Bylaws

BELOIT MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY BYLAWS

Revised October 3, 2008

 

MEMBER EXPECTATIONS

National Honor Society has monthly meetings in which we come together as a group to conduct important discussion, plan fundraising, service opportunities and events, receive important information from officers, and the faculty advisor.  The attendance policy is designed to accommodate the fact that there will be times when you might be unable to attend a meeting; however, it is your responsibility to meet the expectations listed below.

Meeting Attendance Expectations

• Monthly meetings at 7:20 am starting promptly at 7:30 a.m.  Location to be determined (yearly).
• Attendance at a minimum of 6 of the 8 monthly meetings held October through May.   New inductees begin attending in October or November.
• Absences are only excused if you notify the advisor or designee a minimum of 48 hours prior to the start of the meeting time unless it is deemed an emergency. (see Article II)

Service Expectations

Each local chapter of National Honor Society is mandated to select a service project in which all members participate.  In accordance with the national constitution (Article XIV), this project shall fulfill a need within the school or community; have the support of the administration and the faculty; be appropriate and educationally defensible; and be well planned, organized, and executed.

Service, Character, Leadership, Scholarship

All National Honor Society members are expected to maintain the standards by which they were selected.  The benchmarks for these standards were described and verified on the eligibility for Selection Form submitted with your selection credentials.

ARTICLE I: NAME

Section 1. The name of this chapter shall be the Beloit Memorial High School National Honor Society Chapter, hereafter referred to as National Honor Society (NHS).

Section 2. The purpose of this chapter shall be to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character in students of Beloit Memorial High School.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP -- COMPOSITION OF ORGANIZATION

Section 1. NHS shall be comprised of members, officers, and faculty advisors.  Members are defined as active (begins at the induction ceremony), graduate (ends after commencement), and probationary (can become active anytime between induction and graduation).

Section 2. Members shall consist of selected junior and senior class members.   Their selection is based upon their demonstration of Service, Character, and Leadership.

Section 3.  Active members shall maintain the standards of Scholarship, Service, Characters, and Leadership by which they were selected for membership.  If they fall below these standards, their membership is subject to discipline up to and including dismissal.

Section 4. Officers shall consist of elected senior class members.

Section 5. Five (5) faculty council members shall serve on a volunteer basis each academic school year. They are responsible for the selection and discipline proceedings.

Section 6. A(n) advisor(s) shall actively coordinate operations, supervise meetings and projects, and be generally responsible for the welfare of the society’s membership body.

ARTICLE III: MEETINGS

Section 1. NHS business will be conducted by the advisor, officers, and by meetings of the chapter members.

Section 2. Regular meetings are scheduled for the first Friday of each month from October through May beginning promptly at 7:30 am.

Section 3. Attendance is expected at ALL regularly scheduled monthly meetings scheduled and meetings announced two (2) days in advance.   A member may miss no more than two (2) meetings per academic year.

Section 4. If a member is unable to attend, that member must see the faculty advisor or designee prior to the scheduled meeting to excuse his or her absence. (Absences for emergencies will be considered by the advisor(s) if said member contacts the advisor(s) within 24 hours of the meeting start time.)

Section 7. It is recommended that any member who misses a meeting should see the secretary within two (2) days in order to receive the minutes of the meeting.

Section 8. Any member who fails to do the above may be subject to disciplinary action.

ARTICLE IV: BI-ANNUAL BYLAWS REVIEW

Section 1. The chapter bylaws will be reviewed at the first meeting of the even school year cycle to ensure the bylaws are still suitable for chapter business.

Section 2. A motion may be made at any time to review or amend the bylaws.

Section 3. To amend the bylaws, two-thirds of the chapter must vote in favor.

ARTICLE V: DUES

Section 1. Members are required to pay a one-time membership fee of $10 upon induction to the advisor.

Section 2. Failure to do so may be subject to disciplinary action.

ARTICLE VI: SERVICE PROJECTS

Section 1. All members of NHS will lead or actively participate in a minimum of one (1) individual/group service project annually.

Section 2. The project should be something that will benefit others or the community and must meet the guidelines set out by the individual coordinating each service project.

Section 3. One member may lead a service project in a team up to ten (10) members. Additional leaders may be added to support larger group activities.

Section 4. All members are expected to fulfill accepted responsibilities and attend all assigned projects and events.

Section 5. Failure to conduct a service project annually or absence from a scheduled event may be subject to disciplinary action.

ARTICLE VII: OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of the chapter shall be president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer.

Section 2. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at chapter meetings and organize meeting agendas, and update the social media site(s).

Section 3. The vice-president shall preside in the absence of the president, maintain attendance records, help keep order during the meetings, and assist updating the social media site(s).

Section 4. The secretary shall keep the minutes of meetings and be responsible for correspondence.

Section 5. The treasurer shall maintain financial records for the chapter.

ARTICLE VIII: OFFICER ELECTION

Section 1. Officers shall be elected at the April meeting of each school year from the junior class.

Section 2. Beginning with president, members nominate candidates.

Section 3. Candidates may decline nomination.

Section 4. After all candidates have been nominated and have accepted; only junior chapter members vote.

Section 5. The candidate with the most votes is elected as said officer.

Section 6. The remaining officers are elected in the same manner in the following order:

president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer.

ARTICLE IX: SELECTION

Section 1. All juniors and seniors with a 3.4 GPA and up shall be invited to apply for NHS in the fall with a deadline for application.

Section 2. The candidates will be furnished the selection criteria and all forms necessary to apply.  This will constitute a letter being sent home inviting students to complete the furnished application materials with a due date in late September.

Section 3. At a later determined date, the faculty will rate the candidates on a point scale for their involvement in school organizations and clubs, their work experience, their community service, and leadership roles as set forth in a prescribed criterion.  Students must receive a minimum of six (6) positive recommendations from faculty.

Section 4. These criteria and guidelines are set and included in the “invitation to apply” so that the criteria and guidelines are furnished to the applicants and faculty.   For a name to be submitted for the final membership decision, the candidate must have a score greater than or equal to 17.6, but said score does not automatically guarantee membership.

ARTICLE X: BASIC MEMBERSHIP EXPECTATIONS

Section 1. Upon induction in to NHS, all members will be expected to continue to exemplify the four ideals, which are the basis for membership: scholarship, service, leadership, and character.

Section 2. Scholarship-all members must maintain a 3.4 overall GPA each semester. Any member falling below a 3.4 will automatically be put on probation for one semester. If the member’s overall GPA does not improve to a 3.4, the member will be subject to dismissal per ARTICLE XII. (MEMBERSHIP REVIEW).

Section 3. Service-Per ARTICLE VI (SERVICE PROJECTS)

Section 4. Leadership-all members should exercise positive leadership in the classroom, in the halls, on the playing field, and at all other school-related activities.

Section 5. Character-all members should demonstrate the highest standards of character, honesty, and integrity. A flagrant violation of school rules or civil laws (withholding minor traffic offenses) may be subject to disciplinary action per ARTICLE XII (MEMBERSHIP REVIEW).

Section 6. Failure to maintain these standards may be subject to disciplinary action per ARTICLE XII (MEMBERSHIP REVIEW).

ARTICLE XI: HONOR CODE

Section 1. Cheating is defined as the intentional giving or receiving of unauthorized aid.

Section 2. Plagiarism is defined as the intentional stealing and using of the ideas or writings of another as one’s own.

Section 3. Each member promises not to cheat or to plagiarize on ANY type of school assignment.

Section 4. Any student who is found to be guilty of either may be subject to disciplinary action per ARTICLE XII (MEMBERSHIP REVIEW).

ARTICLE XII: MEMBERSHIP REVIEW

Section 1. If it has been determined that a student has violated NHS policy, chapter bylaws, or conducted themselves in activity unbecoming of an NHS member, his or her membership status may be recommended for review.

Section 2. If membership review has determined a student(s) has violated the attendance expectations, the NHS Officers and advisor(s) shall meet to discuss said individual(s), number of meetings missed, and manner in which an oral or written warning may be presented to the student.  A student(s) who has violated this expectation of membership may have sanctions enforced or be placed on probation due to the severity.  Probation will be until the student(s) show active leadership and service within the BMHS chapter through completion of one (1) service project and one (1) volunteering opportunity within the BMHS community.

Section 3. The principal, administration or advisor(s) can submit a member’s name for membership status review to the faculty council.

Section 4. The faculty council members shall be notified of the student’s submission for review and will determine a date to conduct a review of the student to take place within two (2) weeks. The student may at that time present his or her argument and his or her parents are allowed to represent the student.

Section 5. The member shall be notified in writing of the reason(s) in which they are being reviewed, the date, and the date and time of the review.

Section 6. Within one (1) week from the review, deliverance shall be decided upon and the student notified of it. In this time the faculty council may consult witnesses and evidence.

Section 7. Depending on the severity and nature of the violation; the faculty council may issue a warning, place the student on probationary status, or dismiss the student from NHS.

Section 8. The length of the probation shall be determined by the faculty council, typically a semester. Criteria will be set for measures of improvement and communicated in writing to the student upon notification of his or her probation status. At the end of the probation period, if the student has not improved or made further violations, the student may be dismissed from NHS per ARTICLE XIII (DESCRIPTION OF DISMISSAL).

ARTICLE XIII: DESCRIPTION OF DISMISSAL PROCEDURE

Section 1. If the faculty council believes that dismissal may be warranted, the council will thoroughly investigate before action is taken.

Section 2. If a member is dismissed, written notice of the decision will be sent to the member, his or her parents, and the assistant principal with an explanation of their findings.

Section 3. The member must then surrender his or her NHS pin and membership card to the Advisor or administrator. If a member is unwilling to do this, the matter will then be treated as a school disciplinary matter.

Section 4. The dismissed member may appeal the dismissal (see ARTICLE XIV APPEALING DISMISSAL)

Section 5. A student who is dismissed and whose appeal, if submitted, is denied may never again become an Honor Society member.

ARTICLE XIV: APPEALING A DISMISSAL

Section 1. If a student chooses to appeal a dismissal, the member should first contact the assistant principal. He or she will thoroughly investigate the actions that resulted in the dismissal of the member and will confer with the sponsor and the faculty council.

Section 2. The Principal of the school will then review the findings and hear the appeal. The Principal’s decision is final.

Section 3. The National Council and the National Association of Secondary School Principals do not hear or make any decisions regarding appeals in dismissal cases.

Section 4. During the appeal process, the member may not take part in any NHS activity until the Principal rules on the appeal.

ARTICLE XV: RESIGNATION

Section 1. A student who resigns may never again become an Honor Society member.

Section 2. The member must then surrender his or her NHS induction certificate.