At what level of competition did you start officiating?
(Please choose only one.)

Click here to fill
out survey

Is it OK for officials to participate in online social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn?

NASO members said:

33%	Yes, there is nothing wrong with officials using social networking sites, as long as they are careful about who can see the material they post.
26%	Yes, there is nothing wrong with officials using social networking sites. In fact, it’s a great way to connect with other officials and “discuss” officiating.
23%	Yes, there is nothing wrong with officials using social networking sites, as long as the material they post has nothing to do with officiating.
18%	No, officials should stay as far away from Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as they can.

To view previous issues of NASO LockerRoom
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Meeting Your Goals in Meetings

How often have you or a fellow member of your local association missed a meeting or worse, found yourself hunting for excuses to skip? The problem may not be a lack of commitment. It may be your expectations or preparation.

Local associations fall into two general categories: sport-specific associations and multi-sport associations. Regardless of which type yours is, there are steps you can take to assure that what you get out of the meetings matches your needs and helps you reach your goals.

Get there. It’s important to write scheduled association meetings into your planner as soon as the meeting schedule is announced. Treat the date as you would if it were a game: Give it a priority and don’t schedule anything over it. There is one certainty about meetings of any type: You won’t benefit from the information communicated or the program if you aren’t present.

Make an effort to be present at every meeting. Key decisions are made at those meetings that can directly affect your officiating. If you aren’t there to give input, you’ll be under-represented.

Don’t waste time. Sure, fellowship and camaraderie are important, even essential, elements of association membership. But too often, meetings gzqet delayed by chitchat, backslapping and war stories. Remember: Everyone is busy. Meeting nights are another evening away from family, work, maybe even officiating. You owe it to one another to start on time, get down to business and save the socializing for after adjournment. Don’t derail the business of the meeting.

Make meetings count. Associations often create subcommittees to handle the activities involved in running the organization. Volunteer for one. You’ll learn a lot about how things run and show yourself as a potential leader.

If your association is sport-specific, ask yourself: “What do I need out of those meetings?” Too often, meeting coordinators fall into a rut. They do the same things at the same time every meeting. Staleness sets in, followed by apathy. Energize meetings by suggesting the showing of a rules or mechanics video, develop an instructional PowerPoint, or create a Q and A session.

Be prepared to participate fully at meetings. Physical presence alone won’t help you improve skills or increase your schedule. Jot down questions to ask at meetings. Did something unusual happen at a game? Bring it up at the right time at a meeting. Is there a philosophical issue you’ve been wondering about? There are plenty of veterans who’ll be willing to share their advice.

Many associations have increased attendance by bringing an official from a higher level in to speak and offer advice. See if you can track down such an individual and connect him or her with your meeting planner.

Successful meetings don’t always follow the standard “treasurer’s report, old business, new business” format. If you’re looking for something different or something more out of your association’s meetings, make suggestions. Extra effort by members will give everyone new reasons to attend.

The keys to successful association meetings are planning and program. What can you do to give those elements new life?

Written by Dave Sabaini, a freelance writer and official who lives in Terre Haute, Ind. This article originally appeared in the 8/05 issue of Referee.

Share Your Selections With NASO

Have you ever wondered how NASO finds its speakers for the annual Summit? What about Gold Whistle recipients? Maybe you know of someone who would make a great board member, but you don’t know how to nominate that person. NASO is looking for the input of NASO members in a variety of areas. It’s your chance to let your voice be heard.

NASO Summit Speakers. Do you know of a leader in your local group, state association or league who is a great speaker? Maybe it’s someone you’ve heard speak in the past and you can’t wait to hear him or her again — someone who can capture an audience. Tell us about that person. Is there an official in the professional or college ranks you have always wanted to hear from? Share your suggestions for the 2010 Summit.

Gold Whistle Award Candidates. Do you know an official who has made great contributions to the industry? Nominate a deserving official or organization that you know. Consideration is given for: significant contributions to the betterment of officiating; a high degree of integrity and ethics; qualities that are held in high regard by the industry; consistent record of presenting officiating in a positive light; exhibiting a “service above self” attitude; and service to officiating, having a motivating effect on others and/or strong community involvement.

NASO Board Members. Do you know an official or administrator who would be a good candidate for the NASO board of directors? Criteria for evaluating candidates for the NASO board includes: current NASO member status in good standing; attendance at one NASO Summit; 10-plus years of officiating experience; current board has some firsthand knowledge of candidate; background includes some “organizational” experience; background includes some “management” experience; and officiating philosophy is “in tune” with NASO’s philosophy.

To submit your Summit speaker, Gold Whistle candidate or board member suggestions, write to editor@naso.org. In the e-mail, please include the name and title of the individual as well as the reason you feel that person would be a good selection for any of the categories. Also include any contact information if it is available.

Let's Hear Your Best Story ...

You’ve probably been sharing your best officiating stories at any number of postgame crew gatherings for years. Referee magazine wants to publish your favorite war story from the officiating trenches. Type up your story in 800 words or less and e-mail it to lastcall@referee.com. Sure, you might lose the opportunity to tell the story to your buddies, but now you’ll have an even bigger audience. Here’s a story about an umpire watching a fellow umpire he knows on TV working the Little League World Series.

I Know That Guy

By Rick Woelfel

I had the date circled on the calendar — Friday, Aug. 18, at eight o’clock. I turned my TV on to ESPN to watch an opening-day game in the Little League World Series.

Scanning past the coaches and the kids not old enough to shave, I looked for the umpires onscreen. Finally, I caught a glimpse of the man working the dish and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

A stupid grin plastered on my face as I watched Jim Smith, my Little League crew chief, call the first strike of the game.

All of us who work Pennsylvania District 22 Little League games with Jim were watching. Umpiring Little League is fun, we don’t get paid and nobody who works those local games on well-worn ballfields ever expects to be on television with millions of viewers worldwide.

But there was Jim. The corrections officer from Philadelphia, the same guy I’ve worked hundreds of games with, grabbed a cup of coffee with, joked with in the car on the way to a ballgame, that same guy was now a celebrity.

Well, at least a celebrity in our world of umpiring.

I almost felt like I was calling the game along with Jim, like we do dozens of times every season, and seeing what he was seeing. The game went nine innings and when it ended, with Lake Charles winning, 1-0, I felt almost as good as I would have had I worked the game myself. It was a vicarious thrill, to be sure.

The following Tuesday Jim was back behind the plate for a game between a team from Curaco, Netherlands Antilles, and Kawaguchi City, Japan.

In that game, Jim was even more prominently displayed. One of the managers came out to complain that the opposition was stealing signs. Since Jim was wearing a wireless microphone, the television audience could hear the entire conversation between him and the manager.

I was struck by how even-tempered Jim remained through the entire encounter. He seemed not to even notice the television cameras and row of photographers, not to mention the size of the crowd. He handled it like any other Little League game we might work here at home in the Philly area.

On Aug. 28, Kawaguchi City met Columbus, Ga., for the Little League World Series championship. The game had been pushed back a day by rain and I wondered if Jim, who had already taken a lot of time off from his job to work the Series, would be on the field.

When I turned on my TV at the appointed hour the first shot I saw was of the pitcher warming up for the first inning, with Jim in the background standing behind third base, ready to go.

As it turned out, he was faced with the biggest call of his life. In the top of the sixth inning, with Georgia leading, 2-1, a Japanese player hit a shot down the third-base line. On a 60-foot field the ball gets on top of you in a hurry.

Jim leaped high in the air to get out of the way before coming back to earth and signaling a foul ball.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up again and my plastered grin froze for a moment as the broadcasters went to slo-mo for the replay. That’s the other side of officiating celebrity — when you’re on the national or international stage, you’re under a powerful microscope.

The television replay showed the ball was no more than six inches foul and the broadcasters raved about the call.

Great job, Jim. I’m already looking forward to next season!

Rick Woelfel officiates various levels of amateur baseball and has also worked basketball, football and softball. This originally appeared in the 1/07 issue of Referee.

As an active NASO member you should have received a special e-mail entitled "NASO 2009 Member-Get-a-Member."

Each year NASO counts on members like you to help grow membership by encouraging your officiating friends and colleagues to join NASO. Our goal with this Membership Drive is to sign on 1,000 new members this year.

Best of all as an NASO active member – when you help sign up a new member both you and your nominee* will save $10 in membership dues when you get a member to join.

There is no limit – nominate as many officials as you feel would benefit from being an NASO member. The more members you bring in – the more you save. For example, if you brought in five new members, you would receive a $50 membership dues credit. Bring in 10 new members and your next annual NASO membership is FREE.

As soon as your nominees join NASO, you will receive a $10 dues credit for each new member as long as you and your nominee(s) remain active members for the next five years.

Plus each of your new members will also receive a $10 membership dues credit for their new NASO membership.

Don't miss out on this great opportunity to save on your membership dues and help your association grow!

Membership dues credit will be applied on the member's next membership renewal notice.

At any time, if an NASO member or new member (nominee) does not renew membership to NASO the membership rate will revert back to the current annual NASO membership rate for each party.

This special offer is available April 2, 2009-December 31, 2009.

*Nominee cannot be a current NASO member.

**Rate applies to U.S. only.