Kennett Keys Bylaws

Kennett Keys Chapter – National Honor Society Bylaws

ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1. The name of this chapter shall be the Kennett Keys Chapter of the National Honor Society of Kennett
High School in North Con way, New Hampshire.
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 students of Kennett
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 election to this chapter must be members of the junior, or senior 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 Kennett High School.
Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 4.25. (this change went into effect in August 2018) 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
five faculty members appointed by the principal. The chapter adviser shall be the sixth, non-voting, ex-officio
member of the Faculty Council.
Section 2. Prior to selection, the following shall occur:

Students’ academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.
Students who are eligible scholastically (“candidates”) shall be notified and asked to complete and submit the Candidate Packet by the designated deadline for further consideration for selection.
The faculty may be requested to evaluate candidates determined to be scholastically eligible. The Faculty Council shall review the Candidate Form and faculty evaluations in order to determine membership.

Section 3. The selection of new, active members shall be held once a year during the first months of the school year.
Section 4. Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony during the first semester of school.

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.
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.
Section 7. Once selected and inducted, all members are expected to maintain the standards by which they were
selected and maintain all obligations of membership.
Section 8. Appeals of Faculty Council decision concerning selection must be registered with the chapter adviser by
the given date and will be described in the nonselection letter.

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 Kennett Keys 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. If a member’s cumulative grade point average falls below the standard in effect when he/she was selected
(4.25), 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 warning period 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 at any time during membership can result in dismissal of a
member. 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, school-related activities, or off
campus.
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:

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.
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.
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.
The Faculty Council’s decision may be appealed to the building principal and afterwards through the school district discipline policy.
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, treasurer, and historian.
Section 2. Student officers shall be elected at the last 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. The VP is a junior
position and will be elected following the fall induction ceremony.
Section 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.
Section 4. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at the meetings for this chapter.
Section 5. The vice president (a junior class position) 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 of meetings and be responsible for all official chapter
correspondence.
Section 7. The treasurer shall keep the record of chapter expenses, dues, and all other financial transactions of the
chapter.
Section 8. The historian shall keep record of all club activities throughout the year, and maintain a book of any press
the club receives.

ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1.The executive committee shall consist of the faculty adviser 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 weekly or biweekly.
Section 2. This chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order.
Section 3. All chapter members are expected to attend all regularly scheduled chapter meetings. Excused absences
that are consistent with the school attendance policy or absences cleared by the advisor are considered excused.
Greater than two unexcused absences will result in written warning, and greater than four unexcused absences can
result in dismissal from the chapter.

ARTICLE VIII: ACTIVITIES
Section 1. The chapter shall determine (but is not limited to) two services projects for each year. One will be
completed in the first semester of school, and the second will be completed during the second semester.
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
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.
Section 5. The chapter shall publicize its projects in a positive manner.
Section 6. Each member shall be responsible for volunteering a minimum of 8 community service hours per
marking term. Two of the hours should be through NHS sponsored events. Hours will be logged and submitted to
the chapter secretary. Seniors will be exempt from completing quarter 4 hours before graduation.

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.
Section 2. Any member who withdraws, resigns, or is dismissed from the chapter shall return the emblem to the
chapter.
Section 3. Chapter members who are seniors in good standing shall be granted the privilege of wearing the National
Honor Society stole and tassel at graduation. The stoles are to be returned to the chapter advisor at the conclusion of
the graduation exercises.

ARTICLE X: DUES
Section 1. Annual dues for this chapter shall be $10.00.
Section 2. Current members will submit dues within the first two weeks of meeting. For new members, dues will be
payable to the chapter treasurer within 30 days of induction.

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 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 III and
IV (selection and discipline), which are developed by the Faculty Council with the approval of the principal.
Section 2. Bylaws and amendments must be consistent with the constitution of the National Honor Society.
Additional articles can be added as needed. It is often convenient to have the last article dealing with amendments.

Signatures:
Lindsay Cole

Adviser

Neal Moylan
Principal (through 2019)

Kevin Carpenter

Principal (2019-

Date: 07 June 2010
Revised 30 August 2010
Revised 16 November 2011
Revised 31 May 2012

Revised 22 May 2015
Revised 25 May 2017

Revised 11 September 2017