What's bananas to me, is that some Texas chapters are literally overflowing with recruits and seem to be turning away folks, unless they want to do chains/clock operator. From a FB posting from a Texas chapter:
The XXX Chapter of TASO is in immediate need of support personnel (chains and clocks - pay range $55+ and you get great seats 😃) and although our 2021 rookie class is set, those interested in officiating should still contact recruiting@XXX.com for more information on getting on the field.
That's not a criticism at all - I think it's fantastic they have so many personnel - but IMO the fact that a very large chapter is seemingly turning away people (at least that's how I perceived the posting) and another metro-area chapter just hit 500 members, just makes it that much more difficult for us to get pay raises.
Completely, 100% agree we are grossly underpaid.
That said, let's say we got a $25/game raise - roughly 25% - would that be enough to bring in more recruits to smaller chapters? I honestly don't know. I don't know if it's just compete lack of interest, lack of awareness, or not enough financial appeal, that stops new people from joining, and causes 1-3 year officials to quit. (I won't state them here, but I absolutely know if I were to quit officiating, what the reason(s) would be, and they are more chapter-related than overall experience.)
What I do know, is that recruiting is far more important to smaller Texas chapters than the larger ones (that's not a criticism, just what I perceive to be as fact). Either that, or they're doing awesome recruiting campaigns and it's not trickling down to other chapters. I know TASO is working on this and hopefully we get a big marketing campaign soon, because leaving it up to the chapters isn't working (except for some larger chapters.)