ARTICLE I: National Honor Society Mandeville High School Chapter Bylaws NAME: The name of the chapter is National Honor Society of Mandeville High School. ARTICLE II: PURPOSE: 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 at Mandeville High School. ARTICLE III: POWERS The final authority in this organization rests with the principal (per V.1 of the national constitution) Section 1: The chapter operates under direction of and in full compliance with the NHS National Constitution. See www.nhs.us/constitutions. Section 2: The chapter adviser(s) is given the authority to supervise the administration of chapter activities, as delegated by the school principal. Section 3: The final authority on all activities and decisions of the chapter resides with the school principal. (See Article V, Section 1 of the National Constitution.) Section 4: The principal shall annually appoint member/members of the faculty as chapter adviser, who may serve consecutive terms. Section 5: The principal shall annually appoint a Faculty Council composed of five members of the school s faculty who may serve consecutive terms. Section 6: The principal shall receive appeals in cases of non-selection of candidates and the disciplining or dismissal of members. ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP: Section 1: Membership in local chapters is an honor bestowed upon deserving students. Selection for membership is by a Faculty Council and is based on outstanding scholarship, character, leadership, and service. Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities.
Section 2: Membership shall be known as active and graduate. Active members shall become graduate members at graduation. Graduate members shall have no voice or vote in chapter affairs. Section 3: Eligibility: a. Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony. b. Candidates must be members of the sophomore or junior class. c. To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been enrolled for a period equivalent to one semester at Mandeville High School. d. Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative unweighted grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. e. Upon meeting the grade level, enrollment, and GPA standards, candidates shall then be considered based on their service, leadership, and character. f. Candidates must serve their community and provide documentation for a minimum of sixteen hours with at least four different service organizations. Section 4: Members who are seniors in good standing are eligible to be nominated by their chapters to compete in the National Honor Society Scholarship Program. Section 5: A National Honor Society member who transfers to another school and brings a letter on school letterhead from the former principal or chapter adviser to the new school adviser shall be accepted automatically as a member in the new school s chapter if he or she was a member in good standing. An electronic notice from the former school is also allowed. Transfer members must meet the new chapter s standards within one semester in order to retain membership. Section 6: Members who resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for membership or its benefits. ARTICLE V: SELECTION OF MEMBERS: Section 1: The selection process for new National Honor Society members begins in the spring semester of each school year. Sophomores and juniors may be considered. The selection is based on four distinct qualities and candidates must meet the qualifications in all four areas. The qualities are: a. Scholarship: The candidate must have a minimum overall unweighted GPA of 3.5 for all completed high school credits. No rounding up is done. b. Leadership: Students are evaluated for leadership. This does not necessarily imply that a candidate must hold an office in an organization, but there must be evidence of the student s ability to lead. c. Service: The candidate must provide information that he or she has been and is currently active in school service and community service. Official documentation (i.e. letters on the organization s letterhead, certificates of completion) must be included with the correct service hour forms.
d. Character: A person of character demonstrates the following six qualities: Respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, and citizenship. The candidate s discipline record for the current school year shall be checked. Faculty members shall also provide input. Section 2: The following are included in the selection process: a) Interested students who believe they may qualify must thoroughly complete a Student Activity Information Form and hand-deliver it to the NHS advisors by the deadline given. This is not an application and does not guarantee membership. All sections of the form should be thoroughly filled out. Each section is essential for consideration for membership. b) Advisors determine each candidate s current overall GPA. c) Advisors check each candidate s discipline record with the school disciplinarians. d) All faculty members are given a complete list of candidates for evaluation of their leadership abilities and character. e) Advisors present the above information on the candidates to a five-member Faculty Council selected by the principal. Only the members of the committee vote on membership by majority vote. The advisors and the principal do not vote. f) Selected candidates are notified by letter and given information about the Induction Ceremony. A selected candidate will not be considered a member unless he or she participates in the Induction Ceremony. g) Candidates who are not selected are notified by letter. ARTICLE VI: OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS Section 1: Completed Form B signed by the member s parents as required per the district. Section 2: Annual Dues for this chapter shall be $10 Dues are payable to the chapter within 30 days of the first meeting of each school year. Section 3. Regular meetings shall be held on the designated Thursday of each month at 7:00 am in the auditorium with at least one faculty advisor present. Section 4: The chapter president or other designated student leader may call special meetings approved by the faculty advisers.
Section 5: Each member must participate in an annual service project as determined by the officers and/or advisors. The time spent participating in this project does not count toward individual service hours. Section 6: Each member must participate in individual service projects and report no less than thirty (30) hours of community service per year. (See Article VII: Community Service Hours, and Article X: Activities) ARTICLE VII: COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS: Section 1: All students, both candidates and members, must complete a community service requirement. Only approved activities will count towards the required service hours. (See Appendix 1) Section 2: The following are requirements for candidates during the application process: a) Complete a minimum of sixteen (16) community service hours from at least four different organizations b) In order for any community service hour to count towards candidacy, official documentation must be provided along with signatures c) Community service hours can be completed within one (1) calendar year of the application Section 3: The following are requirements for active members: a) Complete a minimum of thirty (30) community service hours from at least four different organizations with no more than eight (8) hours from one organization. b) In order for any community service hour to count towards an active membership, official documentation must be provided along with signatures c) Community service hours can be completed each year beginning on the first day of summer and are due at the March meeting. d) Members can submit up to fifteen (15) community service hours from the summer at the August or September meeting. After the September meeting, no summer hours will be accepted. e) Active members are required to complete community service hours each year they are active. Failure to submit service hours by the deadline will result in a dismissal from the society. Section 4: All community service hours require official documentation in order for them to be considered. a) Documentation can be: 1) a letter on letterhead from the organization, 2) a certificate of completion, or 3) an approved Mandeville High Club form for certain events for select clubs that provide community service b) DOCUMENTATION CANNOT BE: PICTURES, HANDWRITTEN NOTES, OR ANY OTHER UNAPPROVED FORMS c) If the candidate or member is unsure of proper documentation, he/she should seek out the adviser before completing the community service on what would be the best method for the event.
ARTICLE VIII: DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICERS: Section 1: The duties of the officers are as follows. 1. Duties of the President: a. Must have held some previous leadership office in NHS b. Prepare agendas for meetings and submit a typed copy three (3) days in advance to sponsors. c. Place one on our bulletin board. d. Conduct all meetings. e. Coordinate activities with contact people and obtain approval. f. Conduct induction ceremony as master of ceremonies. g. Attend service projects. h. Assist in counting and logging community service hours into a spreadsheet i. Attend all officer meetings 2. Duties of the Vice President: a. Communicate directly with the president on all activities. b. Conduct meetings in the absence of the president. c. Coordinate community projects making contacts and creating signup lists. d. Head the induction committee. e. Attend service projects. f. Assisting in maintaining records of membership status g. Assist in counting and logging community service hours into a spreadsheet h. Attend all officer meetings 3. Duties of the Secretary: 1. Submit forms for any school announcements. 2. Handle all correspondence such as thank you notes and invitations. 3. Maintain attendance records and written excuses, including a meeting sign-in sheet and keeping the attendance spreadsheet up to date 4. Assist in counting and logging community service hours into a spreadsheet 5. Attend service projects. 6. Attend all officer meetings 4. Duties of the Treasurer: a. Collect dues from all members. b. Collect stole money from seniors. c. Turn in all money collected to the advisors to be turned in to the account clerk. d. Issue receipts for any money received and keep receipt books
e. Maintain a record of all members who have paid dues and turned in a Form B.in a spreadsheet. f. Attend service projects and fundraising activities and distributions g. Assist in counting and logging community service hours into a spreadsheet h. Attend all officer meetings 5. Duties of the Historian/Public Relations Representative: a. Take photographs of all activities. b. Maintain chapter scrapbook. b) Attend service projects. c) Coordinate all publicity (Skipper Scoop, MHS Crest, Mandeville Times-Picayune reporter, and Yearbook. d) Maintain the social media accounts with meeting and community service information e) Assist in counting and logging community service hours into a spreadsheet f) Attend service projects. g) Attend all officer meetings 6. Duties of the Parliamentarian: a. Maintain the bulletin board with meeting and community service information b. Create flyers advertising NHS activities. c. Record the minutes of all meetings and post a copy on the bulletin. d. Develop a monthly calendar of club activities and deadlines for the club bulletin board. e. Assist in counting and logging community service hours into a spreadsheet f. Attend service projects g. Attend all officer meetings Section 2. In case of an unexpired term of due to officer resignation of dismissal, an advisor will appoint a temporary officer until an election can held. Section 3. Procedures for election of officers: Qualifications for office: a) Must be a junior in good standing including absences, service projects, dues paid, and maintenance of a 3.5 overall GPA. b) Must not hold or be running for a conflicting officer position in any other school organization. Students are only allowed to hold one major and one minor office per the school handbook. c) The positions of historian and parliamentarian can only be held by incoming junior members.
Section 4. Election Process: Nominations are taken during the month of April. Members may nominate a fellow member in good standing or may nominate themselves. The member should submit the nomination in writing to the advisors by the date specified. The nomination should include nominee s name, officer position he or she seeks, and 1 recommendation from a teacher at MHS. 1. Advisors will check the list of nominees to ensure that no conflicting officer positions in any other school organizations are held. A list of nominees will be posted on the NHS bulletin board. Speeches by nominees and the election of officers will be held during the April meeting. 2. Printed ballots will be maintained and monitored by the advisors to avoid duplicate voting. Each member will be issued one ballot to be completed in the presence of the advisor and placed in the designated box. Advisors will count and tally the votes for each officer position. 3. Official winners will be notified by the advisors and results will then be posted on the NHS bulletin board. 4. The office of Historian/Public Relations Representative can be appointed by the Advisors with the approval of the executive officers. 5. Removal from Office: An officer will be removed from office if he or she: a) fails to complete the designated duties for the elected office as listed in the chapter bylaws, b) exhibits poor leadership and/or poor character by violating school rules or civil laws, c) fails to maintain GPA requirements, has 2 or more unexcused absences from monthly meetings, or does not attend service projects. 6. Filling a Vacancy: Nominations for the vacant office will be taken using the MHS chapter Guidelines for qualifying and the election process. Voting will be held at a special meeting or the next monthly meeting as designated by the advisors. ARTICLE IX: MEETINGS Section 1. Regular meetings of this chapter shall be monthly. Special meetings can be called by the president with approval of the adviser. Section 2. This chapter shall conduct its meetings according Robert s Rules of Order. Section 3. Members are expected to attend all chapter meetings.
ARTICLE X: ACTIVITIES Section 1. The chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year. Section 2. All members shall regularly participate in these projects. Section 3. 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 4. 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 an addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute. Each member must achieve five (5) hours of service each semester. These hours should be documented on the MHS/NHS service time sheet (Appendix 2) Section 5. The chapter shall publicize and promote its projects in a positive manner. ARTICLE XI: DISCIPLINE AND DISMISSAL OF MEMBERS Section 1. Members are subject to dismissal for one or more of the following reasons: a. Not maintaining the minimum overall unweighted GPA of 3.5 for two consecutive semesters. Advisers will check GPAs of members at the end of each semester. b. Not completing the minimum number of hours (5) of community service per semester. c. Not completing the minimum number of documented thirty (30) hours from at least four (4) different organizations by the deadline with no more than eight (8) hours from one organization. d. Missing three or more NHS monthly meetings with unexcused absences. If a member is in school for classes but not at the meeting, this is unexcused from the NHS meeting. All excused notices must be submitted to the adviser within three days of missed meeting. e. Not paying the required annual dues by the designated deadline (30 days after the first meeting of the year. f. Not submitting a Form B to the district by the deadline (30 days after the first day of school) g. A flagrant violation of school rules or civil laws. Section 2. Procedures for 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. Members who are dismissed will never again be eligible for membership in the National Honor Society and are not allowed any of its benefits. Section 3. In lieu of dismissal the Faculty Council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate. ARTICLE XII: RATIFICATION, APPROVAL, AND REVIEW. Section 1. 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 2. These bylaws shall be reviewed and if necessary, revised within five years from the date of approval noted on this document. ARTICLE XIII: AMENDMENTS These bylaws may be amended by 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 and X, which are developed by the Faculty Council with the approval of the principal (selection and discipline). Approved On Advisor Principal
APENDIX 1: COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS: GUIDELINES Acceptable Hours Coordination of fundraising activities and services performed for day care centers, retirement homes, animal hospitals, nature parks or other non-profit organizations will count as volunteer service hours. (fundraising alone does not count) In general, hours spent coaching youth sports count as service hours. Services performed on staff at non-profit athletic or music camps for no financial compensation (including lowering cost of tuition) will count as community service hours, as well as hours on long-distance service projects. (See limitations, below.) Involvement in service projects of for-profit businesses that address a community service need will result in justifiable community service hours. Tutoring when sponsored by a community organization or done in school and signed off by a MHS staff member. Teaching youth worship classes counts for hours. Limitations on Community Service Hours Parents cannot sign for their children. If the event is not a school sponsored activity, then a letter on the organization s letterhead documenting the service should be acquired. All youth group or church activities must be service to a community in order to receive credit. In all cases, volunteers receive a maximum of 8 hours credit for any 24-hour period of service. Time for travel to and from a service site or time sleeping overnight at a service site does not earn service credit. This is for mission trips. What Does Not Count? In general, service rendered directly to a for-profit organization will not count as service hours. Something done for your family or friends such as painting your house, moving, or taking care of a grandparent. Managing or being on an athletic team, chorus and participating in the school play are considered school activities and do not meet the definition of service to the community. Hosting a foreign exchange student Babysitting Eating, sleeping, worship, and playtime on a mission trip A contribution such as prom gowns, books, soda tabs, coats, food, and toiletries. There is one exception, blood for the American Red Cross (one hour). Activities that take place during a normal worship service such as ushering, participation in choir, playing music for a service, or other worship activities. Private tutoring. Unpaid work for friends and family members unless affiliated with charitable organization (ie: mowing the lawn for your neighbor) What is documented evidence? Documentation is a letter stating that you have completed the service on a specific date, time, and for however many hours. It details your service. All documentation must be on the organization s letterhead.
APENDIX 2: COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS: COVER SHEET
APENDIX 2 (con t): COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS: EVENT DESCRIPTION FORM