The Purpose of HUGS

           

                1.  To represent the homeschool community in a manner that honors Jesus Christ.

                2.  To provide educational field trips, group activities and family socials for our children.

                3.  To provide an atmosphere for exchange of teaching techniques and curriculum information.

    4.  To keep the group informed of any pertinent homeschool current events such as seminars, conferences and legal issues.

                5.  To promote public awareness of home education.

               

HUGS Leadership Statement of Faith

 

1.  I believe the Bible to be the infallible word of God, the supreme and final authority for all faith and life.

            2.  I believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

            3.  I believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed       blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, and His imminent bodily return in power and glory.

4.  I believe man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and therefore is lost, and only those who put their faith in Jesus Christ alone can be saved.

5.  I believe that salvation is a gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose substitutionary death on the cross paid the penalty for man�s sin.

6.  I believe Christ has already done everything necessary by His death and resurrection to remove our sins and make us holy from God�s point of views.

7.  I believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict men, indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service.

 

 

An Overview of HUGS Framework and Policies

The Board of Directors evaluates the framework and policies annually, appealing to the Lord for His direction and wisdom.  The general framework may change and policies may be added or improved as needs in the group warrant.  Members are encouraged to give input as desired at any time by contacting any member of the board.

 

I.  Membership Requirements:

            A.  Must currently be homeschooling.

B.  Must have at least one child that falls into our age-oriented sub-groups (Little Learners 4-6 years old; Elementary Explorers 7-10 years old; Middle Schoolers 11-13 years old; High Schoolers 14-18).

C.  Each family must commit to planning one field trip/event each membership year. Failure to fulfill commitment will result in family not being able to participate the following year.  (Please see HUGS Member Requirements and Guidelines for Planning a Field Trip or Event.)

D.  Payment of non-refundable annual fee to receive newsletter -- $20.00 by September 15^th or $30.00 after September 15^th. All members will receive a monthly newsletter in order to stay informed of all activities.    

E.  The HUGS School Year runs from August 1 to July 31.

F.  Membership applications will not be accepted after February 28^th unless the family is transferring from another geographic area.

G.  We must remember that we are representatives of the homeschooling community, as well as of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we must behave accordingly.  Parents are expected to maintain control of their children at all times.  Politeness, respect and attentiveness are expected at all times.  Consistent violation of this requirement may result in members being asked not to attend function(s).

H.  By submitting a signed membership form to HUGS, members agree to abide by all By-Laws, Guidelines and Policies & Procedures.

             I.  Must sign and submit Liability Form each year of membership to release HUGS from any medical or personal liability.

 

By-Laws for HUGS

Page Two

 II.  Leadership:

A.  Board of Directors consists of Directors of Sub-groups, Field Trip Coordinator, Public Relations Director (this position consists of Newsletter Editor, Email Loop Coordinator, Web Site Coordinator to be sub-divided as necessary among more than one person), Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Director, and up to three members at large.  A Chairperson and Vice Chairperson will be selected annually by the Board of Directors from among the Board of Directors.

                                1.   Requirements: a)  Has homeschooled at least one year.

                                                b)  Has been an active member of HUGS at least one year.

                                                c)  Has signed the statement of faith.

                                                d)  Must strive to maintain quality of leadership, the vision of the group, and harmony among the leaders and members.

                                Note: Spouses are welcome and encouraged to attend Board meetings.

                                2.  Duties

                                a)  Oversee the carrying out of the purpose statement

                                b)  Oversee functioning of group

c)  Must meet at least four times per calendar year to set up annual calendar ,review framework & policies.

d)  All decisions must be made by consensus of the leadership team, with input sought from membership.

                                e)  Each leader has specific service responsibilities that may vary each year

                                f)  Appoint new leaders to fill open Board positions as needed.

                                               

III.  How the Group Functions:

                A.  Finances:

1.  The annual fee covers the cost of printing and mailing newsletters and other miscellaneous administrative costs.  Any additional costs incurred by any specific event will be immediately passed on to the members that are participating in said event.

2.  Amount of dues/fees and the coverage is set by the Board of Directors and can be changed as necessary.

 

                B.  Benefits:

1.  Available to members who have paid their membership fee and provide at least one field trip during the year per family.

2.  Monthly newsletter, email loop, membership directory, participation in field trips and all other activities, programs and events the members provide.

 

                C.  Service Opportunities:

                                1.  Members are encouraged to use their skills and talents to aid, encourage and inspire others.

                                                a.  Spreading the burden helps prevent a few from carrying the entire load.

                                                b.  �If members don�t do it, it doesn�t get done.�

2.  Members may plan more than one field trip each year.  They may also volunteer to assist the Board of Directors as needed.

               

                D.  Meetings/Activities:

                                1.  Park Days

                                2.  Mom�s Night Out (either at restaurant or member�s home)

                                3.  Field Trips at least once per month per age-oriented sub-group.

4.  Extra-Curricular Activities such as dance classes, soccer program, karate classes, skating and swimming days.  These are coordinated either at special times or special discounts and may not necessarily be exclusively for our group.

5.  At the beginning of each HUGS School Year, there will be an organizational planning meeting for the Membership with each age-oriented sub-group represented where information on any policy changes will be reviewed. There will also be an opportunity for membership to sign up for a month in which they would like to plan their required field trip

 

E.  Field Trips and Events (for HUGS Members ONLY)

                1.  Field trips are initiated and planned by members.  Each family is required to plan at least one field trip or     plan/assist with an event each school year. (Please see Guidelines for Planning Field Trips and Events in HUGS                Member Requirements)

 2.  After confirming the date and negotiating the price (if any) of the field trip, it must be approved by the appropriate Director of sub-group.

                                3.  Details must be provided to newsletter editor no later than the 15^th of the month preceding the field trip in order

                                to get information out to all members.

By-Laws for HUGS

Page Three

 

4.  All Field Trip Guidelines will be enforced. 

5.  The signed liability form is required as a reminder that parents are responsible for the safety of their children.

 

                F.  Newsletter:

                                1.  The editor publishes a newsletter every month of HUGS School Year except for the summer.

2.  All submissions and information must be received by the newsletter editor no later than the 15^th of the month preceding the newsletter month in order to ensure inclusion.

                                3.  Assistants may help with the layout and the mailings.

               

                G.  Email Loop

                                1.  Email Loop Coordinator will have email loop for entire HUGS membership.  All general emails for entire group are to be submitted to Email Loop Coordinator for broadcast.

                 H. Public Relations 

1.  Public Relations Director will supervise the maintenance of a website for HUGS

2.  Public service announcements, news releases and contact of newspaper editors regarding special events and information will be done by Public Relations Director at the discretion of the Board of Directors. 

                I.  Legal Information

Efforts will be made to have information available to members regarding legal aspects of homeschooling (i.e. SCHEA, HSLDA, etc).

 

IV.  Prerequisites and Responsibilities of Leadership

A.  Chairperson of the Board

                                1.  Will be selected from among the Board of Directors by the Directors.

                                2.  Will commit to serve in this capacity for at least one year.

                                3.  Will call and facilitate Board Meetings with the approval of the Board of Directors.

                                4.  Will represent HUGS as liaison to other organizations as needed.

               

                B.  Vice Chairperson of the Board

1.        Will fulfill the responsibilities of the Chairperson in his/her stead if Chairperson is unable to fulfill such responsibilities.

2.        Assist Chairperson as needed.

               

                C.  Little Learners Director

                                1.  Must have at least one child in this sub-group.

                                2.  Responsible for gathering field trip information from sub-group members and assisting Field Trip Coordinator in coordinating calendar for all activities including field trips and special events for Little Learners.

                                3.  Will personally contact each new member to review guidelines and procedures for planning field trips and to welcome them to the sub-group.           

4.  Will assign each new member a mentor from an existing group of volunteers when possible.

5.   Member of Board of Directors.

               

                D.  Elementary Explorers Director

1.  Must have at least one child in this sub-group.

                                2.  Responsible for gathering field trip information from sub-group members and assisting Field Trip Coordinator in coordinating calendar for all activities including field trips and special events for Elementary Explorers.

                                3.  Will personally contact each new member to review guidelines and procedures for planning field trips and to  welcome them to the sub-group. 

                                4.  Will assign each new member a mentor from an existing group of volunteers when possible.