BYLAWS
OF THE WHEELS CHAPTER OF NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Chapter Bylaws Of the Washington Heights
Expeditionary Learning School Chapter Of the National Honor Society. Adopted: October
2012
Article I.
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.01
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 1.02
Membership in this chapter shall be known as active, honorary, and
graduate. Active members become graduate
members at graduation. Honorary members
are selected at the discretion of the Faculty Council. Graduate and honorary members have no voice
or vote in chapter affairs.
Article II.
SELECTION OF MEMBERS
Section 2.01
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, nonvoting, exofficio member of the Faculty Council.
Section 2.02
After the initial selection of active members during the first semester
of 2012, the selection of active members shall be held once a year during the
second semester of the school year.
Section 2.03
Prior to the final selection, the following shall occur:
(a) Students’
academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.
(b) All students who
are eligible scholastically (i.e., candidates) shall be notified and asked to
complete and submit the Candidate’s Form for further consideration.
(c) The faculty
shall be requested to evaluate candidates determined to be scholastically
eligible using the official evaluation form provided by the chapter adviser.
(d) The Faculty
Council shall review the Candidate Forms, faculty evaluations and other
relevant information to determine those who fully meet the selection criteria
for membership.
Section 2.04
Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony.
Section 2.05
An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers from this
school will be given an official letter indicating the status of his/her
membership.
Section 2.06
An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to this
school will be automatically accepted for membership in this chapter. 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 III.
OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS
Section 3.01
Annual dues for this chapter shall be $10. Dues will be payable to the chapter within 30
days of induction. After 30 days, the
balance will accrue a 5% daily interest rate.
Section 3.02
Each member of this chapter who is in good standing with regard to the
membership standards and member obligations shall be granted the privilege to
wear the emblem adopted by the National Honor Society.
Section 3.03
Any member who withdraws, resigns, or is dismissed from the chapter shall
not be granted the privilege of wearing the emblem of the chapter.
Section 3.04
Chapter members who are seniors in good standing shall be granted the
privilege of wearing the honor cords (or other insignia) at graduation.
Article IV.
OFFICERS
Section 4.01
The officers of the chapter shall be president, vice president,
secretary, and treasurer.
Section 4.02
With the exception of the first election in the fall of 2012, student
officers shall be elected at the last meeting of each school year. All returning 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 4.03
Voting shall be by secret ballot.
A majority vote shall be necessary to elect any officer of this
chapter. If the first vote does not
yield a majority, a second vote shall be taken of the two candidates receiving
the highest number of votes.
Section 4.04
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 4.05
The vice president shall preside in the absence of the president and
shall also keep a record of members’ contributions to leadership and service.
Section 4.06
The secretary shall keep the minutes and attendance records for meetings
and be responsible for all official correspondence.
Section 4.07
The treasurer shall keep the record of business expenses, dues, and all
other financial transactions of the chapter.
Section 4.08
Policies regarding officer vacancies and suspensions will be determined
by the vote of the chapter.
Article V.
MEETINGS
Section 5.01
Regular meetings of this chapter shall be bimonthly (every two
weeks). Special meetings can be called
by the president with approval of the adviser.
Section 5.02
This chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order.
Section 5.03
Members are expected to attend all chapter meetings. Members are expected to make every effort to
discuss their absences with the president and/or advisor prior to meetings
and/or events. Should frequent absences
become a pattern, the chapter adviser and officers will consider disciplinary
action and potential dismissal.
Article VI.
ACTIVITIES
Section 6.01
The chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year.
Section 6.02
All members shall regularly participate in these projects.
Section 6.03
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 6.04
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 is approved by the chapter adviser. This is in addition to the chapter projects
to which all members contribute.
Section 6.05
The chapter shall publicize and promote its projects in a positive
manner.
Article VII.
DISCIPLINE and DISMISSAL of MEMBERS
Section 7.01
If a member’s cumulative grade point average falls below the standard in
effect when he/she was selected (85%), he/she will be given a written warning
and a reasonable time period for improvement.
If the cumulative grade point average remains below standard at the end
of the warning period the student will be subject to further disciplinary
action by the Faculty Council that can include consideration of dismissal from
the chapter.
Section 7.02
Violations of the law or school regulations can result in immediate
consideration of the dismissal of a member (see Section 5 below). 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 7.03
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 7.04
Chapter officers, as representatives of the chapter, can be removed from
their positions as a consequence of disciplinary action taken by the Faculty
Council.
Section 7.05
In all cases of pending dismissal:
(a) The member will
receive written notification from 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 (in
accordance with due process identified in Article X of the National
Constitution). 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 to 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 and afterwards
according to provisions of the school district discipline policies.
(e) A member who is
dismissed or resigns, may never again be considered for membership in the
National Honor Society.
Section 7.06
In lieu of dismissal, the Faculty Council may impose disciplinary
sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate.
Article VIII.
RATIFICATION, APPROVAL, and REVIEW
Section 8.01
With the exception of the first draft, drafted prior to inducting
members, these bylaws will be approved upon receiving a two-thirds affirmative
vote of all active members of the chapter, a majority affirmative vote of the
Faculty Council, and approval by the administration.
Section 8.02
These bylaws shall be reviewed and if necessary, revised within five
years from the date of approval noted on this document.
Article IX.
AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended
by a two-thirds vote of the chapter, provided notice of the proposed amendment
has been given to members at least one month prior to the vote. The exceptions are Articles II and VII, which
are developed by the Faculty Council with the approval of the principal
(selection and discipline).
Approved
on November 5, 2012
Signatures/Names
of the Chapter President, Secretary, Adviser, and Principal.
*Note:
Prior to induction and election of members, this draft of the bylaws has been
approved by the Faculty Council, Adivser, and Principal
Adviser:
Elizabeth Carmichael _____________________________________
Principal: Brett Kimmel _____________________________________
