Bylaws

April 22, 2009

ARTICLE I:  NAME

 

Section 1.  The name of this chapter shall be the Annandale Chapter of the National Honor Society of Annandale High School (5983), which appears on the charter granted by the National Council of the National Honor Society, duly signed by the members of the National Council on March 19, 1956.

 

ARTICLE II:  PURPOSE

 

The purpose of this chapter shall be to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character and good citizenship in students of Annandale High School.

 

ARTICLE III:  POWERS

 

Section 1.  This chapter operates under the direction of and in full compliance with the National Constitution of the National Honor Society (NHS).

 

Section 2.  The chapter adviser is given the authority to supervise the administration of chapter activities, as delegated by the school principal.

 

Section 3.  Final authority on all activities and decisions of the chapter resides with the school principal.

 

Section 4.  Non-discrimination.  Our chapter of NHS maintains policies and practices that are designed to prevent discrimination against any qualified candidate or member on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex (gender), and disability.  This policy of nondiscrimination applies to all practices, including the chapter administration and the selection, discipline, and dismissal of members. 

 

ARTICLE IV:  MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 1.  Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon deserving students by the faculty and shall be based on the criteria of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.

 

Section 2.  Membership in this chapter shall be known as active, honorary, and graduate.  Active members become graduate members at graduation.  Graduate and honorary members have no voice or vote in chapter affairs.

 

Section 3.  Eligibility:

a. Candidates eligible for selection to this chapter must be members of the sophomore, junior, or senior class.

b. To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been enrolled for a period equivalent to one semester at Annandale High School.

c. Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. 

d. Upon meeting the grade level, enrollment, and GPA standards, candidates shall then be considered based on their service, leadership, and character.

ARTICLE V:  SELECTION OF MEMBERS

 

Section 1.  The selection of members to this chapter shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Council which consists of five faculty members appointed by the principal.  The chapter adviser shall be the sixth, non-voting member of the Faculty Council.

 

Section 2.  The selection of active members shall be held once a year during the first quarter of the school year.

 

Section 3.  Prior to the final selection, the following shall occur:

a. Students academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.
b. Students who are eligible scholastically (i.e. candidates) shall be notified and asked to complete and submit the online Activity Form and an Essay on Character.  Also required are three (3) teacher/adult recommendations from people who have known the candidate for one year or longer.
c. The Faculty Council shall review the Student Activity Form, the Essay on Character, teacher recommendations, and other relevant information to determine those who fully meet the selection criteria for membership.     

Section  4.  Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony.

 

Section 5.  An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers from Annandale High School will be given an official letter indicating the status of his/her membership.

 

Section 6.  An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to Annandale High School will be automatically accepted for membership.  The Faculty Council shall grant to the transferring member one semester to attain the membership requirements and, thereafter, this member must maintain those requirements for this chapter in order to retain his/her membership.

 

ARTICLE VI:  OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS

 

Section 1. Annual dues for this chapter shall be $20.00 per year.  The dues include the cost of the NHS pin, membership card, certificate, NHS car bumper sticker and the graduation stole.  Monies remaining are to be spent on the induction ceremony, ceremonial materials, and the favorite teacher award.

 

Section 2. Each member of this chapter who is in good standing with regard to the membership standards and member obligations shall be entitled to wear the emblem and pin adopted by the National Honor Society.

 

Section 3.  Every candidate will read the Annandale Chapter’s by-laws completely before their induction ceremony and by signing the chapter’s registry agree to abide to the by-laws.

 

Section 4. Each member agrees that the title to the pin and membership card shall rest with this chapter.  Therefore, the pin and card on motion of the Faculty Council , be commandeered, with appropriate reimbursements being made if necessary.  Furthermore, each member agrees that his/her acceptance of the pin and membership card shall be an affirmation of this stipulation in regard to the title of each.

 

Section 5.  Every active member must sign and submit the Annandale Chapter “Code of Membership” during the first membership meeting that he/she attends of the school year.

 

Section 6. Chapter members who are seniors in good standing shall be granted the privilege of wearing the honor stole at graduation.

 

 

ARTICLE VII:  OFFICERS

 

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

 

Section 2. Student officers shall be elected at the April meeting.  All returning senior members in good standing with the chapter are eligible to run for a position as an officer.  Any active member can nominate an eligible member as a candidate for office. 

 

Section 3. Before giving their campaign speeches candidates running for office must submit their speeches in writing to the adviser for approval two weeks in advance.  After the advisor has approved a candidate’s speech the candidate may not make any changes.

 

Section 4. Voting shall be by secret ballot.  A majority vote shall be necessary to elect any officer of this chapter.  If the vote does not yield a majority, a second vote shall be taken of the two candidates receiving the higher number of votes. 

 

Section 5. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at the meetings of the chapter, and serve as the official representative of the chapter at school and community functions.

 

Section 6. The vice president shall preside in the absence of the president.  Vice president shall collect and log both service contracts and service validations.  The vice president has the responsibility of monitoring official procedures and By-Laws.

 

Section 7. The secretary shall maintain the official membership roster, promote public awareness of NHS activities throughout the community, and communicate via email all necessary information to the NHS membership.

 

Section 8. The treasurer shall collect all dues, collect all leadership contracts and validation forms, and over see all purchases of NHS.

 

Section 9. The historian shall be responsible for taking and reporting attendance at all meeting and organize, monitor and report the school wide project at Ossian Park.

 

Section 10. The parliamentarian shall be responsible for the NHS calendar, collection of the Code of Conduct, and maintain the NHS web page.

 

Section 11.  At the monthly officers’ meeting all officers will report the current status and future plans of their assigned duties.

 

Section 12. Officers and the faculty adviser(s) shall collectively be known as the chapter’s Executive Committee.  The executive committee shall establish annual goals for the chapter and have general charge of the meetings and the business of the chapter, but any action by the executive committee is subject to the review of the Faculty Council.

 

ARTICLE VIII:  MEETINGS

 

Section 1. Regular meetings of this chapter shall be monthly.  Special meetings can be called by the president with approval of the advisor.

 

Section 2. This chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Roberts’s Rules of Order.

 

Section 3. Active members are expected to attend all chapter meetings and the induction ceremony on time. Any absence or tardiness to a meeting by a member will be followed by an email to the historian within twenty-four (24) hours explaining the reason for the absence or tardiness.  After the second absence or tardiness, the advisor will meet with the member to discuss the importance of attending meetings on time and to warn the member that after the next absence or tardiness the member shall be required to explain their absence(s) and or tardiness to the Faculty Council.

 

Section 4.  At the beginning of all meetings and ceremonies active members will recite from memory this chapter’s pledge.  The chapter pledge: “I pledge to maintain a high scholastic standing, to hold as fundamental and worthy an untarnished character, to endeavor intelligently and courageously to be a leader, and to give myself freely in the service to others.  I will not lie, cheat, or steal and I pledge to encourage and educate others to behave ethically and honestly.  In doing so, I shall prove myself worthy of a place in the Annandale Chapter of the National Honor Society.”

 

 

ARTICLE IX:  ACTIVITIES

 

Section 1. The chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year.  The active members of this chapter shall perform a minimum of 10 community service hours per semester and participate in cleaning Ossian Park once a semester.

 

Section 2. These projects shall have the following characteristics: 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.

 

Section 3. Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in an individual service project which reflects his or her particular talents and interests and as approved by the chapter advisor.  The community service contracts are due at the membership meetings of October and February.  The community service validation forms are due at the membership meetings of January and April.

 

Section 4.  Each member shall demonstrate leadership at school or in the community on a yearly basis.  Leadership contracts are due at the membership meeting in November and the leadership validation forms are due at the membership meeting in April.

 

Section 5.  The chapter shall publicize and promote its projects in a positive manner.

 

ARTICLE X:  DISCIPLINE AND DISMISSAL of MEMBERS

 

Section 1. Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character, or service may be considered for discipline or dismissal from the Annandale chapter of the National Honor Society.  A member of the National Honor Society is expected to maintain his/her academic standing and take an active role in service and leadership to his/her school and community.

 

Section 2. If a member’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) falls below the standard in effect when he/she was selected (3.5), he/she will be given a written warning and the period of one semester to bring their cumulative GPA back to a 3.5.  If the cumulative GPA remains below standard at the end of the semester the student will be dismissed from the Annandale chapter of the National Honor Society.

 

Section 3.  Violations of the law or school regulations can result in immediate consideration of the dismissal of a member.  These violations include, but are not limited to DWI, stealing, destruction of property, cheating, truancy, or possession, selling, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at school or school-related activities or in the community.

 

Section 4.  Offenders of the school conduct code (such as use of profanity, failure to comply, unexcused absences, excessive tardiness, etc.) will receive written warning notification.  A conference may be requested by either party (Faculty Council or student/parent).  If the member is involved in another violation of the school conduct code, the member may be considered for dismissal.

 

Section 5. Chapter officers, as representatives of the chapter, can be removed form their position as a consequence of disciplinary action or failure to carry out their duties by the Faculty Council.

 

Section 6. In all cases of pending dismissal:

a. The member will receive written notification for the adviser/Faculty Council indicating the reason for consideration of dismissal.

b. The member will be given the opportunity to respond to the charge(s) against him/her at a hearing before the Faculty Council prior to any vote on dismissal.  The member has the opportunity to present his/her defense either in person or via a written statement presented in lieu of the face-to-face hearing.  Following the hearing, the Faculty Council will then vote on whether to dismiss.  A majority vote of the Faculty Council is needed to dismiss any member.

c. The results of the Faculty Council vote will be presented to the principal for review, and then stated in a letter sent the student and parents.  Dismissed members must surrender any membership emblems to the adviser.

d. The Faculty Council’s decision may be appealed to the building principal or his designee for a final decision.

e. A member who is dismissed or resigns, may never again be considered for membership in the National Honor Society.

Section 7. In lieu of dismissal, the Faculty Council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate.

 

ARTICLE XI:  RATIFICATION, APPROVAL, and REVIEW.

 

Section 1. These by-laws shall be approved upon receiving a majority affirmative vote of the Faculty Council and approval by the administration.

 

Section 2. These by-laws shall be reviewed and if necessary, revised within five years from the date of approval noted on this document.

 

 

 

 

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