OVFOA BYLAWS

1. The Board shall regulate the various classes of the membership.
2. Then General Membership of the Association shall be divided into Five (5) groups:
   1. Class 1 membership shall include all members who are currently eligible to officiate all levels. Required for O.H.S.A.A. postseason tournaments.
   2. Class 2 membership shall include all members who are eligible to officiate all levels of contest except varsity high school in football.
   3. Class 3 shall include all members restricted to 7-8-9th grade and non-school officiating.
   4. Class 4 shall include all retired and/or inactive memberships; that is, any member in good standing who is no longer engaged in high school officiating but who wishes to maintain membership in the Association. Meaning they are not permitted to officiate contests involving students in grades 10-12.
   5. Class 5 shall include all life members.
      1. A Life Member is any present or former member who is nominated by the Board and elected by a majority vote of the eligible voters present and voting at the annual election.
      2. Any current members of the O.V.F.O.A. in good standing, having obtained (40) forty years of football officiating, shall automatically attain "Life Member" status in the O.V.F.O.A. and is granted full benefits of their new ex-officio position. (Constitution ART: III C & ART: VIII-E)
3. Upon investigation by the Recruiting and Membership Committee, membership may be denied to anyone convicted of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude.
4. Any member of the Association may be expelled, suspended, or otherwise reprimanded for violating the objectives and/or purposes of the constitution and Bylaws of the Ohio Valley Football Officials Association and/or Ohio High School Athletic Association.

1. The application for membership shall be made on the form provided by the Association and accompanied by any applicable dues and/or fees. The dues and/or fees shall not be refunded if the applicant is not accepted by the Board.
2. The application must specify that the applicant agrees to abide by and be bound the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association and the O.H.S.A.A.

1. The Constitution and Policy Committee shall continually monitor and offer updated Constitution and policy changes to the Board and/or the general membership for a vote.
2. The Legal, Ethics, Grievance, and Public Relations Committee shall be responsible for conducting hearings concerning the actions of members who have been charged with violating the Constitution and/or Bylaws of the Association and/or the O.H.S.A.A., or whose conduct reflects unfavorably upon the Association. It shall serve as the hearing body for any charges made against the Association by a member or members. The actions of this committee shall be reported to the Board in writing. This committee will also function as a Board-of-Inquiry for members of our Association who have been involved in mitigating circumstances while carrying out their duties, as described in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association and/or the rules instituted by the O.H.S.A.A. Members may bring to the Committee matters such as: criminal or civil in nature for which the member is seeking advice or council. This committee shall not give legal advice; however, it may assist the member in direction as to acquiring a legal representative for any possible actions taken by either offended party. Shall also be responsible for handling all business of the Association or its members with the general public. The vehicle of communications shall be cleared by the Board.
3. The Recruiting and Membership Committee shall be responsible for the recruiting of new members into the O.H.S.A.A. and/or our Local Association by whatever means needed and approved by the Board.
4. The Program and Education Committee shall be responsible for producing an organized and instructive rules/mechanics instruction period at all Association meetings for the membership according to O.H.S.A.A. rules and regulations.
5. The Budget and Auditing Committee shall be responsible to set up and review the Association’s yearly budget and present for adoption by the Board and auditing the financial records of the Association each year with a written report submitted to the Board for approval.
6. The Nominating Committee + Life Membership/Hall of Fame Committee shall be responsible for nominating qualifying members for the Howard Wirtz Award election and the recommendations of those qualifying members for Life Membership and/or the Hall of Fame to be presented to and voted upon by the membership.
7. The Social and Benevolent Committee shall be responsible for all social affairs of the Association and its members and care for the extending of proper condolences to the family of a disabled or deceased member.
8. The Technology Committee shall be responsible for presenting to the board for approval of any technology needed to support any association meetings or for conducting association business including hardware, software, and any features built into the website.

1. An honorary plaque shall be given to the immediate past President.
2. A plaque shall be awarded to the members of the Association who have been members in good standing for twenty (20) years.
3. A certificate shall be given to the member(s) in good standing of the Association who have been member(s) of the Association for ten (10) years and upon retirement.
4. The Howard Wirtz Award shall be awarded annually to the Association member who best exemplifies the traditions, ethics, dedication to officiating, and to the purposes of the Association. Candidate qualifications require at least 15 years as a Class 1 official and 10 years as a member of the OVFOA.
   1. The Board shall nominate up to a maximum of (3) qualified members to be voted on by the eligible voters at the Annual Business Meeting. If however no qualified candidates are found or presented to the Board then the search will commence the next fiscal year of the association.
   2. A member may receive the award one time only.

NOTE: Howard Wirtz was a life member of our association. He was active in its affairs for more than 50 years; 15 years as Rules Advisor, 3 terms as President and several terms as a Board member. He was an active Class 1 official for 35 years – 19 years as a Big 10 referee and 8 years as Technical Advisor for the Mid American Conference. Howard was chosen as referee for 2 Rose Bowls – 3 Alonzo Stagg Bowls – 3 Grantland Rice Bowls – 7 Blue/Gray games and was a Founding inductee to the Ohio High School Officials Hall of Fame.