February 2024
Dear EMBUA member,
The EMBUA Executive Board has been meeting to set up the upcoming 2024 season. The meeting schedule for the 2024 season, among other important decisions that have been made are included in this Newsletter.
There have been several changes and additions for the upcoming season, so please review the information in this notice and the updated information at EMBUA.org carefully.
MEETINGS
For 2024 we have made the investment in a new laptop and projector to improve the information that we can share at our meetings. It is our hope that will give you more training and have better examples to explain in game situations.
The dates for the season’s meetings are listed below. All General Membership Meetings are held at the Malden Irish-American Club. In order to accommodate requests about earlier meeting times and the difficulty about meeting once the high school season begins, we have changed the days and starting times of some meetings to accommodate members’ needs.
The EBoard set the attendance requirement to be four (4) out of five (5).
The meeting schedule and starting times are listed below:
- March 4, 2024 7:00PM – Interpreters Meeting (attendance is required)
- March 11, 2024 7:00PM – NFHS Review, Nominations for EBoard
- March 18, 2024 7:00PM – Annual Business Meeting (attendance is required)
- April 9, 2024 7:00PM – Planned Topic Field Mechanics
- April 30, 2024 7:00PM – Planned Topic MLB Rules for Summer Leagues
Note: We are working with Tom Clews and will try and provide an update to this that will have an agenda for each meeting.
DUES
The annual dues for the 2024 season will be $80.00,
In order to avoid long lines and to speed up the dues paying process, you are encouraged to mail your dues to: EMBUA Treasurer c/o David Treska, 35 Valley Road, Dracut, MA 01826. We are working to adding the PayPal pay link to the updated website. Dues must be paid by the second General Membership Meeting on March 11th 2024. Members wishing to participate in the Annual Business meeting must have their dues paid.
EMBUA Website Update
Please go to the Association website and check that all your contact information is correct. Make any necessary corrections and be sure to save the corrections, especially your email address and telephone number. If you experience any problems logging in with correcting any information, please contact Secretary David Treska for assistance.
EMBUA SCHOLARSHIPS
There will be two (2) Harland “Sonny” Robins Scholarships of five hundred ($500) dollars each; one to a son and one to a daughter of a member in good standing and/or members who are in good standing and who has been accepted to, or are currently enrolled and working toward an undergraduate degree. Application forms are available on the EMBUA website (www.embua.org). If you feel your son or daughter qualifies (graduating from High School through junior year in college) please fill out the application on the website and return to Don Dabenigno at a meeting. The scholarship recipients will be selected at the Annual Business Meeting on March 18th 2024. Applications must be received by March 11th 2024 – no exceptions!
HIGH SCHOOL COMMISSOINERS
Most, if not all, commissioners require a yearly Arbiter Sports fee. It’s a minimum fee. Check with your commissioner(s) about their Arbiter Sports fee and let them know about your availability. BLOCK all specific days between March 25, 2024, and July 3, 2024, that you are NOT available. The Commissioners cannot assign you to work a high school game if you have not completed your MIAA registration requirements; see below.
MIAA REGISTRATION/NHSF CONCUSSION TEST
All members planning on umpiring high school games (varsity, JV or freshman) are required to register with the MIAA and the MIAA requires all game officials to complete the NHSF Concussion Test prior to the season. You can access the MIAA registration information and the Concussion Test login address by going to the members section on the Association website and going to the MIAA registration tab.
NEW UMPIRE CLINIC
We need all members’ help with identifying prospective new members. If you know anyone who is interested in becoming an umpire, please direct them to the information on our website; embua.org.
New for 2024, if you refer people that register for the class, we will refund your dues as an incentive in helping grow the attendees and our membership.
Classes will begin Sunday, February 18th 2024, and it is not to late to register for the class. If you have any questions about the candidates’ clinic, please contact Interpreter Tom Clews at 617-666-0629; tjclews@hotmail.com
PRE-SEASON TEST
The pre-season test will be distributed shortly and completely it is a requirement of all members prior to the season. The exam will be reviewed at a General Membership Meeting on March 11th 2024.
RETIRED MEMBERSHIP STATUS
The retired status is a membership status is for any member who has retired from actively umpiring ALL games, high school and summer ball, and is a member in good standing. This membership will afford the member all the rights and privileges of an active membership designation. If you would like to be listed as a retired member, please contact David Treska.
UMPIRING EQUIPMENT
John Ventura will again be invited to be at our meetings for anyone needing to replenish their equipment and/or uniforms.
ANNUAL BANQUET
We are working on plans for our annual banquet and will announce to everyone the date of this event.
Other responsibilities to take care of:
1) REGISTER WITH THE MIAA
All officials must register annually with the MIAA and pay the $10 per sport. Returning officials must confirm pre-populated information and complete all steps of the registration process. You do this by signing into your personal online Arbiter Sports account and then select “MIAA State Office – Central Hub”. That will take you to the MIAA Registration Page. Or, you can go directly to http://www.miaa.net, then scroll down and select the Arbiter Sports Icon on the left side of the page.
2) COMPLETE MIAA BACKGROUND CHECK (if yours has expired)
Check the Arbiter and then the MIAA State Office – Central Hub, to see if your background check has expired. The background check only has to be done every three years. Each official must use Arbiter Sports to register with the MIAA each year. New officials will have to complete the MIAA Background check and pay the $45 fee, plus the $10 for the sport of football.
3) COMPLETE THE NFHS CONCUSSION EXAM
Another requirement to work High School games you need to complete the NFHS Concussion Exam. Here is the link for the exam, https://nfhslearn.com/courses/concussion-in-sports-2
4) TAKE CARE OF YOUR EMBUA DUES/ATTEND MEETINGS
To be in “good standing” you must have paid your annual dues must be paid by the second General Membership Meeting as well as attend 4 of the 5 scheduled meetings. If you fail to do so, you will be suspended and prohibited from working games. We need everyone’s help and don’t want to suspend anyone, so please make every effort to stay in good standing.
5) STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR COMMISSIONER AND STAY UP TO DATE WITH YOUR ARBITER
Most, if not all, commissioners require a yearly Arbiter Sports fee. It’s a minimum fee. Check with your commissioner(s) about their Arbiter Sports fees and let them know about your availability. BLOCK all specific days between March 25, 2024, and July 3, 2024 that you are NOT available. The Commissioners cannot assign you to work a high school game if you have not completed all of the above requirements (MIAA $10 baseball fee, background check, EMBUA dues, etc.)
Have a great season!
David Treska
EMBUA, Secretary-Treasurer