ARTICLE 1 -- NAME AND HEADQUARTERS
A. The name of this association shall be the Greater Lansing Area Soccer Referees Association, hereinafter referred to as GLASRA.
B. The headquarters shall be in the home of the current President, who shall reside in the greater Lansing area.
ARTICLE 2 -- OBJECT AND AFFILIATION
A. It shall be the primary object of this association to train and grade referees in "The Laws Of The Game" as promulgated by the Federation Internationale de Football, hereinafter referred to as FIFA; to vigorously assist and encourage referees in their efforts to upgrade within the United States Soccer Federation, hereinafter referred to as the USSF; to provide referees and assistant referees for soccer games assigned by GLASRA under the jurisdiction of the USSF and the Michigan Soccer Association, hereinafter referred to as the MSA, and to the Michigan High School Athletic Association, herein referred to as MSHAA; and to offer clinics and educational materials appropriate to the rules of play of particular schools and leagues.
B. GLASRA shall be a self-governing body affiliated with the MSA and MSHAA.
ARTICLE 3 -- MEMBERS AND DUES
Section 1 - Organization
GLASRA shall be composed of two categories of members: Active and Honorary
Section 2 - Eligibility
A. The association shall be composed of individuals who meet the qualifications listed in this section.
B. Requirements for specific categories of membership are as follows:
1. Active membership shall require current registration or certification by the USSF or Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA).
2. Honorary membership may be bestowed to those persons who have distinguished themselves in the interest of soccer. Such membership status shall be bestowed by a majority vote of the Executive Board. Such members shall not have the right to vote or hold office, nor the obligation to pay annual dues.
Section 3 - Dues and Fees
A. Annual registration and certification fees to organizations such as the USSF and MHSAA are set by those bodies.
B. GLASRA dues and game assignment fees may vary from year to year, and shall be approved by the Executive Board and presented to the membership at each Annual General Meeting.
C. Dues shall be collected from USSF grade 7 and 8 referees at GLASRA’s annual recertification clinics. Other members, including those registered only with MHSAA and USSF State, and National referees, shall be billed dues directly.
D. All GLASRA membership dues and fees shall be paid in full to the Treasurer before receiving any game assignments.
Section 4 - Termination of Membership
A. Membership shall be terminated through either a written resignation or by expulsion by the Executive Board when a member fails to comply with the Constitution and By-Laws of GLASRA.
ARTICLE 4 -- MEETINGS AND CLINICS
A. The Annual General Meeting shall be held in December, January, or February following the fall season. The main purpose of the Annual General Meeting shall be the election of officers. Only those members who have paid their dues and fines for the previous year shall be eligible to vote or run for office.
B. The Executive Board shall call General Meetings as it deems appropriate. Training clinics other than those required for recertification shall be scheduled at the discretion of the Executive Board. Instructors for training clinics shall be selected by the Executive Board and may include either GLASRA members or non-members.
ARTICLE 5 -- ELECTIONS, OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
Section 1 - Officers
There shall be a total of seven officers elected on staggered terms at annual general meeting: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and three Members at Large. In addition, a High School scheduler and USSF scheduler shall be appointed by the seven officers. These nine persons shall be Active members of the association in good standing. These nine persons shall constitute the Executive Board, and each shall have equal voting authority on all matters requiring Executive Board approval.
A. The executive board has the authority to adopt policies and procedures that it feels are in the best interest of its members.
B. The term of office for all seven Executive Board members shall be two years.
C. The positions of President, Secretary, High School Scheduler, and two Members at Large shall commence upon their election on the date of the Annual General Meeting of odd years. The positions of Vice President, Treasurer, one Member at Large, and USSF Scheduler shall commence on upon their election on the date of the Annual General Meeting of even years.
D. If an Executive Board member resigns prior to the completion of their term, the Executive Board shall appoint a replacement to fulfill the member's term.
Section 2 - Duties Of Officers
A. The President shall:
1. Serve as Chairperson of all general, Executive Board and Committee Meetings.
2. Serve as Chief Delegate to the leagues and the representative to the MSA and MSHAA.
3. Initiate the investigation in disciplinary and ethical matters.
4. Be responsible for the administration of GLASRA.
5. Appoint committees for a particular purpose agreed upon by the Executive Board.
6. Appoint the Nominating Committee.
a. The nominating committee shall consist of three members: one member of the Executive Board who is not eligible for reelection and two GLASRA members not on the Executive Board appointed by the President.
B. The Vice President shall:
1. Assume all duties of the President in her/his absence.
2. Shall serve as the Alternate Delegate to any disciplinary board of the leagues if the league requests GLASRA representation.
3. Maintain a current listing of league contact persons and provide such information to the Secretary, Treasurer and assignors prior to each spring and fall season.
4. Resolve special membership and referee eligibility questions in consultation with the President. This information shall be shared with the appropriate assigner.
5. Administer the GLASRA mentoring program for new referees.
C. The Secretary shall:
1. Maintain the minutes of all GLASRA and GLASRA Executive Board meetings and make copies available to members upon request.
2. Notify, in writing, all suspended persons.
3. Notify the membership of all General Meetings or clinics.
4. Maintain an up-to-date copy of the GLASRA constitution and by-laws.
5. Apprise the Executive Board of all correspondence and communications received that relate to the interests of GLASRA.
6. Compile and maintain current general membership list
D. The Treasurer shall:
1. Provide a report to the Executive Board at the beginning of each year on the status of member payment of recertification fees and GLASRA membership dues.
2. Maintain the financial records of GLASRA and make disbursements through GLASRA's checking account.
3. Provide an accounting of GLASRA’s financial status and present a report at each Annual General Meeting.
4. The treasurer shall be responsible to verify current certification for and payment of appropriate dues by any non-GLASRA referee requesting assignments within the GLASRA jurisdiction. When the above is in order, the secretary shall notify the GLASRA assignors to inform them that the candidate is a GLASRA member in good standing and eligible to be assigned GLASRA affiliated games.
5. Shall bill USSF leagues for GLASRA scheduling fees.
E. The Members-At-Large shall:
1. Upon the decision of the executive board, one of the Members-at-Large shall assume all duties of the President if the office of Vice President is vacant; and the duties of the Vice President if that office is vacant.
2. Serve as the Chief Delegate to any disciplinary board of the leagues if the league requests GLASRA representation.
3. Serve as the alternate delegate to the leagues and the MSHAA.
4. Assume responsibility for recruiting, maintaining, and assigning volunteers to assist GLASRA functions as needed.
5. Investigate written or significant verbal complaints and inform the president about such situations.
F. The assignors shall:
1. Maintain a current GLASRA membership (active and inactive) and game assignment database specific for either USSF or MHSAA matches.
2. Send availability forms to each active member prior to the start of each season.
3. Shall assign referees to games and notify individuals of those assignments.
4. The high school assigner shall bill high schools directly for scheduling fees.
ARTICLE 6 -- RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MEMBERS
GLASRA referees shall
A. Be familiar with and uphold the appropriate rules of play for games assigned.
B. Remain in good standing with respect to all dues and fees owed GLASRA as outlined in Article 3.
C. Behave in a professional manner at all times, on or off the field. Referees shall uphold the highest ethical standards in their relationships with coaches, players and other referees.
D. GLASRA expects that its members shall take their responsibilities seriously out of respect for the players and the leagues that we serve. The following behaviors are unacceptable and may subject a member to disciplinary action, especially upon repetition:
Honor all assignments.
Shall notify the appropriate assigner as soon as they know an assignment cannot be honored
F. Shall arrive at the field of play at least 20 minutes prior to kick-off time in order to inspect all field markings and conduct all necessary pre-game conferences and procedures.
G. Be permitted to be members of other referee associations and to accept assignments from those associations or from schools, teams or organizations not served by GLASRA.
I. Shall bring to the attention of the Executive Board issues of concern related to professional conduct by other referees.
J. Wear an official uniform that meets the current requirements of the USSF or MHSAA, and carry the appropriate alternate jerseys to games. Officials shall also display the current and appropriate badge on the jersey
K. Submit USSF game reports to the leagues in a timely fashion after each game..
Submit game reports to the MHSAA in accordance with policies adopted by the MHSAA.
L. Shall serve as an independent contractor, and therefore, assume sole responsibility for the payment of any government taxes that may be due.
ARTICLE 7 -- DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
A. Upon recommendation of the Executive Board, the President shall appoint a three-member Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee shall consist of the Member-at-Large and two individuals from the general membership. The Disciplinary Committee shall discretely investigate the allegation(s) against the affected GLASRA member, and shall submit to the Executive Board their findings and recommendations.
B. The Executive Board shall review the findings and recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee. If, in the opinion of the Executive Board, disciplinary action is warranted, the Board shall request a closed meeting with the affected GLASRA member. After this meeting, the Executive Board may vote to impose a disciplinary action.
C Disciplinary actions may include verbal counseling, written reprimand, loss of game assignments, suspension, or expulsion. The Disciplinary Board shall impose a disciplinary action appropriate for the severity of the violation.
D. The Executive Board may impose disciplinary actions against a member in addition to any imposed by another governing body.
E. The disciplined member may appeal the decision of the Executive Board to the Michigan State Referee Administrator.
F. Details of disciplinary action imposed by the Executive Board shall be forwarded by the GLASRA Secretary to the Michigan State Referee Administrator.
ARTICLE 8 -- JURISDICTION OF GLASRA
A. The jurisdiction of GLASRA shall include all games through senior amateur soccer league games played in the greater Lansing metropolitan area.
B. The Executive Board is vested with the exclusive authority to decide whether a school, team or league falls within the jurisdiction of GLASRA.
ARTICLE 9 -- METHOD OF AMENDING CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
A. The Constitution and By-laws shall be altered only at the Annual General Meeting or a specially convened meeting called for that purpose. Any such meeting shall be publicized to the membership in writing and via electronic media at least 30 days in advance. A 2/3 majority of all voting members present at the meeting shall be required to change or amend the Constitution and By-Laws.
B. The Constitution and By-laws shall be reviewed at least every two years.
Amended and approved – 1/29/05