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Eta Sigma Alpha - Alpha Chapter By-laws
BY-LAWS OF ETA SIGMA ALPHA
Adopted September 19, 2003
Article I
Section 1. Name
The name of this organization shall be known as Eta Sigma Alpha, Alpha Chapter (ESA).
Section II. Membership
A. Eligibility: Students may apply as early as the spring of their 8th grade year. High school seniors’ applications will not be accepted after the October of their senior year. Membership is open to all students who have been enrolled in at least one class or activity with the Home Education Partnership of Texas (HEP) and who provide the following:
1. A certificate of homeschool eligibility, signed by the applicant’s parent/legal guardian, certifying the student to be at least 51% homeschooled.
2. A 3.5 grade point average based on a 4.0 scale. This GPA may include the parent transcript, early admission college courses, co-op or support group homeschool class grades, or similar coursework supervised/directed by the homeschooling parent/guardian.
3. A test score of 1800 (SAT) or 26 (ACT) or 180 (PSAT) or a 90% on the composite battery on the IOWA, Stanford, California, MAT, or other nationally normed standardized achievement tests.
4. Letters of recommendation from five different adults, including one letter from applicant’s parents/legal guardian.
5. Letter written by applicant explaining why he/she wishes to be part of Eta Sigma Alpha.
6. The name and address of the HEP instructor.
7. A completed application form, available from the society.
B. Process of Application: Applicant’s criteria should be mailed to and reviewed by the society’s sponsor. Upon acceptance, the new member shall receive a letter of acceptance.
C. Members must attend fifty percent of all meetings. Excuses (such as job or class requirements) may be submitted in writing to the ESA officer committee, who may excuse the member from said meeting commitments.
D. Members must also serve for 10 hours in service projects annually, either with ESA or independently. For the hours not served with ESA to be approved, the member must submit a list of service activities and hours, signed by himself/herself and his/her parent or project leader, to the officer committee before the last meeting of the year for approval.
Section III. Dues
There will be a $10 per member annual fee to cover administration costs that shall be due to the ESA Treasurer, either within one month of being accepted into ESA, or within one month of the beginning of the school year. After that month, dues will increased by $5 per thirty days.
Section IV. Mission
The purpose of Eta Sigma Alpha National Home School Honor Society, Alpha Chapter, (ESA), shall be to recognize and encourage scholarship among home school students. To achieve this purpose, ESA shall provide opportunities for the developments of leadership and service. ESA shall encourage the developments of an intellectual climate that will stimulate the exchange of ideas and ideals, foster scholarship, and promote academic excellence. ESA shall also advocate home schooling as a viable and successful educational methodology and act as a liaison for home schooling to the general public, colleges/universities, and the media.
Section V. Meetings
A. Meetings will be held on a regular basis as determined at the beginning of each school year.
B. The standard ESA year shall begin at the beginning of the school year and shall end approximately at the close of the school year.
Section VI. Election of Officers
A. New officers will be chosen by a quorum of fifty percent. Votes by proxy, if given in writing and signed by the member, shall be accepted and shall be included in the quorum count.
B. An officer may be removed from his/her position by a unanimous vote.
C. Elections shall take place through secret ballot.
D. All members shall each have one vote, except for members who are in their final year of highschool. The president shall not vote, either, unless in case of a tie.
E. Any member is eligible for any office, except that of President. Only members who have been members of ESA for at least one year may be nominated for the office of President.
Section VII. Officers
A. The offices shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Public Relations Chair, and a Historian.
Section VIII. Duties of Officers
A. President
1. The President shall preside at all meetings of Eta Sigma Alpha.
2. The President shall preside at all meetings of the officers.
3. The President shall supervise the execution of the programs adopted by Eta Sigma Alpha.
4. The President shall countersign all ESA’s checks for disbursement of the organization’s funds.
5. The president may temporarily appoint committees at the request of the officers or of the membership present at any regular or special meetings.
B. Vice-President
1. The Vice-President shall assist the President in the discharge of his/her duties.
2. The Vice-President shall occupy the chair in the absence of the President or upon his/her request.
3. When performing the duties of the President, the Vice-President shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions of the President.
4. The Vice-President shall also serve as Chairman of the Program committee, and be responsible for providing special programs for meetings.
5. The Vice-President shall preside in the place of any absent officer.
6. The Vice-President shall serve as communication coordinator, and shall be responsible for communicating with the membership information regarding the schedules of activities and events. This should be accomplished mainly through mailings and telephone notification.
C. Secretary
1. The Secretary shall keep a true and correct record of all the proceeding and minutes of Eta Sigma Alpha.
2. The Secretary shall call roll at every meeting and keep records of attendance.
3. In the absence of either the President or the Treasurer, the Secretary shall be empowered to co-sign checks.
D. Treasurer
1. The Treasurer shall receive all monies and deposit same in the bank, shall sign all check disbursing the money of the organization, shall maintain accurate books of account for all receipts and disbursements, and shall present a report of finances at each meeting.
E. Public Relations Chairman
1. The Public Relations Chairman shall receive all communications and conduct all correspondence for ESA, and shall be generally responsible for creating a good image to the public.
2. The Public Relations Chairman shall write articles about Eta Sigma Alpha or its activities at the request of the President or members.
F. Historian
1. The Historian shall be responsible for keeping records of the activities of Eta Sigma Alpha. Possible record may include photographs/scrapbooks or written articles from any source.
Article II
Section I. By-laws
These by-laws may be amended at any regular or special meeting, provided the amendments have been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting, or a notice of the proposed amendments has been given in writing to all members not less than one (1) week in advance. Adoption of the amendments shall require a quorum of fifty percent, and a two-thirds affirmative majority of members present.
Section II. Suspension of By-laws
Suspension of any part of these by-laws shall require a quorum of fifty percent, and a two-thirds affirmative majority.
Section III. Points Not Covered
In all points of order not covered by these by-laws, Robert’s Rules of Order shall act as a guide.
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