LOCAL CHAPTER BYLAWS
William Howard Taft Chapter - National Honor Society

Article I
Name and Purpose

Section 1: The name of this chapter shall be the William Howard Taft Chapter of the National Honor Society.

Section 2: This chapter will be governed in all matters by the Constitution of the National Honor Society.

Article II
Membership

Section 1: All juniors and seniors who have attended Taft High School for at least one FULL semester and who have a cumulative scholastic average of 90 and above are eligible for membership into this chapter. Applications will be evaluated by a faculty council of five. Candidates will be rated on citizenship, service, and character.

Section 2: Members may be put on probation if high ideals of character are not maintained.

Section 3: When a student's average falls below 90.00 (cumulative) the following shall take place:
- First Offense: warning to the student
- Second Offense: student placed on probation for one six-weeks
- Third Offense: dismissed
A student may be placed on probation only one time during his/her membership.

Section 4: When a student's citizenship grade falls below acceptable standards, the following will apply:
- First "N": warning to the student
- Second "N" or First "U": the student will be placed on probation
- Third "N" or Second "U": dismissed
A student may be placed on probation only one time during his/her membership.

Article III
Dues

Section 1: Each new member will pay $4.00 in dues.

Article IV
Election of Members

Section 1: An Induction Ceremony will be conducted during the fall of the school year.

Article V
Officers

Section 1: Officers will be elected and installed at the last regular meeting of the chapter each year.

Article VI
Meetings

Section 1: The regular meetings of this chapter shall be held bimonthly. (First and Third Wednesdays of each month, at 8:20 am or 4:10 pm in the auditorium).

Section 2: Officer meetings shall be held weekly. (Tuesdays at 8:20 am in Portable Room 101).

Section 3: When a student accrues his/her second unexcused absence from a chapter meeting, a warning letter will be issued to the student. Upon the third unexcused absence, the student will be dismissed from NHS.

Article VII
Amendments

Section 1: These By-Laws may be amended by sponsor approval and a 2/3 vote of the active members present at the meeting, providing that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the membership at least one month prior to the meeting at which it is to be voted on.

Article VIII
Service Points

Section 1: Defined as "the giving of oneself for others without expectation of recompense, class credit, or any other personal recognition." Remember: NHS is a service organization. Each member must earn at least 20 service points per semester, or seniors will not be able to wear the National Honor Society collar at graduation and juniors will be put on probation. If the 20 points are not accumulated the first semester, then 25 points must be accumulated in the second semester PLUS the points that were missing from the first.