CONSTITUTION OF THE COLORADO FOOTBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION

Note: The masculine pronoun "he" appearing in some sections of these by-laws is used in generic sense to refer to both male and female participants.

ARTICLE I, NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Colorado Football Officials Association.

ARTICLE II, PURPOSE
Section 1: To foster a high standard of ethics through the encouragement of fair play, good sportsmanship and better understanding among officials, coaches, and the general public.

Section 2: To maintain and improve the standards of officiating within the Colorado Football Officials Association by the maintenance of a membership consisting of capable experienced officials and by the development of promising new officials.

ARTICLE III, OFFICERS
Section 1: The Board of Directors of this Association shall consist of the president, president-elect, immediate past-president, the vice-presidents, and the secretary-treasurer. A representative of the Colorado High School Activities Association shall be an Associate Member of this Association and an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors.

Section 2: The president-elect shall be elected (on even-numbered years) for a term of two years with the understanding that he will succeed; to the office of president for a term of two years and then succeed to the office of immediate past-president for a term of two years. At their pre-season meeting prior to the expiration of the president's term, the Board of Directors shall nominate at least two of their current members for the office of president-elect of the Association. The election shall be by mail ballot extended to all members in good standing at their current registered address. Ballots shall be mailed on or before November 1, and returned postmarked no later than December 1st. The president, the president-elect, and immediate past-president shall take office on January 1st following the election.

Section 3: The vice-presidents shall be elected at a called meeting within each district, and shall serve for a term of two years. The newly elected vice-presidents shall take office at the called post-season meeting of the Board of Directors at the close of that football season. The secretary-treasurer shall be appointed by the Board of Directors and shall be paid a fee for his services.
Section 4: Two offices in the Association may not be held concurrently by any member.

ARTICLE IV, MANAGEMENT
Section 1: The management of this Association shall be vested in the Board of Directors.

Section 2: The Board of Directors shall have a pre-season and a post-season meeting to conduct the business of this Association. Such meetings to concur with the beginning and closing of the football season. Other special meetings may be called at the discretion of the president.

Section 3: The president, with the secretary-treasurer, shall arrange the time and date for all meetings of the Board of Directors. The president shall preside over all meetings of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V, MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Membership shall be classified into active, inactive, associate, honorary and provisional status as hereinafter set forth.

Section 2: Active members carry the privilege of voting in such meetings. They may also hold office in the association and officiate in any games, including playoffs, so assigned, which are sanctioned by the Colorado High School Activities Association. Active members must: 1) pay annual dues; 2) take an annual test (closed book exam) published by the National Federation; 3) attend a minimum of five meetings as prescribed by their district vice-presidents; 4) conform with the requirements indicated in Articles IX and X of the Constitution.
An official who moves to Colorado and is a member in good standing in the football officials' association of another state may transfer his membership and become an active member in this association.

Section 3: Application for active membership in this association shall be accomplished in person by contacting an appropriate district vice-president.
(a) The applicant shall pass a written football rules and mechanics examination given at the beginning of the season. (Passing score to be determined by Vice-Presidents at the fall meeting.)
(b) The fee for taking this examination, which will also include the annual dues, is the same as the annual dues for regular members. The cost of rulebooks for the applicant is not included in the fee.
(c) If the applicant fails to pass the first written examination, he may, at the discretion of the local vice-president, become a provisional member with the opportunity to satisfactorily pass a second test at the end of the season. After the initial test is given, no fees will be refunded. Said examinations, as prescribed by the Board of Directors, shall be given twice during each football season, once at the beginning of the football season, and once at the end of the season. Date shall be established by the Board of Directors.

Section 4: Membership shall begin annually on January 1st, or when an applicant successfully completes the first requirements for membership.

Section 5: Inactive membership may be granted to any previously active member who desires to maintain membership status, but who does not wish to officiate games which are sanctioned by the Colorado High School Activities Association during the period this status of membership is effective. This membership status can only be granted to a person who has been an active member for at least three years immediately preceding his application for such status.

Inactive members:
(a) Shall have privilege of attending all meetings open to members and shall have the privilege of voting;
(b) Shall not be eligible to hold office within the Association;
(c) Are not required to meet attendance or test requirements;
(d) Shall be eligible for honorary membership recognition;
(e) Shall be on the mailing list for announcements.
(f) Annual dues for inactive members shall be one-half that of the active membership dues.

Section 6: Associate memberships in this association carry the privilege of attending all meetings open to members, but do not carry the privilege of voting. Such memberships are extended, but not limited, to the following:
(a) Commissioner and Associate Commissioner of the Colorado High School Activities Association.
(b) Executive secretaries of any high school or organized recreation leagues requesting member officials.

Section 7: Honorary memberships in this Association carry the privilege of attending all meetings, but do not carry the privilege of voting. Such memberships may be extended to any person in any field of endeavor who has made outstanding contributions to football in this region. Active members of this Association desiring to recommend persons for honorary membership should submit such names with accomplishments of the person in writing to the secretary-treasurer for consideration of the Board of Directors.

Section 8: Provisional membership may be granted at the discretion of the vice presidents of the district in which they seek membership, (to individuals who have not achieved a passing score on the current football examination) and shall be qualified to officiate subject to the following restrictions:
(a) Provisional members shall not have voting privileges in the Association.
(b) Provisional members shall not be eligible to officiate any playoff games in Colorado.
(c) Provisional membership ends at the conclusion of the football season.

Section 9: Trainee Membership may be granted at the discretion of the vice-presidents of the district in which they seek membership, upon written request of the individual requesting trainee membership, and shall be eligible for membership in the Association, subject to the following restrictions:
(a) Request for trainee membership shall be made prior to payment of annual dues and examination.
(b) Annual dues for trainee members shall be one-half that of the active member dues.
(c) Shall be required to meet attendance and test requirements.
(d) Trainee members shall not have voting privileges in the Association.
(e) Trainee members shall not be eligible to officiate any varsity or playoff games in Colorado.
(f) Trainee members shall not retain this membership status more than two (2) consecutive years.
(g) Trainee members who have achieved a passing score on the football rules examination (Part I or Part II) may apply for active membership for the following year, providing he meets all other requirements for membership renewal.

ARTICLE VI, DUES
Section 1: The annual dues of this Association shall be established annually at the pre-season meeting of the Board of Directors and shall cover the year beginning the following January 1st. Dues notices for the coming football season shall be mailed by the secretary-treasurer on or before November 1st and returned post-marked not later than December 1st.

Section 2: Payment of the annual dues includes benefits associated with registration with the Colorado High School Activities Association and the Colorado Football Officials Association. The Board of Directors shall be empowered to levy any special assessments needed to conduct the business of the Association.

ARTICLE VII, DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1: President: The President shall:

(a) Preside at all meetings of this Association and the Board of Directors.
(b) Under the direction of the Board of Directors conduct all negotiations on behalf of this Association and make every reasonable effort to further the policies adopted by this association.
(c) At his discretion, appoint committees to conduct association business.

Section 2: President-Elect: The President-Elect shall:
(a) Serve as a member of the Board of Directors.
(b) In case of absence or disqualification of the president, immediately assume the responsibilities and duties of the president.
(c) When the president has served his term of office, or if he
should be unable to complete his term, the president-elect shall assume the office of president for the remainder of that term, and then assume and continue as president for his normal term of that office.
(d) Should the office of the president-elect become vacant, it shall remain so until it can be filled by the next annual mail ballot following the creation of the vacancy.

Section 3: Immediate Past-President: The Immediate Past-President shall:
(a) Serve as a member of the Board of Directors and serve as an advisor to the president, president-elect, and secretary-treasurer.
(b) Should the office of the immediate past-president become vacant for any reason it shall remain so until it can be filled by the normal succession of the president to the office.

Section 4: Vice-Presidents: The Vice-Presidents shall:
(a) Serve this Association as members of the Board of Directors and assist in performing the business of the Association as prescribed in the Constitution.
(b) In case of the absence or inability of both the president and president-elect to act, the Board of Directors shall appoint one of their members to fulfill the duties of the president during his absence.
(c) Establish the time and place for a meeting for the election to the district vice-presidents and for all seasonal district and local meetings and study sessions and be responsible to notify their membership in advance of such meetings.
(d) Make appointments and establish such local committees as are necessary to best further the interests of this association within their district.
(e) Provide a program and an order of business for all district meetings of this Association.
(f) Keep the minutes of all district meetings and surrender these minutes to his successor in good condition.
(g) Make a record of the membership attendance at all district meetings and forward names of those members who have not met the minimum membership standards to the secretary-treasurer of the Colorado Football Officials Association.
(h) Perform such other duties within the district as are requested of him by the district organization at regular meetings, such duties not to conflict in any way with duties assigned to other officers as described in this Constitution.
(i) Shall inform and encourage prompt payment of dues. This avoids late fees, absence of rulebooks prior to clinics, and absence of names to be printed in the Association's Football Directory.

Section 5: Secretary-Treasurer: The Secretary-Treasurer shall:
(a) Keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors.
(b) Keep the minutes of all special-called meetings of the association.
(c) Send out all notices, ballots, and bills. Dues notices for the coming football season shall be mailed on or before November 1st and dues payment to be returned to his office postmarked no later than December 1st.
(d) Keep all records, collect dues, pay all bills authorized by the Board of Directors, and have charge of all funds and place such funds in the name of this Association in the depository approved by the Board of Directors.
(e) Submit all books and records for audit by an outside
professional accounting agency approved by the of Board Directors.
(f) Be responsible for submitting necessary tax report forms.
(g) Shall assist the president with arranging the time and date for all meetings of the Board of Directors and notify the directors by mail of such meetings.

Section 6: Each officer of the Association shall fulfill the duties of his office as described above (Article VII). In the event that an officer does not fulfill his duties, or is not able to fulfill his duties, he may be removed from office by a 2/3 majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Removal from office does not effect the official's membership in the association.

ARTICLE VIII, DISTRICT ORGANIZATION
Section 1: For the purposes of organization, the state shall be divided into seven (approved) districts, as follows:
(1) Metro Denver
(2) Central Colorado
(3) South and Southeastern
(4) North and Northeastern
(5) Southwestern and San Luis Valley
(6) West and West Central
(7) Northwestern and Yampa Valley

Section 2: District(s) 1 and 4 shall have four vice presidents. District 2 shall have three vice-presidents. District(s) 3, 5, 6, and 7 shall have two vice-presidents each.
The Board of Directors are empowered to restructure districts. The Board may act to change representation of a district in odd-numbered years. Any area may submit to the Board a proposal to restructure, accompanied by the newly specified vice-president. A nomination to restructure requires a two-thirds majority vote of members present at the post-season meeting. If adopted the vice-president from the respective area shall take office immediately.

Section 3: The district is expected to organize for its best functional use and is empowered for such organization within the limits of this Constitution.

Section 4: A minimum of five meetings shall be called within each district. All officials must attend a minimum of five meetings. Each district may set up its own attendance requirements which may exceed the minimum requirements set by the state board of directors. Failure to attend the minimum number of required meetings as established in the district automatically eliminates an official from membership at the end of that year, unless the member is excused from requirements by the district vice-president because of extenuating circumstances which prohibited member from meeting all requirements. He may be eligible for membership for the following year only by approval of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IX, ETHICS
Section 1: It is the duty of each member of this organization to maintain conduct so that the general public, the participants, the coaches, the commissioners of the various leagues and the member schools of the Colorado High School Activities Association shall have absolute confidence in the integrity of this organization.

Section 2: Each member of this organization must pledge himself to comply with the code of ethics set forth and published each year by the National Federation of High School Associations.
Section 3: Not withstanding matters heretofore stated, each member of this organization further pledges that:
(a) Members shall not indulge in the use of alcoholic beverages or illegal chemical drugs on the day of his participation as an official in any game or event which this association is a sponsor or a participant. This prohibition shall continue during said day until the game or event is over and the member is no longer identified as a representative of this association.
(b) That officials shall be prohibited from using tobacco and tobacco products on and in the vicinity of the playing field.
(c) Members shall not solicit from, nor pay a fee to any individual or organization for the purpose of receiving a game assignment.

Section 4: Each member of this association must pledge full support of this Constitution, and is thereby charged with the responsibility of reporting any violation of these ethical policies, in writing and signed, to the vice-presidents of his district within one week after such violation comes to the attention of the reporting member.

Section 5: Each vice-president, upon the receipt of any such
written report must investigate the alleged charge together with the other vice-presidents of his district. If the said vice-presidents find the said violation did, in truth and in fact occur, they may, at their discretion, assess any penalty they deem proper which could include striking the name of the official from the rolls of this association.

Section 6: Any official whose name is so stricken from the rolls of this association may at his discretion have the said finding reviewed by the entire Board of Directors, at the Board's next scheduled meeting. The said board shall have the power to affirm or set aside the said finding.

Section 7: Any member of this association whose name shall be so stricken from the rolls may be re-admitted to membership only with the approval of the Board of Directors and the satisfactory completion of Article V, Section 3 of this Constitution.

Section 8: CHSAA game officials are expected to abide by the code of ethics for their respective associations, including proper, accepted social conduct. Violations of this by-law will be investigated and, if substantiated, the official may be suspended from the officials association and CHSAA contests for a specific period.
Any official who has been suspended or expelled may appeal the action by an appearance before the CHSAA Executive Committee. The decision of the CHSAA Executive Committee shall be final.
This by-law allows the Association and officials’ organizations to discipline officials who have been arrested or convicted of crimes. It allows the Association and officials’ organizations to remove the offending official for conduct detrimental to interscholastic athletics and activities. All officials’ organizations are required to place this by-law in their organization’s constitution.

At the January 21, 1999, Board of Control meeting the board voted 54-0 to adopt Proposal S-1- Officials’ Conduct. Athletic By-laws, Article 27, Rule 2760 to read:

OFFICIALS’ CONDUCT
Any official who has been registered by his/her parent officials' group may be suspended and/or banned from the CHSAA registered list of officials for a specified amount of time (including a lifetime ban) by action of the officials’ organizations’ governing board, when:
1) It has been shown that the official is guilty of unethical conduct; or
2) The official refuses to promptly file reports requested by the Commissioner's office and such reports are deemed pertinent to the conduct of coach, contestant, official or school competing under the jurisdiction of the CHSAA; or
3) If the official, as an adult, has been convicted of or has pleaded "guilty" or "no contest" to any criminal charge due to conduct that adversely affects the ability or appropriateness of the official to perform officiating duties in interscholastic athletics or activities; or
4) If the official has engaged in any illegal, unethical, or immoral conduct that adversely affects the ability or appropriateness of the official to perform officiating duties in interscholastic athletics or activities; or
5) It is deemed that the official's conduct is detrimental to interscholastic athletics and activities.

ARTICLE X, UNIFORM AND APPEARANCE
The official uniform of this association shall be that uniform prescribed by the Colorado Football Officials Association. Individual personal appearance while identified as a representative of this association shall be determined periodically by the Board of Directors.

STANDARD OFFICIALS UNIFORM
Cap: Black baseball type with white piping at seams. White cap mandatory for referee.
Shirt: Black and white striped knit with long sleeves, stripes to be approximately one inch in width. Short sleeved knit shirts may be worn by mutual agreement of group.
Pants: White Duck Knickers, with black belt.
Socks: Socks with Northwestern stripe. (Black & White in place of black.)
Shoes: Black leather with black laces, low cuts or high top, football type. Cleats or rubber type non-slip shoes. Canvas or tennis-type upper not allowed.
Penalty
Flag: The flag shall be bright yellow only, 15 inches square with a weight attached.

ARTICLE XI, AMENDMENTS
Section 1: This Constitution may be amended by a 2/3 majority vote of the members in good standing who vote. Such voting may be by mail, at the time of the voting for President. Amendments may be proposed by a Vice-President, either by a majority vote of the members of any district, or by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. All amendments must reach the office of the secretary-treasurer at least 60 days prior to any of the business meetings.
COLORADO FOOTBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

TYPES OF HONORARY MEMBERSHIP:
I HONORARY MEMBERSHIP - Retired Officials
II HONORARY MEMBERSHIP - Contributors to Officiating

CRITERIA FOR I
A. Nominee must have not less than fifteen years as a dues paying member of the Colorado Football Officials Association and must be totally retired for two years.
B. Nominee must be recommended by his local chapter - this recommendation to be reviewed by the President's Committee for Honorary Membership. After due verification of facts by this committee, an action approving the honorary member shall be completed by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
C. Nominee must have served in various levels of work during his officiating career.
Officials should have performed in some way, but not necessarily in all:
1. A representative schedule of regular season games.
2. State football playoff games.
3. Service as an officer at the local, state or national level as a football officials' board member.

CRITERIA FOR II
A. Nominee must have made significant contributions as:
1. A publicity media or other person who has demonstrated a positive attitude towards game officials and the contributions of officiating in competition.
2. A league representative or director, who is responsible for the administration of football programs/leagues, and who is responsible for hiring only officials who are certified with the Colorado Football Officials Association.

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
J.J. Klikus, President, Colorado Springs; John Lothrop, Past-President, Longmont: Eugene Anderson, Golden; Adolph Bakun, Colorado Springs; Sam Corsentino, Pueblo; Don McClure, Eaton; Ross Estes, Green Mountain Falls; Newell Hall, Pueblo; Mike Kronkright, Grand Junction; Robert Plank, Sterling; Dean Reimer, Ft. Collins.