Natural Helpers

 

SMS Natural Helpers

By-Laws

Revised 08/30/2013

ARTICLE I                Name:

                       The Club shall be known as SMS Natural Helpers.

ARTICLE II               Purpose:

To help young people develop the capability to improve their school and community roles of natural helpers through a variety of roles as Natural Helpers.

 

ARTICLE III              Goals:

The Natural Helpers program is designed to meet four basic goals:

To help young people develop the capability to prevent some of the problems of adolescence

To help young people develop the capability to intervene effectively with troubled friends

To help young people develop the capability to choose positive ways of taking care of themselves

To help young people develop the capability to improve their school and community Roles of Natural Helpers beyond participating in Retreat Training and Ongoing Training, students play a variety of roles as Natural Helpers.

Among them:

Continuing to help their friends with their concerns

Recognizing when people have serious problems—like depression, chemical dependency, and abuse—and referring them to trained helping resources

Working with members of their helping team to discuss issues and specific problems

Providing accurate information

Becoming more involved with their school and community

Lending a sympathetic ear to loners and new students

 

Teaching skills to younger children

 

ARTICLE IV              Authority

Section 1                   This organization is a recognized student organization at Shepherd

Middle School and adheres to all campus policies as set forth in the SISD Student Handbook.

 Section 2                   SMS Natural Helpers organization may establish Standing Rules to

govern administrative and procedural matters (such as time and location of meetings, etc.).  Standing Rules shall not conflict with these bylaws. Standing Rules may be adopted, amended, or temporarily suspended by a majority vote present at an organization meeting where a quorum is present (advance notice is not required).

 

Section 3                   Rules contained in the most recent version of Robert’s Rules of

Order, Newly Revised, shall govern in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the organization may adopt.

ARTICLE V               Authority

The advisors shall consist of teachers volunteering, or appointed by the principal of SMS.

 

ARTICLE VI              Membership

 

Section 1                   Membership to the organization is open to eligible students at

Shepherd Middle School.   

 

Section 2                   Natural helpers are a cross section of students identified through

an anonymous school-wide survey. Students become eligible as 6th graders.   The nominations are tallied and sixth graders are invited.

Section 3                   The organization will maintain a student level of about 50 members.  

Section 4                   Once a member, always a member, unless removed.

Section 5                   Removal from office will require a 2/3 vote of the membership after a

review by the Advisors.

 

 

ARTICLE VII             Approval of Membership

Section 1                   The advisors will review student surveys and talley 6th grade

nominations for membership into the SMS Natural Helpers.

Section 2        Upon approval by the advisors, the applicant(s) will:

a. be referred to a regularly scheduled membership meeting for their approval.

b. the majority of those present at this meeting will vote by signifying yes or no confirming or denying membership.  

Section 2        Rights and Benefits

a. All full members in good standing have the right to vote on all questions, concerning the Club, except if noted differently, elsewhere in the By-Laws.

b. They can be nominated and elected to office and be appointed to a committee or to chair a committee.

ARTICLE VIII            Officers

Section 1                   Officers of the organization shall be the President, the Vice

President, Secretary and Treasurer, and 3 Historians (one from each grade).

Section 2                   Powers and Duties of Officers:

                                   

a. The President shall serve as the chief executive officer of the

SMS Natural Helpers, presiding over all meetings of the organization and shall prepare the agenda for meetings with the assistance of the advisors.  The President shall be the official spokesperson of the organization, representing the policies, views, and opinions of the organization in its relations with the campus and community at large.  The President shall appoint all committees and committee chairs.  The President shall be an ex officio member of all committees.  The President shall have such further powers and duties as may be prescribed by the organization.

 

b. The Vice President shall preside at organization meetings in the absence of the President.  The Vice President shall perform all legal duties assigned by the President.  The Vice President shall assume the office of President if the office becomes vacant.

 

c. The Treasurer shall handle all financial affairs and report the budget of the organization, maintain all necessary accounting records, and prepare monthly financial reports for the membership.  Said records shall be maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  The Treasurer, with assistance for the advisors, shall collect and deposit all dues and fees.  

 

d. The Secretary shall take minutes at all meetings of the organization, keep these on file, and submit required copies to all organization members at their request.  The Secretary shall be responsible for all organization correspondence and shall keep copies thereof on file with the advisor. The Secretary shall maintain membership records for the organization along with the advisor.

 

e. The Historians (one from each grade) shall be responsible for maintaining a record of organizational history for posterity.  

Section 3                  Becoming an officer

a.    Nominations are made from the members.

b.    All offices are elected by a majority vote for a one year term.

c.    Any full member in good standing may run for the President however, they must have served a minimum of one year in Natural Helpers.

Section 4.                  Nominations and Elections

a. The nominations for President of the SMS Natural Helpers will be made at the first meeting after 6th grade have been voted in as members each year.

b. Elections for the President will take place at the following regular meeting.   

c. Any person nominated must be present to accept the nomination.

If he/she is unable to be present to accept the nomination, a dated letter indicating an acceptance  of the nomination / with their signature, must be presented to the membership prior to the closing of nominations.

d. Nominations shall be taken from the floor

e. The Advisor shall conduct the election of the President at the same meeting.  

f. The President will conduct the meeting and the election of each individual officer after his/her election.

g. The voting shall be completed by way of a secret ballot. In the case of a tie, the President will reserve his vote, to be used as the final vote in the event that a tie breaker is required.

h. The winner of the officer elect shall be announced at this same meeting and will take office immediately.

ARTICLE IX              Special meetings:

must be called, and presided on by the President, at the request of the advisors or by a petition in writing, from the membership, and signed by least 15 members in good standing.

ARTICLE X               The Permanent Committees

All committees shall be appointed every year by the new President; any member can be reappointed or replaced.

ARTICLE XI              Participation Requirements

Natural Helpers are not professionally trained therapists or counselors. Prior to being eligible to attend retreat training, you must commit to:

a.    participating in Natural Helpers projects this year including

b.    attending weekly meetings,

c.    helping in concessions

d.     Lock-in

 

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Natural Helpers report significant benefits from being involved in the program, whether their involvement is helping one to one, assisting with program coordination, volunteering for community projects, or fulfilling some other role. Natural Helpers find that the skills they learn and practice in working with others are beneficial with friends, teachers, family, and co-workers. They make new friends in the program and break down some of the barriers that exist in any community.

Natural Helpers also experience the special feeling that comes from helping someone else and knowing that they have made a difference.

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