NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
FRISCO HIGH SCHOOL
CHAPTER BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1.
The name of this chapter shall be the Frisco Chapter of the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools, which appears on the charter granted by the National Council of the National Honor Society, duly signed by the national secretary.
Section 2.
The object of this chapter shall be to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to
stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character in all students of Frisco High School.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
Membership in local chapters is an honor bestowed upon a student. 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.
New members shall be inducted at a special ceremony.
Section 3.
A National Honor Society member who transfers from another school and brings a letter from the former principal or chapter advisor shall be accepted automatically as a member of the Frisco chapter. Transfer members must meet the Frisco chapter’s standards within one semester to retain membership.
Section 4.
Members who resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for membership or its benefits.
ARTICLE III
SELECTION OF MEMBERS
Section 1.
To be eligible for membership, the candidate must be a sophomore or junior.
Section 2.
A candidate must have at least a 4.25 cumulative grade point average. The candidate shall then be evaluated on the basis of service, leadership, and character.
Section 3.
To be eligible for election to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been in attendance for a period equivalent to one semester in this school.
3a) To be eligible Students also must not have more than 6 unexcused absences.
Section 4.
The selection of members to the chapter shall be by a majority vote of the faculty council.
Section 5.
Once selected and inducted, all members are expected to maintain the standards
by which they were selected and maintain all obligations of membership.
Section 6.
An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to another school will be given a letter indicating the status of his or her membership and signed by the principal or chapter advisor(s).
ARTICLE IV
DISMISSAL OF MEMBERS
Section 1.
Members are liable for dismissal if they do not maintain the standards of scholarship, leadership, service, and character that were used as the basis of their selection.
Section 2.
Members whose grade point average falls below 4.25 will have a semester to regain the necessary grade point average. Seniors who are on academic probation will receive no recognition at the end of the year unless they have brought their grade point average to at least 4.25.
Section 3.
Members who fail to maintain the standards of leadership, service, and character will be subject to a faculty council hearing before being dismissed from the chapter. Exception to this rule would be in case of a flagrant violation of school rules or civil laws, which will result in automatic dismissal.
Section 4.
Both in and out of school suspensions will be handled on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the faculty council. It is mandatory that members inform the advisor(s) of their suspensions.
Section 5.
Members who receive a warning shall set a time to meet with the advisor and/or faculty council to discuss the nature of the violation and the time-period given for improvement. If a student does not make the improvement in the specified time, that student is liable for whatever disciplinary measures are considered appropriate by the faculty council.
Section 6.
If a member is dismissed, written notice of the decision will be sent to the member. Once a member is dismissed, (s)he is never again eligible for membership in the National Honor Society.
Section 7.
Members must be in good standing to graduate as a member of the National Honor Society. This includes but is not limited to meeting all final deadlines by the required times, completing 20 service hours per year, maintaining a 4.25 GPA and no pending disciplinary action.
Section 8.
Officers with two unexcused absences from chapter meetings and/or officer meetings will receive a letter, warning of their impending dismissal. Officers with three unexcused absences from chapter meetings and/or officer meetings will be asked to relinquish their officer position but, will not be dismissed from the honor society.
ARTICLE V
MEETINGS
Section 1.
Meetings of this chapter shall be held when needed.
Section 2.
Special meetings may be called by the advisor.
Section 3.
An advisor must be present at all National Honor Society meetings.
Section 4.
All chapter members are expected to attend meetings.
Section 5.
Members are responsible for knowing the date, time, and location of all meetings.
Section 6.
Members are responsible for checking email regularly to obtain important NHS meeting information.
ARTICLE VI
DUES AND FEES
Section 1.
The annual dues for each member shall be $20.
Section 2.
Dues shall be paid in full before the induction ceremony.
Section 3.
Seniors will receive their graduation stole if their dues are paid and they are a
member in good standing.
Section 4.
Students who are unable to pay dues will not be denied membership.
ARTICLE VII
ACTIVITIES
Section 1.
The chapter shall determine at least one NHS service project for each school year.
Section 2.
All members are required to participate in these projects. Students must complete twenty hours of community service per school year. These hours shall include at least ten hours serving FISD or chapter NHS service projects. Ten hours shall be completed each semester.
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.
All members are required to complete some type of community service hours at least once per 9 weeks – according to the school calendar; failure to do so will result in a warning, probation or dismissal from NHS.
Section 5.
Students must submit proof of all twenty hours of community service by April 1st.
Section 6.
Service hours obtained outside of an NHS service project require proof of service signed by an adult community member in a leadership position.
ARTICLE VIII
DEFINITION OF HOURS
Section 1.
FISD hours are for activities that directly benefit the FISD school system. At least ten of the required number of hours must be FISD hours.
Section 2.
Individual hours should be community sponsored and should be used for the benefit of the public. At least ten of the required number of hours must be FISD hours.
Section 3.
Projects for other school clubs may count for the FISD hours except in the case of special, announced activities.
ARTICLE IX
Section 1.
The officers of this chapter shall be: 1) President; 2) Vice-president of Scholarship; 3) Vice-president of Service; 4) Secretary; 5) Parliamentarian; 6) Historian. 7) Compliance Officers (multiple positions as needed - these will be open to Juniors)
Students shall run for one elected office. Students may campaign and shall briefly address the membership and explain why he or she wants the position and what they can contribute to the organization. All officers shall be Seniors (with the exception of compliance officers,) elected in the fall of their Junior
year.
Section 2.
Student officers shall be selected yearly prior to the last meeting of each school year. Active members may run for an office at the end of the inducted Junior year. If elections are held in the Fall, or the beginning of the school year all Seniors are eligible to be an officer. All active members are eligible to vote. Members must be present to vote.
Section 3.
A majority vote shall be necessary to elect any officer of this chapter. If the first vote does not yield a majority (50.1%), a second vote shall be taken of the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes. If a second vote does not yield a majority, it is possible for both members to share the position and responsibilities. The Faculty Council will review all applications, taking into consideration the vote, and choose the officers among all of the candidates.
Section 4.
It shall be the duty of the President to preside at the meetings of the chapter, organize NHS projects, and fulfills all tasks designated by the advisor.
Section 5.
The Vice President of Scholarship or Service shall preside over the meetings in the absence of the President, assist the President in NHS tasks, and fulfill all tasks designated by the advisor.
Section 6.
The Secretary shall take the minutes of the meetings of the chapter, keep a record of all business, hold all records on file, type up notices for meetings and projects, and fulfill all tasks designated by the advisor. The historian shall preside in the absence of the secretary.
Section 7.
It shall be the duty of the Historian to inform members about chapter activities and inform the public about the chapter’s events via, school paper, announcements, website, twitter, social media and fulfill all tasks designated by the advisor. The president shall preside in the absence of the historian.
Section 8.
If an officer’s position becomes vacant due to resignation, relocation, or dismissal, the open position shall be filled by an emergency election. An open position may only be filled by student meeting the criteria aforementioned in.
Section 9.
If an officer fails to perform any of the published obligations of membership, he or she will be given a written warning and a time-period for improvement (each circumstance will be decided on an individual basis). A conference will be scheduled with the student and the advisor(s) and/ or the Faculty Council. If the officer fails to improve in the time-period given, the officer may be considered for dismissal from office by the Faculty Council. This action does not dismiss the student from NHS membership.
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