Association Culture ...

[Freddy]

Seems, from what you're saying about yourself as an association, your group needs to analyze what essential things there are about which veterans are aware by virtue of "tribal knowledge" and how newbies come to acquire that body of knowledge bit-by-bit over a long--perhaps too long--a period of time.
Locally I'm becoming aware that new inductees simply don't know what's expected of them unless oriented in some way by someone.
Many veterans consider the need to convey such simple expectations ridiculous because, after all, they already know that themselves. Truth be told, it takes a long time and a lots of learning opportunities for "tribal knowledge" to take full hold in a newer person. Doing what you're doing certainly goes a long way to overcome that.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Your group needs to analyze what essential things there are about which veterans are aware by virtue of "tribal knowledge" and how newbies come to acquire that body of knowledge bit-by-bit over a long period of time.

Our problem is that we got too big, too fast. We went from a group of about 200 plus guys, mostly veterans, to a group of more than 325 guys (merger with another board, several really big cadet classes), mostly new guys. Our "my way or the highway" leaders (dictators) left, or died, and unwritten rules got "lost in the wind".

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Our problem is that we got too big, too fast. We went from a group of about 200 plus guys, mostly veterans, to a group of more than 325 guys (merger with another board, several really big cadet classes), mostly new guys. Our "my way or the highway" leaders (dictators) left, or died, and unwritten rules got "lost in the wind".

Maybe that's for the better. Step back and consider if the old guard (which you're a part of) could better serve your officials by backing off some of those unneeded rules.

I guarantee you if I had to show up for 5:50PM to watch the entire JV game, I'd likely not be working. I have a day job, after all.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Rich

Backing off some of those unneeded rules. I guarantee you if I had to show up for 5:50PM to watch the entire JV game ...

I can guarantee that the "custom" of a varsity official showing up for the second period of the junior varsity game will never change (Note: It has never been a requirement to show up for the entire junior varsity game, although many of us do so voluntarily). Varsity officials are expected to evaluate, critique, and rate, subvarsity officials. That's how subvarsity officials improve, and move up the ranks, or in some cases, always remain subvarsity officials, even getting really bad subvarsity schedules. That's the basis of our local rating, and ranking, system, which dictates the level, and number, of games one is assigned.

Rich: I really didn't want this thread to go in this direction, but I'm curious. Outside of showing up, or staying, to watch the other end of the doubleheader, what other "customs" do you find unneeded (confirm games, business casual, proper uniforms, not showing up in uniform, not leaving in uniform, leavng site together, etc.)? I'm not looking to start a debate here (to each his own), I'm just curious.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I can guarantee that the "custom" of a varsity official showing up for the second period of the junior varsity game will never change (Note: It has never been a requirement to show up for the entire junior varsity game, although many of us do so voluntarily). Varsity officials are expected to evaluate, critique, and rate, subvarsity officials. That's how subvarsity officials improve, and move up the ranks, or in some cases, always remain subvarsity officials, even getting really bad subvarsity schedules. That's the basis of our local rating, and ranking, system, which dictates the level, and number, of games one is assigned.

Don't you guys have trainings, meetings or camps? There are a lot of ways to get better or to be evaluated as officials than the game they are working on a particular night. Heck the officials could stay and watch the varsity game and then ask questions and learn from watching. You have mentioned ratings and I am confused why these ratings matter so much? You mean to say if I were a varsity official and saw someone that I felt could do that job or that I saw work I would gladly work with them in the future, my rating is the only thing that matters? I guess I am not understanding why the ratings are more important than some gut about who has the stuff and who does not.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Heck the (junior varsity) officials could stay and watch the varsity game and then ask questions and learn from watching.

The good ones do, staying for the entire varsity game, and participating in the post varsity game conference, and they often move up faster than the ones that don't. That's one of the reasons (there are others, i.e. ratings, fill in for injured, or sick varsity official, remember, we're a two person state) why we want the junior varsity officials to stay until at least halftime of the varsity game.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

The good ones do, staying for the entire varsity game, and participating in the post varsity game conference, and they often move up faster than the ones that don't. That's one of the reasons (there are others, i.e. ratings, fill in for injured, or sick varsity official, remember, we're a two person state) why we want the junior varsity officials to stay until at least halftime of the varsity game.

Why not come up with some "best practices" that have seemed to work, instead of mandating rules that have holes in actual application.

Peace