I. Mission Statement

Sacred Heart Home Educators (hereafter referred to as "SHHE") is an association of Catholic homeschooling families who have agreed to become an educational and social community for the support of one another, while maintaining each families' autonomy in the process of educating their children.

We pledge loyalty to the Pope, the teaching of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, and to our diocesan Bishop. We are an independent group of lay Catholics and have no formal relationship with the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix. We seek to maintain cordial and respectful relations with the Bishop and the Diocese of Phoenix. Our association has been consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

II Membership

 A. Regular Members

Regular members who have full voting rights are:

1. Parents or guardians who are home schooling at least one of their children
2. Active,practicing Catholics who are in full communion with the Catholic Church and who have signed (virtually) the Membership Agreement to follow the regulations of SHHE
3. Agree to follow the Email Guidelines
4. Regular members shall be eligible to be members of the Executive Relations Committee (hereafter referred to as ERC)
5. Each family has one vote

B. Associate Members

Associate members are those who for one reason or another cannot fulfill the qualifications for regular members. They are not voting members. They may not be members of the ERC, but may serve on other committees. They shall have voice but not vote at any meetings.

 III Governance

A. Annual Meeting

Each year an annual meeting of members and guests shall be held in May at a date to be determined by the ERC. The purpose of this meeting shall be to elect the members of the ERC and to consider such other matters as proposed by the ERC and any members of SHHE. Meetings shall be run according to Roberts Rules of Order. At least two weeks notice must be given as to time, date, and place of the meeting

B. Special Meetings

Special meetings may be called by ERC or by at least ten regular members of SHHE. At least two weeks notice must be given as to the time, date, and place of the meeting.

C. Executive Relations Committee (ERC)

1. The ordinary governance of SHHE shall be the ERC. The ERC shall consist of the following members:
   A. The President shall:
   

   (a) serve as chairman of the SHHE group and shall, subject to the control of the Board, provide general supervision and direction.
   (b) serve as the primary representative of SHHE
   (c) be the co-signer on the SHHE bank account
   (d) perform such duties as from time to time may be assigned to him/her by ERC or by-laws
   

   B. The Vice President shall:
   

   (a) perform all the duties of the President in the absence or disability of the President
   (b) be the liaison for the home school events coordinators in SHHE
   

   C. The Secretary shall:
   

   (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the ERC in one or more books provided for that purpose
   (b) distribute the minutes to all families registered in SHHE within 8-10 work days of the meeting
   (c) be the liaison for all communications in SHHE
   

   D. The Treasurer shall:
   

   (a) have charge and custody of & be responsible for all funds of the group, and deposit all such funds in the name of SHHE in the group bank account
   (b) receive & give receipt for all monies due and payable to the SHHE group from any and all sources
   (c) disburse, or cause to be disbursed, the funds of the group as may be directed by ERC, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements
   (d) keep & maintain adequate & correct accounts of the group's assets and be able to provide up to date records upon request
   (e) submit a yearly budget based on the previous year's records and accounts for approval by ERC
   (f) writes and disperses checks within the budget, and anything over the budget must get approval by ERC, and also can write discretionary checks as approved by ERC
   (g) be a SHHE member for at least the past two years
   

   E. The Past President shall:
   

   (a) serve the current ERC board as advisor and council in matters concerning his/her experience as past president of SHHE
   (b) perform all duties of President and Vice President, in the absence or disability of these two offices
   (c) be the liaison for the Membership Committee (point of contact for new families in SHHE)
   

   F. The Chapter Heads shall:
   

   (a) serve as the liaison to anyone newly registered in SHHE and will inform these members of activities happening in their region
   (b) write up a short introduction of new families registered in SHHE and introduce them to the rest of the group
   (c) communicate to the ERC board their region's activities (field trips, events, classes, etc.)
   

   G. The Spiritual Director shall:
   

   (a) be appointed by the ERC
   (b) be a priest who is in good standing with the Catholic Church

2. The term of office for members of the ERC shall be one year running from August 1st to the following July 31st.
3. In the event of a vacancy prior to term, in the office of President, the Vice President shall assume the office of President. All other vacancies shall be fulfilled by a majority vote of the ERC.
4. Members of the ERC may be removed from office for just cause. Removal shall be by a 2/3 vote of the membership at a special meeting held for this purpose. The proposal for removal of a member of the ERC may be either by a 2/3 vote of the ERC or petition of 20% of the regular members. At least two weeks notice must be given before a special meeting is held for this purpose and the notice must state the date, place, and time of the meeting.
5. Meetings of the ERC shall:
   

   (a) be held at least once a year
   (b) be open to the full membership
   (c) be conducted by the consensus model but in cases of dispute Robert's Rules of Order shall be used
   

IV. Ratification and Amendments

A. These Statutes shall be deemed ratified when approved by the majority vote of the regular members at a general meeting. This meeting must be called with at least two weeks notice and the notice shall state the date, place, and time of the meeting.

B. Amendments to these statutes may be proposed by the ERC or 20% of the regular members. A majority vote of the membership at either the annual meeting or a special meeting called for this purpose shall be necessary to amend these statutes. The amendment shall take place immediately.