Austin Chapter Volleyball (ACV) Newsletter 2018
Issue 13
November 12, 2018
All ByLaw Proposals Passed
Thank you to all officials who took time to vote on the proposed ByLaw changes. The online voting went smoothly, with 68 members choosing to vote online. Members who did not vote online had the option of voting at the year-end meeting. All of the proposals passed; therefore, the new version of the ByLaws will become effective on Saturday, December 1, 2018. Please visit the ACV website to see the comparison from the current ByLaws. Thank you to Philip Franco for serving as the Nomination Chairperson.
Changes to ACV Board Members
Congratulations to Christle Miersma, Stacey Myers, and Tyler Latham for accepting new positions on the board. Janiece Nelson was reelected as the Assigning Secretary. The board now consists of the following: President: Kevin Carlyle; Vice-President: Christle Miersma; Recording Secretary: Stacey Myers; Treasurer: Bonnie Caddell; Assigning Secretary: Janiece Nelson; At-Large Representative #1: Teresa Fierro; At-Large Representative #2: Tyler Latham. The At-Large Representative #3 that was previously held by Christle Miersma is currently vacant. The President can make a temporary appointment until an election can be held at a regular or called meeting. If you are interested in being appointed to fulfill the vacant ALR position, please contact Kevin Carlyle at kscarlyle@gmail.com. Thank you to Chez Slayton, David Plaisance, and Roni Downey for their time on being on the board.
ACV Application for 2019 Season
The due date for renewal of returning members is Saturday, December 1. The application is now available on the website for your convenience in two formats: pdf and fillable. Please contact Bonnie Caddell regarding payment options.
Door Prize Winners at Year-End Meeting
Congratulations to the following door prize winners: $25 Attendance Drawing – Tim Craft; $35 Attendance Drawing – Denise Hall; $40 Special Recognition Drawing – Mike O’Brien; $40 All Officials Drawing – Matthew Meserve: $60 All Officials Grand Prize Drawing – Larry Smith. Thank you also to Bonnie Caddell, Roni Downey, and Linda Johnson for bringing some nice desserts for all to enjoy and to Tyler Latham for setting up the meeting room.
ACV Trainers and Mentors
ACV would like to recognize those individuals who took time to serve as trainers and mentors. The training team consisted of Shari Brubaker, Bonnie Caddell, Kevin Carlyle, Kristin Cooper, Tim Craft, Thomas Craig, Roni Downey, Teresa Fierro, Philip Franco, Patrick Kinast, Harvey Madrigal, James Mahlen, Bev Michelson, Christle Miersma, Janine Patton, Craig Smith, Rhiannon Stracener, and Marilyn Wahl. The following mentoring team members were assigned to help the new offiicials: Bob Block, Bonnie Caddell, Kristen Cooper, Roni Downey, Daniel Field, Philip Franco, Andy Grantham, Cody Holder, Kammie Holmes, Patrick Kinast, Alan Laughlin, James Mahlen, Bev Michelson, Christle Miersma, Janine Patton, Rhiannon Stracener, and Jen Warner. Thank you to all these officials for their generous donation of time and talent. If you are interested in being a mentor for the 2019 season, please contact Christle Miersma.
More Kudos to Volunteers at San Marcos Middle School Tournament on Saturday, October 6
Andy Grantham, Harold Morgan, and Stacey Myers also volunteered their time at the San Marcos Middle School tournament benefitting breast cancer awareness. This allowed proceeds earned to be used towards a great cause.
Remarks from Coaches
ACV received two emails from area coaches expressing their appreciation of ACV officials.
From Coach Diane Watson, Round Rock High School: With Round Rock being out of playoffs, just wanted to take a minute and thank you for making the process of scheduling playoff officials with ease. Also, please pass along to all your officials that I am proud of our Association and how they handle themselves during the increased pressure and competitiveness of playoffs. It is my experience and opinion of course, that we have the best people involved with our sport and association, representing our region. They are professional, well trained, and maybe the most important component, comfortable in there "Referee Skin". Thanks for the dedication and hard work! We would not have the opportunity to compete at a high level without you guys.
From Assistant Athletic Director Bob Gerhardt, New Braunfels Christian Academy: Thanks! We are now in TAPPS hands. The semifinals and finals are in West and TAPPS gets the officials for those. Thank you so much for all your help this year. Those last 2 crews you sent us for our playoff games were great!!! Thanks again…already looking forward to next year!!
On behalf of the ACV board, we wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!! Thank you for a great volleyball season. Hope to see all of you in the spring of 2019!
Newsletter 2018 #12
Austin Chapter Volleyball (ACV) Newsletter 2018
Issue 12
Halloween 2018
Year-End ACV Chapter Meeting Scheduled for November 7 at Austin Police Association Union Hall
Please plan on attending the year-end ACV meeting, a celebration to close out the 2018 volleyball season. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 7 at the Austin Police Association Union Hall, located at 5817 Wilcab Drive in Austin. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with the business portion of the meeting scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. A light dinner of pizza, salad, and dessert will be provided starting at 6:15 p.m. Please bring your own UN-spirited beverage. Please RSVP by either accepting or declining the event that will be posted on Arbiter so that we can plan for an adequate amount of food. Everyone who attends will be included in door prize drawings. Minutes from the October 3 chapter meeting are now posted on the ACV website: http://www.austinvolleyballofficials.com/chapter-news/.
Online Voting on Bylaws
Voting will begin online starting Wednesday, October 31 and end at noon on Tuesday, November 6. Eligible members who have not voted online will be able to vote in person at the final meeting on Wednesday, November 7 beginning at 6:00 p.m. Please reference the email dated October 14 for more information.
Nominations Listed on ACV Website
Nominations are still open for the following board positions: Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Assigning Secretary, and At-Large Representative #2. If you are interested in running for any of these positions or would like to nominate someone, please contact Philip Franco. His email address is pfreflife@aol.com. A list of those currently nominated is posted to the ACV Website under the tab, “Election Nominations”. As a reminder, elections will be held at the Year-End ACV Chapter Meeting on Wednesday, November 7. Please note that online voting for election of officers is not an option at this time. As per our current Bylaws, the voting must take place during the year-end meeting.
ACV Application for 2019 Season
If you are thinking of being a member of ACV for the 2019 season, then it is time to complete your ACV application. Due date for renewal of returning members is Saturday, December 1. The application is now available on the website for your convenience in two formats: pdf and fillable. There is a very good possibility that ACV will now offer an online application along with an online payment option. More details will be forthcoming.
Scrimmage Credit
Emails have been sent asking officials to verify the number of scrimmage hours worked. If you did not receive an email regarding scrimmage hours, please contact Kevin Carlyle at kscarlyle@gmail.com as soon as possible. An email regarding scrimmage credit and the dues owed will be sent out the first weekend of November.
Assigning Fees Due
Please note that the invoices for the third round of assigning fees are scheduled to be posted on November 1, with the due date being Wednesday, November 7. All payments are due to Janiece Nelson. Payments may be made via check, credit card ($2 handling fee), Venmo or Arbiter Pay. A final invoice will be generated for those officiating playoff matches.
Message from Assigning Secretary
Thanks to all the officials who worked tirelessly this season. It was a great success because you who gave your time to benefit the players and coaches. Please help recruit new members in the off season so that next year is bigger and better!
Kudos to Volunteers at San Marcos Middle School Tournament on Saturday, October 6
Kudos are extended to the following individuals who dedicated an entire day to officiating the San Marcos Middle School tournament benefitting breast cancer awareness: Larry Friedenberg, Carri Moore, Doug Milner, and Matt Thompson. In addition, thanks to the following officials who helped for part of the day: Nikki Cueva, Gary Oncale, Blair Seeger, and Charlie Tamez. A special thank you is especially given to Larry Friedenberg for being the lead official for this tournament for the second consecutive year.
Officiating Opportunities with USAV
For those of you who are considering officiating for pay during the upcoming USAV (club) season, there's a referee-for-pay clinic Sunday morning, November 11th, from 9AM to 12:30 PM at Austin Sports Center Cedar Park. The address is 1420 Toro Grande Blvd, Cedar Park, 78613. While there are many other local USAV referee clinics being offered, this is the only clinic being offered in the Austin area geared specifically for NEW USAV officials who wish to referee for pay. (The advanced ref-for-pay clinic for RETURNING USAV officials is scheduled from 1 PM to 3 PM on the same date and location.) Please visit www.lsvolleyball.org and click on the Officials Clinics & Info link to see a list of all the referee and scorer clinics being offered. Click the Paid Ref Tournaments link to review all the information around officiating for pay.
Just like we do for high school and middle school, officials have to join as a member (which includes submitting to a background check) and attend a rules clinic. New officials must make at least an 84 on the test and get rated on at least three sets to get certified. The certification is good for two years although membership must be renewed annually. There are many officials within ACV who are also USAV officials who are a good source of information about the USAV processes. Unlike high school/middle school, play is normally on weekends with some larger tournaments in the spring covering three days. There are a large number of local (Austin area) tournaments for those officials who do not wish to travel and specifically some local tournaments geared to new officials for them to get experience. One significant difference is that officials register for tournaments they wish to officiate rather than waiting to be assigned. A full list of tournaments through the spring are listed on the region’s website.
The month of November reminds us to give thanks for all of the blessings that have been bestowed on us. It is also a time to remember our veterans. On behalf of the ACV board, Happy Veterans’ Day to those officials who gave their time to serve our country.
Newsletteer 2018 #11
9/30/2018
October 3 ACV Chapter Meeting to be Held via WebEx
The October 3 chapter meeting will be held via WebEx at 7:00 p.m. The event will be posted on Arbiter along with the necessary login information. In addition to accessing the login information via the ACV website calendar, a notification bar is available on the ACV website for your convenience. It is within the black banner at the top of each page, which begins, “Click Here to Join the Meeting.” Please contact your at-large representative if you need assistance with the log-in details. Minutes from the September 5 chapter meeting are now posted on the ACV website: http://www.austinvolleyballofficials.com/chapter-news/.
Nominations Now Open
Nominations are now open for the following board positions: Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Assigning Secretary, and At-Large Representative #2. If you are interested in running for any of these positions or would like to nominate someone, please contact Philip Franco. His email address is pfreflife@aol.com. A list of those nominated will be posted to the ACV Website under the tab, “Election Nominations”. As a reminder, elections will be held at the Year-End ACV Chapter Meeting on Wednesday, November 7.
Assigning Fees Due
Please note that the due date for the second round of assigning fees is October 3. All payments are due to Janiece Nelson. Payments may be made via check, credit card ($2 handling fee), Venmo or Arbiter Pay. If using Arbiter Pay, contact Janiece for directions. Please reference the 2018 Match Assigning Fees Schedule, found on the ACV website under Member Information, for other important information and future due dates.
Please Accept Assignments Timely
There is a seven (7)-day acceptance period from the time an assignment is posted on Arbiter. You should be receiving notification via email when new assignments are available. Please remember that there are decline/non-acceptance fees as per our Bylaws and Stated Policies. It is more proactive to update your availability on Arbiter so that assignments can be given to you according to your schedule rather than not accepting or declining.
Message from Assigning Secretary
The final week of the regular season will be published this week. Playoffs start the last week of October. There will still be middle school matches open for self-assignment into November.
Bylaws Discussion Meeting Scheduled
Thank you to those who participated in the Bylaws discussions on August 29 and September 12. There will be one final opportunity to learn about the current proposals. An open discussion is planned via WebEx on Wednesday, October 10 at 7:00 p.m. The login details are available in the Google Calendar on the ACV website. The event will also be posted on Arbiter. If you are unable to attend the meeting and have questions or suggestions, please email Kevin Carlyle.
Volunteers Still Needed for San Marcos Middle School Tournament on Saturday, October 6
Would you like to volunteer your time to officiate at a tournament for a worthy cause? Join a great group of ACV volunteers who will do just that, raising funds for breast cancer awareness. Volunteers are still needed to officiate on Saturday, October 6. Please contact the lead official, Larry Friedenberg at lrfriedenberg@yahoo.com.
Pink is the Color for October
October means that you can take out those pink whistles and flags to use during the entire month. Please note that many schools may have a “pink” night for breast cancer awareness during this month so please be flexible and patient.
Ask The Trainer!
Are you in doubt about a rule? Did you make a call and then wondered if it was right? Send in rule questions or case scenarios to the ACV Trainer, Christle Miersma. We can pick some of them to discuss at the next meeting. Also, please have your rule books handy for Wednesday's trainer section as we will be reviewing recent rule questions and scenarios.
Year-End ACV Chapter Meeting Scheduled for November 7 at Austin Police Association Union Hall
Please plan on attending the year-end ACV meeting, to enjoy a light meal and close out the 2018 volleyball season. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 7 at the Austin Police Association Union Hall, located at 5817 Wilcab Drive in Austin. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with the business portion of the meeting scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. Everyone who attends will be included in door prize drawings.
Please keep in thoughts and prayers all of our officials and their families who have been impacted by any type of cancer. While October is breast cancer awareness month and occurs while all of us are together officiating volleyball, we know that any cancer diagnosis can have an effect on so many lives.
Newsletter 2018 #10
8/27/2018
September 5 ACV Chapter Meeting to be Held via WebEx
The September 5 chapter meeting will be held via WebEx at 7:00 p.m. The event has been posted on Arbiter along with the necessary login information. Login information can also be accessed via the ACV website calendar. Please contact your at-large representative if you need assistance with the log-in details. Minutes from the August 5 Chapter meeting are now posted on the ACV website: http://www.austinvolleyballofficials.com/chapter-news/.
Assigning Fees Due
Please note that the due date for the first round of assigning fees is September 5. All payments are due to Janiece Nelson. Payments may be made via check, credit card ($2 handling fee), Venmo or Arbiter Pay. If using Arbiter Pay, contact Janiece for directions. Please reference the 2018 Match Assigning Fees Schedule, found on the ACV website under Member Information, for other important information and future due dates.
Important Information from AISD Athletic Office
In an email from Irene Fabian, AISD Athletic Office, “I have attached a FAQ sheet that should answer official’s questions about seeing who has paid and how much they paid. This was sent to me by Zane Zientek, Program Director for EPIC Contest Solutions. Official’s receive a 1099 through ArbiterPay if they make over $600 combined through ArbiterPay. If Austin ISD pays an official $400 and that same officials goes and works at Regents and makes $202, that official will receive a 1099 when they become available. Please share with your officials.” For your convenience, the FAQ sheet referenced in the email is now posted as an announcement on Arbiter as well as on the Arbiter Pay Tab. It is titled “Epic Contest Solutions FAQ”.
Message from Assigning Secretary
Matches are being published a month out. There is a 7-day acceptance period before the assignment is sent back as a decline and an automatic block is set for the entire day. Please review all decline/non-acceptance fees found on the Stated Policies page at http://www.austinvolleyballofficials.com/member-information/ under the ByLaws and Policies tab.
Middle school matches are in full swing. Please use the self-assign tab on Arbiter and make your choices. Otherwise, middle school matches are assigned within 2 weeks of the match. If you need assistance, please contact Janiece. Please remember that you will need to use a little bit (or maybe a lot) of patience when dealing with this level of volleyball. You may encounter that reading teacher who just was notified a few days before school started that she is now in charge of the volleyball team. Smile!
Bylaws Discussion Meetings Scheduled
As mentioned in an email dated August 12, three WebEx meetings regarding the proposed Bylaw changes are scheduled as follows:
· Wednesday, August 29 @ 7:00 p.m.: Discussions on Articles I-VI
· Wednesday, September 12 @ 7:00 p.m.: Discussion on Articles VII-XIII
· Wednesday, October 10 @ 7:00 p.m.: Open Discussion
The login details are available in the Google Calendar on the ACV website. These events have also been posted on Arbiter. If you are unable to attend the meetings and have questions or suggestions, please email Kevin Carlyle. Please reference the email for additional information.
Ask The Trainer!
Are you in doubt about a rule? Did you make a call and then wondered if it was correct? Send in rule questions or case scenarios to the ACV Trainer, Christle Miersma. We can pick some of them to discuss at the next chapter meeting.
Special Thanks from Bonnie Caddell
A huge Thank You to the Board and members for the special recognition given me at our opening meeting. While I did expect the 30 Years of Service Award, because after all, it has been 30 YEARS, I did not have any idea that anything else was in the works. I can’t adequately express the depth of my appreciation for David’s comments and the amazing feeling of joy during the standing “O”, so I will just say Thank You to each of you for your love and friendship. You hold a very special place in my heart. Bonnie
ACV Chapter Meeting Scheduled for October 3rd to be Held via WebEx
The October 3rd chapter meeting will be held via WebEx at 7:00 p.m. The event will be posted on Arbiter along with the necessary login information. Login information can also be accessed via the ACV website calendar. The due date for the second round of assigning fees is also October 3rd.
Have you taken the time to review the training information posted on the ACV Website?
Check it out under Member Information, then Training!
Newsletter 2018 #9
Issue 9
7/25/2018
First Chapter Meeting Scheduled for Wednesday, August 1
Ready to enjoy some fajitas to kick off the 2018 volleyball season? Then, please attend the first ACV meeting of the season on Wednesday, August 1. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with the buffet line starting at 6:15 p.m. Please be sure to RSVP to this event via Arbiter by Thursday, July 26 so that we can get an accurate meal count. The meeting will be held at the Austin Police Association Union Hall, located at 5817 Wilcab Drive in Austin. The business portion of the meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. Everyone who attends will be included in door prize drawings.
Member Rewards
The member rewards will be available at the Kick-Off meeting on August 1st. If you are unable to attend, you will need to make other arrangements to pick up your items. The best option would be to contact another member who will be at the meeting and let your At-Large Rep know in advance who will be picking up your item. After the meeting, the items not collected will be with the appropriate At-Large Rep.
TASO Conflict of Interest Policy
At this year’s State meeting, Mike Fitch stressed that all officials should read the TASO Conflict of Interest Policy. It can be found on the TASO website: http://www.taso.org/taso-policies. In fact, Mr. Fitch further added, “You cannot be a Facebook friend with a coach and also officiate for that coach. That is a conflict of interest.” Each official is responsible for knowing and following the policy. If you have conflicts of interest, you should be blocking the school on Arbiter. If you have questions about the policy, please contact TASO directly. It would not hurt to read the Social Media Policy as well. Speaking of social media, TASO now has a Facebook page.
TASO Test Now Open!
Officials must complete both the TASO Rules Test and a Rules Clinic prior to officiating a match. The test is a mandatory TASO requirement and cannot be waived for any reason. It is not required to complete the clinic prior to taking the test. You must make at least a 90 on the test in order to be eligible for Varsity level matches and playoffs. You can have 5 attempts to do so.
Online Registration for TASO Regional Volleyball Clinics Now Available
If you plan to attend a Regional Clinic, the nearest one will be held in San Antonio on Sunday, July 29. Remember that the fee for the rules clinic was included in your TASO membership registration. Nevertheless, you must pre-register for the clinic in advance or you will be charged $10 for registering as a walk up at the clinic. Deadline is Thursday, July 26. TASO sent information on the On-Line Clinic in an email dated July 25.
Important Message from Assigning Secretary
Rule books are now available. Bonnie Caddell will have a limited number of rules books at the San Antonio clinic for those who plan to attend. Please contact Janiece Nelson to pick up your books or she will have them available at the August 1st meeting. Janiece is busy scheduling matches/tournaments. Please note that none will be published until after August 1st. In the meantime, you can see pending matches by going to the calendar in Arbiter under the block column.
Communication – Very Important
Each official has a responsibility to communicate with the Assigning Secretary and their At-Large Representatives for any scheduling or meeting/training conflicts. Please be conscientious in responding to emails.
More WebEx Training Available
Need a refresher on line-up cards, scorekeeping, and libero tracking before the season begins? You are in luck. Please mark your calendar for the following dates:
· Scorekeeping & Libero Tracking on Thursday, August 2 at 7:00 p.m.
· Line-Up Cards WebEx on Sunday, August 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Login information can be accessed via the website calendar. These training sessions are not a mandatory requirement.
September 5 ACV Chapter Meeting to be Held via WebEx
The September 5 chapter meeting will be held via WebEx. The event will be posted on Arbiter along with the necessary login information. Login information can also be accessed via the ACV website calendar. The due date for the first round of assigning fees is also September 5.
Remember someone is always watching you and possibly videoing you! Act and be professional.
Comments at the State Meeting from Mike Fitch about professionalism.
Newsletter 2018 #8
Issue 8
7/8/2018
2018 Volleyball Season Is Drawing Near!
With the 4th of July behind us, the back-to-school ads are a clear indication that the 2018 volleyball season is almost upon us. Officials now only have four weeks to get ready before the start of the season. During that time span, there are many requirements that have to be met before we can get on the court. A few are mentioned in this newsletter. Please review the checklist of requirements; it is the first selection under “Member” on the ACV website. If you have questions, please be sure to contact your at-large representative.
TASO Test Completion Required
Officials must complete the TASO Rules Test prior to officiating a match. The test is a mandatory TASO requirement and cannot be waived for any reason. The test is scheduled to be available in mid-July. No schedules will be posted until after the TASO test completions have been updated and the first August meeting has been held. Officials can see within the Arbiter calendar whether they have a match as indicated in blue on the blocks calendar.
Reminder about TASO Rules Clinic Requirement
All officials are required to attend a TASO rules clinic. This can be done in three ways: (1) attend the TASO State Meeting scheduled for Saturday, July 14 at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland; (2) attend a TASO Regional Clinic; OR (3) plan on taking the rules clinic online (not available until mid-July).
Online Registration for TASO Regional Volleyball Clinics Now Available
Please read the email from TASO dated July 5. It contains important information as well as registration links for those officials planning on attending a Regional Clinic. The nearest one will be held in San Antonio on Sunday, July 29. Remember that the fee for the rules clinic was included in your TASO membership registration. Nevertheless, you must pre-register for the clinic in advance or you will be charged $10 for registering as a walk up at the clinic.
Important Message from Assigning Secretary
Please take time to read the email dated June 30 regarding important scrimmage information. Please note that officials can self-assign scrimmages; however, that option will close on Friday, July 27. Some locations will also have scrimmages on Monday, August 6. All officials are required to do a minimum of three hours. On another note, the number of Varsity tournaments has declined this season. We are currently down three Varsity tournaments (Hays, Brentwood, NBCA). This will result in less tournaments for officials to work.
Mandatory At-Large Representative WebEx Meetings
The last At-Large Representative WebEx meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 16. The host is Christle Miersma (O-Z) and the training component will be most missed test questions from the 2017 TASO Rules Test. If you have not attended one, this is your last chance to do so. This is a mandatory requirement for this season.
Returning Members Training (Advanced Level)
As a reminder, all returning members are required to attend at least one returning members training. The advanced-level training is scheduled for Thursday, July 19 at Pflugerville High School at 7:00 p.m. Please make plans to attend especially if you did not attend the intermediate training offered on June 16.
WebEx Trainings Continue
The dates for the three remaining WebEx training sessions are as follows:
· Tuesday, July 17 at 7:00 p.m. – Match Night Procedures
· Sunday, July 22 at 7:00 p.m. – TASO Rules Test Prep
· Sunday, August 5 at 7:00 p.m. – Line-Up Card Training
These sessions are good training opportunities to freshen up your skills before the season begins. However, they are not a mandatory requirement.
First Chapter Meeting Scheduled for Wednesday, August 1
The 2018 volleyball season kicks off with the first chapter meeting of the season. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 1 at 7:00 p.m. It will be held at the Austin Police Association Union Hall, located at 5817 Wilcab Drive in Austin. To celebrate the beginning of the season, a fajita dinner will be offered. Please be sure to RSVP to this event via Arbiter when it becomes available so that we can get an accurate count. Everyone who attends will be included in door prize drawings.
Next ACV Board Meeting
The next board meeting is scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, July 11, 2018 and will be held via WebEx. As always, please contact your at-large representative at least 24 hours in advance if you are interested in attending this board meeting in order to obtain the necessary participant information.
Check your uniform, especially black pants, belts, socks, and tennis shoes! Is it time for new ones?
Remember to clean your whistles!
Newsletter 2018 # 7
Issue 7
6/2/2018
Happy Father’s Day!
To all of the gentlemen in the Austin Chapter Volleyball, have a very Happy Father’s Day.
Deadline for Returning Member Reward is Monday, June 11
Great news for returning members! Hopefully you took the time to read the email from Kevin Carlyle dated May 21. If you did not, then you are missing out on an opportunity to claim a $30 reward to be used towards uniform (including jackets or sweatshirts) or equipment. This reward is designed to help members and the chapter maintain their professional appearance through upgrades of apparel or equipment. Don’t delay, the deadline is Monday, June 11. New members (those who have NEVER officiated with TASO in the sport of volleyball) are eligible for a $50 reimbursement and can use this form as well.
**Please note that for the shirts, men’s sizing will be used unless “women’s” is indicated on the form.
**Please note that for the shirts, pockets are the standard. If you prefer a shirt with no pockets, please write “no pockets” on the form.
Important Message from Assigning Secretary
All availability sheets were due to Janiece Nelson by Friday, June 1st, allowing her now to begin scheduling volleyball assignments. For those missing necessary requirements, Janiece will begin sending individual emails. If you receive one of these emails, it is important to act immediately. As previously announced, officials with missing requirements will be marked as inactive in Arbiter. If you are marked inactive in Arbiter, that means you will need to contact Janiece and get requirements met before regaining Arbiter access.
Mandatory At-Large Representative WebEx Meetings
If you did not have an opportunity to participate in the first At-Large Representative WebEx meeting, please note the dates of the remaining two being offered:
· Wednesday, June 6: At Large Representative WebEx Meeting – Hosts Chez Slayton (H-N) and Christle Miersma (Scorekeeping)
· Monday, July 16: At Large Representative WebEx Meeting – Host Christle Miersma (O-Z) (Most missed test questions from the 2017 TASO Rules Test)
Attendance at one of these is a meeting attendance requirement for 2018. You are welcome to attend the one that best fits your schedule and the training session that you feel will benefit you the most, or please feel free to attend all of them for extra training. Please continue to reference the ACV calendar on the website.
WebEx Housekeeping Guidelines
Please take time to mute your phone or PC after joining the meeting. Please turn off the video. While it is nice to see smiling faces, WebEx will run smoother if the bandwidth is concentrated on the actual presentation. If you do not see your face on display by your name, then the video camera is off. When you have a question or a concern for the presenters, please raise your hand by clicking on the hand icon. The presenters will recognize you. It is important for you to unmute yourself before speaking.
Returning Members Training (Intermediate Level)
As a reminder, all returning members are required to attend at least one returning members training. The intermediate-level training is scheduled for Saturday, June 16 at Akins High School from 10:00 a.m. till noon. Another training (advanced level) will be available on Thursday, July 19 at Pflugerville High School.
Please Review Mileage Guide
In case you have not seen the news, we will be on a new flat fee mileage system starting this year based on UIL rules. We have created a mileage guide for you to use and believe we have it all correct. Please help us to ensure it is correct by reviewing it now, particularly for the schools with which you are most familiar. Note that the mileage is based on actual driving distance and NOT the previous mileage rings. Please contact Kevin Carlyle with any corrections.
TASO State Meeting Registration Open
The TASO State Meeting registration is now open. Remember that the fee for the meeting was included in your TASO membership registration. However, you still need to register if you plan on attending the TASO State meeting, scheduled for Saturday, July 14 at the Curtis Culwell Center.
Self-Evaluation of Level Descriptions
Please take time to review the four level descriptions on the ACV website. This is a good opportunity to conduct a self-evaluation of your strengths and what you have achieved. It can also be used as a measure of what areas you want to improve on this season.
Website Administrator Needed for Future Enhancement
A future enhancement for the Austin Chapter Volleyball website, www.austinvolleyballofficials.com/, involves allowing officials to fill out their application online in addition to paying their dues online. If you have an interest in being involved in this project, please contact Kevin Carlyle. This will be a win-win for everyone if we can get this completed.
New Member Orientation
Approximately 30 individuals attended the first two orientations. Therefore, we have decided to conduct another orientation. It will be held via WebEx on Sunday, June 3 at 7:00 p.m. So, if you know of anyone who is interested, please send their name and email address to Roni Downey. You can earn a $25 referral bonus if you refer a new ACV member who works a minimum number of matches during the season.
Next ACV Board Meeting
The next board meeting is scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, June 13, 2018 and will be held via WebEx. As always, please contact your at-large representative at least 24 hours in advance if you are interested in attending this board meeting. This is particularly important so that you can obtain the necessary participant information.
The Time for Scrimmages is Almost Here! Get Your Whistles Ready!
Newsletter 2018 # 6
Austin Chapter Volleyball (ACV) Newsletter 2018
Issue 6
5/4/2018
Countdown to the 2018 Volleyball Season
The beginning of the 2018 volleyball season is now less than three months away. There are many items to check off of the “to-do” list before scrimmages begin on August 3 & 4. To facilitate this, a checklist is now available on the ACV website: http://www.austinvolleyballofficials.com/2018-membership-requirements-checklist/ for your convenience. It is accessible under “Members” and is titled, “2018 Membership Requirements Checklist”. Please take time to keep up to date on what is required. If you have any questions, please contact your at-large representative.
One Remaining WebEx Test Opportunity
As announced in the last newsletter, the ACV board recently purchased a license to use WebEx, which is a video and web conferencing software system. An email was sent in late April inviting members to do a test run of WebEx. If you have not had a chance to test Web-Ex, you have one more opportunity to do so. On Monday, May 7, a WebEx test will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. Please plan accordingly so as to be prepared for when the actual sessions take place. Also note that it is helpful to download the WebEx app for IOS and Android devices prior to attempting to log into WebEx.
Mandatory At-Large Representative WebEx Meetings
On Monday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m., the first of three At-Large Representative meetings will take place, hosted by Teresa Fierro and Christle Miersma. Libero tracking will be the training component at this meeting. While this one is designated for those officials whose last names begin with the letters A-G, any official can participate. All three At-Large Representatives will be participating in these meetings. Please note the dates of the other two At-Large Representative meetings being offered in subsequent months:
· Wednesday, June 6: At Large Representative WebEx Meeting – Hosts Chez Slayton (H-N) and Christle Miersma (Scorekeeping)
· Monday, July 16: At Large Representative WebEx Meeting – Host Christle Miersma (O-Z) (Most missed test questions from the 2017 TASO Rules Test)
Attendance at one of these is a meeting attendance requirement for 2018. You are welcome to attend the one that best fits your schedule and the training session that you feel will benefit you the most, or please feel free to attend all of them for extra training.
Change of Format for Returning Member Training
Two returning member training sessions will be offered in the summer. Unlike past years, these two will differ in content. The first one being offered on Saturday, June 16 will be an intermediate-level training. Location is still to be determined. The second one being offered on Thursday, July 19, at Pflugerville High School will be an advanced-level training. In addition, some of our senior officials will assist with conducting the training. All returning members are required to attend at least one returning member training.
2018 Chapter Meetings Set
Please mark your calendar for the 2018 Chapter Meetings, which will continue to be held on Wednesdays. A few changes have been made for this year’s meetings. Two will be held at the Austin Police Union Hall (same place as last year) and dinner will be provided. The other two will be held via WebEx. In addition, the start time will be at 7:00 p.m. The Chapter meeting requirement for 2018 is attendance of at least two of your choice.
· August 1 @ 7:00 p.m. – Austin Police Union Hall
· September 5 @ 7:00 p.m. – WebEx
· October 3 @ 7:00 p.m. – WebEx
· November 7 @ 7:00 p.m. – Austin Police Union Hall
Recommended Meeting Attendance for Returning Members
While members can meet their meeting attendance requirements in a variety of ways, the recommendation of the board is attendance at one At-Large Rep meeting, both Returning member sessions, and the August and November meetings at the Austin Police Union Hall.
2018 Match Assigning Fees Schedule Now Available on Website
The 2018 Match Assigning Fees Schedule is now available on the Austin Volleyball Officials website. It is located under “Members/Members Information/Assigning Information. Please note that the assigning fees will remain the same as last year’s. Please pay close attention to the due dates. Remember that assigning fees will be considered late and the member assessed a $10 late fee if the fees are not paid within 10 days of the invoice being generated in Arbiter.
Message from Assigning Secretary
The 2018 Availability Form is due by Friday, June 1. Remember to update Arbiter to match the hard copy of the availability form. Don't forget to mark yourself “READY” on the left side of your profile when you have completed Arbiter and have sent your form to Janiece Nelson.
Other WebEx Training Sessions Being Offered
With the ease of using WebEx, the ACV training team is offering extra WebEx training sessions to help members improve their officiating skills. While these are primarily geared towards members with less experience, it does not hurt for experienced officials to use these as a refresher. Even though these three training sessions listed below do NOT count toward your meeting attendance requirement, they are excellent opportunities for additional learning/refreshing.
· Monday, June 18 @ 7:00 p.m. – Match Night Procedures
· Sunday, July 22 @ 7:00 p.m. – TASO Rules Test Prep
· Sunday, August 5 @ 7:00 p.m. – Line Up Card Training
New Member Orientations
Kudos to those of you who have sent the contact information of potential new members to Roni Downey. The first orientation was held on Monday, April 30. Approximately 15 individuals attended. The next orientation session is set for Saturday, May 19 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hampton Inn in Buda. All new officials must attend one orientation. You can earn a $25 referral bonus if you refer a new ACV member who works a minimum number of matches during the season.
Next ACV Board Meeting
The next board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. It will be held at Poke-E-Jo’s Smokehouse, located at 2121 W. Parmer Lane. As always, please contact your at-large representative at least 24 hours in advance if you are interested in attending this board meeting.
Enjoy your Cinco de Mayo weekend!
Newsletter 2018 #5
Austin Chapter Volleyball (ACV) Newsletter 2018
Issue 5
4/9/2018
2018 Volleyball Season Kicks off First Week of August
Scrimmages for the 2018 volleyball season will be held on Friday and Saturday, August 3 & 4. As per Section F of the Stated Policies, “all members are expected to attend a minimum of three (3) hours of scrimmages.” Arrangements should be made with the Chapter Trainer, Christle Miersma, no later than May 1st if a member is unable to meet this requirement. Be sure to also notify the Assigning Secretary, Janiece Nelson, and your At-Large Representative.
Spring/Summer Leagues to Begin Soon
Please note that you must be registered with both TASO and ACV before you are able to officiate spring/summer league matches as well as attend any summer training sessions or meetings. Therefore, please do not delay in getting your registration completed with both TASO and ACV. Please note the following spring/summer leagues with the assigners included in parenthesis: Del Valle (Bob Block), Georgetown (Gilbert Mokry), Hutto (Gilbert Mokry) San Marcos (Bonnie Caddell), Taylor (Janiece Nelson with matches being played in Rockdale and Jarrell). The ACV Board approved these assigners at the April 4 board meeting. Please contact these individuals for more information on these leagues if you are interested.
New Member Orientations
Remember that spring/summer leagues are also used to train new officials. Please send the contact information of potential new members to Roni Downey so they can be assigned to train during this time. You can earn a $25 referral bonus if you refer a new ACV member who works a minimum number of matches during the season. All new officials must attend one orientation. Orientation dates are set for the following dates and times:
Monday, April 30: Austin Sports Center in Cedar Park at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 19: Hampton Inn in Buda at 10:00 a.m.
2018 ACV Calendar Now Available on Website
The 2018 ACV Calendar is now available on the Austin Volleyball Officials website. It is located under the heading of “Members” and is the first option listed, “ACV Calendar”. Please be sure to mark your calendar with these important dates. http://www.austinvolleyballofficials.com/acv-calendar/ You can also add the calendar to your Google calendar so that you have all of the important events noted. For your convenience, a PDF color-coded version of the calendar is available on the website as well. Please note that the “A” and “B” Returning Training meetings will have differing subject matter this year – members might want to attend both to further their officiating education.
2018 TASO and ACV Requirements
In addition to being registered for both TASO and ACV, please note the following mandatory requirements:
TASO Requirements: Prior to working a match, members must attend 1 Rules Clinic and complete the TASO Rules Test. Officials not in compliance will not be allowed to work any matches.
ACV Requirements: Must attend 5 Total Meetings consisting of 1 Returning Member Training, 2 Chapter Meetings, 1 At-Large Representative Meeting, and 1 other meeting of your choice.
What is WebEx?
The ACV board recently purchased a license to use WebEx, which is a video and web conferencing software system. At present, the ACV board is using it to hold board meetings. It allows members to attend a meeting in the comfort of your home, an added plus considering all of the traffic and construction encountered in getting from one area of town to another. Due to the success the board has had with WebEx, we would like to offer this same opportunity to officials, by offering the at-large representative meetings as a type of webinar, allowing officials to attend, learn, and ask questions from the comfort of home. The ACV board will offer a couple of “test runs” to familiarize yourself with WebEx in late April and early May. Test dates will be sent out soon and you are encouraged to take advantage of these tests so as to be prepared for when the actual meetings take place.
At-Large Representative Meetings Set
Please make plans to attend one out of the three At-Large Representative WebEx Meetings being offered. Attendance at one of these is a meeting attendance requirement for 2018. In addition to providing general information about the 2018 season, each meeting will have a training component focused on a particular topic, as seen within the parenthesis. Please note that you do not have to attend the meeting of your assigned at-large representative, which corresponds with the first letter of your last name as shown in parenthesis following the host name. You are welcome to attend the one that best fits your schedule and the training session that you feel will benefit you the most, or feel free to attend all of them for extra training.
· Monday, May 21: At Large Representative WebEx Meeting – Hosts Teresa Fierro (A-G) and Christle Miersma (Libero tracking)
· Wednesday, June 6: At Large Representative WebEx Meeting – Hosts Chez Slayton (H-N) and Christle Miersma (Scorekeeping)
· Monday, July 16: At Large Representative WebEx Meeting – Host Christle Miersma (O-Z) (Most missed test questions from the 2017 TASO Rules Test)
Message from Assigning Secretary
Arbiter is now ready for you to input your availability, blocks, and travel limits. As noted in the letter sent by Janiece, there are many upgrades and standardization of sites, so if you have a question, please feel free to contact her. The letter indicated a welcome email would be sent since Arbiter had done a tremendous amount of upgrading. Please read the letter included with the availability closely, complete your availability, and return it to Janiece by June 1st. Take notice there is an optional page 2! Don't forget to mark yourself “READY” on the left side of your profile when you have completed Arbiter and have sent your form to Janiece.
Registration Now Open for TASO State Annual Meeting
TASO sent an email announcement that registration is now being accepted for those who desire to attend the 2018 TASO Volleyball Annual Meeting, which will be held in Garland, Texas on Saturday, July 14. Please note that when you registered with TASO, you already prepaid to attend a State or Regional clinic. Nevertheless, you still need to register. At this time, registration for the Regional Clinics is still not available. Please note that Austin will not host a Regional Clinic this year. Instead, the nearest location to host a Regional Clinic will be San Antonio, which is scheduled for Sunday, July 29. Other Regional Clinic locations and dates are listed on the TASO website as well as on the 2018 ACV Calendar. Please note that TASO designates the locations for these clinics. Taking the On-Line Clinic is also an option.
Professional Association of Volleyball Officials (PAVO)
For those individuals who are interested in calling lines at collegiate matches, please visit www.pavo.org. Current information is available on membership, costs, and upcoming clinics/meetings.
Next ACV Board Meeting
The next board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 16, 2018. As always, please contact your at-large representative at least 24 hours in advance if you are interested in attending this board meeting.
Newsletter 2018 #4
Austin Chapter Volleyball (ACV) Newsletter 2018
Issue 4
3/15/2018
Update to Special Olympic Volunteers
Kudos to the following individuals who officiated at the Special Olympics volleyball matches: Bob Block, Nika Borge, Teresa Fierro, Jason Goltz, Ronnie Kaase, Larry Smith, and John Stadnick. Thank you for representing the ACV at this year’s events.
TASO Registration Early Renewal Deadline Approaching
As a reminder, all returning members will need to renew their TASO membership online at www.taso.org. TASO sent out the announcement around December 20 with specific instructions. Please note that the payment will be for both the annual renewal as well as for mandatory meeting component (State Meeting, Regional Clinic, on-line clinic). The deadline for early membership renewal is this Thursday, March 15, 2018. Registering by that date will save you $25.
Registration Now Open for TASO State Annual Meeting
TASO sent an email announcement that registration is now being accepted for those who desire to attend the 2018 TASO Volleyball Annual Meeting, which will be held in Garland, Texas on Saturday, July 14. Please note that when you registered with TASO, you already prepaid to attend a State or Regional clinic. Nevertheless, you still need to register. At this time, registration for the Regional Clinics is still not available. Please note that Austin will not host a Regional Clinic this year. Instead, the nearest location to host a Regional Clinic will be San Antonio, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 29. Taking the On-Line Clinic is also an option.
Message from Assigning Secretary
It is not too soon to begin taking a look at your availability for the coming season. Janiece Nelson is asking that availability sheets be submitted by Friday, June 1. The 2018 availability sheet will be available on the website by the end of March. Availability sheets will be of upmost importance with the changing to Metro mileage.
Condolences
Some of you may already be aware, but Gloria’s father, George Westrom, passed away recently. I am not aware of any local memorials that will be held. The family has asked that donations be made to Maggie's Hospice, 306 N. Virginia St., Prescott, AZ 86301. Please keep Gloria and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
2018 Austin Chapter Dues
Please note that you must be registered with both TASO and ACV before you are able to attend any summer training sessions or meetings as well as officiate at any summer league matches. Therefore, please do not delay in getting your registration completed. For those of you who have not submitted the required Austin Chapter paperwork, the reinstatement fee is now in place. The cost is $55 for reinstatement, which includes a $25 late fee added to the $30 renewal dues. The 2018 Austin Chapter Application is located at www.austinvolleyballofficials.com. If you have any questions regarding the Austin Chapter Application and/or payment of dues, please contact Bonnie Caddell.
2018 ACV Calendar Available in March
The 2018 ACV calendar will be available before the end of March. Information on a training schedule will also be provided. More details will be forthcoming.
Recruitment Referral Bonus
New officials are vital to covering matches during the season, especially at the middle-school level. Remember that you can earn a $25 referral bonus if you refer a new ACV member who works a minimum number of matches during the season. Please send the contact information of potential new members to Roni Downey to allow new officials plenty of preparation time to get started in August.
Next ACV Board Meeting
The next board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 4, 2018 and will be held via WebEx. As always, please contact your at-large representative at least 24 hours in advance if you are interested in attending this board meeting. This is particularly important for this meeting so that you can obtain the necessary participant information.
Summer League Assigners
TASO insurance has coverage included for those who assign officials for our summer league matches. For that coverage to be in effect, you must be an approved assigner by the Chapter. The board will make formal approvals at the April board meeting. Please submit your name to Kevin if you will be assigning officials this summer.
Newsletter 2018 #3
Austin Chapter Volleyball (ACV) Newsletter 2018
Issue 3
2/14/2018
Kudos to Special Olympic Volunteers
Thank you to those individuals who volunteered to officiate volleyball matches at this year’s Special Olympics. In case you were not aware, one of the local news stations showed a clip of a Special Olympics volleyball match, in which At-Large Representative, Teresa Fierro, was officiating.
TASO Registration Early Renewal Deadline Approaching
As a reminder, all returning members will need to renew their TASO membership online at www.taso.org. TASO sent out the announcement around December 20 with specific instructions. Please note that the payment will be for both the annual renewal as well as for mandatory meeting component (State Meeting, Regional Clinic, on-line clinic). The deadline for early membership renewal is Thursday, March 15, 2018. Registering by that date will save you $25. If you did not receive the TASO announcement, please contact TASO at volleyball@taso.org.
Message from Assigning Secretary
Janiece Nelson will begin sending email notifications to those returning members who are not current in registering for TASO and/or ACV. Please note that you must be registered with both TASO and ACV before you are able to attend any summer training sessions or meetings as well as officiate at any summer league matches. Therefore, please do not delay in getting your registration completed.
2018 Austin Chapter Dues
Thank you to those individuals who have submitted the 2018 Austin Chapter application as well as the chapter dues. For those of you who have not submitted the required paperwork, the reinstatement fee is now in place. The cost is now $55 for reinstatement, which includes a $25 late fee added to the $30 renewal dues. The 2018 Austin Chapter Application is located at www.austinvolleyballofficials.com. If you have any questions regarding the Austin Chapter Application and/or payment of dues, please contact Bonnie Caddell.
Reminder About TASO State Annual Meeting
The 2018 TASO Volleyball Annual Meeting will be held in Garland, Texas on Saturday, July 14. Please note that Austin will not host a Regional Clinic this year. Instead, the nearest location to have a Regional Clinic will be in San Antonio. More information will be forthcoming.
Treasurer’s Report Available on Arbiter
The ACV Treasurer’s Report for the month of January is now available under the Forms section of Arbiter. As mentioned in an earlier email from the President, this will now be the standard practice to provide transparency of ACV finances. Please feel free to review and submit any questions to Bonnie Caddell or Kevin Carlyle.
Ancillary Positions
Congratulations to Ian Evins on his appointment for the 2018 volleyball season. Ian will continue to serve the Austin Chapter as the Website Administrator.
2018 ACV Calendar Set
The 2018 ACV calendar will be available in the coming weeks. The ACV Trainer is also compiling a training schedule that could be beneficial to returning officials. More details will be available soon.
Recruitment Time
Information is already being sent out to potential new officials for the 2018 volleyball season. It is not too soon to think about recruiting new officials. Remember that you can earn a $25 referral bonus if you refer a new ACV member who works a minimum number of matches during the season. Please send the contact information of potential new members to Roni Downey to allow new officials plenty of preparation time to get started in August.
Survey Results
Special thanks to those individuals who took time to fill out the survey and provide feedback. The results have been compiled and will be sent to the board members for the betterment of the Austin Chapter.
Next ACV Board Meeting
The next board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 7, 2018 and will be held via WebEx. As always, please contact your at-large representative at least 24 hours in advance if you are interested in attending this board meeting. This is particularly important for
this meeting so that you can obtain the necessary participant information.
Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!
Newsletter 2018 #2
Austin Chapter Volleyball (ACV) Newsletter 2018
Issue 2
1/16/2018
Happy New Year!
The new year is upon us. While it is only January, many of you are possibly already making summer vacation plans. Therefore, please pay close attention to the various important dates and deadlines mentioned in this newsletter.
Sincere Condolences to the Family of Bobby Rogers
Memorial services were held for Bobby Rogers and his family in Austin, Oklahoma and Alabama. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to assist with travel expenses. On behalf of ACV, $100 was donated to their GoFundMe account. Please keep Bobby and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Ancillary Positions
Congratulations to Marilyn Wahl and Christle Miersma on their appointments for the 2018 volleyball season. Marilyn was appointed as the Assistant Assigner while Christle was appointed as the Chapter Trainer.
2018 Austin Chapter Application Deadline Approaching
Thank you to those individuals who have submitted the 2018 Austin Chapter application as well as the chapter dues. For those of you who have not submitted the required paperwork, please note that the deadline to submit the application without a cost increase is January 31. The renewal dues will be $30 until January 31. Beginning on Thursday, February 1, the cost increases to $55 for reinstatement, which includes a $25 late fee added to the $30 renewal dues. So please make plans to renew by the January 31 deadline. The 2018 Austin Chapter Application is located at www.austinvolleyballofficials.com. If you have any questions regarding the Austin Chapter Application and/or payment of dues, please contact Bonnie Caddell.
TASO Registration
As a reminder, all returning members will need to renew their TASO membership online at www.taso.org. TASO sent out the announcement around December 20 with specific instructions. Please note that the payment will be for both the annual renewal as well as for mandatory meeting component (State Meeting, Regional Clinic, on-line clinic). The deadline for early membership renewal is Thursday, March 15, 2018. Registering by that date will save you $25. If you did not receive the TASO announcement, please contact your at-large representative.
Scrimmage Dates Set
Scrimmages for the 2018 volleyball season will be held on Friday and Saturday, August 3 & 4. As per the Section F of the Stated Policies, “all members are expected to attend a minimum of three (3) hours of scrimmages.” Arrangements should be made with the Chapter Trainer, Christle Miersma, no later than May 1st if a member is unable to meet this requirement. Be sure to also notify your At-Large Representative and the Assigner.
Budget
The board reviewed the 2018 preliminary budget at the last meeting. The proposed budget estimates, scheduled to be approved at the next board meeting, have been posted to the Forms section in Arbiter. All members are encouraged to review and provide input prior to February 7. Please send any questions or concerns to Bonnie Caddell or Kevin Carlyle.
Recruitment Time
It is time to begin recruiting for the 2018 volleyball season. ACV needs officials, especially to cover those middle school matches. Remember that you can earn a $25 referral bonus if you refer a new ACV member who works a minimum number of matches during the season. Imagine recruiting two new members and having an extra $50 to spend during the holidays! Please send the contact information of potential new members to Roni Downey.
Testing of Teleconference Meetings
With all of the headaches in dealing with traffic, the ACV board has been testing conferencing software. Initially, this will be used for upcoming board meetings as well as new member training with the possibility of expanding it to chapter meetings in the future. We invite you to help the ACV board test the Cisco WebEx software at our next board meeting. You can do so in the comfort of your own home.
2018 Schedule of ACV Board Meetings
As mentioned in the last newsletter, the ACV board meetings for 2018 have been scheduled. All fall on Wednesdays: January 10; February 7; March 7; April 4: May 16; June 13; July 11; July 25. Please note that some may be cancelled if there is no pressing business to be discussed.
Next ACV Board Meeting
The next board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 7, 2018 and will be held via WebEx. As always, please contact your at-large representative if you are interested in attending this board meeting. This is particularly important for this meeting so that you can obtain the necessary participant information.
Newsletter 2018 #1
Austin Chapter Volleyball (ACV) Newsletter 2018
Issue 1
12/12/2017
Board Members
With the start of the new ACV fiscal year effective December 1, 2017, the current board now consists of the following:
President: Kevin Carlyle; Vice-President: Roni Downey; Recording Secretary and District Director: David Plaisance; Treasurer: Bonnie Caddell; At-Large Representative #1 (A-G): Teresa Fierro; At-Large Representative #2 (H-N): Chez Slayton; At-Large Representative #3 (O-Z): Christle Miersma; Past President: Charlie Tamez.
Year-End Records
ACV members should download a copy of their volleyball schedule for the 2017 season by Sunday, December 31. Arbiter will be refreshed some time after the start of the year to prepare for the 2018 season. Once that occurs, the 2017 records will be completely removed from Arbiter.
Outstanding Payments
Please take time to review your matches for any outstanding payments. If you have not gotten paid for a match, please contact your co-official first and see if payment was received. Next, contact the school as needed before they leave for the Christmas break. Remember that schools will begin the break starting as soon as this Friday.
Support Paid Positions for the 2018 Season
ACV has three paid positions that are up for renewal each year. These support positions are as follows: (1) Assistant Assigning Secretary; (2) Chapter Trainer(s); and (3) Chapter Website Administrator. The time commitment for each will run from February 1, 2018 through January 31, 2019. If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact Roni Downey by Sunday, January 7. A job description will be provided to interested individuals in advance. The ACV board will make the selections at the January 2018 board meeting.
2018 Austin Chapter Application Deadline Extended
Thank you to all of those individuals who promptly submitted the 2018 Austin Chapter application as well as their chapter dues. For those of you have not submitted the required paperwork, please note that the deadline to receive scrimmage credit has now passed. However, the deadline to submit the application without a cost increase has been extended to January 31. (The deadline was extended to coincide with the TASO renewal deadline.) The renewal dues will be $30 up to January 31. Beginning on Thursday, February 1, the cost increases to $55 for reinstatement, which includes a $25 late fee added to the $30 renewal dues. So please make plans to renew by the January 31 deadline. The 2018 Austin Chapter Application is located at www.austinvolleyballofficials.com. If you have any questions regarding the Austin Chapter Application and/or payment of dues, please contact Bonnie Caddell.
Upcoming TASO Registration
As a reminder, all returning members will need to renew their TASO membership online at www.taso.org. This should be tentatively available starting in January. TASO will be sending out an announcement with specific instructions prior to opening registration.
Next Board Meeting
The next board meeting is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, January 10, 2018. Time and place will soon be determined. Kevin Carlyle has also proposed board meeting dates for all of 2018 so that these can be posted on the website in advance. More information on this will be forthcoming. As always, please contact your at-large representative if you are interested in attending a board meeting.
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holiday wishes are extended to you and your loved ones! On behalf of the ACV board, we look forward to seeing all of you in 2018!!
Newsletter 2017 #11
Austin Chapter Volleyball (ACV) Newsletter 2017
Issue 11
11/15/2017
Election Results for Board Positions
Please welcome these incoming board members, who were elected for a two-year term which starts December 1: President, Kevin Carlyle; At-Large Representative #1, Teresa Fierro; At-Large Representative #3, Christle Miersma. Bonnie Caddell was re-elected to serve as Treasurer. Congratulations to all of these individuals. In addition, please take time to thank the following who have committed time and energy to serving on the board. Best wishes to these outgoing board members: President, Charlie Tamez; At-Large Representative #1, Rhiannon Stracener; At-Large Representative #3, Gilbert Mokry.
Election Results for Changes to ByLaws and Stated Policies
The ACV membership chose not to vote on the proposed changes. The ByLaws Committee was requested to use the current ByLaws and Stated Policies as the starting point and then update the proposals off of those documents. At present, older versions of the ByLaws and Stated Policies were being used as the starting point.
2018 Austin Chapter Application Now Available
The 2018 Austin Chapter application is now due. Please note that both the application and the dues need to be turned in at the same time. Deadline to receive scrimmage credit when paying dues is Thursday, November 30. Beginning on Friday, December 1, the cost increases to $65 for reinstatement. The 2018 Austin Chapter Application is located at www.austinvolleyballofficials.com. It is listed as one of the menu items. If you have any questions regarding the Austin Chapter Application and/or payment of dues, please contact Bonnie Caddell.
Tentative Calendar for 2018
A tentative calendar for 2018 will be included as part of the minutes from the year-end meeting. Minutes should be posted on the website by Thanksgiving Day.
Upcoming TASO Registration
All returning members will need to renew their TASO membership online at www.taso.org. This should be tentatively available starting in January. TASO will be sending out an announcement with specific instructions prior to opening registration.
Playoff Requests
The compilation of the coaches’ playoff requests of preferred officials is now on Arbiter. The document also shows the total number of requests per official. Within Arbiter, click first on Lists, then on Forms. The document is titled 2017 Playoff Preferred Officials.
Kudos and Congratulations
Congratulations to the ACV members who were selected to represent the ACV at the Regional and State tournaments. TCSAAL Regionals: Lisa Brown, Gary Oncale, Brianna Quinlan, and Bob Ruckriegel TCSAAL State: Brenda Gray, Susan Hart, Patrick Kinast, Chris Knight, Christle Miersma, Brianna Quinlan, Rhiannon Stracener, and Bobby White TAPPS Regionals: Mikayla Adams, Katherine Bratton, Philip Franco, Roger Franklin, Andy Grantham, Dick Kappel, Gilbert Mokry, Gina Ortega, and Janine Patton
TAPPS State: Tony Friesen, James Mahlen, Denise Neale, Janine Patton, and Chez Slayton
UIL Regionals: Katherine Bratton, Philip Franco, Gilbert Mokry, and Craig Smith
UIL State: Charlie Tamez
Door Prize Winners at the Year-End Meeting
A few door prizes were given at the year-end meeting. Winners of $10 Jason’s Deli gift cards were Julia Dade, Brandon Kelso, Bob Ruckriegel, and John Smith. Winners of the grand prizes of $25 cash were Ronnie Kaase and Janine Patton.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to attend the chapter meetings this season.
A Day of Thanksgiving
Thank you for being part of the Austin Chapter Volleyball this season. Happy Thanksgiving wishes are extended to you and your loved ones!
Newsletter 2017 #10
Austin Chapter Volleyball (ACV) Newsletter 2017
Issue 10
11/6/2017
Year-End Meeting Scheduled for Wednesday, November 8
Wow! The volleyball season flew by. Time has come for our year-end meeting to close out the 2017 season. As a reminder, a BBQ dinner will be served at this meeting. Attention New Members with 3 years or less of experience: A new member meeting will be held starting at 6:00 p.m. to discuss year-end business, review a tentative calendar for 2018, and answer questions.
Nominations for Upcoming Election on November 8
The ACV board positions of President, Treasurer, At-Large Representative #1, and At-Large Representative #3 are up for election on November 8. If you are interested in serving in one of these positions, please contact the Election Committee Chair, Bob Block. To see current nominees, please check the ACV website and click on the banner at the top of the homepage titled, “Nominations for Upcoming Election on November 8, 2017”.
Proposed Amendments to ByLaws
Please take time to read the proposed amendments to the ByLaws. These are available both on Arbiter and on the website. As per the President’s recent email, we will be voting on Articles 1-7 as well as the name change to the Stated Policies. For those of you who are unable to attend the meeting, some options are available to you, such as early voting on TASO website, proxy voting, and email voting. Please contact your at-large representative if you have any questions
about deadlines.
2018 Austin Chapter Application Now Available
The 2018 Austin Chapter application is now available on the website. Bonnie Caddell will be at the year-end meeting to begin accepting the application and dues. Please note that both the application and the dues need to be turned in at the same time.
Emails Concerning Scrimmage Credit
Emails will be sent by Tuesday, November 7 to inform officials about scrimmage credit and the dues that are owed. If you do not receive an email regarding scrimmage credit, please contact Roni Downey at vdowney1@austin.rr.com or Bonnie Caddell at Wednesday’s meeting. Please remember that the 2018 ACV application must be turned in along with the dues owed.
Message from the Assigning Secretary
Assigning fees have been generated and are available on Arbiter. Please note that fees need to be paid prior to Saturday, November 11 so as to not incur late fees.
Recruitment Time
It is not too early to begin thinking about recruiting for next year. ACV needs more officials. Just count the number of middle school matches that were worked with only one official. Remember that you can earn a $25 referral bonus if you refer a new ACV member who works a minimum number of matches during the season. Thanks to the following ACV officials who referred a new member for the 2017 season: Michael Butler, Felix Gray, Pete Hoyt, James Mahlen, Christle
Miersma, Janiece Nelson, Phillip Salazar, Debbie Shackelford, and Charlie Tamez,
Tentative Calendar for 2018
A tentative calendar for 2018 will be available at the year-end meeting. Please be sure to pick up a copy as you register. For those of you not able to attend the meeting, the information will be included as part of the minutes and posted on the website.
A Salute to Our ACV Veterans
Saturday, November 11 is Veterans’ Day. Thank you to the veterans who not only serve in the Austin Chapter but also served to defend the rights that we cherish in the United States of America. Happy Veterans’ Day and thank you for your service.
NEWSLETTER 2017 #9
Austin Chapter Volleyball (ACV) Newsletter 2017
Issue 9
10/26/2017
Sincere Appreciation
There are moments when we give freely of our time and contribute our efforts without any reason other than it is the right thing to do. Please take time to applaud the contributions of these ACV members who volunteered their time and talents at a tournament on October 7 benefitting cancer: Larry Friedenberg (lead official), Michael Butler, Daniel Cerroni, Rachel Devillier, Andrew Grantham, Kerry Kurio, Benjamin Maxedon, Brad Molof, and Charlie Tamez. In addition, Janiece Nelson volunteered to officiate a volleyball game at a nursing home earlier this season. Thank you for representing the ACV at these events.
Nominations for Upcoming Election on November 8
The ACV board positions of President, Treasurer, At-Large Representative #1, and At-Large Representative #3 are up for election at the end-of-season chapter meeting on November 8. If you are interested in serving in one of these positions and would like to add your name to the nomination list, please contact the Election Committee Chair, Bob Block. To see current nominees, please check the ACV website and click on the banner at the top of the homepage titled, “Nominations for Upcoming Election on November 8, 2017”.
Proposed Amendments to ByLaws
Please take time to read the proposed amendments to the ByLaws. These are available on Arbiter. Look under the header of “Lists” and then proceed to “Forms”. It is the sixth item listed titled, “ACV By-Law Proposals”.
Review of Scrimmage Hours Worked
Emails have been sent asking officials to verify the number of scrimmage hours worked. If you did not receive an email regarding scrimmage hours, please contact Roni Downey at vdowney1@austin.rr.com as soon as possible. An email regarding scrimmage credit and the dues owed will be sent out the first weekend of November.
2018 Austin Chapter Application Coming Soon
The 2018 Austin Chapter application will be posted to the website soon. Bonnie Caddell will be at the year-end meeting to begin accepting the application and dues. Please note that she will also be able to accept credit card payments this year.
Message from the Assigning Secretary
Playoffs are almost here! Please keep Arbiter up to date. Please check your email and Arbiter several times a day for any updates or new assignments.
RSVP Via Event on Arbiter for BBQ Dinner
The Year-End ACV Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 8. We will be having a catered dinner from PoK-e-Jo’s. If you are planning on attending that meeting, please be sure to RSVP via Arbiter by accepting the event. The ACV board will only be ordering the corresponding number of plates based on who has accepted the event.
Officiating Opportunities with USAV
For those of you who are considering officiating for pay during the upcoming USAV (club) season, there's a referee-for-pay clinic Sunday morning, November 5th, from 8 AM to 10 AM at Austin Sports Center Cedar Park. The address is 1420 Toro Grande Blvd, Cedar Park, 78613. While there are many other local USAV referee clinics being offered, this is the only clinic being offered in the Austin area geared specifically for those who wish to referee for pay. Visit www.lsvolleyball.org and click on the Officials Clinics & Info link to see a list of all the referee and scorer clinics being offered. Click the Paid Ref Tournaments link to review all the information around officiating for pay.
Just like we do for high school and middle school, officials have to join as a member (which includes submitting to a background check) and attend a rules clinic. New officials must make at least an 84 on the test and get rated on at least three sets to get certified. The certification is good for two years although membership must be renewed annually. There are many officials within ACV who are also USAV officials who are a good source of information about the USAV processes. Unlike high school/middle school, the play is normally on weekends with some larger tournaments in the spring covering three days. There are a large number of local (Austin area) tournaments for those officials who do not wish to travel and specifically some local tournaments geared to new officials for them to get experience. One significant difference is that officials register for tournaments they wish to officiate rather than waiting to be assigned. A full list of tournaments through the spring are listed on the region’s website.
Newsletter 2017 #8
Austin Chapter Volleyball (ACV) Newsletter 2017
Issue 8
9/27/2017
Nominations for Upcoming Election on November 8
The ACV board positions of President, Treasurer, At-Large Representative #1, and At-Large Representative #3 are up for election at the end-of-season chapter meeting on November 8. If you are interested in serving in one of these positions and would like to add your name to the nomination list, please contact the Election Committee Chair, Bob Block.
Attention: Officials with 3 Years or Less of Service
All officials with three years or less of service must attend the new member training scheduled for Wednesday, October 4 at the Austin Police Association Union Hall. The ACV Trainers will conduct a Q&A training session at 6:00 p.m. A brief chapter meeting will occur at 6:30 p.m. The ACV Trainers will then continue with an in-depth training on R2 responsibilities, ball handling, using correct pay sheets, and R1/R2 communication, to name a few. They are currently reviewing specific feedback received thus far this season from coaches and officials to fine-tune this training. Some of the coaches’ feedback may be read at the meeting, withholding names of course. If there are specific situations for which you want clarification, please email Harvey Madrigal and Christle Miersma by Sunday, October 1. This is the best opportunity to get your answers.
October 4 Training Meeting
The October 4 training meeting will be a good opportunity for all officials to fine-tune their mechanics before playoffs begin. This is the time to clarify rules and ensure that you are applying them correctly. For those officials with 4 years-plus experience, the October 4 meeting can also be used as a make-up for missing a mandatory ACV meeting on either August 2 or September 6. As a reminder, officials are required to communicate with their assigned at-large representative in advance if they have a conflict with a meeting. As per the 2017 Chapter Application, “It is my responsibility to explain noncompliance for any mandatory training/chapter meetings prior to the required dates.”
Message from the Assigning Secretary and Rules Interpreter
As per the Assigning Secretary, “We have had several coaches comment that officials are telling the teams that their uniforms are not solid-colored. Then, those same officials are letting the team play but stating that the next official may not let them play.” So, Christle Miersma checked in with Gloria Cox, the Rules Interpreter. This was her response, “As mentioned on a number of occasions, it is not our job to prevent little girls from playing volleyball. That being said, we should have numbers that we can read on the front and the back of the jersey and the libero should be in a contrasting uniform. We do not worry about compliance on the sub-varsity level. If the libero is not in a contrasting uniform, the referee can ask the coach to have the player change uniforms, if possible. If that is not possible and the referee can manage to see the libero, go with it. The referee should make every effort to make sure that the teams have a good experience.”
Keeping Your Cool with Middle School
Please be patient during those middle school matches. We know that the visiting team may arrive late so use the time to read your rule book or talk with your co-official. If you are working a match on your own, remember that you can move the referee stand to be closer to the coaches and the score table. Remember that you may be dealing with “coaches” who have no idea about volleyball or who are officiating for the first time. These coaches may also be coaching both the A and B team, dealing with many young ladies not to mention parents. So, please try to help them out as much as possible within reason.
Pink Whistles in October
October is breast cancer awareness month. Officials are encouraged to use pink whistles to show support for those battling breast cancer. Also, please keep in your thoughts and prayers those courageously dealing with any type of cancer.
Arbiter Updates
Please note that officials will NOT have to fill out a playoff availability form this year. All of that information was included on the Availability Sheet that officials submitted at the beginning of the season. Playoffs begin towards the latter part of October. It is very important for officials to keep Arbiter up to date since the Assigning Secretary will be using this as the primary tool for
playoff assignments. Please take time to revisit your availability to ensure that it reflects what you are able to do.
Assigning Fees
The next set of assigning fees will be generated on October 1. Payments will be due on October 4. With the recent change to the Stated Policies, payment will be considered late if not received or postmarked, by October 11. Please note that members who are not current on their fees may have assignments withdrawn until the fees and fines are paid.
Rules Review
Rules Review
With the volleyball season underway, we may encounter situations where we question a call. The
questions might be “Did I apply that rule correctly?” “Did I use the correct signal?” Best way to find the
answer to that question is to read the rule book and case manual. This rules review is aimed at getting
you to do just that.
Below are areas of concern that coaches, players, and fellow officials have identified as needing to be
addressed. So, please take out those books! Challenge yourself: If you consider yourself an experienced
official, see if you can recite verbatim the rule, word for word, and in which chapter it can be found. If
you consider yourself a mid-level official, see if you can explain the rule as if you were addressing a
coach or player. If you consider yourself a new official, then read the rule and jot down questions you
may still have after reading it. Consult with the ACV trainers or your at-large representative.
Adjacent Courts
A coach approaches you to ask how you plan to deal with adjacent courts regarding the playable area. What
is your response? Do you say “up to the line between the two courts” or “up to the plane of the adjacent
court”?.
***Read page 12 to find the answer.
Whistle or Horn to End the Time-Out
Scenario #1: The horn sounds to end the time-out. Your R2 also blows the whistle after the horn sounds.
Do you give the R2 a thumbs-up sign that they did a good job applying this new rule?
Scenario #2: During a time-out, both teams are back on the court and ready to play within 30 seconds.
The R2 blows the whistle and signals the audio horn to be sounded as well.
***Read page 22 and the 2017 Pre-Season Volleyball Guide for clarification.
Unnecessary Delay
Scenario #1: A player enters the substitution zone and the R2 whistles for substitution. The player
figures out that she is too early and tries to go back. Do you apply the unnecessary delay or do you offer
the coach a time-out instead?
Scenario #2: The wrong player enters into the substitution zone. The coach realizes this and immediately
calls a time-out. Does the R2 still issue the unnecessary delay?
***Read page 40 & 41.
Incorrect Server
The R1 whistles/beckons for serve and the server realizes it's not their turn. She tosses, drops, and as the
R1 signals re-serve, the correct server comes to get the ball and serves within the new five seconds.
Everyone was in the proper position at service contact. What do you do?
***Read page 40.
The ACV Trainers will be available for a training session on Wednesday, September 6 at 6:00 p.m.
at the Austin Police Association Union Hall prior to the ACV Chapter Meeting. Please join them if
you need any of these clarified or if you have other situations that you would like to discuss.
Proposed Amendment to Stated Policies
Proposed Amendment to Stated Policies
Presented by Janiece Nelson
August 2, 2017
As per the current ByLaws of Austin Chapter Volleyball:
ARTICLE VIII ADMENDMENTS OF THE STATED POLICIES The Stated Policies of the
Austin Chapter may be amended at any regular or called meeting by simple majority of the votes
cast of members present at the meeting. Notification of the proposed amendments shall have
been mailed, emailed, or posted on the chapter website and said amendments made available to
each voting member, at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting at which the vote is to be taken.
Amendments to the Stated Policies will take effect immediately upon approval.
CurrentStated Policy under E.4 Assigning Fees:
Invoices will be generated and available in Arbiter according to the schedule listed in the Chapter calendar. It is the member’s responsibility to view their invoices and the balance owed. Assigning fee payments will be considered late and the member assessed a late fee of $10 if the balance is not paid within twenty (20) days of each notification of fees owed. Additionally, members who are not current on their fees may have assignments withdrawn until the fees and fines are paid. This fee is paid directly to the Assigning Secretary. Upon
conclusion of the season, any outstanding assigning fees balances will be assessed an
additional late fee of $10 each month until the balance has been paid.
Proposed Change as Introduced on August 2, 2017 by Janiece Nelson:
Invoices will be generated and available in Arbiter according to the schedule listed in the Chapter calendar. It is the member’s responsibility to view their invoices and the balance owed. Assigning fee payments will be considered late and the member assessed a late fee of $10 if the balance is not paid within ten (10) days of the invoice being generated by Arbiter. Additionally, members who are not current on their fees may have assignments withdrawn until the fees and fines are paid. This fee is paid directly to the Assigning Secretary. Upon conclusion of the season, any outstanding assigning fees balances will be assessed an additional late fee of $10 each month until the balance has been paid.
Arguments for this proposal are as follows:
Allows Assigning Secretary to not schedule delinquent members who have not paid fees;
Allows Assigning Secretary to stay consistent with normal bill paying policies;
Allows to proactively track delinquent fees sooner; possibly collecting the monies from
the member instead of having the chapter pay for it.
The vote on this proposed amendment will take place at the Mid-Season Chapter Meeting
on Wednesday, September 6. Please note that any approved amendments to the Stated
Policies will take place immediately upon approval.
Newsletter 2017 #7
Issue 7
8/30/2017
Hurricane Harvey
First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by Hurricane Harvey, especially our fellow officials from the coastal areas. Furthermore, area schools may be adjusting schedules so please be patient and flexible if matches change.
Note of Appreciation
A special thank you is extended to those of you who completed all of the TASO and ACV requirements up to this point.
Technical difficulties with the TASO website created problems for many of you. We appreciated the communication with
TASO and board members in order to get this resolved.
Message from the Assigning Secretary
Please bear with me on assigning. We have had a tremendous number of matches, tournaments, and officials who have had to reschedule or cancel due to Hurricane Harvey. I will get assignments out as soon as possible. Also, please double-check all blocks, travel distances, and zip codes to ensure that, when I do assign you to a match, that you are able to accept it. Arbiter is
our chief means of communication. For example, if you do not want to travel outside your home area, do not leave arbiter defaulted to 100 miles. If you cannot leave work till 4:00 p.m., do not leave arbiter open all day. If you need assistance with this, please ask Janiece Nelson for help. More will be discussed at the next chapter meeting.
ACV Chapter Meeting Reminder
Please note that the second mandatory chapter meeting for this season is scheduled for Wednesday, September 6 at the Austin Police Association Union Hall. The ACV Trainers will conduct the training session at 6:00 p.m. with the chapter meeting following at 6:30 p.m. All officials with three years or less of service must attend the training; however, all officials are
encouraged to attend.
Proposed Amendment to the Stated Policies
During the September 6 chapter meeting, we will vote on the proposed amendment to the Stated Policies. This will be your opportunity to ask questions or voice any concerns.
School Mileage Key Emphasis on Private Schools Due to questions about mileage for private schools, the school mileage key has been updated on the ACV website with the following information: The Private schools are on a "Metro" mileage plan (identified as TAPPS). When using the metro mileage plan, the determining distance is the distance from the center point(http://www.uiltexas.org/policy/volleyballchaptercenterpoints) of Austin to the school. The location of the official's home is of no significance. The correct mileage charges for each school are listed. No official should ever charge more than what is listed on the school mileage key.
TASO Policy
As a reminder, please be sure to familiarize yourself with the TASO Policies that are listed on the TASO website under the “About Us” heading. In that section, you will find documents pertaining to Social Media Policy, Conflict of Interest, Rules Misapplication Policy, National Anthem Position, to name a few. If you have questions about any of these policies, please consult with the District Director, David Plaisance.
Mobile Alerts via Arbiter
Brenda Gray commented at the Pre-Season Chapter Meeting that members can sign up for text alerts. For those of you experiencing issues with not receiving notifications from Arbiter about game changes, new games, or being unassigned, this can be another avenue of getting up to- date information. (Please note that, depending on your cell phone plan, you may incur charges
for text messages. Therefore, please check with your provider.)
Following are the instructions:
-Log into Arbiter
-Look under the headers starting with Main, Schedule, Payments, etc. until you get to the one titled Mobile
-Click on Mobile
-Scroll down until you see “Alerts”
-Within this portion, your email address should be on one line and your cell phone # on the other.
-Select what notifications you want in the row for cell phone # by clicking in the box
-Click on SAVE.
-Next scroll to Phone Numbers and be sure that you have your carrier selected.
-If not, select your Carrier, then click on SAVE.