Sandra Day O’Connor National Honor Society By-Laws
ARTICLE I
NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1. The name of this chapter shall be the Sandra Day O’Connor Chapter of the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools.
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 the members of our Sandra Day O’Connor Chapter.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership in this chapter shall be known as active and graduate. Active members become graduate members at graduation. The graduate members have no vote.
Section 2. Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon deserving students by the faculty and shall be based on the criteria of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.
Section 3. To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must be a student in the junior or senior class and must have been in attendance for a period of at least one semester at Sandra Day O’Connor High School.
Section 4. Candidates eligible for selection to membership in this chapter shall have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 90.0. All students who can rise in scholarship to or above this standard may be admitted to candidacy for selection to membership. Their eligibility shall then be considered on their service, leadership, and character. This scholastic level of achievement shall remain from candidacy to admission.
Section 5. Membership dues shall be a $10.00 annual fee and shall be collected by a requested date from active members before or at the first meeting. From seniors invited in the second semester, dues shall be collected by a requested date before the end of the second semester.
ARTICLE III
SELECTION OF MEMBERS
Section 1. The final selection of members to this chapter shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Council. The chapter adviser(s) shall be the sixth, non-voting, ex-officio member(s) of the Faculty council.
Section 2. Prior to the final selection, the following shall occur:
a. Students’ academic records shall be reviewed to determine academic eligibility.
b. Students who are eligible scholastically shall be notified and asked to complete the application for further consideration for selection.
c. The faculty and administration shall be requested to comment on all candidates determined to be scholastically eligible.
d. The application and faculty comments shall be reviewed by the Faculty Council.
Section 3. The selection of juniors for active membership shall be held once a year during the fall semester of the school year.
Section 4. Eligible seniors may be admitted into NHS during the first semester of their senior year. They will be officially inducted during the formal ceremony provided they fulfill all responsibilities for NHS throughout the year.
Section 5. An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to this school shall be automatically accepted for membership to this chapter. This transfer member shall maintain the membership requirements for this chapter.
Section 6. An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers from this school shall be given a letter indicating the status of his/her membership, signed by the Principal and/or the faculty adviser(s), upon request.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the chapter shall be president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, historian and webmaster.
Section 2. All members are eligible to run for a position as an officer. Elections will take place the semester after induction into NHS. The ballot shall consist of only those who have accepted the nomination, completed an application and have been approved by the advisors.
Section 3. A plurality vote and approval by faculty council and advisors shall be necessary to elect any officer of this chapter. If the first vote yields a tie, a second vote shall be taken between the two top candidates. At least three of the five Faculty Council members will review applications and teacher recommendations. The Faculty Council members will also tally votes and make the final decision. Four days will be set aside for NHS members to stop by P18 to vote. All ballots will be placed in a locked container in that classroom. Ballots will be collected daily by a Faculty Council member. NHS members will be required to write their ID number on the ballot to prevent voting twice.
Section 4. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at the meetings for this chapter, coordinate with the faculty adviser(s), attend to committee responsibilities, manage all NHS activities, and determine the outline of membership meetings.
Section 5. The vice-president shall preside in the absence of the president and shall also coordinate the projects, make certain that the secretary gets all announcements, coordinate announcements for meetings and activities and conduct social activities for NHS.
Section 6. The secretary shall keep the minutes of meetings, maintain records of attendance at general meetings and ensure they are correctly and promptly posted by the webmaster and correspond with members regarding status.
Section 7. The treasurer shall assist with collecting money, completing deposits and budgeting.
Section 8. The historian shall keep a written and photographic journal documenting the O’Connor chapter of NHS. The historian will also assist in updating the bulletin board.
Section 9. The webmaster shall keep the members informed of activities, events on campus, and future announcements.
Section 10. In addition to individual officer responsibilities, each officer shall assist in all activities, projects, records, communications, officer meetings, monthly meetings and any other tasks the organization may need. Integrity and trustworthiness are necessary qualities for each officer. Being an officer in NHS is a responsibility to be taken seriously. You will be expected to attend and participate in monthly officer meetings as well as monthly member meetings and multiple service projects. You are also expected to represent NHS in a positive manner both on and off campus. Your behavior should reflect a high regard for the qualities of character, leadership, service and scholarship. If you do not meet the expectations of officer, you will be removed from office as per the NHS bylaws and the Student-Parent Handbook.
Section 11. In the case of an individual's unsatisfactory fulfillment of Officer duties:
a. All rules for general membership apply.
b. Evidence must be brought to the attention of one or both faculty advisers by another officer, a member, or any member of the O'Connor Faculty and Staff.
c. If significant evidence exists, as deemed by the faculty advisers, the faculty advisers may request a Letter of Resignation from Officer Duties upon presentation of evidence to the Officer in question.
d. The Officer may retain his/her membership status if he/she submits a valid Letter of Resignation from Officer Duties to the faculty advisers.
e. If the Officer chooses not to turn in a valid Letter of Resignation from Officer Duties and further problems arise, the faculty advisers can elect to dismiss the individual from his or her officer position.
Section 10. If an Officer resigns from his/her officer duties or is dismissed from the organization, the remaining officers and the faculty advisers may elect to:
a. appoint a current member in good standings to fill the vacant office
b. disburses the duties of the office among the remaining Officers for the duration of the term of office.
ARTICLE V
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. The executive committee shall consist of the faculty adviser(s) and the chapter officers.
ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS
Section 1. Meetings of this chapter shall be announced via email, postings on the bulletin board and on the school announcements. Meetings will be held the first Wednesday of the month at 8:10 and 4:10 in the auditorium.
ARTICLE VII
ACTIVITIES
Section 1. All members shall actively and regularly participate in the campus community projects.
Section 2. All campus community projects shall be approved by the faculty adviser(s).
Section 3. All active members shall be required to attain a total of 6 service hours each semester.
Section 4. Hours shall be verifiable by a reliable second party (i.e. Other Officer, Faculty Adviser, Teacher, or Administrator).
ARTICLE VIII
DISMISSAL
Section 1. Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character, or service may be dismissed from the Sandra Day O’Connor Chapter of the National Honor Society.
Section 2. A member of the National Honor Society is expected to maintain an active role in service and leadership to his/her school and community. Failing to turn in service hour slips by the date requested are grounds for probation. If a student fails to meet probationary requirements by the date requested, he/she shall be dismissed from the chapter. Hours will be due at a time to be determined during January and May. Due date will be announced during meetings.
Section 3. Violation of any of the four expectations of NHS membership (Leadership, Scholarship, Service, and Character) may result in dismissal of a member. These cases shall be referred to a disciplinary committee comprised of the faculty council.
Section 4. Offenders of the school code of conduct (i.e. use of profanity, failure to comply, truancy, excessive tardiness, and all other offenses resulting in administrative referral etc.) shall receive written warning notification from NHS faculty advisors and/or committee. A conference may be requested by either party (Faculty Council or student/parent). If the member is involved in another violation of the school code of conduct, the member may be dismissed.
Section 5. Dismissal procedures:
a. The member shall receive written warning notification of the reason for possible dismissal from the adviser/Faculty Council. The member and adviser shall discuss the written notification in a conference. Conference must be within 3 days upon receipt of the letter.
b. The member may appeal the dismissal and shall be offered a hearing with the Faculty Council (and Principal if necessary) prior to dismissal (in accordance with due process identified in the National Constitution). The member has the opportunity to present his/her defense. The Faculty Council shall then vote on whether to dismiss.
c. A letter of dismissal shall be sent to the principal, student, and parents if the student is dismissed. Dismissed members must surrender any membership emblems to the faculty adviser(s).
d. When a student is dismissed or resigns, he/she is no longer a member and may never again be a member in the National Honor Society of O’Connor High School.
REVISED 3/30/11