Constitution
Laurel Chapter of the National Honor Society
Article I
Name and Purpose
Section 1: The name of this chapter shall be the Laurel 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 members of the National Council.
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 secondary schools.
Section 3: NHS is a program of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), 1904 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1537, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit association.
Article II
Membership
Section 1: Membership in this chapter shall be based upon Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character.
Section 2: Membership of this chapter shall be known as Active, Graduate, and Honorary. Active members have voting privileges. Graduate Members have no voting privileges. Active Members become Graduate Members upon graduation from Valley Regional High School.
Section 3: Students to be considered for membership in the Laurel Chapter of the National Honor Society must be in attendance at Valley Regional High School for a period of one semester immediately preceding induction. Sophomores will not be considered for the National Honor Society. The residence requirement for the National Honor Society candidates will be waived for Honorary Membership if all other requirements are fulfilled. Honorary Members in this society must meet the same criteria as regular members except that the residence requirement can be waived. Students will be automatically incorporated into the Valley Regional High School Chapter upon registering at the high school. Membership will be open to the junior and senior classes only. Candidates eligible for selection to the Chapter shall have at the end of Semester 1 Junior year a cumulative grade point average of 90.00 or higher, as well as a weighted average of 100.00 or higher. This minimum scholastic level of achievement shall remain fixed, and shall be the required minimum scholastic level of achievement for admission to candidacy. All students who can rise in scholarship to or above such standard may be admitted to candidacy for election to membership. Their eligibility shall be considered on their Service, Leadership, and Character.
Article III
Election of Members
Section 1: The election of members of this chapter of the National Honor Society shall be by members of a faculty committee appointed by the principal of the school. The committee shall be made up of no more than five teachers each serving a five-year term. One teacher shall be from the English, Social Studies, Science, and Math departments with the fifth teacher being from one of the remaining departments. Each committee member shall have one vote for each candidate brought forward. Advisor(s) shall have no voting privilege. Advisor(s) shall not take part in the discussion of a candidate's eligibility. All discussion and voting shall remain confidential. Advisor(s) and teachers will not be permitted to take notes of deliberations or voting.
Section 2: Section 2: Questions or concerns regarding selection to the Laurel Chapter of the National Honor Society should be directed to the Advisor(s) first. The principal shall receive appeals in cases of nonselection of candidates, and the disciplining or dismissal of members.
Section 3: A National Honor Society member must maintain the standards for membership in order to retain membership. Standards include Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. Any member who falls below the standards which were the basis of their election shall be promptly warned. If during the next regular marking period of the school year, the member fails to meet the standards used as the basis for their election to the Society, their case shall be reviewed by the faculty committee. The National Honor Society advisors, with the consent of the Principal, will bring to the attention of the faculty committee the name of the member who is being considered for dismissal for failing to maintain membership standards. Each teacher shall have one vote for each candidate brought forward for dismissal. Advisor(s) shall have no voting privilege. Advisor(s) shall not take part in the discussion of a candidate's eligibility. All discussion and voting shall remain confidential. Advisor(s) and teachers will not be permitted to take notes of deliberations or voting. A member will be allowed only one warning period. Once a member is dismissed, he is never again eligible for membership in the National Honor Society.
Section 4: When a member is dismissed, they must be notified in writing and their name shall be stricken from the Membership Book.
Section 5: An active member who transfers from this school will be given a letter, signed by the Principal, indicating their status as a member of the Laurel Chapter of the National Honor Society.
Section 6: An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to this school with proper credentials will be automatically accepted for membership in this chapter. This transfer member must maintain the membership requirements for this chapter in order to retain their membership.
Article IV
Officers
Section 1: The officers of this chapter shall be a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer.
Section 2: Election of officers shall take place at the first meeting following the induction ceremony.
Section 3: A majority of votes cast shall be necessary to elect any officer of this chapter.
Section 4: It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings of this chapter.
Section 5: The vice-president shall fill the chair of the president in their absence.
Section 6: The chapter secretary shall keep the minutes of meetings, a record of all business, and all records on file. They shall, with the approval of Principal and advisor(s), certify to the National Secretary of the National Council the names of all members for the current school year on the Annual Report submitted to National Headquarters.
Section 7: The treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds of the chapter, collect all dues, and shall keep an accurate account of receipts and disbursements in accordance with school regulations.
Article V
Executive Committee
Section 1: The executive committee shall consist of the National Honor Society Advisor(s), the Principal, and the officers of the chapter.
Section 2: The executive committee shall have general charges of the meeting and business of the chapter, by any action on the part of the executive committee may be subject to the review of the chapter.
Section 3: All accounts of the treasurer must be audited annually by an audit committee appointed by the executive committee of the chapter.
Article VI
Supervision
Section 1: The activities of this chapter shall be subject to the approval of the Principal.
Article VII
Meetings
Section 1: The regular meetings of this chapter shall be held at least once a month during the school year on days designated by the executive committee and approved of the principal.
Section 2: The election of officers, held at the first meeting following the induction ceremony, shall be run by the advisor(s).
Section 3: Special meetings, approved by the executive committee, may be called by the president or advisor(s).
Section 4: All meetings shall be open meetings and shall be held under the sponsorship of the Principal or the advisor(s), or a faculty member selected by the Principal.
Section 5: This chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order in all points not expressly provided for in the constitution of this chapter.
Article VIII
Emblem
Section 1: Each member of this chapter shall be entitled to wear or use the emblem adopted by the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools.
Section 2: Any member who withdraws or is dismissed from the chapter shall not be entitled to nor permitted to wear or use the emblem adopted by the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools.
Section 3: Each member agrees that, whether the emblem comes to them as a gift, personal purchase, an award, or from whatever source, the title to the emblem shall rest with the chapter of which they are a member and, therefore, the emblem can, on motion of the council, be commandeered. Furthermore, each member agrees that his acceptance of the emblem shall be considered affirmation of this stipulation in regard to the title of the emblem.
Article IX
Dues
Section 1: The annual dues for each member shall be determined by a common agreement between the advisor(s) and members of the chapter. No student because of financial hardship shall be denied membership to the National Honor Society.
Article X
Amendments
Section 1: This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the chapter, provided that the proposed amendment has been approved by the executive committee and the advisor(s) of the chapter and that notice has been given at least one month prior to the meeting to which it is to be voted upon.