Organizational By-laws ReACHE Reservoir Area Christian Home Educators Brandon, MS July 2001 Revised March 2011 Revised August 2012 Revised February 2014
Name The name of this organization will be Reservoir Area Christian Home Educators (ReACHE) Mission Statement Reservoir Area Christian Home Educators (ReACHE) exists to glorify God by providing information, inspiration, fellowship, support and encouragement to Christian home educating families. (Deuteronomy 6:1-25, Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 6:4) Statement of Faith We believe: The Bible to be the divinely inspired, infallible Word of God and the supreme standard for all faith and life. There is one and only one living and true God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men. Man is inherently in need of salvation, having been created in the image of God but falling into sin. Christ is the eternal Son of God; he was born of a virgin; he led a sinless life, performing both the will of God and miracles. His substitutionary death on the cross provides for the redemption of men from sin. He literally rose from the dead with a glorified body, appeared to His disciples and was ascended into heaven where he is seated at the right hand of God. He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will personally and bodily return in power and glory. The Holy Spirit is fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures and enables all men to understand truth. He convicts men of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He calls men to the Savior and effects regeneration. He indwells, guides, instructs, and empowers the believer until the day of redemption. Salvation is the free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and not as a result of good works. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Our Lord Jesus Christ alone. Statement on Qualifications of Information Advice given in meetings or in publications is not, nor should be deemed as legal advice, and should not take the place of legal counsel from a qualified attorney. Nor should any
advice given during meetings or gathered from publications, be deemed as guaranteed. Statement on Education We believe that parents have a constitutional right and a God-ordained responsibility for the best education of their children. (Deuteronomy 4:9, 6:1-25, and 4:1-4; Proverbs 2:1-8, 3:1-2, 6:20-23; Matthew 28:18-20) Statement on Families We believe that the family is created and ordained by God. (Genesis 1:26-28 & 31, 2:18 &24) We are compassionate toward and welcome those families who are headed by a single parent. We do not recognize any union formed outside the confines of marriage as designed by God and indicated in Scripture. (Romans 1:18-32, Proverbs 1:8-9, 2:1-11: Colossians 3:21, Ephesians 6:4; Psalms 128:3, 127:3-5) Children are gifts from God and parents are accountable to Him for directing the needs of their children--mentally, emotionally, spiritually, socially, and physically. As a Christian Home School Association, ReACHE holds to the Biblically sanctioned view of marriage as a covenant relationship between one man and one woman. We believe that God's original intent for marriage still stands today, and will, therefore, not accept applications from homosexual partners. Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18-24; 19:4-9; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 1 Tim. 1:9-11 Behavior and Responsibility Statement Behavior and discipline of children is totally the responsibility of the parents during all ReACHE activities, functions, and meetings of ReACHE. All children attending functions and activities sponsored by ReACHE must have a signed insurance consent form on file with the ReACHE finance director. Each parent must also have a signed insurance consent form on file with the ReACHE finance director. Children must also have a medical consent form filed with ReACHE. It is the parent s responsibility to obtain and complete the above forms. This ensures maximum enjoyment for each family while protecting our children both legally and medically. Members who plan, organize and carry out the activities associated with ReACHE must strive to be God honoring with respect to behavior and dress. (1 Cor. 14:40) Co-Op leaders are ultimately responsible for reporting complaints of behavior to parents if left with a co-op leader. Illness Policy All children and adults participating in any ReACHE activity, function, or meeting must be fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicine or until he or she has not vomited in 24 hours on a regular diet.
Membership Guidelines All persons who desire membership in ReACHE must: 1. Agree with the ReACHE By-laws and Statement of Faith. 2. Submit to a background check. 3. Be interviewed by the Board members and both parents must share their salvation experience. 4. Sign the release of liability form, for the protection of all members. 5. Submit both a pastor s recommendation form and a ReACHE member s recommendation form signed and mailed to the Membership director by the membership deadline. 6. Pay the annual dues, as set by the Board, by August 31st. In the event that dues pose a financial hardship, the dues may be sponsored. (Acts 4:32-35) 7. Demonstrate supportive interest in ReACHE by participating in at least one area of service. Failure to complete at least one service activity will result in a year of parked membership. Such families will be suspended from participation in ReACHE activities, including co-ops for the following year. (2 Thess. 3:6-15) 8. Comply with the Mississippi Compulsory Attendance Law. 9. Never use the membership directory for business purposes and never give it to other persons or organizations. 10. Agree with the Illness Policy and the Behavior and Responsibility Statement for ReACHE members. Parents must inform their children of any and all behavior guidelines. Children need to practice good manners, demonstrate behavior which honors God and the home education community and honor those in authority over them. 11. Handle conflict resolution according to God s Word. Please refer to the following verses when resolving your conflicts. (Pro. 25:8-9, Phil. 2: 4-5, Romans 12:10, Eph. 4:3, Prov. 20:3, and Matthew 18: 15-17) 12. Understand that membership in ReACHE may be terminated by a majority vote of the Board for violations of by-laws, child protection policy, rules, regulations or for conduct unbecoming a member or for other causes as determined by a hearing held by the Board, to which the member in question will be provided a reasonable opportunity to attend and to speak. Ministerial mediation will be offered for this hearing. Reasonable Opportunity is defined as including no less than one day to no more than 30 days prior notice of the meeting. 13. Understand that the Board must approve the completed application and interview (including the father s signature, unless in a single parent family). Notification of acceptance status will be via email or phone call. Please note that it is the responsibility of each member family to work out the education of their own children. ReACHE adheres to the same standard as the Home School Legal Defense Association, which requires that parents teach at least 51% of the curriculum in order to qualify for membership and/or representation. Board Members The Board is made up of ReACHE members who have received Jesus Christ as Savior.
They serve in a position of responsibility and service and meet as a team to oversee the administration and responsibilities of the organization. Board members will consist of a husband and wife. Board members will take office at the August meeting and will consist of a selection of individuals, all of whom have been home schooling for at least two years and members of ReACHE for no less than one year. The Board will meet quarterly or as needed. In the event that a board member resigns, that board member will be asked for recommendations for replacement. The Board will prayerfully consider all member recommendations and select a replacement board member on the basis of the nominee s qualifications and recommendations. Board members will serve for a minimum of two years. Approaching the end of their last year of service, a Board member will mentor their replacement. If at all possible, the Board will represent at least 10% of the ReACHE membership. Activities Director: Plans and oversees enrichment activities and educational opportunities designed to equip and support all ReACHE students and their families; oversees various activities for which members sign up to direct in fulfillment of their membership requirements; works closely with Membership Director and Communications Director in activity planning, announcements, service activity completion, and membership fulfillment; serves as contact for bi-annual meeting agenda; compiles agenda and makes copies for the bi-annual meeting; contacts representatives that desire to display information or be available for consultation at the Resource Table for bi-annual meetings. Communications Director: Maintains group communications through websites and email; is available for group and co-op leaders to make sure that information, announcements, syllabi, supply lists, and updated rosters are posted to websites in a timely manner; posts dates for board meetings and bi-annual meetings on website; communicates regularly with Membership Director and Activities Director concerning removal of expired member s access and parked members who have failed to renew or fulfill membership requirements including service activities. Co-Op Planning Team: Plans and carries out all co-op planning meetings, sign-up opportunities, and co-op updates at member meetings; answers new member questions about all co-ops or directs new members to co-op leaders for further communication; is available for questions or conflict resolution for co-op leaders when needed; serves as contact for the board meetings; compiles agenda and makes copies for the board meetings; reserves and sets up facility, including sound system for bi-annual meeting. Finance Director: Maintains and updates group financial records, budget, and expenditures and posts necessary budget files on the website; collects dues and maintains deposits and bank records; holds a key to the P.O. Box and checks it on a regular basis; coordinates and approves disbursement and deposit of annual dues; distributes budgeted funds to co-op teachers; and makes financial records available to board at quarterly meetings and to members at member meetings; purchases gifts for board members rotating off or other special occasions as needed; takes minutes at board meetings and sends to board members in a timely fashion. Membership Director: Receives, processes, files, and stores all membership applications, recommendation letters, and other membership records; conducts new member interviews; updates membership directory; fields questions, emails, and calls from potential new
members throughout the year and at bi-annual meetings; holds a key to the P.O. Box and checks it on a regular basis, specifically during registration periods (January, May and June); edits and maintains updated copies of membership guidelines, including the ReACHE by-laws and handbook, as requested by the board; communicates regularly with Communications Director/webmaster concerning new approvals for website access and removal of expired member s access; works closely with Activities Director to be sure that members fulfill their service activity commitments; communicates with families in jeopardy of being parked for failure to complete their service activity; provides sign-in sheet and name tags for bi-annual meeting; contacts the county attendance officer about coming to the fall bi-annual meeting. These by-laws may be changed by a majority vote of active board members at any point in time.