MTFOA updates
Long-time member Dave Ryan passes
Prayers are requested for the repose of the soul of long-time member David Ryan. Dave passed away this weekend of complications of a broken arm. This post will be updated when arrangements are complete. |
Al Valcourt passes at 67
 Valcourt, 67, passed away on Dec. 24, 2020. He was the longtime companion of Lory Lavoie. Allen was born in Fall River and was the son of the late Raymond Valcourt and Eleanor (Oldrid) Valcourt. Allen was a graduate of the Southeastern Massachusetts University and was employed as a teacher at Bishop Connelly High School and the New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School for many years. Allen also coached high school football at Joseph Case High School in Swansea and was a state accredited Track and Field Official. In his spare time, Allen enjoyed playing golf with his New Bedford Fire Department friends and relaxing by the waters of Fairhaven and Westport. Allen was a wonderful brother and an honest and hardworking man who would do anything for others. Surviving in addition to his companion Lory are his siblings, Mark Valcourt and his wife Karen of Warren, RI; Raymond Valcourt and his wife Deborah of FL and Patricia Taylor and her husband Thomas of Reading, MA; nieces and nephews, Mark Valcourt, Jr. and Kimberly Valcourt, Laura Cyr and Jessica Borges, Jaclyn Rudolph and Jenna Taylor. Private arrangements are entrusted to the Hathaway Home for Funerals, Fall River. A Celebration of Life for Allen will be held at a later date. http://www.hathawayfunerals.com/obituary/AllenR-Valcourt |
A reminder from the president about apparel
Hello again MTFOA membership. Just a footnote to my message of 12/13/20. Please remember that the current MSTCA meets at Wheaton College are not assigned by MTFOA or USATFNE. Therefore, please do not wear apparel (uniforms) from these organizations at these meets. In addition, you are not covered under MTFOA insurance and the liability falls on you if there are any accidents/incidents. As I mentioned previously, the voting e-board members will meet shortly to discuss possible changes to our Regulations. Again, Happy Holidays to you and your families. Steven R. Keyes MTFOA, President |
Email blast for 12-21-20: 2 apparel notes
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Email blast for Dec 14 - MTFOA masks available
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Bylaws revisions to be proposed
The attached three-column form is provided in order to assist any members in suggesting amendments to the MTFOA Bylaws. The left-hand column displays the current Bylaws. The middle column is for any proposed amendments that any members or others may have. The right-hand column is for providing an explanation of a proposed amendment. You will note that there are already some proposed amendments in the middle column, which were included by me as part of my review. I have included my initials and would ask others to do the same in order to follow up with any member or other individual suggesting changes. It would be helpful if any proposed amendments could be completed by Jan. 31, 2021 so they can be reviewed at the February meeting of the Executive Board. |
| Attachments:
Bylaws Review 2021.pdf
Membership meeting Dec. 3 via Zoom
The December MTFOA general membership meeting will be conducted Thursday, December 3, 2020, via a Zoom meeting at 7pm. Thanks to USATF-NE and Justin Kuo for hosting the virtual meeting. The meeting invitation will go out on WEDNESDAY at 5:00 PM. (See agenda below) For first-timers, here are links that explain how to Zoom: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-meeting https://www.howtogeek.com/662339/how-to-join-a-zoom-meeting/ MASS. TRACK AND FIELD OFFICIALS ASSOC. General Membership Zoom meeting 12/3/20 7:00 p.m. AGENDA
2. Minutes of October 1, 2020 3. Presidents report: - Subsequent indoor/outdoor seasons - MSTCA & MIAA update
4. Vice president's report: - Banquet 2021 5. Recording secretary's report: - Bylaws Form w/Proposed Changes - Reminder to Include Name on Zoom 6. Treasurers report: - General Update & Forecast - MTFOA Directory - MTFOA dues -Rule Books 7. Commissioners report: 8. Committee reports: -Reports from: Negotiating, Recruitment, PD, Etc. 9. New business: 10. Old Business: 11. Adjournment |
How one league will run its XC meets
Following up on the recent MTFOA general membership meeting, here's commentary that Tri-Valley League commissioner Jim Morris provided regarding how cross country meets in the TVL will be conducted this season: With the start of the cross country season less than 2 weeks away, I wanted to send out some information to you all regarding how this season and meets should unfold. As you know there have been many guidelines sent out for high school cross country, including MIAA and state, as well as individual conferences and towns. I will try to give you the TVL guidelines as best I can though there may be changes as we get closer. First and foremost, the TVL has ruled that face masks must be used by all officials during meets. Gaiters are not permitted so be sure to bring a mask with you and wear it for the entire meet. It is vital that you check in with the coaches when you arrive to discuss how their meet will be run. Teams may have different means of denoting runners such as color wristbands, hip numbers, etc. to determine runners in different waves. Please use the coaches' guidance to best run the meet. All athletes should be wearing a number, which they should use throughout the season. This will help with placements and recording for finishers. The Start... Meets in the TVL will be run by up to 20 runners from each team per gender. The start will have 5 runners from each team separated by 6 feet for each runner. Therefore, the starting line should be 60 feet wide. This will prevent the use of tracks as starting and finishing lines. In the event that the start line is not 60 feet, runners will have to be lined up behind others on their team, again separated by 6 feet. To accommodate the 20 runners per team, there may be up to 4 waves per gender, each wave separated by 3 minute intervals. For timing purposes, officials should start watches for first wave and use this time for all runners at finish. Times will then be adjusted by 3-minute increments for scoring. Officials will need assistance from coaches to aid in scoring the meet. The Finish... The finish line must be 28 feet wide and will be separated into "lanes," one left for the 1st team and the other right for 2nd team. All athletes must finish with their own teammates in whichever "lane" is determined to be theirs. In meets officiated by 2 officials, each official should take a "lane" and time that lane only. If there is one official, you may need the assistance of coaches to aid in timing as it is very difficult to time a 28-foot-wide finish with runners going in different directions at the line. Results should then be recorded on a sheet that can then be broken down by waves for official times. Officials should again check with coaches to see how the finish area will be handled. If the officials are timing the meet, then coaches will need to record the finishers in order by number. If officials are recording, then coaches will have to assist with timing of runners. Again, this must be worked out before the start of the meet. Nothing will be handed out to runners finishing to determine places and runners from each team will be kept separated by the coaches at the finish area. Some teams may try to videotape the finish line; this is approved for scoring purposes by the MIAA. There will be new courses for some schools this year. Hopkinton and Ashland will be running on campus and not at state parks. Other teams such as Norton and Westwood, who have started and finished on the track are revising their courses, so please cover this with coaches prior to the start. You should be all use watches at meets assigned, and brush up on NFHS cross country rules, especially rules involving scoring of the meet to be sure you have this covered for the meet. Even though all TVL teams are running on Saturdays this season, start times will differ for each meet, as will which gender goes first. When I send out weekly assignments to you during the week before the meet, I will note start times and which gender goes first. Meets are separated by 1 hour for each gender, so all boys will start at 10am then all girls will start at 11 am as an example. Fee for meets this year will be $120. Be sure that you have updated your status on MIAA website and have paid your annual $80 fee to MTFOA. I'm sure there will be questions and I will do my best to answer them for you. In addition there may be changes that I will hear about from schools and AD's this season...I will update you on these as I get them. In short, try to be as flexible as possible as this will be a very unusual season and there are many variations we have never experienced before. Jim Morris |
Annual MTFOA meeting on Thursday - updated
The annual MTFOA general membership meeting will be conducted Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, via a Zoom meeting at 7pm. Thanks to USATF-NE and Justin Kuo for hosting the virtual meeting. The meeting invitation link is below. Links can be found below for people unfamiliar with ZOOM. MASS. TRACK AND FIELD OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION General Membership Zoom Meeting 10/1/20 7:00 p.m. AGENDA 1. Call to order via Zoom 2. Minutes of Oct. 3, 2019, meeting 3. President’s report: - X-country season procedures - Subsequent indoor/outdoor seasons - MSTCA & MIAA updates - MTFOA Dues Commentary - Upcoming Changes to the Bylaws - Thanks to P. Meagher, D. Johns, D. Hatch 4. Vice president's report: - Banquet 2020 & 2021 - Evaluation of Officials 5. Recording secretary's report: - Current membership, terms and election, see attachment below 6. Treasurer’s report: - General update & forecast - MTFOA directory - MTFOA dues 7. Commissioners report: 8. Committee reports: - Nominating – election of Executive Board members - Reports from: Negotiating, Recruitment, Bylaws, PD, Communications, Audit 9. New business: - Jacob Johns - update on officials scheduling process - Brian Moody, pregame for officials 10. Old Business: 11. Adjournment Here’s the Zoom meeting invitation: USATF New England is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: MTFOA Meeting Time: Oct 1, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81940822425?pwd=Y0RwTEpROE1tTGNaWkttaVZRcTljQT09 Meeting ID: 819 4082 2425 Passcode: 20201001 One tap mobile +13017158592,,81940822425#,,,,,,0#,,20201001# US (Germantown) +13126266799,,81940822425#,,,,,,0#,,20201001# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 819 4082 2425 Passcode: 20201001 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kd8UcWdeAP https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-meeting https://www.howtogeek.com/662339/how-to-join-a-zoom-meeting/ |
| Attachments:
Executive Board 2019-2020.pdf
President's report: General meeting Oct. 1 on Zoom
Greetings folks and I hope everyone remains safe and healthy. Thanks for your patience through these trying times and I wanted to assure you the MTFOA e-board is still working hard behind the scenes through this crisis. A few things for you to keep in mind as we commence with the season: -- We will be having a virtual Zoom general membership meeting on Oct. 1, 2020, for the first 100 members who log in. Zoom login info will be sent out soon. -- The Cross Country season is slated to commence about Sept. 18, 2020, although some smaller events have already commenced such as at Newton North HS on Labor Day. Please consult the MIAA, MSTCA and USATF websites for the latest information, mandates and updates on all three Track & Field seasons. -- We have two e-board vacancies as of Oct. 1, 2020. Deems Hatch and Dave Johns are coming off the board -- thanks guys for your service. Therefore, as chair of the nominating committee, I need nominations from the membership submitted to me by the end of business on FRIDAY, SEPT. 18, 2020. Please email submissions to me at my new email address: skeyes@uhmproperties.com. I will review the nominations with the other nominating committee members so we can have the new members in place by Oct. 1, 2020. -- Lastly, there will be Cross Country and Track & Field season; although scaled back, there will be events contested. So please remember to pay your dues. Dues are again $80 and should be sent into Don Kirkland our treasurer. Best, Steven R. Keyes MTFOA, President |
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