Chapter Service
While based on academic accomplishment in English, membership in NEHS encourages both leadership and social responsibility. NEHS recommends that chapters reach out to the school community by striving to give back to that community. NEHS members are uniquely qualified to serve as school leaders; sharing of members' enthusiasm for and love of language and literature, especially within the school community, is greatly encouraged.
The following are various ways in which chapters can be of service to their schools and communities. Remember that the more the chapter is willing to serve, the better its image will be, and the more willing others will be to contribute to and to participate in its programs.
School Service
Awards and Recognitions
- Present awards for the best student paper(s) of the year in various English classes (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior). Make arrangements to have these papers published online or in hard copy format.
- Host an English department awards ceremony yearly to honor both students and faculty.
- Give a reception for the Department of English to honor new or retiring faculty.
- Hold a faculty appreciation luncheon or tea.
Contests
- Organize contests for creativity, such as poetry, film making, or essay contests. "Poetry slams" are paticularly popular.
Advising and Tutoring
- Establish a tutoring program for students in English courses.
- Hold a workshop or a series of workshops on student writing problems. Target a specific issue, such as spelling or organizing a term paper.
- Sponsor a writers' workshop group; consider inviting and involving students from other nearby schools.
- Sponsor an ACT/SAT preparation group.
Career Projects
- Survey corporations and other businesses for opportunities for English and Humanities majors.
- If the school has a career day, or something similar, include information about what one can do with a degree in English.
Community Service
NEHS members can have a positive impact on communities, especially in the areas related to literacy, language, and teaching. Many chapters have ongoing community programs in these areas.
Service to Local Schools
- Sponsor writing contests for elementary or middle school students; choose a theme and award prizes for the best creative work or essay on the theme.
- Offer to do readings in the schools for special occasions.
Community Children's Projects
- Create a puppet show depicting some story from literature to present to kindergartens or day care centers.
- Have a story hour for children's groups at a local library.
- Do readings at the library for special occasions, such as Halloween or Thanksgiving.
- Have a Hanukkah (or Christmas, or Kwanza) project to help children write their own stories for the holiday season and see if the local newspaper will publish the stories.
Literacy Campaign
- Help raise money for local groups working on community literacy concerns.
- Provide tutors in local libraries, community centers, schools, nursing homes, homeless shelters, etc.
- Help organize and publicize local literacy campaigns.