The Constitution and Bylaws
of the
Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica
Montgomery High School Chapter
Montgomery, TX
Article I. Name and Classification
Section 1. The name of this organization is the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, also known as the Spanish National Honor Society, or the Portuguese National Honor Society, and shall be referred to in this document as "the Society."
Section 2. The purpose of the Society is to recognize high achievement in Spanish and Portuguese by students of secondary schools and to promote continuity of interest in Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian studies.
Article II. Qualifications for Membership
Section 1. To be eligible for the Society, students must meet all of the following criteria.
a) Student must be actively enrolled in a Spanish class.
b) Student must be enrolled in the 3rd semester of Spanish or higher.
c). Transfer students must have spent one full semester in the program before eligibility.
d). Student must have A- average in all Spanish classes.
Article III. Application and Initiation
Section 1. Members of the Spanish Department will invite eligible students to apply in January after the first semester grades are published.
Section 2. Potential members must fill out an application for admission. Items are to be presented to a SHH sponsor by the 1st Monday in March.
Section 3. The Acceptance Committee will be comprised of a combination of Language teachers, and other invited guests.
Section 4. The application must include: best piece of classroom writing in Spanish; a personal statement to include interest in language, personal qualifications, commitment to the betterment of Montgomery High School; commitment to the betterment of the Spanish-speaking community; personal qualities and examples of character, leadership, honesty, service, and cooperation; a recommendation from a Spanish teacher; a recommendation from a non Spanish teacher; and an original description of the chapter name and its significance.
Section 5. Acceptance letters will be distributed the week prior to Foreign Language Week in April.
Section6. Initiation Ceremony will coincide with Spanish Day of Foreign Language Week.
Article IV. Qualifications for Continued Membership.
Section 1. Each year members must engage in an activity from each of the following categories: Academic Commitment, Community Commitment, Global Commitment.
Section 2. Academic commitment may be defined in part as the following: current enrollment in a Spanish class, publication in ˇAlbricias!, maintenance of an overall GPA of B- or better.
Section 3. Community Commitment may be defined in part as participation in the following: Leading a Foreign Language Week activity, tutoring a MHS student in Spanish, serving as bilingual guide for MHS students or their parents, becoming a bilingual buddy for a bilingual elementary student, recruit grade 8 students into the Spanish program, tutor a grade 8 student in Spanish.
Section 4. Global Commitment will be defined by committee.
Section 5. Students must continue to show academic integrity and character as noted by no recorded incidents of cheating, plagiarism, misconduct, insubordination or intentional dishonesty.
Article V. Dues and Fees
Section 1. The Foreign Language Department will pay for the sponsor(s) dues to the AATSP and the Chapter Membership fees.
Section 2. One time dues of thirty dollars ($30) due at initiation. This fee includes certificate and T Shirt.
Article VI. Elections and Duties of Officers
Section 1. There are four officers of the Society: President, Membership Secretary, Recording Secretary and Treasurer. The officers must be enrolled in a Spanish class in order to hold office.
Section 2. Officers are elected by simple majority of active members present during the final meeting of the year.
Section 3. The duties of the officers are as follows: attendance at all meetings, serve as exemplars for other members of the Society and the MHS community, choose a poem for the initiation ritual.
Section 4. The role of the President is to preside at Underclassmen Awards Ceremony, preside at meetings, and serve as student spokesperson for the Spanish Department.
Section 5. The role of the Membership Secretary is to keep the ledger of initiates, keep the ledger of Active members and their membership qualifications and attendance, keep the ledger of current officers.
Section 6. The role of Recording Secretary is to keep record of all meetings, service projects and correspondence of the Society.
Section 7. The role of the Treasurer is to collect dues and keep the financial records of the Society.
Article VII. Meetings
Section 1. Each member must meet monthly with their nominating sponsor.
Section 2. Meetings are to be regularly scheduled by the sponsors and officers. There shall be no less than one meeting per term.
Section 3. The last meeting of the year will take place after graduation to elect new officers and to set direction for the coming year.
Article VIII. Awards and Recognition
Section 1. Sponsors of Active Chapters may award the Certificado de Excelencia to initiated members, winners in the National Spanish Examinations, or to the initiated member who has achieved the highest grade point average in Spanish or Portuguese for that school year. Duplicate certificates are awarded in case of ties. The number of awards is limited to ten percent of current initiates.
Section 2. Sponsors of Active Chapters may award the Certificado por Servicios to recognize initiated members who have rendered meritorious service to their Chapter. The number awarded is limited to ten percent of current initiates.
Section 3. Sponsors of Active Chapters may award the Premio de Honor to the best graduating senior of the Chapter. The certificate may be obtained from the National Director of the Society at no cost, and will be sent upon receipt of the student's name. The names of both the student and the Chapter sponsor will be printed in ˇAlbricias! if sent by the deadline. Each Chapter may receive only one certificate each year.
Article IX. Insignia
Section 1. The insignia of the Society is the official one of the AATSP, as represented on the medals which may be awarded for excellence in Spanish and Portuguese.
Section 2. The seal of the AATSP is the official seal of the Society, and it may be used in conjunction with any other seal upon approval of the National Council.
Section 3. The motto of the Society is: Todos a una.
Section 4. The colors of the Society are red and gold.
Section 5. The flower of the Society is the carnation.
Article X. Emergency Bylaws
Section 1. Additional regulations for facilitating the government of the Society and the activities of the Chapter may be prepared by the National Council whenever the exigencies for such regulations may arise.
Section 2. Dues may be initiated at the beginning of each year to be determined by the Sponsor and advisors
