National Association of Sports Officials-Organizations Network launched January 1

(RACINE, Wis.) — The Local Officials Administration Network (LOAN) has officially become the National Association of Sports Officials-Organizations Network (NASO-ON) effective Jan. 1, 2004.

"This is really the culmination of our plan to expand NASO’s officials association program," said NASO President Barry Mano. "LOAN has been a wonderful vehicle for associations to share ideas and network with folks facing the same issues. NASO-ON takes the LOAN concept even further by reaching out to more local associations as well as other groups that have officiating management responsibilities."

NASO-ON exists to help the leaders of organizations accomplish their everyday tasks of managing their officiating programs. The NASO-ON concept evolved from conversations among members of National Association of Sports Officials (NASO). As leaders in their local organizations, they realized the organizations shared similar problems — meeting management, legal liability, officials training, recruiting and retention are just a few. NASO-ON — then known as the Local Officials Administration Network (LOAN) — became operational in 1990, designed to help member organizations share proven solutions to the operational problems of association management.

NASO-ON members will see immediate changes with the launch of the NASO-ON web site (www.naso-on.org), which will be the cornerstone of a growing stable of benefits in the NASO-ON program. Planned features include association links, meeting ideas and materials, association leadership tips, electronic meeting materials, sample documents, and other materials specifically dealing with officials’ association management.

Other changes include a new monthly newsletter, ONBoard, which will replace NewsNet, and ONLine, a monthly e-bulletin sent to all associations that provide an e-mail address.

"The goal of ONLine," said NASO-ON coordinator Jim Neeb, "is to provide a vehicle that allows us to be in touch with our members and prospective members on a regular basis."

ONLine will feature links to sample articles and updates on NASO-ON programs and activities. "Our plan is to show non-members that they really need to be a part of this growing group of officials’ associations in order to stay up to date on the latest developments and techniques in managing officials’ associations," Neeb added.

Officials’ associations are encouraged to add their groups to the ONLine e-mailing list. To register, have a member of the association’s board send his/her e-mail address to naso-on@naso.org. Be sure both the name of the association and the association contact person are included when the e-mail address is sent.

NASO-ON is a service affiliate of NASO. Just as NASO is an educational association with the goal of improving individual sports officials, NASO-ON is a networking conduit with the means to effectively provide educational resources and management tools to leaders of officiating organizations. NASO-ON is managed by Referee Enterprises, Inc. (REI). REI publishes Referee magazine, is the home of Referee Books, and also provides management services for the National Association of Sports Officials and the Officiating Development Alliance (ODA).