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Next Meeting -- Basketball -- Monday, February 8th -- MHSAA Building -- 7:00 PM

2010 CAOA Banquet Registration Form Now Online

It's time again to make plans for the annual CAOA Banquet. This year's banquet will be held on February 28th, 2010. You can download the registration form by clicking here or by using the Banquet Registration link on the left side of any page. The registration deadline is February 19th, so we're encouraging all members to register as soon as possible. The banquet is a great opportunity to share camaraderie with your fellow officials and their significant others, as well as to celebrate the accomplishments of the CAOA. In addition to a great meal and a free gift, there will also be thousands of dollars worth of raffle prizes, scholarship opportunities for summer camps and more. The banquet also counts as one meeting credit toward MIGS status. Mark this date in your calendar and make plans to attend now!

December 7th Meeting Recap

The following items were presented at the December 7th basketball meeting. Please download for your review.

CAOA Christmas Family

As is our tradition, the CAOA will be collecting funds to help a local family in need this holiday season. I am hopeful that each of you will find it in your heart to donate whatever amount you can at this time. Every bit helps, no donation is too small.

If you are unable to attend either basketball meeting and would like to donate, please send a check made out to CAOA to the following address:

Eric Wills, Treasurer
CAOA
382 Burr Oak Drive
Diamondale, MI 48821

Please put "Christmas Family Donation" on the memo line of your check.

Thank you in advance for your generous donation. The board is confident that our membership will once again rise to the occasion and give a needy family a Merry Christmas.

CAOA Basketball Pregame

The CAOA Basketball Directors have updated the approved Pre-game. Please download the document here and bring it to the December 7th Basketball Meeting for review. This document should serve as your pregame conference outline for all high school games worked by CAOA crews. This pregame is quite extensive and is not meant to be read "line by line" in your pregame conference. Rather, it is an outline of many topics with varying degrees of importance. Pregame conferences should be interactive with all three officials participating. The CAOA Basketball Pregame document will help to keep the conference focused and make sure that important items are discussed.


Team CAOA Out in Full Force at the W3 5K Run/Walk

Check out our W3 Run/Walk Photo Gallery!The CAOA was well represented at the Sparrow Foundation Women Working Wonders 5K Run/Walk at Hawk Island on Sunday, September 13. Over 50 CAOA members, family, and friends participated in the event. Team CAOA raised $1,275 for the Sparrow Foundation, more than 20% of all funds raised at the race.

Whistle While You Run!Every member of Team CAOA received a "Whistle While You Run" t-shirt as well as a picnic lunch after the 5K.

Jordan Parks led the way for the team, posting a time of 19:54, good for third place overall. Nathan Parks and Kevin Duits finished fourth and fifth overall, respectively.

Click here for a photo gallery from the event.


New Email Address

CAOA President, Jeff Spedoske is using a new email address for all CAOA business. The AOL account was compromised. The CAOA apologizes if you have received spam email from that account. Any email regarding CAOA business for Jeff Spedoske should be sent to caoaofficials@gmail.com.


2009-10 CAOA Theme: A More Fit CAOA

At the most recent CAOA Board Meeting, the board decided on a theme for the 2009-10 season. This year, the CAOA will be putting an emphasis on getting in shape and eating right in order to be at your best on the field or court. Every CAOA meeting during 2009-10 will have a fitness component incorporated into the meeting. We also have a dedicated "Nutrition" page where you can view and print documents containing information on basic nutrition information, weight management, importance of fluids and more. This page can be viewed by clicking here or using the nutrition link on the navigation bar in the "Reference" section.


Membership in Good Standing

Now is the time to check your MIGS status, do not wait until the season starts! If you are a football crew chief, please check on your entire crew as soon as possible. You can see your status with on our web site, www.greatlakesreferee.com, and by logging into the MHSAA site. IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED WITH THE MHSAA FOR 2009-10, WE CANNOT MAKE YOU A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING UNTIL YOU DO SO. Please register with the MHSAA as soon as possible so we can complete our good standing roster. Any questions regarding MIGS status should be directed to Membership Director, Dan Carmichael, at jendan10@att.net.


CAOA Dues

CAOA Dues should be paid immediately. You will not be included on the MIGS list until your dues are up to date. CAOA dues are $40 per year ($20 for students). Click here for a registration sheet:

http://www.greatlakesreferee.com/highschool/caoa_membership.pdf

Any questions regarding dues should be directed to Treasurer, Eric Wills, at ewills@loeye.com.


CAOA Mentor Program Job Description

Did you have a veteran official that took you under his or her wing when you were just starting out or did you wander aimlessly through this maze of officiating without any guidance or support?  In either case, we have a way to give back and help a new official avoid those same pitfalls.

The CAOA is starting a Mentor Program for new or inexperienced officials.  Our hope is that by pairing up a less experienced official with a seasoned CAOA member, we can help new members avoid the pitfalls that often lead to discouragement, disillusionment, and ultimately disinterest in officiating.  If you are a CAOA member in good standing with a positive attitude regarding officiating and the CAOA, please consider being a CAOA Mentor.

Mentorship is not only for our most experienced or accomplished members.  In fact, an official with just a few years experience may be more adept at guiding a new official through today's myriad of issues.

A Mentor would be expected to be available to the mentee for guidance, be willing to occasionally work with the mentee on sub-varsity assignments, give both positive and constructive feedback on performance, etc.

Again, we are looking for mentor's with a POSITIVE attitude towards both officiating in general and the CAOA specifically.  If you qualify and are interested in becoming a CAOA Mentor, contact me, Jeff Spedoske, by email at caoaofficials@gmail.com.
 


CAOA Leading the Way for Officials for Kids

CAOA presented a check for $5000 at the 2006 Boys State Finals at the Breslin Center.
CAOA presented a check for $5000 at the 2006 Boys State Finals at the Breslin Center.

Officials for Kids originated in Lansing, Michigan in 2003 to support the local fundraising efforts of Coaches for Kids and Athletes for Kids whose goal is to construct a dedicated pediatric emergency room & waiting room at Sparrow Hospital. Now, Officials for Kids has built a positive image and is ready to go across Michigan to help kids in all our communities. This initiative is a great way to become actively involved in supporting the future of children's healthcare in Michigan.

The CAOA initially raised $1,000 toward their goal and the figure has grown exponentially since that time. The 2007 - 08 totals stand at $4,000, bringing the grand total raised to $13,277. "This is a great way for officials in the capital area to give back to the community," stated Jeff Spedoske, CAOA President. "We are very proud to be one of the leading officials associations in the state of Michigan to support this cause."
 


Officials For Kids "Give a Game" Form Now Available

The Officials for Kids program originated in Lansing in 2003 with a goal of raising funds for the construction of a dedicated pediatric emergency room and waiting room at Sparrow Hospital. Now CAOA members can easily donate a game fee or more toward this purpose using our printable form. All donations are tax-deductible. Click here to view and print the form. You can also read more about this project on the Sparrow Foundation website.

This page was last updated on Thursday, February 04, 2010.