Colton Chapter National Honor Society: 2011-2012

President: Talia Brienza
Vice President: Svea Conrad
Secretary: Caleb Eckert
Treasurer: Chelsea Zimmerman
Public Relations: Charlie Moody
Sponsors: Becky Daggett and Michelle Beaudreau
NHS Meetings: Second Monday of the month at 5:05 pm

Dues: $20

NHS Mission Statement:
NHS is dedicated to learning and leading through community service; we are committed to making a difference in the world by enriching others and ourselves through leadership.

At FALA, we are committed to linking academics and service through Service Learning. We use this to encompass both community service and learning from that experience. NHS includes both the service aspect as well as learning through leading.

"The purpose of this organization shall be to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools." - NHS Constitution

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead

"Every man must decide whether he will walk in the creative light of altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. This is the judgment. Life's persistent and most urgent question is 'What are you doing for others?" -Martin Luther King, Jr.

"It's time for greatness -- not greed. It's a time for idealism -- not ideology. It is a time not just for compassionate words, but compassionate action. " -Marian Wright Edelman

National Honor Society is primarily a service-based group. It provides an opportunity for young leaders to make a difference in the world.

Over the years, we have done a wide variety of projects, ranging from the school to global level. Empty Bowls, Hunger Awareness Week, the FALA Film Festival, Inn Transitions, African Drum and Dance with foster kids, the Shoebox Project, Voter Registration, Adopt-a-Family, and the Afghanistan school fundraiser are just a few examples.

Community Service Example:

• If students remove trash from a streambed, they are providing a service to the community as volunteers
• When students remove trash from a streambed, analyze what they found, share the results and offer suggestions for the neighborhood to reduce pollution,
  and then reflect on their experience

THAT is service-learning!

Service Learning at FALA

As in years past, students are required to complete 30 hours of community service per year, but instead of earning these hours through Service Learning Days, there will be a variety of year-long Service Learning Projects lead by FALA's National Honor Society that students can become involved in over the long term and become more regularly invested in.

NHS Tardy/Absentee Policy
NHS has a rigorous attendance policy. In order to accomplish projects and be a cohesive, productive group, we need everyone to be present at all meetings.
Members are allowed 2 FALA Excused Absences (as defined by FALA Handbook) After two consecutive absences or tardies - member will receive a warning. Over four total absences/tardies per semester - removal from NHS

Colton Chapter of the National Honor Society By-Laws

Article I: Name
The name of this organization is the Colton Chapter of the National Honor Society.

Article II: Purpose
The purpose of this organization shall be to provide service for our school and community as well as to set an example of academic excellence.

Article III: Powers vested in the organization
The faculty advisors must approve any decisions made by this organization with the Dean of Academy having final veto power.

Article IV: Member Selection
Each spring the faculty advisor shall obtain a list of all students who will be juniors or seniors the following year and who have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. These students will be invited to apply for membership. Those who submit completed applications will be evaluated by the faculty council in the areas of service and leadership, and, with the help of the entire faculty, character. Those approved will be accepted for membership.

Article V: Definition of membership
A member who has been approved and inducted into the NHS must maintain the exceptional standards by which they were selected in order to retain membership, as per the national constitution. A member who falls below the standards by which they were selected shall be warned in writing and given time to correct the deficiency. Dismissed members are forever ineligible for re-admission to the NHS

Article VI: Frequency of meetings
Meetings shall be held on Wednesdays at 5:15 in Room 6. Emergency meetings may be called by the president; in the event of an emergency meeting members will be notified at least 24 hours in advance by way of notes and announcements. Any member may request for the president to call an emergency meeting.

Article VII: Attendance
Members are allowed two FALA excused absences. Excused absences must give prior notification. After two consecutive absence or tardies, one shall receive a warning. Four or more total absences per semester will result in expulsion

Article VIII: Duties of Officers
The President shall be responsible for facilitating the meetings. The Vice President shall aid the president with his/her duties and facilitate the meetings in the event of the President's absence. The President and Vice President shall set an agenda for each meeting. The secretary is responsible for taking minutes at each of the meetings. The treasurer is responsible for dealing with the budget of NHS. The Public Relations manager is responsible for communication and press releases.

Article IX: Elections
In order to be elected as an officer, a member must show interest at the first meeting of the year. At the next meeting members who have shown interest will give speeches and then a secret ballot will take place in order to vote them into office.

Article X: Rules of order
Meetings will be conducted by an informal version of Robert's Rules of Order and Fist to Five Method.

Article XI: Ratification of the By-Laws
By-laws shall be ratified by popular vote of the membership.

Officer Positions

The President:
The President presides at the meetings of this chapter and is an ex officio member of all committees. Their key responsibilities include:

• Facilitating meetings
• Discussion facilitator
• Raising proposals
• Laying out the outline for meetings
• Foundation for year-long projects
• Overseer of projects, committees
• Serving as NHS representative with organizations and events
• Record-keeping
• Informing, planning meetings
• Meeting with sponsors
• Planning agenda with VP
• Keep track of groups
• Communicate with Student Body about Service Learning opportunities

The Vice President
The Vice President shows responsibility for supervising the operations of the entire organization. It is important that you be as well-informed as the President. You must be prepared to assume the duties of president if the president is not present. Key responsibilities:

• "Coordinator of Committees"
• Meeting with committee heads
• Keeping a record of projects delegated to committees
• Keeping the blueprint of each committee
• Meeting with sponsors
• Plan agenda with President
• Help facilitate meetings
• Communicate with Student Body about Service Learning opportunities

Secretary:
Recorder keeper during meetings.

• Minutes - Writing down the minutes of each meeting in a notebook and sending them out within 1-2 days of the meeting.
• Coordinate with PR to make minutes available on website and in Trailer Life
• Attendance - Keep track of how many absences, tardies a member accumulates. The secretary is in charge of notifying the President about sending out warnings.

Treasurer:
Monetary manager for NHS:

• Responsible for accounting (deposits, withdrawals), budget
• Coordinates with committees for group budgets
• Manage the NHS account
• Fundraising
• Grant writing

Public Relations Manager
Responsible for press and communication of all NHS events.

• Communications with public in form of newspaper, radio announcements, website, Trailer Life
• Posters for upcoming service events/groups/projects
• Thank you cards for businesses, organizations
• Coordinate with Secretary on making minutes available
• Informing school of upcoming events