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Beta Club

Membership Requirements:

The Constitution of The Cary Academy Honorary Beta Club 

Preamble

Believing that credible student effort and achievement should be encouraged and rewarded, and seeking to cultivate the ideals of service and leadership in our citizens of tomorrow, the governing body of the Cary Academy Honorary Beta Club has instituted this organization for the promotion of these ideals, and those stated in the Beta Creed, among Cary Academy students.  To implement this purpose the following articles have been adopted. 

Article I
Name

The name of this organization shall be THE CARY ACADEMY HONORARY BETA CLUB and will be a Chapter of the National Honorary Beta Club. 

Article II
Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be: to promote the ideals of honesty, service, morality, ethical conduct, and leadership among Cary Academy students, to reward meritorious achievement. 

Article III
Governance

The governance of The Cary Academy Honorary Beta Club shall be the responsibility of the President, with help of the executive council, committee chairpersons, and, sponsors as provided for in the Bylaws. 

Article IV
Membership

The Cary Academy Honorary Beta Club shall consist of members as provided for in the Bylaws. 

Article V
Officers

The Cary Academy Honorary Beta Club shall have officers as designated in the Bylaws.  The qualifications of officers, the methods of their selection, and their respective powers and duties shall be set forth in the Bylaws. 

Article VI
Amendments

This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the executive council, along with approval from all sponsors, and a three-fourths majority vote of the members of the club.  Amendments must be provided at least two weeks prior to any vote on the amendments. 

Article VII
Bylaws

Bylaws, which shall be consistent with this constitution and the constitution of the National Honorary Beta Club, may be adopted.  Such Bylaws may contain any provisions necessary for the orderly administration The Cary Academy Honorary Beta Club and its affairs including, but not limited to, the governing authorities, officers, elections, and meeting, provided that should there be any inconsistency between this constitution or the constitution of The National Honorary Beta Club and the Bylaws the constitutions shall prevail. 

Bylaws

Article I
Governance

The Cary Academy Honorary Beta Club, henceforth titled The Cary Academy Beta Club in these Bylaws and in all future use of this title for the organization, shall be governed by: (1) and higher authorities within the National Beta Club, (2) the President with help from the executive council, (3) school administration, and (4) sponsors. 

Article III of the constitution provides for establishing the following specifications as to the governance of the Beta Club. 

Section 1. Higher Authorities Within the National Beta Club

The Board of Directors, State Councils, and the State Assemblies shall authority to overrule any decisions made by The Cary Academy Beta Club whether in our Bylaws, Constitution, or meetings.

Section 2. The President With Help From The Executive Council

The well being of this chapter shall be the responsibility of the President with help from the executive council.

Section 3. School Administration

The administration of Cary Academy has the immediate responsibility for the policies and activities of our club. 

Section 4. Sponsors

The work of the club shall be carried on under the supervision and with the advice of the club’s sponsor and co-sponsors. 

Article II
Membership

Section 1. Student Membership

Cary Academy students who qualify for membership according to stipulations and regulations set forth in these Bylaws shall constitute the membership of The Cary Academy Beta Club.

Section 2. Qualifications

Membership is a privilege and not a right.  The qualifications for membership on the part of the student shall be: (a) worthy, moral, and ethical character, (b) good mentality, (c) no grade below a ‘B-’, (d) no effort grade less than three, and (d) commendable attitude.  At no time will membership in The Cary Academy Beta Club make it incumbent upon a member to alter his or her religious, or political ideas or affiliations.

Section 5. Membership Fees

Members must pay a one-time $13 to the National Beta Club for membership.  Each year a member must pay an additional $5 for club dues. 

Section 6. Induction

A formal induction ceremony will take place each year to induct new members into the organization.  The nature and procedure for this will be set forth each year by a special committee in charge of induction. 

Section 7.  Pledge

After a student ahs been nominated and duly elected to membership, and after his certificate has been received from the Executive Director, he shall subscribe to following pledge before he can be considered a member of The Cary Academy Beta Club or The National Beta Club. 

Subsection 1. – Senior Pledge

I do solemnly declare that I shall always strive to hold fast to the principles of honesty; to endeavor constantly to maintain a credible record; to cultivate in my life and conduct the principles of morality, service, and leadership.  I further pledge myself to cooperate with the members of The National Beta Club in the promotion of a sense of individual responsibility to our school, community, state, and nation to make right the master of might; and to consecrate or comradeship to mutual helpfulness and to the betterment of our fellow students. 

Subsection 2. – Junior Pledge

I hereby declare that I shall always strive to be honest and truthful at all times to maintain a credible scholastic record; to be of service to my teachers and fellowmen; to conduct myself in an ethical and moral manner to reflect credit upon my school and community. 

Section 8. Certificate

No student may become a member of the club unless approved by the head of school. 

Section 9. Disqualification and Reinstatement

Since The Cary Academy Beta Club is a merit organization, members who fail to maintain a credible record, or who give evidence of personal conduct unbecoming of member in this club including, but not limited to, criminal activity, violation of school rules, have a grade lower than a 'C+' for consecutive trimesters, receive an effort grade less than a three for consecutive trimesters, or fail to meet the participation requirements of 4 projects totaling a minimum of 8 hours in the school year 2005-2006 will be dismissed from the club. The Executive Council reserves the right to change this requirement however the numbers of projects and hours must be set by January 1 of that school year.  An additional participation requirement of meetings attended is set at 3 unexcused absences per year.  For an absence to be excused the person must present the secretary with a valid reason for missing the meeting before the meeting.  Any other conduct, which falls below the moral and ethical standards of the community, will also result in dismissal from the Cary Academy Beta Club.  Disqualifications may be appealed to the Executive Council for review.  However, the decision must be unanimous by the Executive Council.

However an administrator may at any time and for reasons, which to him appear sufficient, disqualify a member from the club.  A member may be reinstated when the head of school determines that the student is once again worth of membership.

Section 10. Graduate Members

Upon graduation, all members shall remain affiliated with The Cary Academy Beta Club.   With approval they may have all rights of membership except that of voting.  Graduate members are not responsible for the payment of club fees. 

Article III
Officers

Officers are (1) President, (2) Senior Vice-President, (3) Junior Vice-President, (4) Secretary, (5) Treasurer, and (6) Historian.  These officers are to be elected by the members of the club.  All offices will be voted on in May of each year for the next year’s term.  For all positions the candidate who receives a majority of votes will be elected to that office. 

Section 1. President

The president shall have the general supervision of the club and shall, in cooperation with the school administration, sponsors, and executive council, determine all policies and general activities of the club.  The president shall preside over all meetings; shall appoint committees, as set forth hereinafter and shall see that the club is properly represented at all interclub meetings and conventions.   

Section 2. Senior Vice-President

The senior vice president shall act in the place of the president in the event of the latter’s absence from school or meetings, shall chair the Community Service Committee.   

Section 3. Junior Vice-President

The Junior Vice-President will be the chair of the School Service Committee.   

Section 4. Secretary

The secretary shall keep all records of the club, keep minutes of all meetings, and carry on all correspondence of the club. 

Section 5. Treasurer

The treasurer shall have general charge of the finances of the club, collect all fees, pay approved bills, and make financial returns to the Executive Director.  All financial transactions shall be consistent with the policies of the school.  The treasurer will make a statement of the financial condition of the club in the final meeting of the year. 

Section 6. Historian

The Historian will be in charge of creating a scrapbook each year with pictures of The Cary Academy Beta Club in action.  The Historian is also responsible for maintaining a web page for the club. 

Section 7. Special Elections

 In the event an officer should the club for any reason, a special election shall be held at the next general meeting.   

Article IV
Meetings 

Section 1. Chapter Meetings

At least one meeting per month is mandatory.  Attendance at these meetings is not optional.  The President, sponsor, or a two-thirds vote of the membership may call special meetings.  The Rules for meetings apply at all meetings.  The executive council will meet at least every other week. 

Section 2. Committees

The President shall appoint all committees 

Subsection 1 – Executive Council

The executive council shall consist of the officers and one other member appointed by the president.  This committee shall advise the president in his decisions. 

Subsection 2 – Community Service Committee

This committee, with the Senior Vice President at the head, will be in charge of all service projects that will take place in the committee. 

Subsection 3 – School Service Committee

The Junior Vice president shall chair this committee.  This committee shall deal with any projects that done for the school. 

Subsection 4 – Finance Committee

This committee shall be in charge of deciding on monetary issues.  The Treasurer shall be the chair of this committee. 

Subsection 5 – Ad Hoc Committees

The president shall have power to create any additional committees that will help the club run more efficiently. 

Section 3. Suggested Order of Business

1. Call to order

2.  Roll Call

3.  Reading and approval of minutes from previous meeting

4.  Unfinished business

5.  Reports of Officers

6.  Reports of special committees

7.  New business

8.  Discussion of the subject of the program

9. Adjournment

10. Social Period 

Article V
Discrimination Prohibited

In administering affairs, The Cary Academy Beta Club shall not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, or physical disability. 

Article VI
Amendments

Amendments to these bylaws may be made by a unanimous vote of the executive council with approval of the head of school and sponsor or by a unanimous vote of the senior officers, president, senior vice president, secretary, and treasurer, with a 2/3 majority of the general membership, and approval of the sponsor and the head of school.