May 1, 2013

Upcoming Dates

May 3
Junior Summer Study Stipend applications due

June 15
Chapter Annual Report due

Welcome New Chapters

Blessed John Paul II High School
Chapter: Centurion
Corpus Christi, TX

Brookwood High School
Chapter: Brookwood High School
Snellville, GA

Cambridge High School
Chapter: Cambridge High School
Milton, GA

McAuley Catholic High School
Chapter: McAuley Carpe Diem
Joplin, MO

Oswego East High School
Chapter: Oswego East National English Honor Society
Oswego, IL

Sullivan High School
Chapter: Best-Shirey-Little
Sullivan, IL

Westlake High School
Chapter: Ray Bradbury
Westlake Village, CA

NEHS Museletter Blog

In This Issue

The month of May is upon us—just a few more weeks remaining in the school year and what busy weeks they are! Among all the events and tasks that mark closure for this academic year are the responsibilities of NEHS chapters to finalize the work of the Society before leaving for summer activities, including completion of the Annual Survey. We trust this has been a richly rewarding year for all NEHS members; our best wishes go with the seniors as they leave the high school chapter of their lives and begin to pursue their career paths. We would certainly encourage all of them to seek out membership in Sigma Tau Delta (university level) or Sigma Kappa Delta (community college level), our partner Honor Societies.

Please read each entry for important information concerning—NEHS Chapter Annual Reports, the Common Reader for 2013-2014, The NEHS Museletter Blog, Noteworthy Activities on the NEHS website, NEHS Connect reminders, and the graduation merchandise timeline. Please send comments, suggestions, and/or news about your chapter activities to NEHS Director, Dave Wendelin.

NEHS Connect

Thanks to all of you for using our data management system. We will be working over the summer on further refinements to the system; we appreciate the suggestions that have been submitted. If there will be changes to the Lead Advisor for your chapter next year, please make sure to amend the information in NEHS Connect so correspondence is sent to the correct individual.

Invoices for annual fees for schools with spring anniversary dates should have been received; it is important to process that financial request through your school financial office staff members before they leave for the summer. Keep in mind that the NEHS Constitution requires each chapter to pay chapter annual affiliation fees AND to induct at least one new member each year to remain active! Chapters in arrears must pay past due fees before enrolling new members. Chapters that have not paid fees are considered inactive.

We have a unique email address for advisors to pose any questions: nehsconnect@niu.edu should be used for that purpose.

NEHS Chapter Annual Reports

All NEHS Chapter Advisors are required to complete a Chapter Annual Report detailing activities conducted throughout the previous school year. We encourage chapters to make this a joint effort of the Advisor and the outgoing/incoming student officers. The report serves as a great way to review accomplishments as well as to begin planning for the following year. (See Noteworthy NEHS Activities below.) The reports will be done electronically via Survey Monkey. All Advisors will receive a separate email by mid-May that will include a unique link to the survey. As an incentive, all chapters completing the survey by June 15 will be entered into a drawing for $100.

Common Reader Selected for 2013-2014

The Common Reader for the upcoming school year will be The Well and the Mine by Gin Phillips. Set in rural Alabama during the Great Depression, this novel introduces readers to the Moore family as they navigate their way with dignity and perseverance through the hardships of the time. This is Ms. Phillips' first novel, one we hope will introduce many readers to this writer.

The novel will serve as the basis of the NEHS scholarship process for the upcoming year; all senior students who plan to submit scholarship essays must read the text as all prompts will be based on this reading. Scholarship essays will be due Monday, January 13, 2014.

Many schools now adopt summer reading lists and have expectations that students return to school in the fall having studied a variety of texts. We encourage consideration of adding The Well and the Mine to such lists. The novel might also serve as a Common Reader for NEHS chapters or as a "book club" selection for a community common reading project.

NEHS Merchandise

Graduations are right around the corner. Don't delay in ordering graduation cords and/or medallions for your senior members. Please note: due to the increasing number of NEHS chapters, special requests for expedited shipping are not possible. Allow UP TO THREE WEEKS for delivery of graduation honor cords, medallions, and other merchandise. Overnight shipping is not available.

View: NEHS Merchandise

Noteworthy NEHS Activities

Often, Chapter Advisors or student officers send notes requesting ideas about chapter projects or activities that other schools have found successful. We have completed a major project putting all of the projects that have been shared through the Annual Reports into a searchable database. Visit the Noteworthy Activities Database on the NEHS website; there, you will find an extensive list of key words to help focus a search. Clicking on the column topics that are highlighted will also allow a search by date, by school, or by state. As each Annual Report is completed, this database will expand; we hope you find it useful.