LHSOA Softball Committee Bylaws
BYLAWS OF THE SOFTBALL UMPIRES COMMITTEE OF THE LOUISIANA HIGH SCHOOL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE 1 – NAME
This organization shall be known as “Softball Officials Committee of the Louisiana High School Officials Association.” (“Softball Committee”).
ARTICLE 2 – AUTHORITY
This organization is created by authority of the Louisiana High School Officials Association (“LHSOA”). The organization will abide by and follow the rules of the LHSOA.
ARTICLE 3 – PURPOSE
The purposes of the Softball Committee are to improve the quality of high school softball umpiring in Louisiana through the following efforts:
- To increase participation in softball umpiring and to assist statewide projects in recruitment and retention of softball umpires.
- To serve as a single voice for local softball umpire associations for promotion of their rights and welfare.
- To provide structure and consistency for improvement by all softball umpires.
- To promote the rules knowledge and mechanics, as well as closer cooperation among umpires, coaches, players and administrators through a high standard of ethics, fair play and sportsmanship.
- To serve as a representative group of softball officials in which ideas of general interest may be discussed and to which they may be referred for the friendly exchange of information resulting in better relationships.
- To promote fair play, understanding and respect among officials, players, coaches, administrators and the LHSAA.
- To provide structure and promote consistency among all local softball umpires associations.
- To make recommendations to the LHSAA Director of Officials regarding softball rules and officiating policies, philosophies, and mechanics.
- Fostering a high standard of ethics, close cooperation, and better understanding among Umpires, Athletic Directors, Principals, coaches, players and the media.
ARTICLE 4 – MEMBERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE
Section 1 – Overall Composition of the Softball Committee. The Softball Committee shall be comprised of designated members from local Softball umpire associations, as recognized by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (“LHSAA”), representatives from the LHSOA Executive Committee, and a representative from the LHSAA, as further set forth in this Article. The Softball Committee shall have a Chairman and Secretary, but the Committee shall have no other officers.
Section 2 – Local Association Representation on the Committee. The President of each local softball umpires association recognized by the LHSAA, or such President’s designee, shall be a member of the Committee.
Section 3 – LHSOA Representation on the Committee. The Softball Committee shall identify and recommend three softball representatives to the LHSOA Executive Committee. Consistent with the LHSOA Constitution, these representatives will be geographically diverse and will serve terms as outlined in that Constitution. All representatives are subject to ratification of the LHSOA Executive Committee.
Section 4 – LHSAA Representation on the Committee. The LHSAA Director of Officials shall serve as a member of the Softball Committee and may take part in any discussion, may introduce motions and resolutions, but shall have no vote on any matter.
Section 5 – Chairman of the Committee. One of the LHSOA Representatives, as chosen by the LHSOA President, shall preside as Chairman of the Softball Committee.
Section 6 – Duties of the Chairman. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Softball Committee. The Chairman shall take care to execute all orders and resolutions of the Softball Committee and shall perform all duties incident to his office as well as those that may be required by the Softball Committee. He shall call special meetings of the Softball Committee as needed. He shall provide for the appointment of standing committees and appoint special committees as needed.
Section 7 – Secretary of the Committee. One of the LHSOA Representatives, as chosen by the LHSOA President, shall preside as Secretary of the Softball Committee.
Section 8 – Duties of the Secretary. The Secretary shall issue notice of all meetings of the Softball Committee. He shall record and maintain minutes of meetings, maintain custody of all legal documents including the LHSOA Constitution Softball Committee bylaws, as well as the LHSOA membership roster for all softball officials. He shall serve as custodian of records for The Softball Committee. He shall communicate with local softball umpire associations and shall obtain the names of those persons who shall serve as members of the Softball Committee. He shall perform such other duties incident to the office or which may be required by the Softball Committee or its Chairman. He shall, in consultation with the LHSOA Treasurer, inform the Softball Committee of any financial matters relating to the Softball Committee.
Section 9 – Terms of Office. The LHSOA representatives on the Softball Committee shall serve terms consistent with the LHSOA Constitution. The Softball Committee shall have ownership over the selection, and qualifications of its LHSOA representatives, subject to LHSOA Executive Committee ratification. It shall accept, upon satisfactory documentation, the appointment to the Committee of the local softball association president, or the president’s designee.
Section 10 – Meetings. The Softball Committee shall conduct business at no less than two regular meetings during the year, and shall also hold special meetings as necessary. Except as otherwise noted herein, all meetings shall be conducted according to the most recent version of Robert’s Rules of Order. A majority of the voting members of the Softball Committee shall constitute a quorum to do business.
ARTICLE V –RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENT
Section 1 – Ratification. These Bylaws shall become effective upon approval by a majority vote of the LHSOA Executive Committee.
Section 2 – Amendments. Following ratification, these Bylaws may be amended at any time upon approval by two-thirds of the Softball Committee members present and voting, so long as it is also approved by a true majority of the total number of eligible voting members. No proposed amendment shall take effect unless it shall have first been submitted to the Secretary and thereafter sent to all members of the Committee. In any event, once approved by the Softball Committee, amended bylaws are subject to ratification by the LHSOA Executive Committee.