GENESIS HOME EDUCATORS MEMBERSHIP MANUAL
2008 - 2009
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Genesis Home Educators exists as a ministry for the purpose of providing information, encouragement, support, and service to Christian home educators including, but not limited to, the following:
Providing encouragement to Christian home schooling families.
Providing information regarding the legal climate of home education in Georgia and in our nation.
Working to protect the future freedoms of home education in Georgia and in our nation.
Reviewing and disseminating home education materials and information considered vital to Christian home educators.
Conducting activities, field trips, and homeschool 101 to provide information and help to Christian home educators and their children.
To provide an outlet for those homeschoolers seeking to communicate & build support networks with other families.
BASIC MEMBERSHIP INFO:
1) Membership in Genesis Home Educators is open to Christian families who are currently Homeschooling at least one child (In some cases proof may be required). Membership includes subscribing to our E-mail loop and E-mail Newsletter or Paper Newsletter and submitting to group policies.
2) Because membership is number limited we encourage families to join only if they intend to be active. Being active means attending NO LESS than one Genesis function every three months. Exceptions will be made for members who have a family situation arise. We do ask that you contact a Group Leader to advise them of your possible absence.
3) Before membership, however, comes the application process, because:
a) We want to know each of you personally, so we can feel confident that you understand the nature of the group.
b) The Group Leaders need a means of communicating directly with any member in an emergency.
c) Each member must sign a liability waiver concerning group events.
d) Each member must remember to maintain confidentiality of every other member.
e) We want to make sure each member has signed and filled out applications themselves.
4) Because we are keeping costs to the absolute minimum, there will be little or no paperwork issued. Requests for contact or application can be issued through E-Mail. Interested parties with no access to E-mail will be required to send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope to receive an application. These are also required to subscribe to the paper newsletter to be able to keep abreast of all Genesis info.
5) The Group Leaders will not issue any personal information without first contacting the member unless a prior agreement has been discussed. We ask that all members treat in confidence any personal information obtained at any events or through any other means. Please do not EVER give out such information without the consent the person(s) involved. If it is someone within the group, urge them to contact Group Leaders to make their inquiries.
6) Refusal to sign Waiver of Liability will result in denial of membership.
7) We reserve the right to deny membership for any family with a child that was expelled from school for violence.
8) Because Genesis is number limited, members who have not been active in Genesis events for the last 6 months are ineligible for membership the following year. This will allow others who would like to be active to become a members and participate in events.
9) Any family using a public-school-at-home option (Virtual Charter School/Ga Virtual Academy) will not be allowed to join Genesis Home Educators. By law Virtual Charter Schools are considered public school NOT home study programs (homeschool). There are important distinctions between "public-school-at-home" and homeschooling. Virtual (or Cyber) Charter Schools are government public school programs. The words "virtual" or "cyber" mean that the kids are at home, connected to the school via technology. The word "charter" means the government pays for the schooling and oversees the charter school, which determines the content and requirements of the schooling and certifies students' attendance to the state for purposes of compulsory attendance requirements. Home Study Programs (homeschooling) are non-public, non-government programs. Parents pay for the schooling, determine its content and requirements, and are free to make use of any outside resources they choose to. Parents also certify students' attendance to the state by submitting the required forms (such as a Declaration of Intent to Homeschool), but otherwise the government is uninvolved.
10) We believe that marriage was created by God to be one male and one female. We believe in the roles of men & women, fathers & mothers as outlined in the Scriptures. These roles are still relevant today and are to be practiced. For this reason, no homosexual or merely co-habitating "parents" are eligible for membership.
E-MAIL POLICY:
Members are not allowed to e-mail the entire group.
1) To provide announcement/correction/update info (such as the corrections to events of interest to the homeschool group).
2) To provide a means to announce prayer requests/praises.
3) To provide a quick and easy way for homeschooler information and to help one another with classified ads for both homeschooling and personal items.
4) Genesis will not be used as a platform for political or denominational messages.
5) At times event leaders may be given permission by group leaders to e-mail the group with event information.
FIELD TRIP GUIDELINES
1) To prevent hassles and embarrassments we have set up some rules for all Genesis events. Please let the person in charge of the planned event know in advance if you plan on attending or not.
2) Should an event be canceled or other problems ensue, you will be contacted via e-mail. Checking your e-mail the night before or the morning of is a great idea. For members who do not have e-mail, they will be responsible for checking the morning of to make sure the event is not canceled.
3) Some of our events are prepaid and RSVP. Failure to not prepay or RSVP at SOME events may result in not being able to attend.
4) Arrive on time, we will not wait for latecomers, plan on being at an event at least 10 minutes early.
5) Genesis and/or Group Leaders/Coordinators will not be held responsible for accidents, losses, injures of any nature, or discipline actions of host of event.
6) Normally tag-along's are not allowed. Due to the Liability Waiver.
BEHAVIOR POLICY:
1) Please arrive 10 minutes ahead of the tour's scheduled starting time. If you are late, you may be left behind.
2) Dress neatly and appropriately.
3) Follow all rules and instructions given by the tour director and person in charge.
4) Every child must be accompanied by an adult who is designated to be responsible for him or her. Students are to stay with their adult. Parents, keep track of where your children are.
5) Never litter.
6) No running or rough play.
7) No loud talking or distracting whispers during the tour. We have come to listen and learn. Save your pertinent questions for group discussion. Avoid rude comments.
8) If you must leave briefly to attend to one of your children, arrange with another Mom to watch your other children during your hopefully brief absence.
9) Thank the tour guide when finished, and ask the children to send thank you notes.
Remember, we are Christ's ambassadors -- leave a good impression of us as homeschoolers.
GENESIS MEMBERSHIP MANUAL
1) The Group Leaders evaluate the Membership Handbook annually, appealing to the Lord for his direction and wisdom. The general framework may change and policies may be added or improved as time needs or warrants. Members are always encouraged to give input.
GENESIS LEADER/COORDINATOR INFO
1) We do not hold elections. Positions are appointed.
2) Should a Coordinator position become available, Group Leaders will meet to discuss a replacement.
3) Should a Group Leader position become available, current Group Leaders and remaining Coordinators will meet to discuss a replacement.
4) If an agreement cannot be reached on a Group Leader or Coordinator position, a vote should take place. A 75% majority will decide. (Group Leaders have final say on Coordinators)
MEMBERSHIP DUES
1) Dues are currently $15.00 a year from June to June. (The amount of dues are determined by group Leaders and is subject to change at their discretion) Dues. The $15.00 annual dues cover, but are not limited to, website costs, paper products, party supplies, events supplies, and etc.
2)This $15.00 will cover one family at one address.
NEWSLETTER FEES
1) The Genesis paper (by mail) newsletter is $13.00 a year (June to June).
2) The Genesis e-mail newsletter is at no extra cost.
3) Members without e-mail addresses must subscribe to the paper newsletter.
