ElmoreCountyHigh School Beta Club

Constitution and By-laws

CONSTITUTION

Article I- Name

The name of this organization shall be the Elmore County High SchoolChapter of The National Beta Club.

Article II- Affiliation and Co-ordination

This chapter of The National Beta Club is an integral part of the central organization of The National Beta Club and shall be governed by the academic and financial policieslaid down in the national constitution of the central organization of The National BetaClub. Its coat-of-arms, motto, colors, creed, and official insignia shall be those of the nationalorganization of The National Beta Club.

Article III- Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be the promotion of scholarship, leadership, and good citizenship at ElmoreCountyHigh School.

Article IV- Membership

The membership of this organization shall be made up from among the students of the tenth through twelfth grades of Elmore County High School who, because of their worthy character, good mentality, creditable achievement, and commendableattitude, have been approved for membership by the executive head of Elmore County High School; provided, of course, these students meetthe requirements as set forth in the by-laws (article III) of this organization as appended herein.

Article V- Officers

The officers of this chapter of The National Beta Club shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.The duties of the President shall be to preside at the meetings, to appoint the committees of thechapter (unless otherwise provided for in the by-laws), to represent this organization when necessary,and to administer the policies as laid down in this constitution and its by-laws.

The duties of the Vice-President shall be to preside at meetings when the president is absent orincapacitated to perform the duties of the office, and to assist in administering the affairs of thechapter—serving on such committees as are designated in the by-laws.The duties of the Secretary shall be to keep the records of membership, to record the minutes ofthe meetings, and to carry on the necessary club correspondence. The duties of the Treasurer shall be to keep a record of all financial matters pertaining to thisorganization, to collect and preserve the club’s funds,and to pass on to thetreasurer succeeding him all records and funds remaining in the treasury.

Article VI- Committees

The committees of this chapter of The National Beta Club shall be:

1)Executive

2)Special

The duties of the Executive Committee shall be to assist the officers in carrying out the policiesand activities of this organization andto cooperate with the club sponsor in all matters pertaining to the general welfare of the club. In addition to the executive committee, the President may appoint special committees toattend to and report upon any specific matter that it may become necessary for this club to consider to include: fundraising, service projects, and convention. Members of the executive committee will be selected by the faculty sponsor(s). Officers of this chapter of The National Beta Club with consultation with the faculty sponsor(s) will choose special committees.

Article VII- Meetings

Regular meetings shall be held at such times and places as shall be designated in the by-laws (article I).Special meetings may be called by the President after consultation with and the approval of thefaculty sponsor of the club.

Article VIII- Services

Besides endeavoring at all times to be of service to Elmore County High School and its students by upholding high standards of honesty and good citizenship,this chapter of The National Beta Club shall—after consultation with and upon theapproval of the executive head of the high school—undertake some worthwhile service project,as designated in the by-laws appended herein.

Article IX- Amending the Constitution

The constitution of this organization may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the membershipat any meeting where a quorum is present; It is provided that notice of the proposed amendment hasbeen given at a previous meeting.

BY-LAWS

Article I- Time and Place of Meetings

The time and place of meetings of this chapter of The National Beta Club shall bedecided upon only after consultation with, and upon the approval of, the executive head ofElmoreCountyHigh School.The timeof the meetings of this chapter shall be determined on a case by case basis. The place of the meetings of this chapter of The National Beta Club shall be the Elmore County High School Technology Lab (McGhee’s room), unless otherwise noted.

Article II- Quorum

A quorum of this organization shall be constituted by a majority of the membership. No actionmay be taken which is binding upon the membership unless a quorum is present. However, certainmatters—such as a discussion of means of taking in new members, the presentation of aprogram, etc.—may be carried on and decisions made at a regular or special meeting without a quorum being present.

Article III- Standards of Membership

Standards of membership in the Elmore County High School chapter of The National Beta Club must conform to the general features as laid down in thenational constitution, and in all cases must be approved by the executive head of the highschool.

Qualifications for membership into the ElmoreCountyHigh School chapter of the National Beta Club are as follows:

  • Being on the school’s honor roll (A’s and B’s no C’s) for a full school year (36 weeks)
  • Having no disciplinary action for a full school year (36 weeks) to include an office referral, After School Detention, suspension, placement in the Elmore County Alternative Program (ECAP), and expulsion.

Article IV- Induction of Members

The induction of new members into the membership of this chapter of The National Beta Club shall be one of dignity appropriate to the ideals of the organization. No pre-inductioninitiation activity will take place. Any inductee or current member taking part in a pre-induction initiation activity will forfeit his/her membership. A formal induction ceremony will take place at the beginning of fall semester of each school year.

Article V- Suspension/Probation of Membership

Any member placed on probation from this chapter of The National Beta Club will not be allowed to take part in any Beta activities for a nine week period, unless otherwise determined by the sponsor(s) and executive head of the school. Members will be placed on probation with the expectation that they will rectify the specific issues that resulted in their being suspended. With this in mind, suspended members will attend meetings so they stay informed of the club’s activities and be responsible for any fees owed during the nine week period that they are suspended from the club. Members may be suspended for a nine week period for the following reasons:

  • Missing three (3) consecutive meetings
  • Two “Cs” is shown on the member’s report card
    Report Card check once a semester (December and May)
  • Member halfheartedly participates in Beta related activities (i.e. does not dress appropriately for induction or teacher luncheon, sells five of ten fundraising tickets)
  • Member is late paying fees by due date without a valid excuse to be determined by the sponsor(s) on a case by case basis
  • An incomplete is shown on the member’s report card (member will remain on probation until incomplete is corrected) (yearbook members are an exception)
  • Member receives disciplinary action resulting in any type of school detention
  • Member receives disciplinary action forClass I offenses according to the Elmore County Code of Conduct
  • The executive head of Elmore County High School in consultation with the faculty sponsor(s) may suspend a member from membership for the willful violation of the rule of decency and right behavior not herein specified, for moral or disciplinary reasons that are deemed by him/her to be sufficient, for conduct unbecoming of a lady or gentleman, which allaffect the good name of the school and reputation of this chapter of The National Beta Club.

Article VI- Loss of Membership

A member of this chapter of The National Beta Club being dropped from membership will be notified immediately as to the reasonhe or she is being removed and will no longer be allowed to participate in Beta activities. Members may be removed for the following reasons:

  • A third “C” is shown on the member’s report card while on probation due to two “Cs” the previous grading period
  • Three “C’s” are shown on the member’s report card in one grading period
  • Any grade below a “C” is shown on the member’s report card
  • Member does not pay fees by due date without a valid excuse to be determined by the sponsor(s) on a case by case basis
  • Member does not participate in two (2) or more Beta related activities to include fundraising and service projects without a valid excuse
  • Member receives disciplinary action resulting in Alternate to Suspension (ATS) for a second time
  • Member is sent to the Elmore County Alternative Program (ECAP)
  • Member is expelled from school
  • Member is suspended
  • Member receives an office referral for cheating
  • Member commits any illegal infractions (this includes illegal substances such as tobacco, drugs, or alcohol)
  • Member receives disciplinary action for Class II-IV offenses according to the Elmore County Code of Conduct
  • The executive head of Elmore County High School in consultation with the faculty sponsor(s) may drop a member from membership for the willful violation of the rule of decency and right behavior not herein specified, for moral or disciplinary reasons that are deemed by him/her to be sufficient, for conduct unbecoming of a lady or gentleman, which all affect the good name of the school and reputation of this chapter of The National Beta Club.

Article VII- Grade Checks

The faculty sponsor(s) of this chapter of The National Beta Club will check members’ report cards at the end of each semester (December and May). At the end of each school year, the final course average will determine if the member is placed on probation or dropped from membership (not individual grading periods)

Article VIII- Member Reinstatement

A student in this chapter of The National Beta Club so dropped from membership may be reinstated provided he or she meets the requirementslaid down in the constitution and by-laws (article III) of this chapter of The National Beta Club.If a member who has been dropped is later reinstated, he/she will not be required to pay thenational certificate fee again.If and when a member is dropped from membership, a record of this action shall be relayed tothe national office of The National Beta Club immediately.

Article IX- Officers

This chapter of The National Beta Club shall elect a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer at the end of the spring semester of each school year. Each candidate must be in good standing (cannot be on probation) with this chapter of The National Beta Club and must be nominated as a candidate by a fellow member. Graduating seniors will not be allowed to nominate or vote on officers for the following school year. Each officer will be given a manual that states all of his/her responsibilities during his/her time as an officer of this chapter of The National Beta Club. Any officer being placed on probation or removed from the club will immediately forfeit his/her office seat.

Article X- Graduating Seniors

Graduating seniors in this chapter of The National Beta Club May be reinstated, if qualifications are met (by-laws article III) in January of their senior year. No graduating senior will be reinstated after January. Graduating seniors will not wear club graduation regalia if they are dismissed or placed on probation the last grading period of the school year. In order for graduating senior to wear their graduation regalia, they must pass all five sections of the Alabama High School Graduation Exam. Graduating members must pay for their graduation regalia (prices will vary due to The National Beta Club).

Article XI- Service and Fundraising Projects

As soon as possible after its activation in the fall semester of the school year, this chapter ofThe National Beta Club will undertake a year of service and fundraising which will be of benefit toElmoreCountyHigh School. This project shall be decided upon only afterconsultation with, and upon approval of, the executive head of the high school.

Article XII- Local Dues and Assessments

The local dues of this chapter of The National Beta Club shall be $10.00 per year.

Assessments may be made upon the membership to defray the costs ofspecial undertakings. New inductees will be charged an additional fee set by The National Beta Club.

Article XIII- Communication

It is the responsibility of each individual memberto know when meetings, service projects, fundraisers, and any other Beta related activity is happening. Daily announcements and the school website will be the official tools of communication of this chapter of The National Beta Club.

Article XIV- Amending the By-Laws

The by-laws of this chapter of The National Beta Club may be amended by a majorityvote of the membership, provided such proposed amendment is placed before the club at a previousmeeting.

Page 1