Mesquite High School - Mesquite ISD

April 11, 2012
Mesquite High School
Dear Skeeter,
Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of the National Honor Society. NHS is a selective
organization that honors outstanding scholastic achievement and promotes character, leadership, and
service. The next induction for NHS members will tentatively be held on October 18, 2012 and
participation in induction is mandatory for membership. Please note that the official information
packets for admission will not be available until next school year, August 2012. This summer
packet is just to give students an idea of the expectations. Listed below are some helpful hints as
what is necessary to be considered as a member of the MHS chapter of NHS as stated in the by-laws:
Election of Members:
• Candidates must have spent at least one semester in Mesquite High School
and shall be members of the sophomore, junior, or senior classes.
• Candidates eligible for consideration as members must be enrolled in at least
four academic classes and must have a cumulative academic average of 90 or
above. The scholastic candidacy does not guarantee membership in the
chapter.
• Further eligibility shall be considered on service, leadership, and character.
Candidates must not have more than one citizenship grade of B or any
citizenship grade below a B in any class during the previous semester.
• In addition, candidates must provide proof of 25 hours of school community
service, dated within a year of the date of induction. Any service hours over a
year old (from the time of submission date on September 14, 2012) will not be
considered. Please see attached guidelines for more specific types of
community service expected.
You must meet all requirements for admission into NHS. Members will be selected by a faculty council in
September, 2012 on the basis of grades, citizenship, leadership, and service. Attached you will find a
more detailed version of the by-laws, a copy of the community service record sheet, and ideas for
volunteerism.
If you have any questions, please see (in room A-13), email (mhix@mesquiteisd.org), or call (972-882-
7800, ext. 6033) Ms. Hix, sponsor of Mesquite High School’s chapter of the National Honor Society.
Again, thank you for your interest,
Mesquite High School
National Honor Society

Bylaws of the
Mesquite High School Chapter of the National Honor Society
Mesquite, Texas
Article I: Name and Purpose
Section I: The name of this chapter shall be the Mesquite High School Chapter of the National Honor
Society of Secondary Schools, which appears on the charter granted by the National Council of the
National Honor Society, duly signed by the members of the National Honor Council.
Section II: The purpose of this chapter shall be to create an enthusiasm for scholarship; to stimulate a
desire to render service; to promote worthy leadership; to develop loyal student citizenship; to serve
faithfully one’s school, community, and country; and to instill exemplary qualities of character in the
students of Mesquite High School.
Article II: Election of Members
Section I: Candidates must have spent at least one semester in Mesquite High School and shall be
members of the sophomore, junior, or senior classes. Candidates eligible for consideration as
members must be enrolled in at least four academic classes and must have a cumulative academic
average of 90 or above. This scholastic candidacy does not guarantee membership in the chapter.
Further eligibility shall be considered on service, leadership, and character. Candidates must not
have more than one citizenship grade of B or any citizenship grade below a B in any class during the
previous semester. In addition, candidates must provide proof of 25 hours of outside of school
community service.
Section II: The election of members to this chapter of the National Honor Society shall be by a
chapter council consisting of five members of the faculty council. Faculty council decisions will be
final.
Section III: To aid the faculty council in the selection of members for this chapter, each candidate will
submit an information sheet in which s/he delineates activities demonstrating and providing evidence
of his/her history of community service and leadership. Assistant principals shall be consulted
regarding unbecoming behavior, and any candidate who has demonstrated unbecoming behavior
during the school year shall not be considered for membership. Unbecoming behavior is exemplified
by, but not limited to, placement in an Alternative Education Program such as ISS, MIC, The
Academy, or home suspension.
Section IV: Students and their parents who question the fact that they were not selected do not have
a legal right to a hearing, but they and their parents shall be given an opportunity to present their
complaints to the chapter sponsor(s) and principal.
Article III: Induction of Members
Section I: Members shall be inducted into the society before their peers, parents, and other National
Honor Society members with an appropriate ceremony in the fall semester of each school year.
Section II: the sponsor(s), the principal, and the officers of the club will conduct the induction
ceremony.
Section III: Participation in the induction ceremony is a requirement for membership. Candidates who
are not present at the ceremony are not members in the society. They will be eligible for
consideration for membership the following year.

Article IV: Membership
Section I: Membership in this chapter shall be based upon scholarship, good school citizenship,
service, leadership and character.
Section II: Membership in this chapter shall be known as active, probationary, and graduate. All
members are active from the time that they are admitted into National Honor Society. Probationary
members shall have no voice, no vote, and may not hold office for the duration of their probation
period for whatever reason that their probation has occurred. Members become graduate members
upon graduation and no longer have influence or ties to the chapter.
Section III: Members must have and maintain a cumulative average of 90 in their academic classes
while enrolled at this school. Their further eligibility shall then be considered on their school
citizenship, service, leadership, and character while in the organization.
Section IV: Any member who falls below the academic standards which were the basis of his or her
selection shall be promptly warned in writing and placed on probation for one semester. If the
member fails to meet the standards after probation, s/he will be dismissed from the organization. The
member shall receive notification of dismissal in writing.
Section V: Any member who receives 2 or more B’s or 1 or more of any grade lower than a B in
citizenship during a six week grading period shall be promptly warned in writing and placed on
probation for one six week grading period. If the member fails to meet the standards during any
following six-week period of the school year after probation, s/he will be dismissed from the
organization. The member shall receive notification of dismissal in writing.
Section VI: Any member who demonstrates unbecoming behavior during the school year will be
dismissed from the organization immediately. Unbecoming behavior is evident by, but not limited to,
placement in an Alternative Education Program such as ISS, MIC, The Academy, or home
suspension. The member shall receive notification of dismissal in writing.
Section VII: All members shall provide 25 hours of outside of school community service each
calendar year. Members will provide proof of hours at the beginning of each spring semester. Any
student who fails to meet the standards of service will be dismissed from the organization in writing.
The member shall receive notification of dismissal in writing.
Section VIII: Members who face dismissal shall be given the opportunity to address the faculty council
regarding their infraction before they are dismissed. The dismissed member may not be eligible for
membership in this or any other chapter of the National Honor Society, and must return all NHS
insignia, including certificate and membership card.
Section IX: Appeals of dismissal by the faculty council are addressed to the principal.
Section X: Any member may resign anytime from the chapter without repercussions by stating in
formal writing the reason(s) for his or her resignation accompanied by the signature of his or her
parent.
Article V: Officers
Section I: The offices of this chapter shall be president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. Only
senior members are eligible to hold office.
Section II: Officer Elections shall be held in the spring semester.

Section III: It shall be the duty of the president to preside at the meetings of this chapter and to serve
as ex-officio member of all committees of this chapter.
Section IV: The vice-president shall fill the chair of the president in his absence and handle all
business of the chapter.
Section V: The secretary shall maintain records and shall be in charge of club promotion throughout
the building.
Section VI: The treasurer shall be in charge of all financial matters, any fundraising activities, and
shall assist in club promotion throughout the building.
Section VII: All chapter officers shall maintain the highest standards expected and fulfill all their duties
or obligations for which they are responsible. Any officer who does not perform up to these standards
will be dismissed and replaced accordingly by a decision of the sponsor(s).
Article VI: Faculty Council
Section I: The faculty council shall consist of 5 voting faculty members appointed annually by the
principal.
Section II: The term of the faculty council members shall be one year. Members may be appointed to
consecutive terms.
Section III: The chapter sponsor(s) shall be ex-officio member(s) of the faculty council and shall have
no vote on issues.
Article VII: Meetings
Section I: There shall be regular meetings of this chapter throughout the school year at a time set by
the officers and sponsor(s).
Section II: Members are required to attend at least half of the National Honor Society. If a member
fails to attend meetings, s/he faces dismissal from the club.
Article VIII: Activities
Section I: This chapter shall determine two service projects for each year. One project will focus on
community service, and one project will focus on school service.
Section II: All members shall regularly participate in these projects.
Article IX: Dues
Section I: Dues for National Honor Society shall be collected one time, prior to induction. All
inductees shall pay the same amount. Dues are non-refundable if the member resigns, moves, or is
dismissed from the organization.

The True Meaning of Community Service. This talks about how
to get involved in community service and what it really means
to help others.
Community service is when you do something for someone else without the intentions of getting a reward or
money. This service should benefit someone other than yourself and it should be done because you would like
to help and not because you are required to. Also, this service should involve you with members of your
community in some way.
In order to participate and get involved in community service, you can get information from a school or any
other place of education. You can also offer your services to teachers. A few places that may require some type
of service in your local areas are parks, libraries, and nursing homes. Since parks are visited constantly, they
need constant maintenance. This is where you come in. You can sign up to clean parks and receive
acknowledgement for your actions. At a library, you can help by putting books in place or simple things such as
showing people how to locate books around the library. Also, tutoring children can be seen as an act of
community service. The need for assistance is growing in nursing homes. If you have a passion for helping
people in need and enjoy hearing stories about the past, the nursing home might be a perfect place to volunteer
at. Volunteering is an aspect of community service. When you volunteer, you sign up willingly knowing that
you will not receive any type of gift. However, you will feel good knowing that you helped others and made a
change in people’s lives.
Some of the benefits of participating in community service activities include getting the satisfaction of knowing
that you were able to have some sort of effect in someone’s life. Although this shouldn’t be your main focus
when doing community service, colleges love to see that you are an active member of your community. It
doesn’t hurt to volunteer to have a better resume but you should also do it because you want to help others. You
also get to experience new things and find out a lot about your surroundings. Who knows, maybe you will even
make many friends. Depending on where you choose to do your community service at, you may gain a great
deal of knowledge that will somehow improve your school grades. Your parents will also be proud of you if
they find out that you are giving back to your community. Most importantly, the people you help will remember
you as a person that lent a helping hand when they were in need. The benefits of participation in community
service activities are endless. Whether you are helping someone directly or cleaning a park, someone
somewhere is glad you were there to help.
Community service can impact you as a citizen in your own community by helping to boost your appearance in
your neighborhood. You will go home every day knowing that you made the neighborhood a better place. If you
choose to volunteer for something that you enjoy, who knows, maybe you will choose to pursue a career in
whatever you do. It is important that you pick a volunteer service that is right for you. For instance, if you are
impatient, you most likely shouldn’t work with children or the elderly. Direct community work such as painting
or cleaning would be better for you. There are endless chances to do community services. It’s only a matter of
where you look and how dedicated you are to your duties as a citizen of your community.

"The True Meaning of Community Service." Socyberty. Web. 11 Apr. 2012.
Why Volunteer? Youth who volunteer are MORE likely to do well in school,
graduate and vote?
Youth say the benefits of volunteering are:
• Learning to respect others
• Learning to understand people who are different from them
• Learning leadership and job skills
• Learning what it means to be a good citizen
How to Be a Successful Volunteer
• Call Mesquite Youth Services, Inc.: 972-329-8346. Youth Services is a free resource that can
help you find the appropriate volunteer placement.
• Take some time to decide on the placement that is right for you. Be flexible, keep an open
mind, you will discover new things all around you.
• Once you have decided on an agency you would like to volunteer for, be persistent.
Volunteer coordinators may be busy, some only work part-time. Don't assume they don't
want you. Keep calling!
• Once you have made a match with an agency, attend the orientation meeting. Informed
volunteers are the best volunteers!
• Be responsible. Show up on time and follow through with the assignment you have been
given.
• Attend training sessions if they are offered. It will make you feel good that you are always
prepared.
• Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you're not sure of how to do something it is better to ask
and clarify before completing a task incorrectly.
• Prove your worth. Don't expect to start out doing the most interesting work until you have
earned the right.
• Start your own project if you cannot find an opportunity that suits you.
• Have fun! Enjoy the new people you are meeting and the skills you are learning! Expect
plenty of personal enjoyment and satisfaction for your volunteer experience.
•
So what are you waiting for?

Choose a project and get started! No matter how big or small, whatever volunteer opportunities
you choose, you can make a difference in your community.
American Red Cross
• Contact: Estella Cervantes 214-678-4382
• Numerous volunteer opportunities
o Youths as young as 10
o
o
o
o
Office work in both home and branch offices
Older youth may help in education programs and water safety classes
Volunteers are encouraged to use Hotline (214-678-4385) or Web site
www.redcrossdallas.org to find opportunities
Christian Care Center
• Contact: Adel Munoz 972-686-3097
• Accept ages 15 and up and have many openings
• Opportunities in many areas some involving direct care to elderly residents
• Some evenings and weekend work available
• “Buddy System” (new program—soon to be implemented)
o
o
o
o
Each volunteer is assigned to one resident for an extended period
Designed for elderly who do not have families
Volunteers are asked to spend time with residents talking, reading, and generally
providing companionship
Requires approximately one-half day training
Churches
• Contact: Pastors, youth directors of individual churches
• Most churches have some sort of outreach or social services program
Crossroads Church of Mesquite
• Contact: David Gibson 972-329-0001
• Address: 1515 E. Kearney, Suite 500, Mesquite, TX
• Age of Youth: Middle and High School
• Type of Work: There is always a job that needs to be done, from painting to hedge clipping.
• Hours Involved: From 3 hours for some projects up to 44 hours for others.

• Dress Code: Use sunscreen. Dress modest; but, something that might get dirty/stained.
Devine Mercy of Our Lord
• Contact: Carmen Lugo or Jean Fernandez 972-289-7400
• Address: 1819, N. Galloway, Mesquite, TX
• Ages: 9 to 17
• 2 or 3 a day
• Minimum of 5 hours per day 5 days a week Monday thru Friday
• Time: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Work: office, janitorial, various duties
• Dress code: casual, not acceptable are baggy pants to the knees
Family Cathedral of Praise
www.uturnmesquite.com
• Contact: Andy McDaniel, Youth Pastor 972-329-1660 Ext. 17
• Address: 790 Windbell Circle, Mesquite, TX 75149
Historic Mesquite, Inc.
• Contact: Joyce Hicks 214-616-6938
• Opportunities to be docents
• Currently at Florence House
o
o
Tentatively in the Fall 2005, Opal Lawrence House will be open
Can volunteer as young as 14 (depending on maturity level)
• Application made through Volunteer Services Office, contact at
972-288-7730
• Available only when open (limited hours)
• Requires some training in museum work and handling of artifacts
•
Medical Center of Mesquite
• Contact: Toni Bates 214-320-7798
• Teen Volunteer Program for ages 14-17
o
o
Requires application
Jobs throughout hospital

• Limited opportunities during school year but large program during summer using 20-25
volunteers
• Requires one day orientation which is only given at specified times concerning hospital
policy, HIPPA, etc. (mandated by Joint Commission)
• Summer volunteers must commit to 200 hours of service
• Volunteers working 8:00-4:00 p.m. are given free lunch
• Summer program is very selective with applications generally closed by mid-April. (there is
no shortage of applications and many are turned away)
Mesquite Community Hospital
• Contact: Sue Northcutt 972-698-2583
• Teen Volunteer Program for ages 14-17
o
o
o
Requires application
Ages 17 and above requires a background check
Jobs throughout hospital
• Limited opportunities during school year but large program during summer using 30-40
volunteers
• Requires one day orientation which is only given at specified times concerning hospital
policy, HIPPA, etc. (mandated by Joint Commission)
• Summer volunteers must commit to 200 hours of service
• Volunteers working 8:00-4:00 p.m. are given free lunch
• Summer program is very selective with applications generally closed by mid-April. (there is
no shortage of applications and many are turned away)
City of Mesquite
www.cityofmesquite.com
• Contact for volunteer services: Chesley House 972-288-7730
• Ages 15 and up
• Keep Mesquite Beautiful
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Student Advisory Board
Rodeo Parade Trash-Off
• Library
o
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Shelve books
Book checkout

o
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Summer reading program
Special projects
• Mesquite Youth Services
o Contact: Patricia Musgrove 972-222-3198
o
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MYS Junior and Senior Advisory Boards
Special Events
• Parks and Recreation
o Contacts: John Frame or Oscar Martinez at 972-216-6260
o
o
o
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Christmas in the Park
Counselor-in-training @ Day Camp
Many one time projects
Eagle Scout projects
“Rock pick-up” contests at athletic fields
Mesquite Clothes Closet
• Contact: Lynette Williams 972-882-8732
• Accept middle school and high school age youth
• Opportunities involve sorting, cataloging, and filling orders for clothes
• Times are Tuesday 6:00-8:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m.-12:00 Noon
• Opportunities are also available to groups through student organizations
• Part of Council of PTA’s
Mesquite Metro Airport
• Contact: Cynthia Godfrey 972-216-4131
• Opportunities
o
o
o
Eagle Scout projects
State Adopt-an-Airport program
Special projects
• Civil Air Patrol (Lt. Col. Mike Ebelle, Commanding)
Mesquite Social Services
• Contact: Jamie Russell 972-285-3000

• Opportunities during office hours (Monday thru Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
o
o
Food pantry
Special events (they sometimes occur on weekends)
• Age limit is 16-18
• Ages 12 thru 15 if accompanied by a parent or guardian
• Needs are greatest during holiday seasons
Mission East Dallas
• Contact: Jenny Williams, RN Executive Director 972-682-8917
• Address: 2914 Oates Drive, Dallas, TX 75228
• Ages: 16 and above
• Office work
• Hours: Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Tuesday they stay open until 9 p.m.
• Dress Code: nice, casual dress like you would wear to the doctor’s office or dentist, this
facility is a clinic
Heritage Place Nursing Home
• Contact: Christie Fielder 972-288-7668
• Accept youth 15 and up
• Six- to eight-hour orientation required (does not count as volunteer hours)
• Limited amount of work available evenings and weekends
• Opportunities
o
o
Assist with Saturday Bingo (2:00-3:00 p.m.)
Companionship for residents (dependent on maturity levels)
Franklin Grave Yard Preservation
• Contact: Deborah Franklin 972-754-4990
• Application made through Volunteer Services Office, contact at
972-288-7730
• Accept youth from age 15 up
• Limited number (6) of opportunities available
• If accompanied by an adult, can have a group of up to 10 youth
• Will train and instruct volunteers in graveyard preservation

• Excellent opportunity for youth interested in fields of anthropology, mapping, history, etc.
Salvation Army
• Contact: None, Web page only address www.salvationarmy.org/friends
o
o
Online application for volunteers
No telephone contacts available
• Youth Advisory Council
• Assists with Salvation Army Projects
• Accepts youth as young as 12
Sharing Life Community Outreach - Mesquite
• Contact: Suzy Wood 972-285-5819
• Youth as young as 10 have been volunteers
• Opportunities
o
o
o
o
o
Food pantry
Office work
Clothing
Landscaping
Six Flags Project
Youth must be accompanied by an adult volunteer (age 18 or older); both the
adult and youth volunteer work at Six Flags for 4 to 6 hours; in exchange the
Youth gets a ticket to Six Flags that can be used on another day and Six Flags
donates money to Sharing Life to pay their summer light bill
Solid Rock Apostolic Church
• Contact: Sherry Blackwell or Mary Rushing 972-287-9066
• Location: 412 W. Malloy Bridge Road, Seagoville, TX 75159
• Project
o
o
o
o
Time of Project: 9 a.m. on any Saturday until around 5 p.m.
One day a week possibly More
Mowing, cleaning yard, gofer
Dress Code: No tank tops or shorts

Mesquite Paws Patrol (Non-profit pet rescue group) www.pawspatrol.org
Contact Lisa Goodman 469-735-2094
Adoptions held weekly from 12 – 4 p.m. at the Mesquite Petsmart
Mesquite High School National Honor Society
Community Service Guidelines
Community Service is intended to better the community. It is volunteer work
that people engage in for the sole purpose of bettering the area in which they
live. Community service is NOT work for pay, nor is it work done for some sort
of reward. The following guidelines detail acceptable and unacceptable activities
and what documentation will be required as proof of volunteer work for
Mesquite High School’s National Honor Society.
Church Work: In order to fulfill this requirement of community service,
church related volunteer work must have as it goal a benefit for the WHOLE
community. Acceptable activities may include volunteering at a soup kitchen or
nursing home, teaching vacation bible school, or participating in mission
activities. Congregational activities do not meet the spirit of community service.
Organizations: Community Service work is to be done for non-profit
organizations such as the City of Mesquite, The Salvation Army, The Red Cross,
a nursing home, a hospital, city recreational services, a food bank, etc. You may
NOT claim hours working for a company that is not organized for the purpose
of community service, even if you receive no pay.
Individual Work: Individual work is discouraged unless it’s verifiable.
Work that you approach as an individual must be verifiable by someone other
than a relative, and remember work done for your extended family or neighbors
IS NOT considered community service.
Documentation: Documentation of Community Service hours for the
Mesquite High School chapter of the National Honor Society will be recorded as
follows: There must be a detailed description, which is factual and accurate, of
the duties executed during the community service. There must be details of the
organization for which the community service is being conducted. A phone
number, as well as the name of the title’s project supervisor must be submitted
along with the community service hours. A letter on official letterhead will be
considered proof. If no official letter accompanies the Community Service

Record (on back of this sheet), a supervisor’s signature is required. Incomplete
Community Service Records WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
Student-Initiated Community Service: A student will be able to
receive DOUBLE the amount of hours actually served organizing his or her own
community service project. There are certain stipulations that students MUST
understand before organizing a project. The project must have an adult sponsor,
such as a city official, an adult in charge of local youth services, or a teacher who
will supervise the activity. A list of the students participating in the project must
be submitted with the other forms documenting community service.
Mesquite High School-NHS Community Service
Record
(PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY)
Your name: (First and
Last):____________________________________________________
Name of organization:
_________________________________________________________
Description of organization:
____________________________________________________
Contact name: ____________________________ Contact number:
___________________
Total hours worked: _____________ Date(s) (Month/Day/Year)
____________________
SPECIFIC Description of volunteer duties:
________________________________________________________________
________________
________________________________________________________________
________________
________________________________________________________________
________________
Signature of supervisor: ____________________ Printed name:
_____________________

Mesquite High School-NHS Community Service
Record
(PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY)
Your name: (First and
Last):____________________________________________________
Name of organization:
_________________________________________________________
Description of organization:
____________________________________________________
Contact name: ____________________________ Contact number:
___________________
Total hours worked: _____________ Date(s) (Month/Day/Year)
____________________
SPECIFIC Description of volunteer duties:
________________________________________________________________
________________
________________________________________________________________
________________
________________________________________________________________
________________
Signature of supervisor: ____________________ Printed name:
____________________________