PUBLISHER’S MEMO

Breakfast on Us

Twice each month, our editorial team meets at the Racine (Wis.) Country Club. RCC provides us a large, private boardroom and caters the meeting with a wonderful breakfast spread. These semi-monthly meetings are darned important. First, we brainstorm story ideas for upcoming issues of the magazine. Second, we review and share opinions about our most recent issue. Third, we “talk shop,” discuss what’s happening in the officiating world. I could add a fourth thought: Each breakfast is a great time for the team to banter with each other and share the slug of “insider info” that comes our way.

Our managing editor, Brent Killackey, directs the meeting. He creates the agenda based on input from all of us. We each get a copy the day before the breakfast. We assemble at 7:30 a.m. While eating we get to chat about current affairs, usually about games that some of the guys worked the night before. We chat about the most recent happenings in officiating. As we finish up eating, Brent normally leads off by asking the group to come up with a couple of poll questions that we can use to populate our social media accounts.

With that completed, we get down to the serious business of contemplating story ideas. Usually there are about a dozen ideas listed on each agenda. Next to each item is the name of the editor who has submitted the idea. Each item’s discussion is led by the person who submitted the idea. With that introduction completed, the group then weighs in with gusto.

To give you a flavor of the topics we discuss, here are some highlights from one of our recent edit breakfast meetings:

•Are open book tests on the rules a good thing? This was based on an incident in which a high school football crew botched a penalty enforcement at a crucial juncture of the game. Is our knowledge of the rules getting better, or is it getting worse?

•A D-I men’s basketball coach went nuts during a game about a week before our breakfast. He got ejected. There was a firestorm of protest that the referees were out of bounds. But we knew better. The question we considered is this: Are we “taking care of business” as much as we should be?

•Practices for setting game fees. Some states set a maximum. Some states are completely hands off. Others allow fees to be determined regionally or sectionally. There are many ways the fees officials earn are set. Is it time for Referee to produce a feature summarizing?

•Sports officials connecting their personal business endeavors to their officiating with business monikers that highlight officiating. Are some such corporate names inappropriate?

•Report writing. We are expected to be more accountable than ever. Part of that accountability is to produce a report of the event/occurrence in question. What should such a report contain and what should such a report not contain. Can’t find anyone who says that we officials have gotten better at this skill. We need help in becoming better game-report writers.

•Replay firsts. A potential story to summarize some of the “firsts” in the use of replay. First time it was used formally. First time used in a high school game. First time there was a stoppage. First time there was an overturn. This would be a nice piece of history for the officiating record.

Finally, we end the morning’s meeting with one of our most fun undertakings — titling upcoming feature stories. This is where things can get jaded and even testy. Ideas are tossed onto the table. Some are DOA. Some are TKO’d for various reasons. Lots of good-natured bantering. It used to be that a title I proposed was always the best. Not so much anymore! We winnow, we build consensus. Every feature-story title you see in this magazine is a result of that process.

Chief Strategy Officer/Publisher

Barry Mano

Chief Operating Officer/Executive Editor

Bill Topp

Chief Marketing Officer

Jim Arehart

Chief Business Development Officer

Ken Koester

Managing Editor

Brent Killackey

Assistant Managing Editor

Julie Sternberg

Senior Editor

Jeffrey Stern

Associate Editors

Brad Tittrington

Scott Tittrington

Assistant Editor

Joe Jarosz

Copy Editor

Jean Mano

Director of Design, Digital Media and Branding

Ross Bray

Publication Design Manager

Matt Bowen

Graphic Designer

Dustin Brown

Video Coordinator

Mike Dougherty

Comptroller

Marylou Clayton

Data Analyst/Fulfillment Manager

Judy Ball

Marketing Manager

Michelle Murray

Director of Administration and Sales Support

Cory Ludwin

Office Administrator

Garrett Randall

Client Services Support Specialists

Lisa Burchell

Sierra Miramontes

Trina Cotton

Editorial Contributors

Jon Bible, Mark Bradley, George Demetriou, Alan Goldberger, Judson Howard, Peter Jackel, Luke Modrovsky, Tim Sloan, Steven L. Tietz

These organizations offer ongoing assistance to Referee: Collegiate Commissioners Association, MLB, MLS, NBA, NCAA, NFHS, NISOA, NFL, NHL, Minor League Baseball Umpire Development and U.S. Soccer. Their input is appreciated.

Contributing Photographers

Ralph Echtinaw, Dale Garvey, Carin Goodall-Gosnell, Bill Greenblatt, Jann Hendry, Jack Kapenstein, Ken Kassens, Bob Messina, Bill Nichols, Ted Oppegard, Heston Quan, Dean Reid, VIP

Editorial Board Mark Baltz, Jeff Cluff, Ben Glass, Reggie Greenwood, Tony Haire, John O’Neill, George Toliver, Ellen Townsend

Advertising 2017 Lathrop Ave., Racine, WI 53405 Phone: 262-632-8855 advertising@referee.com

REFEREE (ISSN 0733+1436) is published monthly, $49.95 per year in U.S., $84.95 in Canada, Mexico and foreign countries, by Referee Enterprises, Inc., 2017 Lathrop Ave., Racine, WI 53405. Periodical