Société Honoraire de Français

Constitution

I.       Name

The name of this honorary organization shall be the Société Honoraire de Français (SHF)

II.      Aim

The aim of this organization shall be to stimulate interest in the study of French, to promote high standards of scholarship, to reward scholastic achievements, to create enthusiasm for and an understanding of Francophone cultures, and to promote international friendship.

III.    Membership: 

The Société Honoraire de Français is expected to establish its own constitution and bylaws based upon the national documents. While the SHF Secretary will issue the chapter an official name, individual chapters may choose to give their chapter a name if they so choose. Lithia's name is La Belle et la Bete

IV.    Officers: 

The Société Honoraire de Français shall operate under the direction of the SHF National Council.  The officers of the organization shall be (1) a President elected by the active sponsors of chapters of SHF to a two-year term (twice renewable) and (2) a Secretary, appointed for a term of one to three years.        

Bylaws

I.       Membership

General Eligibility Requirements to be met by all students:

a.          Selection of candidates shall be the responsibility of the Sponsor/s.

b.      Membership shall be based on scholarship in general and scholarship in French in particular, along with interest, participation and leadership in French activities.       

c.       Invitation to membership shall be restricted to those students actively engaged in the study of French in a secondary school when appropriate courses are available or when outside courses become part of the student’s secondary transcript, credits and grade point.       

d.      Candidates must be enrolled in the fourth semester of French or higher, i.e., the   second semester of Level II or the equivalent

e.       Candidates must be in the 10th, 11th or 12th grade of high school. Exception is made for 9th grade students who meet requirement "d" above because of work at the middle school or junior high level.      

f.       Transfer students must have spent at least one full semester in the high school before becoming eligible for invitation to membership. 

g.       Selection of candidates and induction ceremonies may take place at any time during the academic year.

3.      Scholastic Eligibility Requirements to be met by all students:

a.       Candidates must have maintained an A- (A minus) average or higher in French throughout their secondary school study of French, including the semester of selection and all previous work awarded secondary school credit.

b.      Candidates must have maintained a B- (B minus) average or higher in all other secondary school subjects prior to the semester of selection.  French may not be used to calculate this average.         

          4.      Member Status

a.       Any further requirements for continuing membership must be included in the bylaws of the local chapter of the Société Honoraire de Français.

b.         The sponsor of the Société Honoraire de Français is empowered to revoke a student's membership, based on requirements stated in the local SHF chapter constitution, bylaws or school policies, for failure to maintain a high scholastic average, behavior inappropriate to an honor society, lack of participation in Société Honoraire de Françaisactivities, insufficient service hours, failure to attend the induction ceremony, etc. 

c.       Upon graduation, student members are considered alumni members of the Société Honoraire de Français.

II.      Dues and Fees

1. The amount of the one-time fee 20 dollars   

2. The fee for student membership in the Société Honoraire de Français, payable at the time of induction. This fee is payable once, and the inductee remains a member of the Société Honoraire de Français as long as he/she is a secondary school student in good standing.   
   
   III.    Awards
   
   1.      Upon selection and payment of the induction fee, candidates shall be awarded an official certificate of membership to the Société Honoraire de Français.  Student members may order pins and other logo items and materials through the chapter sponsor.
   
   2.      Chapters may designate awards of their own in addition to official SHF certificates.
   
   3.      Graduating members of the Société Honoraire de Français may wear purple stoles with the society’s acronym. 
   
   IV.    Duties of the officers of the SHF National Council          
   
   1.      The President

   1. The President of the Société Honoraire de Français shall act as liaison officer, shall promote the establishment of new SHF chapters and monitor the welfare of those already established

   2. The President shall respond to inquiries regarding eligibility and other SHF constitutional questions.

   3. The President shall issue the call for action when a matter requires an immediate decision in the interim between conventions and/or contests
      
      2.      The Secretary    
      
      a.       The SHF secretary shall receive the dues and annual reports from Sponsors, keep a national Secretary file of SHF chapters and accounts, keep the President of the Société Honoraire de Françaisinformed of the progress of the Société, and act as secretary at the annual meeting. 
      
      b.      The Secretary shall keep an account of all financial transactions and shall render an accounting each year at the close of the fiscal year to the Executive Director of the AATF and the President of SHF. Société Honoraire de Français accounts shall be included in the annual audit of the AATF.
      
      c.       The Secretary shall compile a yearly report on the activities and finances of the Société Honoraire de Français and shall send copies of this report to all members.  
      
      V.      Elections
      
      1.      The President, an SHF Chapter Sponsor or former sponsor, shall be elected by a plurality vote of the active Sponsors either electronically or on paper.
      
      2.      The President shall serve a two-year term (twice renewable), beginning January 1 of the odd-numbered years.  
      
      3.      Sponsor representatives shall be elected to a two-year term (twice renewable) by a plurality vote of the active Sponsors 
      
      4.      Should a position on the SHF National Council become vacant for any reason, the President and sponsor shall appoint a successor to serve until such time as the National Council of the Société Honoraire de Français can select a successor.  

September-Come and meet each other--if you are a new member, introduce yourself to the board and our officers

October-sign up on Signup Genius for Christmas in Lithia

November-No meeting …. We are working for CIL

December-Christmas Party and gift exchange (no more than $5.00) …. Secret Santa

January-Epiphany celebration and preparation for the treaty of Paris and the end of WW2

February-Mardi Gras and Valentine's Day (fundraisers and Mardi Gras masks)

March-Outing at the Marietta café…optional, talk about scholarship of 1 senior graduating with the stole

April-Outdoor games with the other language clubs

May-End of the year party!