Papa's Got A Brand New Bag (James Brown, 1965) ...

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

If one wants to work high school games there is only one assigner, and you work under his, and the board's, rules (one in the same). Connecticut high schools are now 100% covered by IAABO, with it's rules, and local territorial boundaries.

Members of my local board were recently reminded that we must "live in" one of the two counties that our local territory covers, or you can't belong to our local board (veterans were grandfathered in, we used to have "dual membership" status, no more).

That presents another lack of choice. No longer can we officiate where we work, went to school, etc., if we don't live and work, went to school, etc., in the same local territory (two Connecticut counties).



Does it sound like I'm an independent contractor, or am I self employed?

Or course, I can take my skills elsewhere. I do have choices to work recreation, travel, AAU, some middle schools, out of state, college, professional, Olympics, etc., that are outside the "IAABO Universe" (Note to self: Write superhero screenplay entitled "IAABO Universe").

Note: I like my local board, and I've been treated fairly by my local IAABO board, even under the strict restrictions that we work under. I'm a journeyman official and I get a full schedule of games, boys and girls, even some high level games. I even get a few votes every year for the state tournament, boys and girls, just not enough. A few (two, or three) long trips each season (less than an hour away), but most of my games are within a thirty-minute drive. I've taken advantage of the massive number of outstanding educational opportunities offered to me. I've been treated fairly by our rating systems. I've worked under four different assigners over thirty-eight years (two short term, two long term) and have been treated extremely well by all of them. Meetings are mostly educational in nature, with little "business". Yeah, it's a monopoly, but it's a monopoly that's treated me well. I really can't complain.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Members of my local board were recently reminded that we must "live in" one of the two counties that our local territory covers, or you can't belong to our local board (veterans were grandfathered in, we used to have "dual membership" status, no more).

That presents another lack of choice. No longer can we officiate where we work, went to school, etc., if we don't live and work, went to school, etc., in the same local territory (two Connecticut counties).

....

Definitely not independent contractor status; sounds more like a Communist system.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Definitely not independent contractor status; sounds more like a Communist system.

Communist? No. Socialist? Maybe. We still vote for our local board leaders. Sometimes there's more than one person on the ballot. Connecticut, after all, is a very blue state. It's in our blood.

It's actually more like building hotels on both Boardwalk, and Park Place, and owning the Pennsylvania, B&O, Reading, and Short Line railroads. Everybody else still has a chance, but do they really?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Definitely not independent contractor status; sounds more like a Communist system.

But I can work as many recreation games as I want, anywhere in Connecticut.

[bucky]

Come on Billy. With the exception of one, I feel that every question you asked in your OP was rhetorical. You know that there is no perfect method to all this officiating stuff. You included a lot of "should"s in there and you know the answers. Luvs!

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bucky

Come on Billy. With the exception of one, I feel that every question you asked in your OP was rhetorical.

Busted.