by the Executive Board. Each year, before the work of REWOCA as a nonprofit organization begins, any board member may request a review of the board’s compensation structure and initiate a vote to make changes.
Furthermore, the compensation of board members will be openly communicated to the REWOCA Membership. If a member has a concern with the compensation structure, they are encouraged to voice them with their representatives so that the concerns can be addressed and, if deemed necessary, voted upon by the board. All communications and votes regarding board compensation will be documented in the minutes of board meetings.
Board stipends will only be paid at the end of the year after all financial obligations have been met and the board determines that the solvency of the association warrants the payment. See appendix A.
Amendment #3 (ratified March 7, 2016): Title change from TMA to Commissioner, language changes to terms of offices, changes to board position descriptions and the addition of article 9.
APPENDIXppendixes
Appendix A (passed by the board of directors on September 9, 2013):
Job Title Yearly Honorarium
- President
- $100
- Vice President
- $100
- Secretary
- $100
- Treasurer
- $1100
- Assigner
- $1600
- Instructional Chair
- $100
- Coaches' Rep
- $100
- Officials' Rep
- $100
- Member at Large
- $100
- Webmaster (not on EB)
- $300
Board members must attend a minimum of 6 scheduled board meetings. They will be fined $25 for each missed board meeting.