The name of this chapter shall be the Bergen County Academies Chapter of the National Honor Society.
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 Bergen County Academies.
Section 1. This chapter operates under the direction of and in full compliance with the NHS National Constitution. See www.nhs.us/constitutions.
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. (See Article V, Section 1 of the National Constitution.)
Section 4. Nondiscrimination. Our chapter of 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, sex (gender), and disability. This policy of nondiscrimination applies to all practices, including the chapter administration and the selection, discipline, and dismissal of members.
Section 1. 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. Membership in the National Honor Society is a privilege, not a right.
Section 2. Membership in this chapter shall be known as active, honorary, and graduate. Active members become graduate members at graduation. Honorary members are selected at the discretion of the Faculty Council. Graduate and honorary members have no voice or vote in chapter affairs.
Section 3. Eligibility:
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, exofficio member of the Faculty Council.
Section 2.The selection of active members shall be held once a year during the first trimester of the school year.
Section 3. Prior to the final selection, the following shall occur:
Section 4. Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony. There will be one induction ceremony per year. The fall inductions will include juniors and seniors only.
Section 5. An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers from this school will be given an official letter indicating the status of his/her membership.
Section 1. Membership dues for this chapter shall be $20. Dues will be paid on a one-time basis and must be paid within two weeks of induction.
Section 2. Each member of this chapter who is in good standing with regard to the membership standards and member obligations shall be granted the privilege to wear the emblem adopted by the National Honor Society.
Section 3. Chapter members who are seniors in good standing shall be granted the privilege of wearing the honor stole at graduation.
Section 4. Members are required to complete the required amount of tutoring per year (10 hours) and complete at least one group service project per year.
Section 1. The officers of the chapter shall be president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, historian, webmaster, induction director, tutoring director, community service director, and fundraising director.
Section 2. Student officers shall be elected at the beginning of the third trimester. All junior members in good standing with the chapter are eligible to run for a position as an officer.
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 the President to preside at the meetings of the chapter, and serve as the official representative of the chapter at school and community functions.
Section 5. The Vice President shall preside in the absence of the president and shall also keep a record of members’ contributions to leadership and service.
Section 6. The Secretary shall keep the minutes and attendance records for meetings and be responsible for all official correspondence.
Section 7. The Treasurer shall keep the record of business expenses, dues, and all other financial transactions of the chapter.
Section 8. The Historian will compile memorabilia, primarily pictures, throughout the school year to chronicle NHS activities.
Section 9. The Webmaster will primarily be in charge of the NHS website, in addition to any electronic needs of the class throughout the year.
Section 10. The Induction Director will be responsible for the planning and coordinating of the NHS induction in December, with the assistance of the advisor and the rest of the NHS Council.
Section 11. The Tutoring Director will be responsible for matching tutors with students who need tutoring.
Section 12. The Community Service Director will be responsible for making sure every member has met the community service requirements for NHS and BCA.
Section 13. The Fundraising Director will be responsible for ensuring the success of monthly NHS bake sales by ensuring there are enough supplies to sell, staffing all bake sales, and notifying the school of all bake sales.
Section 14. Officers and the faculty adviser(s) 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 the business of the chapter. Any action by the executive committee is subject to the review of the chapter members.
Section 15. Officers who do not carry out their duties will be provided a written warning. If the officer continues to neglect his/her duties, the officer will be relieved of their office duties by the Chapter Adviser. In this case, the executive committee will begin a search and fill the vacancies among officers.
Section 1. Regular meetings of this chapter shall be weekly before school. Weekly meetings are open to all NHS members. Special meetings can be called by the president with approval of the adviser.
Section 2. This chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order.
Section 3. Executive committee members are expected to attend all regular meetings. All members are expected to attend one chapter meeting. If members do not attend meetings, the member may be subject to discipline and/or dismissal.
Section 1. The chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year.
Section 2. All members shall regularly participate in these projects.
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. Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in an individual service project which reflects his or her particular talents and interests and is approved by the chapter adviser. This is in addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute.
Section 5. The chapter shall publicize and promote its projects in a positive manner.
Section 1. Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character, or service may be considered for discipline or dismissal from the Bergen County Academies 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 in his/her school and community.
Section 2. If a member’s cumulative grade point average falls below the standard in effect when he/she was selected (3.750 GPA), he /she will be given a written warning and a reasonable time period for 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 can include 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 below). 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 4. Offenders of the school conduct code (such as use of profanity, failure to comply, unexcused absences, excessive tardiness, etc.) will receive a written warning notification. A conference may be requested by either party (Chapter Adviser or student/parent). If the member is involved in another violation of the school conduct code, the member may be considered for dismissal.
Section 5. Chapter officers, as representatives of the chapter, can be removed from their positions as a consequence of disciplinary action taken by the Chapter Adviser.
Section 6. In all cases of pending dismissal:
Section 7. In lieu of dismissal, the Faculty Council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate.
Section 1. These bylaws will be approved upon receiving a two-thirds affirmative vote of all active members of the chapter, a majority affirmative vote of the Faculty Council, and approval by the administration.
Section 2. These bylaws shall be reviewed and if necessary, revised within five years from the date of approval noted on this document.
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the chapter, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been given to members at least one month prior to the vote. The exceptions are Articles V and X, which are developed by the Faculty Council with the approval of the principal (selection and discipline).
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