Karcher Home School Support Group By-Laws

Effective June 11, 2008

Karcher Home School Support Group (KHSSG) is a Christian support group for home schooling families. We provide encouragement, ideas, and social, educational and spiritual learning activities for families who have chosen to educate their children at home.

Leadership/Organizational Structure
This group uses committees to aid in administering and overseeing group activities. If any member has a suggestion, idea, or question, they may bring it to any member of the Executive Committee.

A) Leadership
An Executive Committee, consisting of five committee members including a Treasurer, shall lead the KHSSG.

Committee membership shall be determined by general election each year at the June Mom's Night. The committee may consist of both attenders and non-attenders of Karcher Church of the Nazarene. However, there must be at least one committee member who currently attends Karcher Church.

Once committee members are elected, the Executive Committee will decide whether they will run by committee or elect a Chairperson from within the committee. They will also be responsible for appointing a Treasurer.

1. Qualifications
a. The Treasurer must attend Karcher Church of the Nazarene and consider it to be their church home and must have been a member of KHSSG for at least two years.
b. If a Chairperson is elected they must attend Karcher Church of the Nazarene and consider it to be their church home and must have been a member of KHSSG for at least two years.
c. All other Executive Committee members must have been active members of KHSSG for at least two years.
2. Executive Committee Responsibilities
a. Acts as a liaison between the Church and the KHSSG.
b. Oversees and organizes Mom's Nights.
c. Facilitates communication between the Executive Committee and the group members.
d. Coordinates the calendar, is responsible for all communication and for anything that is not currently being handled by the group as a whole.
e. Reviews and approves new member applications.
f. All "major decisions" are to be discussed and refined by the Executive Committee and then brought to the group for discussion at the next Mom's Night. A "major decision" is to be defined as any decision that affects two-thirds or more of the current membership. Members will then vote via e-mail within 24 hours of the Mom's Night. Any member, who declines to vote, will have their vote counted as  "yes" vote.
g. Plans and oversees two "service projects" per year in order to enhance our relationship with and to show our appreciation to Karcher Church of the Nazarene for allowing us to use their facilities free of charge.
3. Treasurer Responsibilities
a. Keeps track of group funds and checking account.
b. Writes checks.
c. Makes deposits.
d. Disburses funds to individual or committees, as determined by the group each year.
e. Presents a Treasurer's Report two times per year.
4. Term Limits
a. In order to encourage all to participate in the leadership of the group, no member may serve on the Executive Committee for more than two consecutive years. After serving two consecutive years, they must step down for a period of at least one year, before being eligible to serve on the Executive Committee again.
b. In the event there are no other eligible or able members capable of filling the vacated position, the term limit restriction will be waived until the following school year.
c. Positions appointed by the Executive Committee are excluded from the term limit restriction.

B) Organizational Structure
The structure and level of formality of group activities for each year will be decided per the following guidelines.
1. Proposals
a. Each year any group or committee member may submit their proposal regarding the activities structure for the coming school year to the Executive Committee.
b. Proposals will be reviewed by the Executive committee and presented to the group along with the Executive Committee's recommendation regarding group structure and policy.
c. Only the ideas and recommendations already reviewed by and submitted to the Executive Committee prior to the group discussion at a Mom's Night will be considered and voted on.
d. If no one comes forward with a proposal to change the current structure for the coming year, then the Executive Committee will submit their recommendation to leave the structure and policies as they currently exist.
2. Voting
a. Each of the submitted proposals will be discussed by and voted on by the current members at a Mom's Night.
b. The requested change must receive a "yes" vote from a two-thirds majority of the current membership in order to be passed.
c. Any member who declines to vote, will have their vote counted as a "yes" vote.
d. If more than two conflicting proposals are submitted to the group for voting, then the group members present will discuss and vote on all proposals. After discussion, those present at the meeting will vote on all of the proposals. The two proposals receiving the highest number of votes will be voted on again, in order to determine which proposal will carry forward.
e. If a member is unable to vote at a Mom's Night, they may submit their vote on the final two proposals to the Executive Committee, via e-mail, within 24 hours of the meeting.
f. The Executive Committee will inform the group of the final results of the vote, via the group e-mail list, within one week of that meeting.

Finances
A) Dues
Each year, dues will be collected from each member family to cover supplies, equipment, fees and other costs that are accrued during the year. The Executive Committee will make a request for dues annually and present it to the group for approval. The requested dues amount must receive a "yes" vote from two-thirds or more of the current membership in order to be passed. Any member, who declines to vote, will have their vote counted as a "yes" vote. Additional fees may be required for participation in certain academic classes or activities, as decided by those individuals responsible for the classes or activities.

B) Auditing
The KHSSG bank accounts and financial records may be subject to auditor review, at the end of each school year.

The following are the suggested guidelines regarding the disbursement of group monies from dues and fundraisers, assuming a group desire to hold "Friday School" sessions and to organize academic committees and groups. However, these guidelines may be changed or altered, as proposed by the Executive Committee, in order to better suit the needs and requirements of the group from year to year. The Executive Committee's funds disbursement proposal will be presented to the group for approval (by simple majority vote) each year at a Mom's Night between the months of June and August. The Executive Committee will submit their proposal to the group at least two weeks prior to voting and will make every reasonable effort to ensure that all members have had a chance to review the proposal and vote. If a member will be unable to attend the Mom's Night where voting will occur, they may submit their vote to the Executive Committee via e-mail within 24 hours after the vote has taken place.

C) Guidelines for Disbursement of Group Funds
Suggested disbursement of group funds is as follows:
1. Reserve Funds - 15% of total group funds
2. Operations - 20% of total group funds
3. End of the Year Party - 5% of total group funds
The remaining funds (60% of total) will be disbursed between the two primary age groups according to the percentage of children in each age group.
1. For budgeting purposes, the students will be divided into primary two age groups - 7th grade and above and 6th grade and below. However, no age group shall receive less than 30%, regardless of their percentage of the total students.
2. If either age group has more than one academic committee, their percentage of the funds (as outlined above) shall be determined by their respective Executive Committee members during the annual Executive Committee budget-planning meeting, after having received input from their members.
3. Any funds allocated to the Operations or End of the Year budgets or any of the above-mentioned committees, which are not used during the current school year, are to be deposited into the group funds Reserve and divided per the above guidelines for the following school year.
D) Fundraisers
1. Money from Group fundraisers will be deposited into the general group fund Reserve and divided per the above guidelines for the following school year.
2. Fundraisers put on by either of the two above named age groups will be kept separate, to be used for their own purposes.

Activities Policies
A) Rules Governing Facility Usage
1. All facilities used must be left as they were found or cleaner than they were found.
2. No children are allowed in any room without an adult in attendance.
3. All lunches and snacks are to be eaten in the lunch area.
4. A Karcher Church attender or designated group member must be in attendance at all times while the church facilities are in use by KHSSG.
5. All Church facility usage must be scheduled through the church office, in advance.
6. All KHSSG members agree to abide by Karcher Church of the Nazarene facility rules.
7. All present will refrain from the use of profane language.
8. Science classes will favor the theory of creation.
B) Parent Responsibilities
1. A parent (or appointed guardian) is responsible to monitor the behavior of his or her child while at Friday School and during field trips. All children and adult sponsors are to exhibit behavior representative of Christian morals and values. Any harassment or abuse of a classmate is not acceptable.
2. A parent (or appointed guardian in cases of illness or emergency) must accompany his or her child to all KHSSG activities.
3. A parent whose child or children are taking part in group activities is required to help regularly at Friday Schools, Mom's Nights and other group sanctioned activities throughout the year, as needed.
C) Rules for Children
1. Children will address adults with proper names. (Mr. and Mrs.)
2. Listen to and follow all directions.
3. Raise your hand if you have a question or would like to speak.
4. Do not speak when someone else is speaking.
5. Keep your hands and feet to yourself.
6. Speak kindly and politely to others.
D) Consequences for Rule Infractions
1. If a child is being disruptive the teacher or organizer or their assistant of a class activity may remove him or her, and take the child to his or her parent, where the child will remain during the rest of that class or activity time.
2. The child will be allowed to attend the next class or activity.
3. If the child has to be removed a second time, then he or she will not be allowed to attend classes or activities without his or her parent.

Dress Code
All group participants, children and adults, must be dressed modestly and appropriately while attending group activities. If you are unsure if something is appropriate, it is probably wise to choose another item of clothing. Abdomens, backs, bra straps and underwear must be covered. Very tight-fitting or sheer clothing is unacceptable. Shorts, skorts and skirts must not be excessively short. A good rule of thumb is that they be at least fingertip length when hands are at the sides. Clothing and accessories must not have inappropriate slogans or illustrations. Clean, dry shoes must be worn to protect the church's flooring. Hats should be removed during class.
While we realize that a person's attire is not indicative of their spiritual worthiness, God's Word does give us standards of both dress and conduct that we should all aspire to follow.

Growth
This group is open to new members through an application review process and limited growth policy. Those families who consider Karcher Church of the Nazarene to be their church home may join unrestricted by growth limitation policies but must still submit a membership application to the Executive Committee and are subject to any other membership requirements or restrictions.
A) Growth Limitations
1. Families who wish to join KHSSG must have at least one home-schooled child in grades K - 12.
2. Group membership growth will be reviewed by the Executive Committee should it reach a total of 40 member families to determine whether to place a moratorium on the growth of the group at that time.
B) Application Review Process
1. The new family needs to fill out a family biography and submit it to the Executive Committee. This maybe be done via e-mail, by visiting the group web site at http://www.karcherhomeschoolgroup.com
2. The Executive Committee will read all biographies and recommendations, will decide which ones to accept, and will notify all parties involved within two weeks.
3. The Executive Committee may, at their discretion, request a face to face meeting with the new family, prior to making a decision on a new family's application.
4. If approved, the new family may begin attending at the beginning of the next academic session or as decided by the Executive Committee.
D) Responsibilities of the new family
1. All new families are subject to a trial period. The trial period is a "getting to know you" period for both the new family and the support group. It allows both parties to be sure that membership is a "good fit".
2. The length of the trial period shall be determined each year by the Executive Committee, depending on such variables as group class structure and number of class dates.
3. The trial period should be used by the parent to help his/her children make new friends, get used to the schedule, learn the classroom and other rules, and transition into the group. This time can also be used by the parent to meet new people and to decide where they would like to be involved when the trial period is over.
4. After the trial period, the new family will be considered a member of the support group and will abide by the by-laws. They will continue to be a member of the group as long as they remain active in the group.
5. Exceptions: The new member must have at least two years of active participation in the group before they can hold any leadership positions.

Mom's Night
Mom's Nights are an important part of KHSSG. Moms meet for support, encouragement, inspiration, fellowship, renewal and the discussion of business.
1. Mom's Nights are to be held on the first Tuesday of each month. Date changes that occur due to holidays or scheduling conflicts with the church do not require a vote and will be handled by the Executive Committee.
2. Sign-ups to hostess Mom's Nights will be held annually or as needed.
3. Mom's Nights will be held at Karcher Church of the Nazarene, unless the hostess chooses to have the meeting at her home. Meeting dates that are likely to fall during inclement weather or are a major group planning session should be held at the church, as it is a more central location for members.
4. Regular participation in Mom's Nights is strongly encouraged.

Web Site
The Executive Committee has put in place a Christian home school web site and e-mail list for the benefit and use of the KHSSG and other home school families.
1. The Executive Committee will appoint a webmaster to manage the web site and e-mail list. The webmaster will continue in this position until she/he no longer feels able, at which time the Executive Committee will appoint a new webmaster.
2. The web site will contain helpful information for all home school families as well as information specific to KHSSG such as Mom's Nights agendas, by-laws, Executive Committee minutes, etc.
3. The e-mail list will be used for exchanging encouragement, information, and ideas related to each family's individual home school as well as the KHSSG. If the frequency is not excessive, group members may occasionally post for sale items to the group. Forwards that do not directly relate to home schooling or family should not be posted. The e-mail list will not be used for discussion of changes to KHSSG or its by-laws unless initiated by an Executive Committee member.
4. The web site and e-mail list will be paid for out of the Executive Committee's Operations budget.
5. E-mail is to be the primary communication medium for the group, outside of Mom's Nights. It is a member's responsibility to regularly seek out updated information regarding group activities, if they are unable to access their e-mail.

Revisions
Procedures for amending the by-laws are as follows:
1. A petition stating the proposed amendment must be presented to the Executive Committee.
2. The Executive Committee then has a maximum of three weeks to review the proposal and either recommend it or state an opposing viewpoint, in writing, and send the proposed amendment and the Executive Committee's recommendation or opposing viewpoint to the group, at least one week prior to the next scheduled Mom's Night.
3. At the Mom's Night, a proposed amendment representative and an Executive Committee representative, if necessary, will be allowed five minutes to present their views on the proposed amendment.
4. The proposed amendment will then be open for group discussion at Mom's Night.
5. A vote will be taken after the group discussion.  Absentee votes should be e-mailed within one week of that meeting, otherwise their vote will be counted as a "yes" vote.
6. The proposed amendment must receive a "yes" vote from at least two-thirds of the current members in order to become an amendment to the by-laws. Any member, who declines to vote, will have their vote counted as a "yes" vote.
7. The revision(s) will be effective immediately, unless stated differently in the proposed amendment.
8. The newly revised by-laws will then be distributed to all current members, within thirty days.

Termination of Membership
The preceding by-laws constitute our group policies and membership requirements. Each group member must agree to abide by the policies set forth herein.
1. If any member family fails to adhere to group policies and procedures, including but not limited to Dress Code and Conduct guidelines, they will receive a written warning from the Executive Committee.
2. If a member or member family receives three warnings from the Executive Committee, they may be asked to leave the group.
3. If a family is asked to leave the group prior to the halfway point of the school year, their dues will be refunded. Any family asked to leave the group after the halfway point for the year will not receive a refund of their dues.
4. A family who voluntarily leaves the group at any point during the school year will not receive a refund of dues, unless they are a new family who chooses to leave immediately after the trial period.


I have read the above by-laws and agree that my family will abide by them. I understand that repeated failure to do so might result in being asked to leave the group.

Signature____________________________________________________________        Date________________________