Statement of Purpose Havasu Christian Home Educators (HCHE) has been formed to offer support to Christian home schooling families. This support is offered in the forms of information, encouragement, guidelines, resources, and most importantly, prayer and Christian fellowship. All members of HCHE are encouraged to participate in the group by either holding an office or planning an activity.
Statement of Faith We believe the Bible to be the inspired, inherent, and infallible written word of God, and of supreme and final authority in faith and life.[1]
We believe that there is only one[2] living[3] and true God; infinite[4] and perfect in all His attributes[5], one in essence but eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.[6]
We believe in the fall of man; although originally created in the image of God, through the disobedience of Adam, man fell into a sinful and spiritually impotent state, totally unable to justify himself before God.[7]
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God[8] and is the express image of the invisible God[9] which is to say He is God; that He became man[10] yet without sin, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary[11]; that He died on the cross a substitution sacrifice for sin[12]; that He arose from the dead in the body in which He was crucified; that He ascended into Heaven in the that body glorified[13]; where He is now, our interceding High Priest[14], and that He will return again personally, visibly, and gloriously.[15]
We believe that salvation is wholly of God, by grace;[16] that God in love, gave His only Son to die on the cross for sin,[17] thus procuring the redemption of those who come to Him;[18] that this salvation is not merited in any way by man; that god commands men everywhere to repent of sin and believe in Christ; and that this salvation is eternal and results in good works,[19] but is not something to be earned by works. It is a gift from God.[20]
[1] 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12 [2] Deuteronomy 4:39, Isaiah 44:8, 45:5, 6, 18, 21 [3] Romans 9:26, Mark 12:27, John 6:57 [4] Hebrews 13:8, Revelation 4:8b, 5:13b [5] Matthew 19:17, Habakkuk 1:13 [6] John 14:16, 15:26, 17:21 [7] Genesis 3 [8] John 14:6, 1 Timothy 2:5 [9] John 1:18 [10]John 17:4,5; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:6-8 [11] Luke 1:35 [12] Romans 5:10, 2 Corinthians 5:21 [13] 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 [14] Hebrews 4:14-15 [15] Mark 8:38, Revelation 21 [16] Ephesians 2:8-9 [17] John 3:16 [18] John 6:37 [19] James 1:22, 27, 2:14-18 [20] Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9
Standard of Conduct “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned.” Titus 2:2-8a
Our family will strive to arrive prepared and on time for meetings and events, and when possible, stay until dismissed.
Our family understands that our children are to be supervised at all times.
Our family will respect all speakers, leaders, teachers, other parents, and students by using appropriate language, being attentive, and by not interrupting or speaking out of turn.
Our family will wear clothing that is modest and neat, knowing that we represent Christ in our appearance.
Our family will accept instructions and have a teachable spirit.
To prevent the spread of illness, if one of our children is sick we will not bring them to an HCHE activity. We understand we will be asked to leave if we arrive sick.
STRUCTURE A. Membership
Members must be current in paying dues. Dues cover the fiscal year beginning August 1st and ending July 31st.
Membership application must be completed and signed, agreeing to our By-laws, including our Statement of Faith and Standard of Conduct.
Access to all the following “Privileges of Members”.
B. Privileges of Members
Member families may participate in activities in which HCHE acts in the capacity of an “organized” private school, for example: graduation, Pizza Hut Book-it Program, food-store register receipt program, etc.)
Participation in field trips and specialized instructional classes (i.e. P.E., foreign languages, sign language, etc.).
Informed on important matters through the use of a newsletter and/or e-mail loop.
Those in attendance at our meeting will have one vote per family on matters pertaining to the group. No proxy or absentee voting is accepted.
C. Graduation
The Graduation Committee will be comprised of a family or families who have been members of HCHE in good standing at least one year and who have graduates in sixth grade, eighth grade, or senior high school.
The Graduation committee will decide all factors of the graduation, which includes ensuring all speakers agree to share a message which glorifies Jesus Christ, and all songs included in the ceremony are from the Christian genre or are Christian worship songs.
ALL graduation families must be current, paid-up members.
D. Meetings
Meetings to be held monthly. Time and location will be announced.
Prospective members are welcome to attend one meeting per fiscal year, without their children. Prospective members may also attend a park day with their children.
Parents are responsible for their children’s behavior, as no childcare is provided.
Voting on business matters done only at meetings and only one vote per member family. No proxy or absentee voting accepted.
E. Officers Appointment/elections of officers will be in May, with requests/nominations in April. June and July will be transition months where the previous officers will train the new officers, if needed. Duties will start immediately. All elected positions held must be a member in good standing for at least one year, or by a special vote of the board.
1. President Duties include, but are not limited to: Officiate the meetings and other functions of the group, including science fairs, seminars, graduations, and the like. Be a representative of the group at any outside function, and be a general liaison between the community and the group.
2. Vice President Duties include, but are not limited to: Assisting the president in the administration of the group affairs and to take over the presidential duties in the absence of the president. The Vice President is the central contact for all activities, including meetings, and field trips. The V.P. will work with the meeting host to ensure details are in place. The V.P. will also ensure that the annual financial review takes place between the May and August meeting each year, by selecting two active members in good standing.
3. Treasurer Duties include, but are not limited to: Accounting for the funds using standard accounting practices; acquiring dues collected by the secretary and depositing the dues; acquiring fees collected by the P.E Coordinator and depositing the fees; administering funds for the newsletter and other expenditures, ie. P.E. expenses; making monthly reports of the funds on hand and funds spent; providing the bank reconciliation report to the board members monthly (prior to the monthly meeting).
4. Secretary Providing blank copies of the bylaws, membership forms and photo release forms to potential members; Collecting and logging membership applications, photo release forms and dues; forwarding all dues to the treasurer to deposit; Maintaining the list of members and publishing a current directory every October or November* (No members should be added to the current membership list until dues have been paid); Updating the group with new member information via the e-mail loop when a new family joins H.C.H.E. after the annual directory has been published; Maintaining the private e-mail communication loop; Writing all letters from the group; Maintaining a file of minutes, press releases and newsletters, as well as any other pertinent home school documents such as copies of the current by-laws; The secretary will also maintain a file of any other useful information, such as scholarships, etc.
*The membership directory may be prepared by another member who works closely with the secretary for current information.
F. Support Positions
1. Newsletter Editor Duties include, but are not limited to: Taking notes at the meeting and the preparation and timely distribution of a monthly newsletter for HCHE members, a copy of which is to be given to the secretary.
2. Public Relations Duties include, but are not limited to: Informing the general public of regularly scheduled meetings, special events, seminars, etc., through the use of news releases, posters, announcements and other similar notices for all available media, a copy of which is to be given to the Secretary.
3. Legal Information Coordinator Duties include, but are not limited to: Keeping HCHE informed of the Arizona Compulsory School Attendance Laws and any relevant bills introduced in the state legislator or federal government, as informed via H.S.L.D.A.
4. Refreshment Coordinator Duties include, but are not limited: Coordinating refreshments for the meetings.
5. Website Administrator Duties include ongoing maintenance of the H.C.H.E. website to reflect current information pertaining to our group, under the direction of the board.
G. Finances
All monies should be deposited in an account requiring one signature for withdrawal.
Signers on the account will be elected board members. If HCHE has a Student Leadership Group (SLG) the adviser may also be a signer. Debit cards may be issued to board members and the SLG adviser, as deemed necessary. Debit cards will be returned to the treasurer upon resignation or replacement from position.
Standard accounting practices will be followed to keep track of funds, and records will be kept current.
No funds over $30.00, other than newsletter expenses, are to be withdrawn from the account without prior vote of HCHE at a regular business meeting.
Checking account to be audited annually by two members other than signers. This should be completed after the May meeting and before the August meeting.
H. Dues
Membership dues are payable each fiscal school year beginning August 1st, or upon completed Application for Membership.
Dues will not be pro-rated if paid after August 1st, unless approved on an individual basis by the president and vice-president.
The Annual dues amount for the following school year (beginning August 1st) is to be voted on at the May meeting.
Dues are non-refundable. Moneys in the account at the close of the fiscal year in excess of $100.00 (excluding designated funds) will be disbursed by a vote of members to a Christian organization, to further the kingdom of God.