National Beta Club
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The National Beta Club is an honor society that is similar to the National Honor Society in its characteristics for admission and expectations of members. It was founded in 1934 and currently is headquartered in South Carolina, USA. Its motto is "Let us lead by serving others." The National Junior Beta Club is for grades 5-9.
Mission Statement
The purpose of the National Beta Club shall be to promote the ideals of character, service and leadership among elementary and secondary school students, to reward meritorious achievement and to encourage and assist students in continuing their education after high school.
Vision Statement
The National Beta Club, a student-centered organization, continually develops and nurtures individuals by providing opportunities and experiences enabling them to demonstrate the ideals of character, achievement, service and leadership in a global community.
The Beta Creed
As a member of the Beta Club and as a citizen of my community, state, and nation I believe in and shall strive to promote the principles of:
Honesty:
knowing that honesty is necessary to the formation of good character, and that the principles of honesty dictate that I not only refrain from acts of dishonesty; but that I perform my duties fully and take advantage of the opportunities afforded me by my circumstances;
Justice:
believing that it is only right and proper that I should be just and fair in my dealings with my fellowman; that I should condemn no one without giving him a chance to defend himself; and that I should consider all factors before forming an opinion of another's motives, or before passing judgment upon his actions;
Service:
being convinced that the rendering of helpful service to my fellowman is a duty and privilege conferred upon me by my forbears and by my environment, and that I can attain lasting satisfaction only by rendering such service to the best of my ability;
Cooperation:
knowing that I must work closely and in a friendly manner with others in this day of highly organized social and economic endeavor; and that I must respect authority and strive at all times to be dependable-if I am to be of greatest helpfulness to society;
Responsibility:
believing that full happiness is possible only through full acceptance of responsibility for my actions and for preserving and passing my rich inheritance on to coming generations;
Industriousness:
being aware of the of the fact that-if I am to be a factor for progress in my community and a real help to my associates-my mind must be alert to understand and my hands ready to perform promptly and fully the tasks that come my way;
Humility:
being convinced that humbleness of spirit is the only proper attitude for me to maintain in my relation with my associates, and that such spirit and attitude will make for my own peace of mind and for the well-being of those with whom I come in contact;
Charity:
knowing that if I am- tolerant in my appraisal of the ideas of others; generous in the use of my worldly assets; considerate of the rights of others; courteous in my actions toward all alike; gentle in my efforts to correct errors in others; kind in the exercise of my duties- I shall then be better able to contribute to the happiness of myself and others.
The Beta Club Emblem - Interpretation
The cardinal virtues of life are represented by the Beta Club emblem. Wearing the emblem signifies that the wearer is striving to live up to the standards of the organization by promoting those virtues.
The letter "B" on an ebony background surrounded by a border of gold is the most prominent feature of the emblem. This letter is the initial character of the Greek word Bios, which means "life".
Life is a prerequisite to growth and progress. The Beta Club stands for the full life —one governed by the highest principles. Adherence to and promotion of these qualities are subscribed to by all members as they take the pledge when coming into membership, for only those qualities which make for a full, honorable and useful life are in harmony with the organizations ideals.
Above the letter "B" on the emblem there appear three stars, which represent the spiritual side of human life in the specific traits of altruism, honesty, and courage. Their presence at the top of the emblem is a reminder that spiritual well-being has an important place in the ideals which are embodied in the organization.
Loyalty to country and the principles upon which it was founded are signified by an eagle with outspread wings which stands below the letter "B". All members of the Beta Club pledge themselves to "a sense of responsibility to our . . . nation". The fact is recognized that such an organization as the Beta Club can exist only when one of its objectives—without embracing a narrow nationalism —is the promotion of our nation's welfare. The presence of the eagle on the emblem attests the fact that good citizenship is an indispensable part of all-round education, and that patriotism is one of the Beta Club's cardinal principles.
The background of ebony on which these symbols are displayed represents the dignity, restraint, and seriousness, which should attend our search for knowledge and truth.
Around the emblem there is a border of gold—the gold of friendship and brotherhood, without which life would lose much of its rich and full meaning. School days, if they are encircled with the golden bonds of friendship, can be made more pleasant and fruitful, for in the presence of a friend, "All things take nobler form and look beyond the earth".
Perfection is not a human trait, but all human beings can strive for it. The wearer of the Beta Club emblem accepts the challenge of the world to contribute to the progress of mankind towards perfection by striving to live up to the ideals which are represented by the Beta Club emblem.
The cardinal virtues of life are represented by the Beta Club emblem. Wearing the emblem signifies that the wearer is striving to live up to the standards of the organization by promoting those virtues.
The letter "B" on an ebony background surrounded by a border of gold is the most prominent feature of the emblem. This letter is the initial character of the Greek word Bios, which means "life".
Life is a prerequisite to growth and progress. The Beta Club stands for the full life —one governed by the highest principles. Adherence to and promotion of these qualities are subscribed to by all members as they take the pledge when coming into membership, for only those qualities which make for a full, honorable and useful life are in harmony with the organizations ideals.
Above the letter "B" on the emblem there appear three stars, which represent the spiritual side of human life in the specific traits of altruism, honesty, and courage. Their presence at the top of the emblem is a reminder that spiritual well-being has an important place in the ideals which are embodied in the organization.
Loyalty to country and the principles upon which it was founded are signified by an eagle with outspread wings which stands below the letter "B". All members of the Beta Club pledge themselves to "a sense of responsibility to our . . . nation". The fact is recognized that such an organization as the Beta Club can exist only when one of its objectives—without embracing a narrow nationalism —is the promotion of our nation's welfare. The presence of the eagle on the emblem attests the fact that good citizenship is an indispensable part of all-round education, and that patriotism is one of the Beta Club's cardinal principles.
The background of ebony on which these symbols are displayed represents the dignity, restraint, and seriousness, which should attend our search for knowledge and truth.
Around the emblem there is a border of gold—the gold of friendship and brotherhood, without which life would lose much of its rich and full meaning. School days, if they are encircled with the golden bonds of friendship, can be made more pleasant and fruitful, for in the presence of a friend, "All things take nobler form and look beyond the earth".
Perfection is not a human trait, but all human beings can strive for it. The wearer of the Beta Club emblem accepts the challenge of the world to contribute to the progress of mankind towards perfection by striving to live up to the ideals which are represented by the Beta Club emblem.
History of the National Beta Club
The National Beta Club began with 15 members in Landrum, South Carolina. There are now more than 416,000 active members in Junior and Senior divisions and more than 7,700 clubs in 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Guam, Russia and Germany. Behind these facts are many people - and one person especially, the founder, Dr. John West Harris - who gave life and continuity to Beta. Character, Leadership, Achievement, Scholarship, Service...these became key words associated with the National Beta Club. "Let us lead by serving others" became the motto. Formation of the club at Landrum was followed by the chartering of 8 others in South Carolina before the end of 1934. At the end of the following year, there were 75 Beta Clubs in 4 states. Endorsements continued to flow in as the Beta Club expanded. The first Beta Journal was printed in September 1934. Immediate acceptance of the Beta Club was little short of phenomenal. As expansion progressed geographically, state (and sometimes regional) conventions were held. These meetings added another dimension to operations. To bring regulation closer to home, the heads of schools where Beta chapters existed were formed into State Assemblies. They made recommendations to the State Council, which in turn named one of its members to the Board of Directors. State sponsors were also elected. When WWII came in 1941, local Beta Clubs began to make a vital contribution to victory. There were countless patriotic activities. At least one fighter aircraft flew into battle with the name of Beta Club on its fuselage. There was little lessening of growth during this crucial period. From this point onward, the history of Beta Club is mainly one of continued growth. The Beta Reporter, a publication for sponsors, was started in 1950. The Beta Club began compliation of a College Facts Chart. The Junior Beta Club was initiated in 1961. A new headquarters building was completed and occupied in 1974. In one sense, this was the climax of a career for Dr. Harris. He died in 1976 after a brief illness. During an interim, Mr. Julian Stanford directed activities. In June 1977, the Board of Directors appointed Dr. George W. Lockamy as Chief Executive Officer. When Dr. Lockamy retired in June 2004, Joan Burnett served as interim director until the appointment of Charles Tillotson in February 2005. Today, the Beta Club exists because of the founder's vision. The Beta Club organization has flourished because it is based on sound principles, and for more than half a century it has had the support of sponsors and school administrators.
History of the National Junior Beta Club
The National Beta Club Senate authorized the institution of the Junior Division of the National Beta Club on July 22, 1961. This new organization was officially named the "National Junior Beta Club" and was established to function organizationally as a separate division of the National Beta Club Program. The membership of the National Junior Beta Club was originally composed of students from the sixth grade to ninth grade. In the summer of 1988, the Board of Directors approved the addition of the fifth grade. The National Beta Club Senate approved the organization of the Junior Beta division to provide an incentive program of scholastic and character excellence for students in their formative years. On August 17, 1961, the first Junior Beta Club chapter was chartered at Millsap Junior High School, Millsap, Texas. The objective of the National Junior Beta Club is to reward scholastic, leadership, and service achievements among the members of a school's student body. Some of our more famous former Betas include: President Bill Clinton, Miss America 2000 Heather French, Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller, Miss America 1996 Shawntel Smith, anchorwoman Diane Sawyer, football great Herschel Walker and country music star Trisha Yearwood. The Beta Journal represents a wide range of geographical locations and school sizes. The task of the editor of the Journal is to recognize the outstanding Beta chapters and individual members and, at the same time, fulfill as many requests for publication as possible. Beta Club sponsors are encouraged to submit club news, photographs, and student-written poems and stories for publication in the Journal. The Beta Club Reporter is a newsletter for Beta Sponsors. The Reporter contains information and many items of interest to sponsors and school administrators.
Board of Directors 2005-2006
Dr. Kathy Murphy Alabama (Principal)
Mr. Roy Kirkland Arkansas (Superintendent)
Mr. James Earl Edwards Florida
Dr. Vickie Perdue Scott Georgia (Deputy Superintendent)
Mr. Troy Hickey Illinois (Principal)
Mr. J. David Scott Indiana (Principal)
Mr. Bob O. Bright Kentucky
Mr. Wiley McClary Louisiana
Mr. Jerry Hobbs Missouri (Superintendent)
Mr. Stanton L. Long Mississippi
Mr. Herman A. Williams North Carolina
Mr. Patrick Dale Stout Ohio
Mr. Dennis Campbell Oklahoma (Superintendent)
Dr. H. Kenneth Dinkins South Carolina (Superintendent)
Mr. Dale R. Hughes Tennessee
Mr. Larry K. Hawkins Texas
Mr. Clarke C. Scott Virginia
Mr. Thomas Newsome West Virginia (Principal)
Source: http://www.betaclub.org/whoweare/
See also
- German National Honor Society
- French National Honor Society
- Spanish National Honor Society
- National Junior Honor Society
External links
- [National Beta Club]
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