Mike Rowe,
You are THE ASA umpire after my heart!! I bleed ASA blue.
We pay our annual dues for ASA, an association fee of $20 (my association, others are similiar) and no fees for local clinics here in Metro Atlanta. The association dues are for postage, maybe a rental fee for meetings, flowers for the sick or in sympathy, etc. We also have a Regional Clinic ($10, hasn't gone up in 20 years) taught by a National Staff member, and a school that occurs on a Sat. and Sun. in February with clinic and on the field with at least 2 National Staff members ($60, hasn't gone up in 15 years). All are very beneficial to the rookie or seasoned umpire. Metro Atlanta ASA is a well respected organization and we always have great clinicians, including Merle one year--(I had a lot of fun with Merle).
As for college here, it is VERY political, and would cause me to kiss some a**. My former UIC tried to sponsor me into the group in 1998, and I was voted out, because I wasn't with the 'in' a** kissing crowd. Big deal! I would
have had to use too many of my vacation and personal days
to work college ball anyway.
As for shortage of umpires for tournaments, the only shortage Metro Atlanta has is enough quality umpires to work. A lot, like me, have retired, call only college or won't work them because they only want to pick games/teams
themselves. Two of our finest ISF Modified umpires have retired their blue shirts, and they were my best teachers.
Consequently, I have to bite my tongue, or have parents peel me off the fence at Renee's games because the quality of umpiring has declined over the past 5 years.
Sad, isnt' it?