National Junior Honor Society™

Wallenpaupack Area Middle School
National Junior Honor Society Bylaws

Article I - Name

The name of this chapter shall be the Wallenpaupack Area National Junior Honor Society of the Wallenpaupack Area Middle School.

Article II - Purpose

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 citizenship, and to encourage the development of character in students of the Wallenpaupack Area Middle School.

Article III - Powers

1. This chapter operates under the direction of and in full compliance with the NJHS National Constitution. See www.nhs.us/constitutions.
2. The chapter adviser is given the authority to supervise the administration of chapter activities, as delegated by the school principal.
3. Final authority on all activities and decisions of the chapter reside with the school principal. (See Article V, Section 1 of the National Constitution.)
4. Nondiscrimination. Our chapter of NJHS 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, gender, and disability. This policy of nondiscrimination applies to all practices, including the chapter administration and the selection, discipline, and dismissal of members.

Article IV - Membership

1. Membership in this chapter shall be known as active and honorary. Honorary members become graduate members after the completion of eighth grade. Graduate and honorary members have no voice or vote in chapter affairs.
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, citizenship, and character.
3. Eligibility
   1. Candidates eligible for election to this chapter must be in the second semester of grade seven or eight.
   2. To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, a candidate must have been enrolled for a period of one semester at Wallenpaupack Area Middle School.
   3. Candidates eligible for selection to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative GPA (grade point average) of 95%. This scholastic level of achievement shall remain fixed and shall be required minimum level of scholastic 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.
   4. Upon meeting the grade level, enrollment, and GPA standard requirements, candidates shall then be considered based on their service, leadership, citizenship, and character.

Article V - Selection of Members

1. The selection of members to this chapter shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Council consisting of five faculty members appointed by the principal. The chapter adviser shall be the sixth, nonvoting, ex officio member of the Faculty Council.
2. Prior to the final selection, the following shall occur:
   1. Students’ academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.
   2. Students who are eligible scholastically (“candidates”) shall be notified and asked to complete and submit the Candidate’s Form for further consideration for selection.
   3. The faculty shall be requested to evaluate candidates determined to be scholastically eligible using the official evaluation form provided by the chapter adviser.
   4. The Faculty Council shall review Candidate Forms, faculty evaluations, and other relevant information to determine those who fully meet the selection criteria for membership.
3. The selection of new active members shall be held once a year during the second semester of the school year.
4. Candidates become members when inducted in a special ceremony.
5. Once selected and inducted, all members are expected to maintain the standards by which they were selected and maintain all obligations of membership, including 12 minimum hours of service.
6. An active member of the National Junior Honor Society who transfers from this school will be given an official letter indicating the status of his/her membership.
7. An active member of the National Junior 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 membership requirements and, thereafter, this member must maintain those requirements for this chapter in order to retain his/her membership.

Article VI - Officers

1. The officers of this chapter shall be president, vice president, and recording secretary. Optional additional officers may include communications chair and treasurer.
2. Student officers shall be elected at the second meeting of each school year. All returning active members are eligible to run for a position as an officer. All active members of the chapter are eligible to vote.
3. 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.
4. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings for this chapter and serve as the official representative of the chapter at school and community functions.
5. The vice president shall fill the president’s role in his/her absence and shall keep track of members’ contributions to leadership and service.
6. The recording secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings and be responsible for all official chapter correspondence.
7. The communications chair shall be responsible for creating press releases, posters, and announcements related to chapter activities. This is an optional office.
8. The treasurer shall keep the record of chapter expenses, dues (if required), and all other financial transactions of the chapter. This is an optional office if needed.
9. Officers and the faculty adviser 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.

Article VII - Meetings

1. Meetings of this chapter shall be held monthly, September – May, with additional meetings called as needed.
2. This chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Robert's Rules of Order.
3. All chapter members are expected to attend at least six regularly scheduled chapter meetings.

Article VIII - Activities

1. The chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year.
2. All members shall regularly participate in these projects as their schedules allow.
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.
4. Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in an individual service project that 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. Such projects may be school or community based.
5. The chapter shall publicize its projects in a positive manner.

Article IX - Discipline and Dismissal

1. Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character, citizenship, or service may be considered for dismissal from the Wallenpaupack Area chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. A member of the National Junior Honor Society is expected to maintain his or her academic standing and take an active role in service and leadership to his or her school and community.
2. If a member’s cumulative GPA falls below 95%, he or she will be given a written warning and a time period for improvement. If the cumulative GPA remains below standard at the end of the warning period, the student will be subject to further disciplinary action by the Faculty Council, which may include consideration of dismissal from the chapter.
3. Violation of the law or school regulations can result in dismissal of a member. These violations include, but are not limited to, stealing; destruction of property; cheating; truancy; or possession, selling, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at school or school-related activities.
4. Offenders of the school conduct code (such as use of profanity, failure to comply, unexcused absences, excessive tardiness, etc.) will receive written warning notification. A conference may be requested by either party (Faculty Council, student, or parent). If the member is involved in another violation of the school conduct code, the member may be considered for dismissal.
5. Chapter officers, as representatives of the chapter, can be removed from their positions as a consequence of disciplinary action taken by the Faculty Council.
6. In all cases of pending dismissal:
   1. The member will receive written notification from the adviser or Faculty Council indicating the reason for possible dismissal. 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.
   2. The member will be given the opportunity to respond to the charge against him or her at a hearing before the Faculty Council prior to the vote on dismissal. The Faculty Council will then vote on whether to dismiss. A majority vote of the Faculty Council is needed to dismiss any member.
   3. 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.
   4. The Faculty Council’s decision may be appealed to the building principal and afterward through the school district discipline policy.
   5. When a student is dismissed or resigns, he or she is no longer a member and may not be reconsidered for membership in the National Junior Honor Society.
7. In lieu of dismissal, the Faculty Council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate.

Article X - Emblem

1. Each member of this chapter who is in good standing with regard to the membership standards and membership obligations shall have the privilege of wearing the emblem adopted by the National Junior Honor Society.
2. Any member who withdraws, resigns, or is dismissed from the chapter shall return the emblem to the chapter.

Article XI - Ratification, Approval, and Review

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.
2. These bylaws shall be reviewed and, if necessary, revised within five years from the date of approval noted on this document.

Article XII - Amendments

1. 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 IX (selection and discipline), which are developed by the Faculty Council with the approval of the principal.
2. Amendments must be consistent with the constitution of the National Honor Society.