The Golden Pen Chapter Of The National English Honor Society Bylaws Adopted October 2, 2005
Section 3 Section 4 Section 3 Section 4 Article I Name and Purpose The name of this organization shall be the National English Honor Society, hereafter known as NEHS. Our local chapter shall be chartered and called The Golden Pen The George Bush High School NEHS local chapter The Golden Pen shall be under the sponsorship and supervision of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society. The mission and purposes of this organization shall be literary and educational. NEHS shall strive to A. confer distinction upon high school students for high achievement in English language Arts and literature; B. provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation in secondary school environments; C. encourage interest in the English language arts; D. promote exemplary character and good fellowship among its members; and E. serve society by fostering literacy. Article II Membership and Selection Criteria Membership in the NEHS is an honor bestowed on a student. Selection for membership is by a Faculty Advisory Council and is based both on academic accomplishment in English and English-related courses, as well as on overall academic accomplishment. Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate high standards, including the maintenance of grades, in English. Failure to do so will result in removal from membership. There are three types of membership: active, alumni, and honorary: A. Active members are high school students and remain active members while they maintain the required GPA and until graduation, at which time they become alumni members. B. Alumni members, in accordance with school policy, may be invited to participate in chapter events, but have no voice or vote in chapter affairs. Membership in the Golden Pen chapter of NEHS requires a Article III Induction and Dues Section 5 An appropriate ceremony for the induction of new members shall be held during the academic school year. The procedures for and nature of this ceremony shall be: Newly inducted members shall receive their membership certificates, society pins and other appropriate materials as their membership is affirmed in an induction ceremony held each semester. In the event that an individual qualifies for membership after the date of
Section 3 the induction ceremony, s/he may be inducted at a regular chapter meeting provided the membership forms and fees already have been submitted to the National Office. Each new member pays a one-time induction fee of $16.00, which covers processing of membership records and the preparation of a national membership certificate, society pin and local chapter expenses. Once the membership is processed all the rights of membership including eligibility for scholarships and writing awards, participation in regional and national events, and access to the Museletter are open. Article IV Meetings and provisions of Special Sessions The Golden Pen chapter shall meet at least once a week as designated by chapter and sponsor. Article V Titles, duties, and responsibilities of officers, chapter advisor, members, and Committees Responsibilities of chapter officers: A. As elected leaders of a chapter, officers are a key to its success. They should be chosen for dependability, enthusiasm, and vision. Chapter advisors should instruct officers thoroughly in their duties and confer with them often. The officers should seek to lead the other members rather than do all the work themselves. One goal should be to involve every member, either as an officer or committee member. Actively involved members are committed and feel a part of the chapter while inactive members soon become mere observers. The day-to-day leadership of each chapter largely depends on its chapter officers. Each chapter determines the number of its officers and elects them for one-year, renewable terms. Officers work closely with the chapter advisor and Faculty Advisory Council, who provide continuity as well as information about school policies. Most chapters have a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. Some chapters have a historian, a public relations officer, and other such positions. B. The chapter officers, along with the chapter advisor, comprise the chapter s Executive Committee, the task of which is to direct the chapter s business determining the local dues structure (if any), reviewing and updating the bylaws, setting the time and place of meetings and their agendas, approving special events and projects, etc. All actions and recommendations of the Executive Committee are subject to review by the membership. The Executive Committee should be conscious of the chapter s relationship to the school s administration, faculty, and other school organizations. Ideally, any chapter activity will compliment the total school program and serve the best interests of the school community. Chapter Officers President
The president presides at the meetings; initiates activities and sees that they are carried out; appoints committees and sees that they function; lends continuity to the chapter; and makes certain that the jobs are distributed among as many of the members as possible. The president should be aware of the importance of teamwork, and that the distinction of being elected president is an honor not to be treated lightly. Vice President The vice president presides in the absence of the president. This officer confers with the president and chapter advisor often and should be kept informed and involved in the activities. The vice president, with the chapter advisor, may also assume the duties of (co) program chair of the induction ceremony. This requires inviting speakers and making other necessary arrangements, and seeing that the program is affected in good order. As a committed chapter officer, the vice president can chair particular committees as needed and provide leadership for particular projects and activities. Secretary The secretary keeps the minutes of the meetings, both of the business transacted and of the programs and activities. He/she sends out announcements of future meetings and the minutes of previous meetings. Other duties of this officer may include corresponding (along with the chapter advisor) with the National Office by sending in the names of new members and reporting activities, being responsible for local speakers, acting as host or hostess at chapter programs, and possibly serving as chair for a particular activity or project. Treasurer The treasurer, working with the chapter advisor, handles the chapter s money matters. He/she should administer chapter funds and keep the other officers apprized of the status of chapter finances. Although the chapter advisor should be responsible for actually sending the national induction fees to the National Office, the treasurer may be enlisted to help with the collection of any local chapter dues. The treasurer should also take an active role in any fund-raising projects in which the chapter engages. Historian It is essential to maintain a permanent record of the chapter's members and activities. Clippings, rosters, programs, correspondence, etc., should be kept in some permanent form, perhaps in a scrapbook. In years to come, when members now on the scene have gone, these permanent records will become increasingly valuable. These materials should never be kept at a member s home but in the care of the chapter advisor or in a permanent location at school. A chapter historian, working closely with the chapter advisor, may be elected to handle this important work. Public Relations Chair
A good chapter should be as visible as possible. One member may be assigned the responsibility of keeping the news media (i.e. the school paper, the local paper, and radio and television stations, etc.) informed of programs, speakers, awards, and honors involving the local National English Honor Society chapter. This person should work closely with the school s newspaper and yearbook staff. It is always important to keep the principal and other school and/or district administrators in the loop! The public relations chair also can make certain that fliers and banners are posted and that announcements concerning chapter events are made in a timely fashion. Activities Chair It is wise to appoint one person who knows how to go about setting up activities within the school system. An activities chair can work with the chapter advisor to help find rooms for meetings and events, to make arrangements for food, to ensure that invited speakers have correct information, and to check out equipment. School officials and staff generally appreciate working with one contact person, not many. Technical Liaison (or Webmaster) Some chapters maintain their own web sites. In such cases a person can be put in charge of updating materials on the web page, having the chapter web site identified with the school s web site, notifying the National Office of the web site, linking the chapter to other chapters in the region, and assisting chapter members in accessing information on the national web site at www.nehs.us. Very important: It is essential that the chapter advisor be apprized at all times of all information that is put on the site, and that absolutely nothing that might be considered offensive appears on it. The web site is a public image of the chapter and of the national organization and should always reflect positively on the chapter, the Society, and the field of English. Any violation of this may result in the loss of the chapter s charter. Article VI Procedures for election and removal of officers and for filling vacancies Chapter Officer Installation Ceremonies New officers should be installed with an appropriate ceremony to impress upon them the seriousness of their undertaking. With the exception of the chapter s very first installation of officers, when none precede them, this ceremony should take place when the outgoing officers will be present to pass on either a literal or metaphoric legacy to their successors. At the initial installation of officers, or if outgoing officers are not available, the chapter advisor may perform the duties of the outgoing officers. Sample Chapter Officer Installation Ceremony The outgoing officers should be seated at a long table or row of chairs in the front of the membership. The new officers sit among the society members.
PRESIDENT: (standing throughout the ceremony and addressing the membership) The president may briefly summarize the most important accomplishments of his/her tenure in office and give good counsel for the coming year. The President then continues: We are now ready to install our officers for the coming year. Each officer has important duties; and each is, in his/her own sphere, responsible for the chapter s success. (Pause) We first give charge to the office of the treasurer. TREASURER: (stands) Will [new treasurer s name] come forward. The new treasurer comes forward and stands before the outgoing treasurer. My fellow member, the office of treasurer is an important one, for you must accept the responsibility of receiving, recording, and distributing funds. It will be your duty to keep an accurate record of all monies paid into the chapter treasury. Working with our chapter advisor, you will pay all bills promptly so that the chapter maintains a reputation for honesty and efficiency. You will, at all times, be prepared to furnish information concerning the financial condition of the chapter. Are you ready to assume the duties for your office? NEW TREASURER: I am. TREASURER: Then, as an emblem of your office, take this record of our finances into your safe keeping. Guard it well as part of your ongoing legacy to the officers and members who shall follow in years to come. The new treasurer accepts the record of finances and takes a seat in front of the membership, and the outgoing treasurer sits with the membership. PRESIDENT: We shall now give the charge to the secretary. SECRETARY: (stands) Will [new secretary s name] come forward. The new secretary comes forward and stands before the outgoing secretary. SECRETARY: My fellow member, it will be your duty to keep an accurate record of all meetings of the chapter and, working with the vice president, to keep the membership record accurate and up to date. Working with our chapter advisor, you will be responsible for notifying members of meetings and keeping them informed of other chapter events. You will also be responsible for all communication between the chapter and the school, other chapters, and any other persons. Are you ready to assume the duties of your office? NEW SECRETARY: I am. SECRETERY: Then, as an emblem of your office, take this secretary s book into your safe keeping. Guard it well as part of your ongoing legacy to the officers and members who shall follow in years to come. The new secretary accepts the book and takes a seat in front of the membership, and the outgoing secretary sits with the membership. PRESIDENT: We shall now give the charge to the vice president. VICE PRESIDENT: (stands) Will [new vice president s name] come forward.
The new vice president comes forward and stands before the outgoing vice president. VICE PRESIDENT: My fellow member, it will be your duty to perform all of the duties of the president in his/her absence and to cooperate with him/her to promote the chapter s interests. It is also your duty to prepare and instruct inductees for the induction ceremony, and to serve, with the chapter advisor, as program co-chair. Working with the treasurer, you are to maintain accurate membership records for the chapter. Are you ready to assume the duties of your office? NEW VICE PRESIDENT: I am. VICE PRESIDENT: Then, as an emblem of your office, take this membership book into your safe keeping. Guard it well as part of your ongoing legacy to the officers and members who shall follow in years to come. The new vice president accepts the book and takes a seat in front of the membership, and the outgoing vice president sits with the membership. PRESIDENT: I will now give the charge to the president. Will [name of the new president] come forward. The new president comes forward and stands before the officiating president. PRESIDENT: It will be your duty to preside at all chapter meetings, to fill, with the advice of the chapter advisor, all appointive offices, appoint all committees, order drafts on the treasury, and exercise general supervision over the chapter s activities. Are you ready to assume the duties of your office? NEW PRESIDENT: I am. PRESIDENT: Then, as an emblem of your office, take this gavel into your safe keeping. Use it well to guide those whom you both lead and serve. Guard it well as part of your ongoing legacy to the officers and members who shall follow in years to come. The new president accepts the gavel and remains standing in front of the membership, while the outgoing president sits with the membership. NEW PRESIDENT: Officers rise. All of the new officers stand. CHAPTER (facing the new officers): You have been duly elected to your office in ADVISOR: accordance with the uniform Bylaws of the Golden Pen of the National English Honor Society. I now have the honor to act as its representative and to induct you as Executive Committee members. Will you, therefore, repeat after me as you affirm the election to your office? (pause) I accept the office / to which I have been elected, / and promise to carry out my duties / to the best of my ability / and to abide by and support / the bylaws of this chapter. / In the execution of my duties, / the guiding principle shall always be / gelast sceal mid are / Duty goes with honor. NEW PRESIDENT: (addressing the audience): Let us welcome the new officers. (leads applause) Let me ask last year s officers to stand once more as we recognize them for their leadership this past year. (leads
applause) Everyone, please be seated (president remains standing). The President may give a short speech of his / her plans and hopes for the coming year. The meeting will adjourn in the usual manner. Article VII Definition of rules of order and references for conducting NEHS business (usually Robert s Rules of Order, Newly Revised) Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Section 6 Section 7 Article VIII Method and procedure for ratification of the Bylaws These bylaws of the NEHS constitution may be amended per year by the Advisory Council or a majority affirmative vote of the Executive member officers with the approval of the chapter s Advisory Council. Article IX Official Insignia NEHS shall have an official emblem selected by the National Advisory Council, who shall have the exclusive control of its use. Only active, alumni, and honorary members shall be entitled to wear this emblem. Any member who resigns or is removed from membership shall not be entitled to wear this emblem. All Society insignia must be procured from the NEHS National Office; members and local chapters may not reproduce or substitute any officially designated insignia. The motto of NEHS is Gelast Sceal Mid Are Old English for duty goes with honor. The official colors of NEHS are royal blue and gold. The official flower of NEHS is the white carnation.