NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY BYLAWS

ARTICLE I

Name and Purpose

Section 1: The name of this organization shall be the Ross S. Sterling Chapter of the National Honor Society.

Section 2: The purpose of this organization shall be to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of Ross S. Sterling High School.

ARTICLE II

Powers

Section 1: This chapter operates under the direction of and in full compliance with the National Constitution of NHS. See www.nhs.us/constitutions. In addition, this chapter will maintain active affiliation with the national organization on an annual basis

Section 2: Nondiscrimination. Ross S. Sterling chapter of NHS maintains policies and practices that are designed to prevent discrimination against any qualified candidate or member based on race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, and disability. This policy of nondiscrimination applies to all practices, including the chapter administration and the selection, discipline, and dismissal of members.

ARTICLE II

The Principal

Section 1: The principal shall reserve the right to approve all activities and decisions of the chapter.

Section 2: The principal shall appoint members of the faculty as chapter adviser(s)/co-adviser(s), who may serve consecutive terms.

Section 3: The principal shall reserve the right to appoint a faculty council composed of members of the school's faculty who may serve consecutive terms.

ARTICLE III

The Chapter Adviser

Section 1: The chapter adviser(s) shall be responsible for the direct, day-to-day supervision of the chapter and act as liaison between faculty, administration, students and the community.

Section 2: The chapter adviser(s) shall maintain files on membership, chapter history, activities, and financial transactions.

Section 3: The chapter adviser(s) shall regularly review each member for compliance of the rules.

Section 4. The chapter adviser(s) shall be members of the faculty appointed annually by the principal and may serve consecutive terms.

ARTICLE IV

Faculty Council

Section 1: The faculty council shall consist of five voting members appointed by the principal. The chapter advisers shall be ex officio, nonvoting, members of the Faculty Council.

Section 2: The term of the faculty council shall be one year. Members may be appointed to consecutive terms.

Section 3: The faculty council shall meet as needed to review the procedures of the chapter, select members and to consider non-selection, dismissal, other disciplinary actions, and warning cases.

ARTICLE V

Membership

Section 1: Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon deserving students by the faculty and shall be based upon the criteria of scholarship, character, leadership and service.

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

Section 3: Candidates become members when inducted at a special Fall ceremony.

Section 4: A National Honor Society member who transfers from another school and brings proof of membership shall be accepted automatically as a member of the Ross S. Sterling Chapter of the National Honor Society. Transfer members must meet the new chapter's standards to retain membership.

ARTICLE VI

Selection of Members

Section 1: Eligibility.

1. To be eligible for membership the candidate must be a member of the junior or senior class and must have completed at least one semester at Ross S. Sterling High School.

2. Candidates must have a cumulative GPA of 4.25 out of a 6.0 scale. Candidates shall then be evaluated based on service, leadership and character.

Section 2. Prior to the final selection, the following shall occur:

1. Students’ academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.

2. All students who are eligible scholastically (i.e., candidates) shall be notified and asked to complete and submit the candidate application for further consideration.

3. The faculty shall be requested to evaluate candidates determined to be scholastically eligible using the official input form provided by the chapter adviser.

4. The faculty council shall review the candidate information forms, faculty input, optional essay,  and other relevant information to determine those who fully meet the selection criteria for membership

5. The faculty council will make final decisions for membership election.

Section 4: An eligible student who has received a major disciplinary action prior to admittance shall be considered for membership based on (1) an investigation of the incident at hand and (2) an interview with the faculty adviser(s). Each case shall be addressed individually, and the final decision shall rest with the faculty Advisory council.

Section 5: Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities.

ARTICLE VII

Membership Requirements

Section 1: Annual dues for this chapter shall be $20. Dues will be payable to the chapter treasurer or chapter adviser(s) within 30 days of induction.

Section 2: Members must maintain a 4.25 GPA out of a 6.0 scale

Section 3: Members are expected to complete ten (10)  hours of community service per semester. Five (5)  hours must be through the Ross S. Sterling NHS projects and activities. The other Five (5) hours may be through outside service projects or for other service organizations.

Section 4: Fall inductees begin their service hours in the Fall of the same school year of their induction.

Section 5: Members are required to attend all NHS meetings. The Ross. S. Sterling Chapter of NHS shall meet on a monthly basis.

Section 6: Members may miss one meeting per year without penalty. If a member misses two meetings without an appropriate excuse they will be placed on probation. If they then miss a third meeting without an appropriate excuse, the faculty Advisory council shall meet and vote on dismissal.

Section 7: A member may be excused if (1) he/she requested permission to be absent from a meeting and received approval from a faculty Adviser prior to the meeting OR (2) he/she is absent from school on the day of the meeting and submits a written excuse signed by a parent/guardian or doctor.

Section 8: Each member of this chapter who is in good standing regarding the membership standards and member obligations shall be entitled to wear the emblem adopted by National Honor Society.

Section 9: Chapter members who are seniors in good standing shall be granted the privilege of wearing the Honor stole at graduation.

ARTICLE VIII

Officers

Section 1: The following officer positions shall be voted on annually: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Parliamentarian, Historian, and Program Chairperson. The faculty adviser(s) shall retain descriptions of the duties of each officer position.

Section 2: The nomination process shall consist of self-nomination in writing at least three days prior to the election. Members must be seniors to run for office.

Section 3: The election shall take place before the Honors Reception.

Section 4: All voting shall be by secret ballot.

Section 5: A candidate must receive the majority of the votes to win. Run-offs shall be held in the case of a tie.

Section 6: The votes shall be tallied by the chapter adviser(s).

Section 7: Officer Duties

1. President: Create the agenda for all meetings with the advice and consent of the other officers and the adviser and shall be open to input from all members regarding the content of agendas. Preside at all meetings of the National Honor Society Appoint committees if necessary and delegate leadership responsibilities of service projects. Represent the chapter in public relations and official functions. Organize the induction ceremony of new members and shall appoint current members to fill various roles in the ceremony. Make sure that all candidates for office are aware of officer requirements and conduct elections for the following school year. Coordinate an officer installation ceremony/celebration at the end of the year. Maintain communication with the adviser regarding all NHS matters. Maintain communication with the other officers and hold them accountable for performing their duties.

2. Vice-President: Preside at all meetings and perform all presidential duties in the absence of the president. Work closely with the president and adviser(s) to assess progress towards meeting chapter goals. Perform any duties delegated by the president.

3. Treasurer: Maintain, with the adviser, a running financial record of all income and expenditures for the current year. Collect dues and ensure that all members pay dues. Purchase (with adviser) any necessary items for the chapter: induction ceremony supplies, NHS cords/tassels for seniors, etc.

4. Recording Secretary: Prepare and post the agenda for each chapter meeting. Keep notes at each chapter and officer meeting. Prepare and present the minutes of each chapter meeting. Keep accurate attendance of all meetings and projects and inform the adviser of any members who miss more than one meeting a semester. Notify the president of members who have missed a meeting so that the president may update them. Assist the president in reminding members of any committee duties, induction roles, service project dates and individual log sheet due dates

5. Corresponding Secretary: Plan public information programs with local radio, television, newspaper, and service clubs and make use of other opportunities to promote National Honor Society. Release news and information to local news media. Submit items to the Historian for inclusion in the chapter scrapbook.

6. Parliamentarian: Work with the adviser to establish guidelines for proper meeting conduct and behavior. Ensure that order is maintained, and procedures are correctly followed at all meetings. Be proficient with parliamentary procedures (Robert’s Rules of Order)Rule on all questions of parliamentary conduct at chapter meetings

7. Historian: Collect a copy of all NHS agendas, speeches, induction ceremony scripts, selection packets, election procedures, officer requirements, community service guides, individual service logs and any other written material to establish and maintain continuity and traditions. Ensure that pictures are taken at all NHS ceremonies and activities. Develop and maintain a scrapbook or folder of memorabilia in which to record the chapter’s history. Research and prepare items of significance of the chapter’s history. Prepare displays of chapter activities for community events. Complete the annual report of all National Honor Society activities.

8. Program Chairperson: Work directly with the president to ensure that the chapter performs a group community service project each semester. Work closely with the adviser to help ensure that the Induction Ceremony and the Honors Reception run smoothly, delegating duties as needed. Communicate updates and reminders about service committee meetings, projects, service opportunities, etc. through Remind or GroupMe. Notify the president of chapter members who are not fulfilling their service hour obligations.

ARTICLE IX

Discipline & Dismissal of Members

Section 1: Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, service, leadership, or character may be considered for discipline or dismissal from the Ross S. Sterling 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 average drops below the requirement, parents shall be notified, and the member shall be placed on probation for one semester. If the student has not brought their average above the requirement after one semester, the student’s membership shall be reviewed by the faculty council who will consider dismissal.

Section 3: Violations of the law or school regulations can result in immediate consideration of the dismissal of a member (see Section 7 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 4: Failure to reach the required community service hours for one semester will result in the member being placed on probation. . If the student does not reach the required community service hours for the next semester, the student’s membership shall be reviewed by the faculty council who will consider dismissal or other discipline.

Section 5: Offenders of the school code of conduct (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 code of conduct, the member may be considered for dismissal or other discipline.

Section 6: 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: In all cases of pending dismissal:

1. The member will receive written notification from the adviser/faculty council indicating the reason for consideration of dismissal.

2. The member has the right 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.

3. 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 and membership emblems to the adviser(s).

4. The faculty council’s decision may be appealed to the building principal afterwards according to provisions of the school district discipline policies.

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

6. In lieu of dismissal, the faculty council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate.

ARTICLE X

Ratification, Approval, and Review

Section 1: The 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 2: These bylaws shall be reviewed and if necessary, revised within five years from the date of approval noted on this document.

ARTICLE XI

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 V, VI, and IX, which are developed by the faculty council with the approval of the principal.

Approved on October 16, 2019 by a unanimous vote.