LYNDON HIGH SCHOOL

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY BY- LAWS

ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1. The name of this chapter shall be the Lyndon National Honor Society.

Section 2. 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 the students of Lyndon High School.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership in this chapter shall be known as active, honorary, and graduate. Active members become graduate members at graduation. Graduate and honorary members have no vote in chapter affairs.

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. Eligibility:

Candidates eligible for selection to this chapter must be second semester sophomores, or members of the junior class.
To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been in attendance for a period of one semester at Lyndon High School.
Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative weighted grade point average of 3.5. This 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 selection to membership.
Upon meeting the grade level, attendance, and GPA standard requirements, candidates shall then be considered based on their service, leadership, and character.

ARTICLE III: SELECTION OF MEMBERS

Section 1. The selection of members to this chapter shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Council consisting of four faculty members appointed by the principal. The chapter adviser shall be the fifth member of the Faculty Council.

Section 2. Prior to selection, the following shall occur:

a. Students’ academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.

b. Students’ discipline records shall be reviewed to indicate honor.

c. Students who are eligible scholastically (“candidates”) shall be notified and asked to update the Student Activity Information Form in guidance for further consideration for selection.

d. The faculty shall be requested to evaluate each candidate’s character and leadership in the classroom setting using the official evaluation form provided by the chapter adviser.

e. Candidates shall be asked to complete a Student Activity Information packet for further consideration for selection.

The selection packet will request an essay describing the candidate’s leadership qualities and any community service projects that they have already been involved with. The selection packet will also request a recommendation letter from a non-faculty member describing the candidate’s leadership. The recommendation may also come from a non-faculty member representing the community service project that they were involved with describing the candidate’s involvement

e. The Faculty Council shall review the Student Activity Information Form and faculty evaluations in order to determine membership.

Section 3. The selection of new members shall be held once during the spring semester for members.

Section 4. Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony.

Section 5. An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers from this school will be given a letter indicating the status of his/her membership and signed by the Principal [alt., adviser].

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 attain the membership requirements and, thereafter, this member must maintain those requirements for this chapter in order to retain his/her membership.

ARTICLE IV: DISCIPLINE and DISMISSAL

Section 1. Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character, or service may be dismissed from the Lyndon High School chapter of the National Honor Society. A member of the LHS 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. If a member’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.5, he /she will be given a written warning and a time period for improvement. If the cumulative grade point average remains below standard at the end of the semester the student will be subject to further disciplinary action by the Faculty Council that may include dismissal from the chapter.

Section 3. Violation of the law or school regulations can result in dismissal of a member. These violations include, but are not limited to, DUI, stealing, destruction of property, cheating, truancy, or possession, selling, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at any time.

Section 4. Offenders of the school conduct code (such as use of profanity, failure to comply, unexcused absence, excessive tardiness, etc.) will receive written warning notification. A conference may be requested by either party (Faculty Council or student/parent). If the member is involved in another violation of the school conduct code, the member may be dismissed.

Section 5. In all cases of pending dismissal:

a. The member will receive written notification indicating the reason for possible dismissal from the adviser/Faculty Council. The member and adviser will discuss the written notification in a conference. Situations that involve flagrant violations of school rules or the law can warrant disciplinary action without a written warning although a hearing must still be held (see below).

b. The member will be given the opportunity to respond to the charge against him/her at a hearing before the Faculty Council prior to the vote on dismissal (in accordance with due process identified in Article X of the National Constitution). The member has the opportunity to present his/her defense either in person or in writing. The Faculty Council will then vote on whether to dismiss. A majority vote of the Faculty Council is needed to dismiss any member.

c. The results of the Faculty Council vote will be reviewed by the principal, and then if confirmed, expressed in a letter sent to the student, parents, and principal. Dismissed members must surrender any membership emblems to the adviser.

d. The Faculty Council’s decision may be appealed to the building principal and afterwards through the school district discipline policy.

e. When a student is dismissed or resigns, he/she is no longer a member and may never again be considered for membership in the National Honor Society.

Section 6. In lieu of dismissal, the Faculty Council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate.

ARTICLE V: OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of the chapter shall be president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.

Section 2. To be eligible to hold one of the officer positions in NHS, students notify the chapter of their intent to seek office and be elected by majority vote of chapter members.

Section 3. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at the meetings for this chapter.

Section 4. 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 5. The secretary shall keep the minutes of meetings and be responsible for all official chapter correspondence.

Section 6. The treasurer shall keep and report the record of chapter expenses, dues, and all other financial transactions of the chapter

ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. The executive committee shall consist of the faculty advisers and the chapter officers.

Section 2. The executive committee shall have general charge of the meetings and the business of the chapter, but any action by the executive committee is subject to the review of the chapter members.

ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS

Section 1. Meetings of this chapter shall be bimonthly; one meeting to conduct chapter business and the second to meet with service project teams.

Section 2. All chapter members are expected to attend all regularly-scheduled chapter meetings, if a meeting is missed the NHS advisor shall be notified prior to absence. More than two absences without approval shall result in disciplinary action by the Faculty Council.

ARTICLE VIII: ACTIVITIES

Section 1. The chapter shall conduct at least 2 service projects a year utilizing a project leader model.

Section 2. All members shall regularly participate in these projects and serve on at least two project teams in a school year.

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 participate at least once a month in afterschool/seminar tutoring throughout the school year.

Section 5. 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 as approved by the chapter adviser. This is in addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute.

Section 6. The chapter shall publicize its projects in a positive manner.

Section 7. Each member will be expected to complete at least 5 hours of community service per semester.

ARTICLE IX: EMBLEM

Section 1. Each member of this chapter who is in good standing with regard to the membership standards and member obligations shall have the privilege of wearing the emblem adopted by the National Honor Society at graduation and induction ceremonies.

Section 2. Chapter members who are seniors in good standing shall be granted the privilege of wearing the honor stole at graduation along with receiving the emblem on their diploma.

ARTICLE X: GOOD STANDING

Section 1. A member will be considered in good standing if he/she has completed, documented, and turned in the appropriate number of service hours and participated in club events.

ARTICLE XI: POWERS

Section 1. The chapter adviser is given the authority to supervise the administration of chapter activities, as delegated by the school principal.

Section 2. The principal shall reserve the right to approve all activities and decisions of the chapter.

Section 3: These bylaws are designed to amplify provisions of the National Constitution and cannot contradict any components thereof. The chapter is obligated to adhere to the provisions of the National Constitution in all activities it undertakes.

ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These by-laws may be amended by a 2/3 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 II, III, IV (selection and discipline) and V, which are developed by the Faculty Council with the approval of the principal.

Section 2. By-laws and amendments must be consistent with the Constitution of the National Honor Society.

Date: Last approved revisions, Jan. 25, 2017

Bylaws