Welcome to the 2020 Football Season! The Executive Board has been working very hard this offseason in providing valuable information, education and resources for our membership in an effort to make us the best officials we can be. The ANEFO’s response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic is to provide you pertinent information as it is obtained and unfolds throughout this crisis. The health of all officials, players, and spectators is at the forefront of our organization.
As decisions about the upcoming season unfold, we will keep you informed. Although we do not know at this time what the season will look like, we are committed to being ready if and when we are called upon to officiate the game we love.
I wanted to take this time to remind you of the requirements to remain a “member in good standing” in our organization. We feel that completing these requirements and staying current on the rules are vital parts of being a quality official. The modified requirements, in lieu of the current pandemic, are as follows:
• The 2020 dues will remain at $90. If you pay your ANEFO dues, and the MIAA decides to cancel high school football this season, your paid dues will be credited to the succeeding 2021 season. It also appropriate and proper to ask for “full refund,” if you so desire. That request will be honored.
• Members, who are not also college officials, must attend six interpretation meetings. Those who attend and pay their dues by the July meeting will receive double credit for this meeting. While college officials are not required to attend, we encourage those who will be officiating High School football to attend the summer meetings to pick up rule books and learn the basics of the rule differences.
• Members, who are not also college officials, must complete the pre-season exam. The exam will be posted on the website.
These requirements will all be tracked on the ANEFO website. Members will be able to log on and see if their dues have been paid, how many meetings they have attended, and if they have completed the preseason exam. All requirements will be strictly enforced. If you are unable to attend the required meetings for any reason, please let me know ASAP.
Please consider making your dues payment via PayPal at www.ANEFO.org . Simply click the “REGISTRATION” tab (this helps shorten member check in lines at meetings).
Dues paid by check will continue to be accepted; checks should be made out to ANEFO. Mailed due’s and fee payments can be mailed to 53 Myrtle Street, Everett, MA 02149. Attention: Bob Prestera.
All members should log on to the website, ANEFO.org, and make sure all of your information is up to date. Please contact me if you are having trouble logging on.
All meetings are scheduled, at this time, to be held on Mondays (except where noted) at 7:00pm at the Malden Irish American Club at follows:
July 27th
August 31st
September 8th (Tuesday)
September 14th
September 21st
September 28th
October 5th
October 19th
October 26th
November 2nd – Business Meeting
November 23rd – Banquet
The MIAA voted that the uniform shirts for officials in Massachusetts NFHS football games will be two inch (2” inch) strips. If your entire crew would like to wear one inch stripes during a regular season game and/or sub-varsity or youth games, that is permissible. However, with split crews, once the MIAA playoff begin, the two inch stripes will be required.
The ANEFO has made arrangements with Steve Zazuri of “Blow Your Whistle,” of Monroe, Connecticut to provide uniforms at a special reduced rate. They offer three packages deals on the following website:
https://www.blowyourwhistles.com/collections/football-packages.
“Blow Your Whistle” is offering a Memorial Weekend Sale. 10% discount and shipping at this time is $6.95 (usually $9.95). Also any order over $100 includes free shipping. The latter offer expires on Monday, May 25, 2020. The ANEFO procured this deal as a courtesy to the members. All ANEFO officials may, of course, purchase uniforms from other vendors.
In addition, First Vice President Al Bartolini will be conducting candidates’ classes at the Irish American starting with Registration on Monday August 31st. If you know of any interested candidates, please send their contact information to Al at abartolini914@gmail.com . Please spread the word!
Looking forward to seeing everyone soon.
Sincerely,
Bob Prestera
Secretary/Treasurer