Varsity Crews

 

Beaumont Chapter Football Officials Association
Chapter Business Meeting Minutes
July 15, 2002

The Beaumont Chapter met at 1900 hours in the Jury Impaneling Room of the Jefferson County Courthouse for a scheduled business meeting.

The meeting was opened in prayer and called to order by President Gary Downey.

President Downey welcomed the membership and guests to the beginning of the 2002 football season.

President Downey asked the membership to look around for someone they didn't know and take a moment to introduce themselves. He then asked the membership to introduce any new members that they had just met.

Mr. Downey recognized the college officials in the Beaumont Chapter: B.J. Hicks in the SWAC, Will McDonald in the Southeast Conference, Robert LeBlanc in the SWAC, Mike Defee in the Southland, and Frank LeBlanc in the SWAC. Mr. Downey continued the member recognitions with Mr. Richard Bjerke, named to work Head Linesman in the upcoming Texas All-Stars Game.

President Downey gave the membership a briefing of the topics to be presented at the chapter meetings to be held in the near future.

Mr. Downey continued the President's Report by relating some items from the TASO State Meeting in College Station. 24 members of the Beaumont Chapter attended, including seminar speaker Beau Hicks. Mr. Downey spoke briefly on the TASO leadership situation, but mainly focused on the new TASO website and the TASO interactive database being developed and expected on-line by the end of August. He also noted that the UIL has made several constitutional revisions that affect officials. Among the changes are a scrimmage fee of 100 dollars for a 3-hour scrimmage payable to the chapter, and a games fee revision. The games fee revision incorporates minor changes to the varsity pay scale and institutes a statewide sub-varsity fee schedule for the first time. Finally, Mr. Downey noted that the 2003 State Meeting would be in Austin.

Secretary's Report

Secretary Geoff Kret reviewed the chapter packets prepared for the membership. The packet label shows the standing for the member, his 6-digit TASO ID number, and the crew chief for whom he works, or "ob" for open board. Included in the packet were copies of board minutes from 2002, list of schools the chapter serves, a 2002 NCAA Rules Book for the members in good standing, and a database information update form.
Secretary Kret went over the database information form, explaining what type of data the fields were intended to capture. Members were encouraged to make corrections to the form and return same to the secretary for updating. Mr. Kret informed the membership of the recent dues structure change by TASO regarding state dues and undergoing reinstatement in place of paying late fees.

Business Meeting

Mr. Downey called the meeting into order as a business meeting. The minutes from the last chapter business meeting of November 5, 2001 were read by the Secretary. Following the reading, Sandy Turner moved that the minutes be approved as read, second was by Bob McNeill, and the motion carried on voice vote.

Unfinished Business

  • Regarding a proposal from Bob Wortham and amended by James Roberson to wear the American Flag patch on the football officiating uniform, Mr. Downey responded that TASO has instructed all chapters to wear the American Flag patch on the left sleeve, two inches from the shoulder seam.
  • Regarding a proposal from Ron Cessac to have the Beaumont Chapter Board of Directors meet with District Executive Committees over the numbers and cost of varsity scratches, Mr. Downey stated that this matter was highlighted in a letter to the TASO District 9 Director to submit to the TASO State Board of Directors for consideration.

New Business

  • President Downey displayed on overhead projector and read a proposal for a revision to the Chapter Constitution By-Laws, Article VIII, Registration and Dues. The proposed change revised the state dues to $50, eliminated the monthly late fee, and added a $25 state late/reinstatement fee. Also, the word "local" is to be added to the existing $25 late fine. This was the First Reading of the Article VIII, Registration and Dues, proposal.
  • President Downy displayed on overhead projector and read a proposal for a revision to the Chapter Constitution By-Laws, Article X, Officiating Fees and Travel Allowance. Item (E) was proposed to now state, "The pay scale for all Junior Varsity and Junior High games will be the rate set forth by the UIL." Also, a new Item (F) would be added to state, "The Beaumont Chapter Board of Directors will set fees payable for auxiliary services such as Timer, Chain Crew, 25 Second Clock Operator, and other officiating assignments that may occur." This was the First Reading of the Article X, Officiating Fees and Travel Allowance, proposals.
  • Finally, a third Constitutional amendment proposal was displayed on overhead projector and read by Mr. Downey. This proposal was to the Constitution By-Laws, Article XX, Policies, to revise Item 6(a) to include the words, "At the conclusion of the football season all crews will be deemed to be dissolved for crew member movement purposes. New crew member make-up must be turned in by the Crew Chief to the Secretary by April 1 of the following season to obtain reserved status, and no recruitment of existing crew members can take place after that date." This was the First Reading of the Article XX, Policies Item 6 (a) proposal.

Following the readings, a motion to adjourn the business meeting was made by Tony Hollier, second by Albert Richard, and passed by voice.

The next chapter business meeting will be a regularly scheduled business meeting on Monday, July 22, 2002 at the Jefferson County Courthouse Jury Impaneling Room.

Geoffrey Kret, Secretary
21-July-02