Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be the Key Club of Shaker High School. (This is the same name as high school, or in Canada - Collegiate Institute.)

Article II: Organization

Its form of organization, its ideals, and its purpose shall be similar to those of the Kiwanis Club of Latham.

Article III: Objectives and Activities

Section I:

The objectives of Key Club shall be:

To develop initiative and leadership.

To provide experience in living and working together.

To serve the school and community.

To cooperate with the school principle. 

To prepare for useful citizenship. 

To accept and to promote the following ideals:

To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life.

To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.

To promote the adoption and application of high standards in scholarship, sportsmanship, and social contacts.

To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship.

To provide a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render unselfish service, and to build better communities.

To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and good will.

 Section 2:

Membership Pledge: I pledge on my honor to uphold the objectives of Key Club International: to build my home, school, and community, to serve my nation and God; and to combat all forces which tend to undermine these institutions.

Section 3:

The Activities of the Key Club shall be in accord with its Objects. They should include those suggested by Key Club International, plus such additional activities as might be adopted by the Key Club and approved by the school principal.

Article V: Membership

Section 1:

Membership shall be limited to senior high school students as apportioned from the senior, junior, sophomore, and freshman classes by the Board of Directors, approval of the school principal, hall principal, and the Key Club advisor.

Section 2:

Subject to review and approval by the principal, the Board of Directors shall have the power to suspend or expel a member for nonpayment of dues, for three unexpected absences, for ceasing to meet the scholastic requirements of the school or for conduct unbecoming a Key Clubber. Excused absences shall be given for sickness, medical appointments, required family activity, and required activity pertaining directly to class. The Board of Directors is given power to determine excused and unexcused absences. A total of five absences is allowed for the year.

 Section 3:

A prospective member must be sponsored by a present member of the Key Club. The Membership Committee shall provide the prospective member with a copy of the Bylaws and shall, along with the sponsor, take the responsibility of     informing him/her of the duties of a member and activities of the club. Once the prospective has participated in at least ten projects with a minimum of twenty hours, he/she may request a membership review. At its earliest convenience, the Membership Committee shall review the prospective member as to his/her knowledge of the aforementioned duties and activities. If the review is deemed satisfactory, the Membership Committee will present the prospective to the Club for a vote at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Section 4:

Each member of the Shaker Key Club must be willing to perform at least fifty hours of service to his/her home, school, and community annually.

Article VI: Officers

Section 1:

Officers shall be president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. They shall serve for one year or until their successors are elected and qualify.

Section 2:

Each officer shall be a member in good standing.

Section 3:

The president must be a senior during his/her term of office. No restrictions or limitations shall be placed on the other officers.

Section 4:

There shall be a Board of Directors, composed of the above officers, the membership chairman, special members whom the Board feels would be advantageous to the Club, and one representative from each of the four classes.

Section 5:

The duties of the officers shall be such as are usually performed by similar office holders and as outlined in the Key Club Manual.

Section 6:

The Board of Directors shall approve the budget, approve all bills, take counsel with committee, discipline members, and perform such other duities as shall be referred to it by the Club, in compliance with these Bylaws and the requirements of Key Club International.

Section 7:

All action by the Club and the Board of Directors may be subject to the approval of the principal, advisor, and the Kiwanis Committee. The Board of Directors shall meet at least once every two weeks at a time selected by the Board.

Article VII: Election

Section 1:

Election of new officers (president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer) shall be held at a meeting in February and they will take office in May.

Section 2:

Election for representatives (one from each of the uper three classes) shall be held at the first meeting when the new officers take over. The election for the freshman representative shall take place in the fall.

Section 3:

All officers and representatives who are members in good standing shall be eligible for re-election.

Section 4:

Members who wish to run for an office must be nominated two weeks before the election will occur. A prospective candidate may be nominated in one of two ways: either from the floor at the nomination meeting or by submitting a letter of nomination to the president up to the day of the speeches. The speeches will occur the following week after the nomination meeting. A member may run for a maximum of two offices. The elections of officers will take place, by written ballot, the following week after the speeches. The advisor and the president shall count the ballots, a plurality determining the winner.

Section 5:

Members who wish to be committee chairman of one of the committees shall submit a letter to the president who will consult with the Board and appoint the candidate who he/she feels is most qualified for the job.

Section 6:

The election of delegates to the District and International Conventions follow the same procedure as the election of officers. At least one of the delegates to the International Congress shall be an underclassman.

Article VIII: Meetings

Section 1:

The Club shall hold regular weekly meetings at such time and place as shall be determined by the Club with the approval of the principal.

Section 2:

Fifty percent of the Club's membership must be in attendance at the time of a vote in order for it to be valid; for the election of officers, 75% must be present.

Article IX: Committees

Section 1:

There shall be the following committees:

House Committee        Social Committee         Publicity Committee

Program Committee      Liaison Committee        Interclub Committee

Project Committee      Membership Committe      Historical Committee

Wired Committee        Advocacy Committee

Section 2:

The duties of the committees shall be as follows:

• House Committee shall consist of the members of the Club from the sophomore class. It shall be the duty of this committee to arrange a suitable place for club luncheons and meetings, provide the necessary equipment and service therefore, and see that the space occupied is made orderly after the meeting

• Program Committee shall plan and present programs at all regular meetings unless otherwise directed by the president. The vice-president shall be the chairman of the Program Committee.

• Project Committee shall formulate worthwhile activities, and upon approval by the principal, shall recommend them to the Club. The projects adopted by the Club shall be initiated and completed under the direction of the Project Committee with the aid of the Club membership. Chairs:

• Social Committee shall plan the social activities of the Club, such as banquets honoring the fathers and mothers of the members, dances, etc., and entertainment for the Club meetings. Chairs:

• Liaison Committee shall appoint members each week to visit Kiwanis members and shall prepare a monthly report for the Kiwanis Club. Chair:

• Membership Committee shall take charge of informing new members of their selection, introduce new members to the Club, and inform new members of their responsibilities. Chair:

• Publicity Committee shall be in charge of reporting all Club functions to the proper information channels and advertising all Club functions as directed by the president. Chairs:

• Interclub Committee shall be in charge of contacting other Key Clubs in the area for the purpose of exchanging ideas, attending their meetings, and inviting them to our meetings. Dual programs, projects, and social events may be planned together. Chairs:

• Historical Committee shall keep the Club's history, complete and file an annual achievement report, and prepare the Club's scrapbook. Chairs:

Article X: Amendments

Section 1:

Amendments to these Bylaws shall be adopted by two-thirds vote of the   members present at any regular meeting held after the regular meeing at which the proposed amendment, or amendments, were read, or after giving written notice thereof to each member one week prior to the action on such amendment or amendments.

Section 2:

These Bylaws and all amendments or additions thereto shall not become effective until they have been approved by the high school principal and by Key Club International.

 

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