Chapter Bylaws of the Woodmont High School Chapter of the National Honor Society
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this chapter shall be the Woodmont High School Chapter of the National Honors Society.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The purpose 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 students of Woodmont High School.
ARTICLE III: 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: The chapter adviser is given the authority to supervise the administration of chapter activities, as delegated by the school principal.
Section 3: Final authority on all activities and decisions of the chapter resides with the school principal.
Section 4: Nondiscrimination. Our chapter of the NHS maintains policies and practices that are designed to prevent discrimination against any qualified candidate or member on the basis of 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 IV: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon deserving students by the faculty and is based on the criteria of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.
Section 2: Membership in this chapter shall be known as active, and alumni. Active members become alumni members at graduation. Alumni members have no voice or vote in chapter affairs.
Section 3: Eligibility:
Candidates eligible for selection to this chapter must be members of the junior or senior class.
To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been enrolled for a period equivalent to one semester at Woodmont High School.
Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 4.25.
Upon meeting the grade level, enrollment, and GPA standards, candidates shall then be considered based on their service, leadership, and character.
ARTICLE V: SELECTION OF MEMBERS
Section 1: 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 member of the faculty council.
Section 2: The selection of active members shall be held twice a year at the beginning of the year and at the end of second semester.
Section 3: Prior to the final selection, the following shall occur:
Students academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.
All students who are eligible scholastically (i.e., candidates) shall be notified and asked to complete and submit the candidate information form for further consideration.
The faculty shall be requested to evaluate candidates determined to be scholastically eligible using the official input form provided by the chapter advisor.
The faculty council shall review the candidate information forms, faculty input, and other relevant information to determine those who fully meet the selection criteria for membership.
Section 4: Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony.
Section 5: An active member of the National Honor Society that transfers from this school will be given an official letter indicating the status of his/her membership.
Section 6: 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 obtain the membership requirements and, thereafter, this member must maintain those requirements for this chapter in order to retain his/her membership.
ARTICLE VI: OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS
Section 1: Annual dues for this shall be $20 and must be paid by the assigned due date. Annual contracts must also be signed by the member and his/her guardian and submitted by the assigned due date.
Section 2: Chapter members who are seniors in good standing, (i.e dues paid, all service hours completed, participation in group project and a member for three semesters,) shall be granted the privilege of wearing the honor cords/stole at graduation.
Section 3: Meetings of this chapter shall be scheduled based on need. Special meetings can be called by the officers with the approval of the adviser. Members are expected to attend all chapter meetings.
Section 4: The chapter shall determine two or more service projects for each year:
All members should participate in at least one of these service projects.
These projects shall have the following characteristics: fulfill a need within the school or community; have the support of the school and the faculty; be appropriate and educationally defensible; and be well planned, organized, and executed.
Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in individual service projects which reflect his or her particular talents and interests. The total time spent on these individual projects should equal twenty hours per semester.
The chapter shall publicize and promote its projects in a positive manner.
ARTICLE VII: OFFICERS
Section 1: The officers of the chapter shall consist of two Junior officers and two Senior officers.
Section 2 : Student officers shall be elected the week after the first meeting of the 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 3: 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: It shall be the duty of all officers to preside at the meetings of the chapter, and serve as the official representatives of the chapter at school and community functions.
Section 8: Officers and the faculty council shall collectively be known as the chapter’s executive committee. The executive committee shall establish annual goals for the chapter and have general charge of the meetings and business of the chapter, but any action by the executive committee is subject to the review of the chapter members.
ARTICLE VIII: DISCIPLINE AND 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 Woodmont High School 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. This also includes failure to adhere to NHS member obligations.
Section 2: If a member’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.75 he/she will be given a written warning and a reasonable time period for the 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 includes consideration of dismissal from the chapter.
Section 3: Violations of the law or school regulations can result in immediate consideration of the dismissal of a member (see Section 5). 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 5: 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 6: In all cases of member dismissal:
A member shall have a right to a hearing before the faculty council.
A majority vote of the faculty council is required to dismiss any member.
The results of the faculty council vote will be stated in a letter sent to the student.
The faculty council’s decision may be appealed to the building principal and afterwards according to provisions of the school district discipline policies.
A member who is dismissed or resigns is not able to be considered for membership in the National Honor Society.
Section 7: In lieu of dismissal, the faculty council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate.
ARTICLE IX: RATIFICATION, APPROVAL, AND REVIEW:
Section 1: These bylaws will be approved upon receiving a majority affirmative vote of the faculty council and approval by administration.
Section 2: These bylaws may be revised by a majority affirmative vote of the faculty council and approval by administration to go into effect the year following the revision.