Last year I served as President of the Tucson Softball Umpires Association

A Note to the Region I AIA Softball Umpires

Last year I served as President of the Tucson Softball Umpires Association. There were several incidents during that time involving our Commissioner, Mr. Bart Henkle, which have caused me to re-evaluate my opinion as to how Mr. Henkle conducts business. As a result, I have chosen not to participate in the Region I AIA Softball program for the current year, or until each of these concerns is addressed.

Please allow me to elaborate on a few of the incidents leading me to this unhappy decision:

The Catalina HS preseason tournament: Bart contracted with Catalina HS for our Association to work this tournament without a mileage allowance. This is in direct violation of the Procedures outlined in the AIA Handbook. At the tournament, Frank Amparano, Tom Carle, and I spoke with Coach Moten and the Catalina HS Athletic Director. They told us that mileage was indeed offered, as per AIA Handbook. Bart chose not to accept it. Clearly he was not working in the best interest of his officials. As a result, an agreement was reached that all future preseason tournament sign-ups shall specify any deviations from normal AIA procedures before we are asked to give our availability. (Why we should have to concern ourselves with “nonstandard” contractual offers is beyond me: why can’t things be done “by the book” in all instances?) Our Commissioner overstepped his authority in this matter, and without consulting the Membership.
Failure to adhere to the AIA Handbook: Early in the season Mr. Henkle tried to do something else which conflicted with the AIA Handbook. Unfortunately, I do not remember the specifics of the incident a year later. When Mr. Robinson and I confronted him on this issue, we were told that the AIA Handbook had been changed, and this specific change did not make it to press. A week later at Gary Whelchel’s preseason meeting in Phoenix, I secured an up-to-date copy of the Handbook. In it were handwritten all changes that did not make it to press. Contrary to what our Commissioner claimed, his change was not among the handwritten edits. Clearly he lied to us, in order to do something he wanted even though it was in violation of the Procedures in the Handbook. A Commissioner should not lie to his officials.
Second-guessing the Move-up vote: As is customary, Certified officials voted on reclassification of Non-certifieds at the conclusion of the season. A few days later I received an email from our Commissioner wherein he tried to justify some changes without approval of the Certified members. According to the AIA Handbook, move ups are contingent of the approval of Phoenix (and not the Local Area Commissioner). Another example of our Commissioner doing what he wants to, and not respecting the input of the Association Membership.
Playoff Vote: As informed by email from Mr. Henkle, there is a specific formula used to select umpires for postseason play. To quote this email, “The peer vote is not 25%, it is 20%. It is generally regarded (by the State Commissioner, other area commissioners, Referee magazine, etc.) to be the least true reflection of ability. I count coaches and AC as 30% each and Observers and peers as 20% each.” My objection here regards the mysterious “Observer” component. Bart would not reveal the Observer’s identity when asked. This person has as much say in the selection as our entire Association. Yet he is neither elected to this position by the membership, not appointed to this position by Phoenix. I feel this is entirely too much power to entrust to an unknown individual, who may or may not really be qualified to make such decisions. There is no accountability. And there is no guarantee this Obsever is not just a “mouthpiece” for Mr. Henkle, in which case the Area Commissioner effectively has 50% of the vote. This issue needs to be addressed. (Upon independent investigation, I later learned that Mike Bouchard is our mysterious Observer.)
Blocking contact with Gary Whelchel: After several of the above violations had transpired, I felt it was time to get in direct contact with Gary Whelchel in order to get them cleared up. Mr. Henkle’s specific policy here is that nothing goes to Phoenix unless it goes through him. I was advised by a senior member of our Association that to contact Mr. Whelchel directly most likely would have serious negative repercussions on my future as an official in the AIA. So basically we are left with no official mechanism to register protests regarding these issues.

This last issue means that we are basically powerless to do anything should our Area Commissioner choose to violate the Policies and Procedures of the AIA Handbook. We have no mechanism or recourse to report violations, and are powerless to have our objections heard.

As I see it, there remain two options: 1) put up with whatever the Area Commissioner does (right, wrong, or otherwise), or 2) show no availability until the status changes. I choose not to participate in Region I softball until there is a change in policy.

Bob Marcialis

2004 January 07