Spring Business Meeting: The Annual Spring Business Meeting will be Monday, April 8, at 7:00 p.m. at Washington High School, Room 116.

Sixty-fifth Spring Dinner: Everyone is invited to our annual Spring Dinner at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, April 10, with cocktails at 6:15 p.m. and dinner around 7:00 p.m. We will have a cash bar.  Featured Speaker will be announced. A reservation form is in this letter. PLEASE return it as soon as possible. If you did not attend the Fall Dinner, your meal is free with your membership. Dinner is $15.00 for your guest or if you atttended the Fall Dinner. Make every effort to attend and welcome the new officials. 

Top Test Scores: The top Basketball Part II test score went to Marv Howsare who scored a 98%. We had 4 members score above 90%, 12 above 80% and 12 above 70%. 6 below 70%. 12 officials did not take the test. Joel Duffy scored the highest of the applying officials.  Two applying officials scored  80% and  8 above 70%. Four did not take the test. Two officials failed the exam. 

A Reminder to Update the Executive Secretary: In order to have as few conflicts as possible, I would like for you to up-date your football schedule with me. I will be starting to schedule games in early summer. We have over 100 games to assign once again. Only paid members will be assigned games.

We Are In Need of New Officials: The need is still there! We need many new officials for this coming fall and winter. Start looking for new members. We need officials who can work middle school games and many early basketball games. We will train them and give them some start-up games. If you bring in a new member, we will give you a free banquet ticket for your guest.

A reminder to new officials who are interested in officiating. Individuals who wish to officiate football and/or basketball through affiliation with the CRAOA and itsÕ training program for either or both sports must initiate their intent by the following dates of the current seasons: FootballÑNo later than the first regular C.R.A.O.A. meeting for football rules study in August. Basketball: No later than the first regular C.R.A.O.A. meeting for basketball rules study in October. Individuals who are beginning officials in football and/or basketball must meet the above guidelines to receive training and game assignments through the C.R.A.O.A. Those who express an interest after the deadline can officiate on their own or wait until the next year.

Make Sure You Are Up-To-Date With The State Association: A reminder to make sure you have paid your fees at the state level. BoyÕs Association: I.H.S.A.A., Box 10, Boone, IA 50036. $40.00 for 2 sports and $5.00 for each additional sport, penalty after June 1, 2002.

Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, PO Box 10348, Des Moines, IA 50306-0348. $25.00 per sport plus $3.00 additional, $10.00 penalty after June 1, 2002.

New Officers for 2001-2002: The President is Jack Jaspers (Basketball), First Vice President is Dan Hilby (Football) and  Second Vice President is Dave Brousard (Football). If you have any concerns, please contact any one of them.

Longevity Award: If you are one of the officials who has worked and belonged to the CRAOA for 10-15-20-25-30-35-40 years, please contact Pinky Primrose so we can make sure you will be recognized at the banquet this spring or next fall. We will only recognize you on your anniversary date.

Speakers at Meetings: We would like to thank you speakers who have volunteered to speak at the rules sessions. If you are interested in volunteering next season, please contact Bill Yeisley for Football and Harry Brown for Basketball.

Working State Tournament Series: The following officials worked the State Basketball Tournament Series: Dan Colbert, Jeff Frese, Rick Hersom, Darrell Hobbs, Jack Jaspers, Randy Krejci*, Mark Miller, Brad Sorenson, Larry Walderbach  and Jerry Winter. 
* Denotes State Tournament.

Several Drop Out of C.R.A.O.A. Basketball: The following officials dropped out of CRAOA (basketball): Dick Breitbach, John Millis, David Stamy.

Applying Members This Year: The membership will act upon the following officials during the upcoming meeting--Step II to Full Membership: Sam Barrett, Bryce Conway, Joel Duffy, Kenn McNutt. 

From Step I to Step II: Ryan Joyner, Craig Kissman, Tom McGrane.

Transfers to Full Membership: Bill Kramer, Mark Springsten and Terry Turner.

The Following Officials will be Honored at the Banquet: Marv Lincoln and  Tom Ratchford (5 years); Jim Barns and  Jim Hazelton (10 years); Pinky Primrose (40 years).

Jim Patterson into Hall of Fame: Jim Patterson was  inducted into the Iowa Officials Hall of Fame at the recent State Tournament. Jim joins 14 other CRAOA officials into the Hall of Fame. Hall of Famers are: Len Benhart, Jack Christensen, Ray Hamad, Richard Koolbeck, Randy Krejci, John Lowry, Bud Paulsen, Ev Petersen, Lanny Peterson, James Schneekloth, Bob Tvrdik, Bob Vrbicek, Fred Winter and Bill Yeisley. 

Check out Web Site: The web site is up and running. www.craoa.com. You can now check out the Roster, Minutes, Requirements, Availability, Master Schedule and  Newsletters. If you have any suggestions, please forward them to the Executive Secretary. We will try to work with Arbiter and our web master to give you one of the best. You can check messages also.

Let's Go Back Into History Of The Association! Meeting Minutes:

40 Years Ago: April 2, 1962. 35 members and guests met at the Sheraton-Montrose Hotel for a buffet dinner. President Ray Petrzelka called the meeting to order. Coach Gay Dahn of Jefferson High School was the guest speaker. He spoke about his experiences with officials during the year and on how coaches look at officials and rate them at the end of the season.There was a balance on hand of $46.96.  Membership went to Don Goodwin, Wally Krouse, Gary Corey, Ron Graham and Norman Sauer. It was brought to the group that two new men who have had previous officiating experience but who did not attend the required number of meetings for new officials would like to be admitted to the Assn.  It was decided that this would be impossible to do as it would mean waiving the laws of our constitution.

35 Years Ago: March 20, 1967, the Annual Dinner was held at the Ronneburg Restaurant in Amana. President Lou Ginsberg called the meeting to order. The new officials were discussed. Approval to full membership were Dave Messer, Lanny Peterson, Jerry Tann and Mike Tousey, temporary approval to Jack Christensen, Dick Christy, Dick Dircks, Dudley Draxton, Arnie Gaarde, Bob Kibby, Jerry O'Brien, Roger Pohlman, Dick Wagner. Bill Brousard was President-Elect. 

30 Years Ago: March 6, 1972, the dinner was held at Ronneburg Restaurant. Jim Schneekloth was President. President-elect was Pinky Primrose. Full membership to Jack Barker, Bob Kramer, John Lowry, Ed Miller, Roger Norton, Jim Nelsen, Jim Benedict, Gary Karr, Dan Mellenthin, Bill Nichols, Walt Sharp, Don Spratte, Dick Venteicher, Russ Werning. Past Presidents of the CRAOA were honored at the social function, as were four  men who have served as Executive Secretary. The minutes and records only go back to 1958.

25 Years Ago: Monday, March 17, 1977, President Marv Howsare called the meeting to order. Evaluation of New Officials caused a lengthy discussion. Full membership to Sam Keilty, Larry Palmer, James Overman, Lee Koelker, William Primley, George Volk, John Wathan. Temporary Approval to Gary Wagner, John Fowler, Norm Grimm and Art Christofferson. Gene Wachholtz was approved as a transfer. The following officials were dropped from the roster due to failure to meet association requirements: Jim Benedict, Arnold Paulsen, Jerry Tann, Larry Walderbach, Russ Werning, Mick Mattiace and Bill Yeisley. Dinner was at the Ronneberg Restaurant. John Lowry was President-Elect.

20 Years Ago: March 22, 1982, President Richard Koolbeck called the meeting to order. Five officials were approved for full membership: Donna Butikofer, Jerry Winter, Tom Cleveland, Ray Kleuver, Don Holladay. Jim Meskimen was President-Elect. The following officials were dropped from roster: John Adams, Sam Kielty, Herb Schaefer and Bob Kramer.

15 Years Ago: March 23, 1987. Meeting was called to order by President Randy Krejci. Balance on hand was $904.93. Full membership to Steve Daily, Scott Engledow, Jeff Henderson, Ed Lala, Dave Brown, Tim Brashaw, Don Burrows, Dennis Smeltzer. Don Holladay was President-Elect. Mick Mattiace was removed from roster because of not meeting requirements.

10 Years Ago: March 23, 1992, President Mike Opheim called the meeting to order, Full membership was awarded to Brandon Beaudry and Brian Rohr. Transfers into the organization were Gary Ewald, Jerry Kadlec, Eric Riester, Bob Sullivan. Don Haugen was President-Elect. 

5 Years Ago: March 17, 1997,  President was Larry Walderbach. Thirty-five members were in attendance. Checking account had $990.00. Full approval to membership went to Ron Knoche, Marv Lincoln, Tom Ratchford and Mike Winchester. Chris Caldbeck and Mike Droll were approved as transfers. Scott Freuhling was President-elect. 

A Few Reminders About Membership To CRAOA: These are some of the requirements that make our organization one of the best! 1/ You must take and pass the state supervised test in your sport area. 2/ You must attend a minimum of three (3) local rules meetings per sport. New officials and applying officials must attend six (6). 3/ Officials must officiate six (6) or more games per season per sport. 4/ The Association does not procure Varsity officiating assignments for you! 5/ The C.R.A.O.A. does administer the Middle School, Freshman, Sophomore and Junior Varsity schedules of the Metro schools.

Change of Address: If you are or will be changing address or phone number please forward the information to the Executive Secretary. We are trying to have a 100% correct roster for you. I need your help on this.

Check out our web site at http://craoa.com.