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Earlham National Honor Society Bylaws

Table of Contents:
Click a link below to navigate to a particular section of the bylaws

Organization Name and Affiliation Number

Purpose
Powers
Definition of Membership
Selection of Membership
Discipline and Dismissal
Meetings and Events
Duties and Responsibilities
Ratification of Bylaws
Amending the Bylaws
Appendices

Article I: Organization Name and Affiliation Number

The name of the organization shall be the Earlham High School Chapter of the National Honor
Society, which appears on the charter granted by the National Council of the National Honor
Society, by the national society.

The national affiliation number of the Earlham High School Chapter of the National Honor
Society is 00014066.

Article II: Purpose

The purpose of the Earlham Chapter of the National Honor Society is to promote leadership,
scholarship, character and service in our school and community.

Article III: Powers

Principal:

● The principal shall reserve the right to approve all activities and decision of the chapter
● The principal shall appoint the faculty advisor
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● The principal shall appoint the faculty council, which is composed of five members of the
high school faculty.

Faculty Council:

● Shall consist of five voting high school faculty members appointed by the principal; these
members may serve consecutive terms.
● Shall meet at least once a year to review the procedures of the chapter, select members,
consider non-selection, probation, dismissal, other disciplinary actions and warning
cases.
● Will develop and revise, when necessary, all chapter procedures for selection,
disciplining, and dismissal of members, all of which must remain in compliance with
national guidelines. (NHS Constitution and Handbook, p.8)

Faculty Advisor:

● Shall be responsible for the direct, day-to-day supervision of the chapter and act as
liaison between faculty, administration, students, and community.
● Shall maintain files on membership, chapter history, activities, and financial transitions
and send the annual report to the national office.
● Shall regularly review each member for compliance with Society standards and
obligations.
● Shall help the chapter officers understand and carry out their duties.
● Shall be an ex-officio, non-voting, sixth member of the Faculty Council.

Article IV: Definition of Membership

Membership in the Earlham chapter of the National Honor Society is an honor bestowed upon a
student. Membership is not a right or an elective position, but rather a privilege enjoyed by
those students outstanding in scholarship, character, leadership and service. Membership is
not automatically conveyed simply because a student achieves a 3.25 GPA or submits a
Student Activity Information Form.

An active member is one who:

● Maintains the standards of the society – character, leadership, scholarship and service.
● Maintains a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25.
● Any qualified sophomore, junior or senior.

Article V: Selection of Membership

Section 1
To be eligible for membership, a candidate must:
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1. Be a sophomore, junior, or senior;
2. Have been in attendance at Earlham High School the equivalent of one
semester;
3. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 (through the last completed semester).

Section 2
Upon completion of the 1st semester, the Faculty Advisor shall review students’ academic
records to determine scholastic eligibility.

Eligible candidates shall receive an Activity Information Form which includes an essay (see
Appendix A) from the chapter advisor. This form shall be completed by the candidate and
returned to the chapter advisor by a specified date.

Section 3
Eligible candidates shall then be evaluated by the high school teaching faculty on the basis of
leadership, service and character (see Appendix B).

Section 4
The Faculty Council will review the Activity Information Form and results of the faculty
evaluations to determine which candidates meet the required elements for selection.

Section 5
Candidates will be notified of their selection or non-selection via email.

Section 6
Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony to be held once a year
during the spring semester.

Section 7
Students who are not selected for membership will have a designated time frame (one to two
weeks) from notification to meet with the Faculty Advisor regarding their non-selection. Students
will be given the total scores of the three selection criteria by the Faculty Advisor during this
private meeting. Questions and concerns will be answered at that time.

Article VI: Discipline and Dismissal

Section 1
Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character, or service may
be dismissed from the Earlham 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.

Section 2
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If a member’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.25, he/she will be given a written warning and has
one semester to improve. If the cumulative GPA remains below 3.25 at the end of that
semester, the student will be dismissed by the Faculty Council of the chapter.

Section 3

1. Any student who falls below the standards of the National Honor Society will be notified
in writing by the Faculty Advisor of the violation and time period for improvement (i.e.
probation) and warning of the possible consequences for non-improvement.
2. If a member fails to improve in the area where there is a deficiency, or if the member
commits flagrant violation of school rules, the faculty advisor will convene a meeting of
the Faculty Council to consider the facts of the case. If the Faculty Council determines
that the facts warrant consideration of dismissal, the member shall be notified in writing
of the violation, the possibility of dismissal, and the need for a scheduled meeting with
the Faculty Council.
3. Once a member has been placed on probation, any further violation of school rules, civil
law or the chapter’s standards regarding GPA and community service will result in
dismissal from the organization.
4. Any individual placed on probation during his/her senior year will not be allowed to wear
the NHS stole at graduation.
5. The members are subject to dismissal if they do not maintain all the standards of the
society. If any member is involved in an act of poor conduct, he/she may be brought
before the Faculty council, principal, or advisor for disciplinary action. Examples of poor
conduct include but are not limited to the following: lying, cheating, involvement with
alcohol or drugs (supplying, possession or consumption), vandalism and any gross
violation of school rules and regulation, any conduct that causes embarrassment to the
Society or Earlham High School, and any violation of civil law. (It should be noted that
this behavior is not restricted to the school year or school hours and includes
summer vacation and weekend activities as well.)
6. The faculty advisor will give limited warnings.
7. In the case of a flagrant violation of school rules or civil laws, a warning is not required
for dismissal.
1. A pre-dismissal hearing of the Faculty Council will be held.
2. If the Faculty Council determines that there is need for dismissal, a hearing will
be scheduled in a timely manner and the member will be allowed to appear
before the Faculty Council and explain the situation.
3. If a member is dismissed, written notice of the decision is sent to the member,
parent/guardian, and the principal.
1. The member must surrender the NHS emblem, membership card and
membership certificate.
4. An appeal of the dismissal can be made to the school principal or superintendent.
5. Once dismissed from the NHS the student will never again be eligible for
membership in the NHS again and will not wear the NHS stole at the senior
graduation and will not have the NHS seal on his/her diploma.
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Article VII: Meetings and Events

Section 1
The chapter shall have regularly scheduled meetings during the school year on days designated
by the faculty advisor and in accordance with school policy and regulations. The chapter advisor
will try to work around other school activities when scheduling meetings.

Section 2
Attendance at NHS meetings is an expectation for NHS members. Students who are on
probation are expected to attend meetings. In order to maintain good standing, members are
required to attend 90% of the chapter meetings. No unexcused absences will be permitted. The
Faculty Advisor and Faculty Council will discuss making exceptions for members with
extenuating circumstances. Members must notify the Chapter President, Secretary, and
Chapter Advisor in advance if they are unable to attend a meeting.

Section 3
The chapter hosts various events each school year. In order to maintain good standing,
members are expected to attend all events. Students who are on probation are expected to
attend these events. These events include but are not limited to: Induction, Blood Drive, Teacher
Appreciation Breakfast, Cupcake Delivery, and Roadside Cleanup.

Section 4
The Chapter Advisor and Officer Team will attempt to avoid scheduling conflicts when building
the yearly calendar. Members must notify the Chapter President, Secretary, and Chapter
Advisor before the meeting or event if they are unable to attend. The Chapter Advisor will
determine if the absence is excused or unexcused.

Article VIII: Duties and Responsibilities

Section 1
The Earlham High School chapter of the National Honor Society shall create enthusiasm for
scholarship, stimulate a desire to render service, promote leadership and develop character. As
an organization, it will seek to develop a culture of pride and respect within the school and
establish a history of fairness and consistency.

Section 2
The officers of the Earlham High School chapter of the National Honor Society are as follows:

President

● Create the agenda for all meetings with the advice and consent of the officers
and the advisor.
● Preside at all meetings of the EHS NHS.
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● Appoint necessary committees and delegate leadership responsibilities of service
projects and activities.
● Serve as ex-officio member on committees and projects.
● Preside at the Induction Ceremony and deliver the speech on “Leadership.”
● Represent the EHS NHS at all public occurrences.
● See that the names of all persons who participated in each service project and
attended each meeting are submitted to the advisor with the help of the Secretary
and Treasurer in order that the Advisor may fulfill the responsibility of notifying
and informing those not fully participating of the responsibilities of NHS
membership.
● Maintain close communication with the Chapter Advisor.
● Set an example of scholarship, leadership, character and service for others to
follow.

Vice-President

● Preside at all meetings and perform all duties in the absence of the President.
● Coordinate and check on the planning activities of the various committees and
keep the President informed of their progress and problems.
● Perform any duties delegated by the President.
● Coordinate projects and help plan the calendar for the year.
● Coordinate chapter service projects for the year.
● Deliver an Induction Ceremony speech on “Character.”
● Set an example of scholarship, leadership, character and service for others to
follow.

Secretary

● Keep minutes of all meetings

● Keep accurate attendance of all meetings, and service projects, and chapter
events.
● Report to and report to the President and the Advisor the names of any members
who have become inactive.
● Conduct correspondence with the President, Advisor, and the Administration and
elements of the community when necessary.
● With the Chapter Historian, collect all publicity, clippings, and/or photographs for
the chapter.
● Deliver an Induction Ceremony speech on “Scholarship.”
● Set an example of scholarship, leadership, character and service for others to
follow.

Treasurer
● Maintain a financial record of all income and expenditures for the period the
officer holds office.This should be done in partnership with the Chapter Advisor.
● Recommend fundraising activities.
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● Set an example of scholarship, leadership, character and service for others to
follow.

Historian/Reporter

● Aid the secretary in press, publicity and photography tasks.

● Maintain and regularly update the chapter social media accounts
● Assure that there is a collection of photographs of NHS activities.
● Deliver the induction ceremony speech on “Service.”
● Set an example of scholarship, leadership, character and service for others to
follow.

Section 3
In addition to the duties outlined in Article III, Section 2 of these bylaws, the duties and
responsibilities of the Advisor are as follows:

● Set an example of scholarship, leadership, character and service for others to

follow.
● Attend all meetings and assure that proper procedure is followed by the officers.
● Provide direction to chapter members concerning opportunities for service.
● Work with the Faculty Council in selecting, disciplining, or dismissing members.
● Promote chapter activities.
● Stimulate positive action by members.

Section 4
Members of the Earlham High School chapter of the National Honor Society shall fulfill the
following duties and responsibilities:

● Maintain the standard by which they are selected.

● Select a challenging academic course schedule throughout their junior and senior
years. At a minimum, members should take core classes at grade level or above.
A challenging academic course schedule includes classes such as advanced
math, college prep English, and advanced science courses (physics, anatomy,
advanced biology, and chemistry.)
● Attend 90% or more of the chapter meetings
● Participate in the planned chapter service projects.
● Document a minimum of 20 hours of individual community service each year by
completing a variety of individual service projects. This community service must
be documented and turned in by May 15th each year. Community service
performed during the summer does not count toward the total 20 required hours.
Members are also expected to participate in fundraising activities, and in chapter
service activities.
● Attend and participate in the Induction ceremony for new members.
● Set an example of scholarship, leadership, character and service for others to
follow.
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Section 5
Nominations for each office will be made by current and new members in the fall. An official
ballot will be distributed to each member of the chapter and will be controlled by signing off on
the membership list. The candidate who receives the most votes for each office shall be notified
of their selection.

Section 6
The removal of officers may be affected by a 2/3 vote of the membership. Written
documentation detailing the reason(s) for removal shall be provided to the officer facing removal
by the Chapter Advisor, and the officer shall have an opportunity to defend himself/herself
before the membership.

Section 7
In the event an office comes open during the school year, the procedure outlined in Section 5
above will be followed in order to fill the vacancy.

Article X: Ratification of Bylaws

Section 1
Chapter bylaws shall be voted on by the current membership (with the exception of Article 5),
and approved by the Faculty Council and the Principal.

Article XI: Amending the Bylaws

Section 1
If changes to the bylaws become necessary, those changes shall be proposed in writing,
distributed to the membership for review and discussion, and brought to a vote. A 2/3 vote of
the membership is required to amend the bylaws. Changes to the selection procedures,
discipline procedures, and dismissal procedures may only be made by the Faculty Council;
however, membership input is encouraged.

Appendices

Appendix A – Student Interest Form for Prospective Members

Appendix B – Qualities of Service, Leadership & Character

From the NHS Handbook:

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The student who serves:

● Volunteers and provides dependable and well organized assistance, is gladly available,
and is willing to sacrifice to offer assistance
● Works well with others and is willing to take on difficult or inconspicuous responsibilities
● Cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school
● Is willing to represent the class or school in inter-class and inter-scholastic competition
● Does committee and staff work without complaint
● Participates in some activity outside the school, for example, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts,
church groups, volunteer services for the elderly, poor, or disadvantaged
● Mentors persons in the community or students at other schools
● Shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students

The student who exercises leadership:

● Is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles, and making suggestions.
● Demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities
● Exercises positive influence on peers in upholding school ideals
● Contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school
● Is able to delegate responsibilities
● Exemplifies positive attitudes
● Inspires positive behavior in others
● Demonstrates academic initiative
● Successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility; conducts business
effectively and efficiently; demonstrates reliability and dependability
● Is a leader in the classroom, at work, and in other school or community activities
● Is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted
● Is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude.

A person of character:
● Demonstrates the following six qualities: respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness,
caring, and citizenship
● Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously
● Consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (cheerfulness, friendliness,
poise, stability)
● Upholds principles of morality and ethics
● Cooperates by complying with school regulations concerning property, programs, office,
halls, etc.
● Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and reliability
● Regularly shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others
● Observes instructions and rules, is punctual, and faithful both inside and outside the
classroom
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● Has powers of concentration, self-discipline, and sustained attention as shown by
perseverance and application to studies
● Manifests truthfulness in acknowledging obedience to rules, avoiding cheating in written
work and showing unwillingness to profit by the mistakes of others
● Actively helps rid the school of bad influences or environment.