Article I
Name
The name of the organization shall be South Plains Christian Home
Educators Association, Inc. (“SPCHEA, Inc.”).
Article II
Membership
Membership in SPCHEA, INC. shall be restricted to those individuals
who concur with the Statement of Faith and agree to abide by the
Constitution of the organization.
Membership dues will be assessed per family and will be determined
each year by the Executive Board with the approval of the membership
at a regular business meeting. Special provision will be made
for those who desire to be members, but are unable to pay.
Those who cease to agree with the Statement of Faith, or abide
by the Constitution, or in some way bring disrepute on the organization
shall be biblically confronted by the officers of restoration;
but if unrepentant, they will be excluded from membership (Matt.
18:15-20; I Cor. 5:1-5; II John 9-11).
Other homeschool families who do not concur with the Statement
of Faith, but agree to abide by the Constitution may be accepted
as associate members. Associate members do not qualify for the
privileges of voting and holding leadership positions. Associate
members should conduct themselves in a manner consistent with
the goals and purposes of the organization.
Persons who are not members of SPCHEA, INC. are welcome to attend
local and general meetings of the organization, but should conduct
themselves appropriately. Those in sympathy with the aims and
convictions of SPCHEA, INC. are welcome to attend special functions
of SPCHEA, INC. for a limited time as guests.
Article III
Purpose
The purpose of SPCHEA, INC. is to provide support to parents who
educate their children at home. Support will include services
such as field trips, small group meetings (for closer fellowship
and for mutual educational, academic, spiritual and emotional
encouragement), regularly scheduled large group meetings (for
information on curricula and assistance in choosing appropriate
curriculum, and for special speakers and workshops), a newsletter,
and information on legal concerns. All SPCHEA sponsored events
shall be non-alcoholic functions.
Article IV
Officers
The Executive Board of SPCHEA, INC. shall consist of the following
officers: the President, the Vice-President (s), Secretary, and
the Treasurer. The Secretary/ Treasurer may be a combined office. There will be a minimum of three officers needed to form a complete board. Officers shall be elected annually by a majority
of the members in attendance at a meeting called for that purpose.
The Executive Board shall provide the oversight for SPCHEA, INC.
The President, or in his absence a Vice-President or other Officer
designated by the President, shall preside over all meetings of
the organization, authorize the disbursement of funds, and speak
for the organization.
The Vice President (s) shall assist the President in the performance
of his duties and chair special committees set up by the President.
The Secretary will be responsible for keeping a record of each
meeting and handling any correspondence necessary.
The Treasurer will receive funds and make disbursements authorized
by the President and provide at each Executive Board Meeting an
accounting of the organization’s financial condition. Records
shall be reviewed or audited annually as determined by the Executive
Board.
The Officers shall be subject to censorship or dismissal from
office by a 2/3 majority of the members in attendance at a meeting
called for that purpose.
Officers of SPCHEA, INC. shall meet the following qualifications:
1. Officers shall be men. The reason for this is that the organization
is composed of homeschooling families over which the men are to
provide the leadership according to Scripture. SPCHEA, INC. is
an extension of the home and should mirror the home in this respect.
2. Officers shall have educated or have been committed to homeschooling
for at least one year. This allows the inclusion of those who
are not formally or structurally educating their children in the
cognitive skill, but are committed to homeschooling. The organization
recognizes homeschooling of children to include pre-birth to the
time the children leave the control of the parents or are sent
to a formal Christian School, whichever comes first.
3. The above qualification requirement is not meant to exclude
those who believe it best to place older children into a formal
classroom.
4. Officers must be members of SPCHEA, INC.
Article V
Relationship of General Organization to Local Chapter
The general organization shall provide the nucleus of contact
for the local SPCHEA, INC. support groups throughout the South
Plains Area.
Each support group will elect a person who will coordinate the
activities of the local group and maintain communication with
the President or other person designated by the President.
The local groups have freedom as to how to conduct their meetings
and the time and date of their meetings. They have virtual autonomy
from the larger organization, but must abide by the Constitution
of SPCHEA, INC.
Neither the local chapters nor the general organization shall
in any way impinge on the rights of parents to educate their children
as they believe best. SPCHEA, INC. is a service organization to
be used by each family as it wishes, and as such, advice and help
will be offered to respective families of the organization.
Article VI
Meetings
The time, date, place and frequency of general meetings shall
be decided by a majority vote of the SPCHEA, INC. membership at
regularly conducted business meetings.
All business meetings of SPCHEA, INC. shall be conducted according
to Robert’s Rules of Order in its most recent edition.
Article VII
Execution and Amendment
This Constitution shall become effective upon approval by a two-thirds
vote of the members present and voting at a general meeting called
for that purpose. This Constitution may be amended by a three-fourths
vote of the members present and Voting at a general meeting of
the organization provided written notice of such meeting, together
with a copy of the proposed amendment, is mailed to all members
at least one week in advance of the meeting.
BY-LAWS
I
Voting
Each member family of SPCHEA, Inc, fulfilling the
requirements set forth in the Constitution, shall be allow one
vote for each family.
II
Officer Terms
Officers will serve one-year terms, beginning July
1st and continuing June 30th of the following year. This is to
coincide with the fiscal year of SPCHEA, Inc.
