To start your school's chapter of the Sociedad, follow these simple steps:

1)  Become a member of AATSP.  Since the AATSP is our sponsoring organization, the faculty advisor must be a member of AATSP by paying yearly dues of $65.00.  You will receive an AATSP number, which you will need to complete the rest of the process.  To become a member online or to download the membership form, visit:  www.aatsp.org

2)  Fill out the "New Charter Application Form".  This form can be found on the SHH's official site on the left-hand side of the homepage:  www.sociedadhonorariahispanica.org.  Once you have your AATSP number, you must complete the New Charter Application Form.  You will be asked to tell how you will determine membership (GPA, entry requirements, etc.).  You will also be asked to select up to eight possible chapter names.  You must provide eight to avoid repetition of chapter names.  No two chapter names can be the same in any one state.  For your chapter name, think about Hispanic people, places, celebrations, etc.  Please check out the "Current Chapters" page from the toolbar to read the list of the chapter names that already exist in California.   You will also need to send in a one-time payment of $35.00 with the application to establish your chapter.  Once the Charter Application has been approved, you will receive an "Official Chapter Certificate" and an advisor's binder full of useful information.

3)  Collect and submit names of eligible students.  Once you receive your "Official Chapter Certificate", you are now ready to collect and submit names of eligible students.  Students pay a one-time fee of $5.00 to become members of the SHH.  You must provide a list of all students being initiated on the "Membership Order Form" and send in your payment of $5.00 per student to the National Headquarters.  You need to send in this form at least one month prior to the date of your initiation ceremony to allow enough time for you to receive certificates.

4)  Print the certificates.  You will receive blank certificates from the Headquarters.  You can use the "Print the names on your certificates" button on the SHH homepage to print your certificates.

The New Charter Application Form and the Membership Order Form can both be found at:  www.sociedadhonorariahispanica.org.

The only requirement to remain "active" is to hold an annual initiation ceremony with at least one student each year.  This is all you need to do.  You can make your chapter as active in the school community and beyond as you want it to be. 

The chapter sponsor will receive a booklet in late December or early January.  In this yellow booklet, you will find all the information you need to apply for the Junior Travel Award and the Senior Award.  Application deadlines are generally around February 15.  Each chapter may only nominate and submit the application for one student for each of the awards.  For more information about the awards, visit:  www.sociedadhonorariahispanica.org

 The Spanish Honor Society is different from a Spanish Club.  While anyone can join the Spanish Club, the Spanish Honor Society recognizes student academic achievement in Spanish or Portuguese.  That said, membership is not open to all.

 You can involve your SHH students in community service activities.  They can collect clothing and food to send to an orphanage.  They can organize tutoring sessions to help other students.   The only requirement to stay "active", however, is to hold an annual initiation ceremony.  The SHH is only as busy as you want it to be.

In order to become members of the SHH, the National Headquarters establishes the minimum requirements as follows:  "Students must have maintained an honor average in the study of Spanish or Portuguese for a minimum of three semesters".  In other words, all students must be in the second semester of Spanish 2 or higher.  Membership is open, then, to students in grades 10, 11 and 12.  In addition, students should meet your own chapter's guidelines for membership as outlined on your Charter Application Form.

Yes.  The AATSP is the organization that sponsors the Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica.  Only the main faculty sponsor of the Sociedad must be a member of AATSP for you to have an "active" chapter and for your students to be eligible for the awards available through the SHH.

You can hold the initiation ceremony whenever it is most convenient for you.  However, at the beginning of January is a great time to hold the initiation.  In early January for most schools, first semester grades are available.  By holding a ceremony in early January, you will still have ample time for you to select a student for the Junior or Senior Award and submit the application before the February 15th deadline.

The Ceremonia de Iniciación is the only required activity to maintain "active" status.  It can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be.  The ceremony script is available for download in Spanish and English at www.sociedadhonorariahispanica.org.  You will also receive a copy of the script in the Advisor's Binder, which you receive after filling out the "Charter Application Form".

Here are some questions to help you decide what type of ceremony you would prefer to have.  Choose the style that fits your time commitment the best.

1)  Where do I want to hold the ceremony?

Possible locations:  in a classroom, in an auditorium, in the school cafeteria, in a Mexican or Spanish restaurant.

2)  Who do I want to invite to the ceremony?

Possible guests:  principal and other important administrators, parents of initiates, past members, other Spanish classes (so they can see what they can accomplish with hard work), the Spanish Club.

3)  When should I hold the ceremony?

Possible times:  during a lunch period, after school, in the evening or on the weekend (so parents can attend too).

4)  Do I want to serve food or light refreshments after the ceremony?

Possible food ideas:  have a Mexican or Spanish restaurant cater the food, organize a pot luck, have the school kitchen prepare a special lunch

5)  Which script do I use:  English or Spanish?

--If you are inviting parents, it might be good to use the English version of the script.  If the ceremony just involves students and other faculty members, the Spanish version is most appropriate.

The minimum requirements for a student to join as set forth in the Bylaws and Constitution of the SHH are at least three semesters of Spanish or Portuguese and currently enrolled in a Spanish or Portuguese class.  

You will determine the other requirements for student membership.  Here are some ideas to help you decide:

1)  Grades in Spanish classes.  Most chapters allow students to join the SHH if they have earned grades of B+ or above in all of their Spanish classes.  You could also set the grade at A- or above in all classes to become a member.

2)  Honors / AP students.  If your school has an honors or AP track, maybe you prefer that membership be open only to these students.

3)  Overall G.P.A.  You may want to ask that all students becoming members have a certain G.P.A. to join:  ie. overall G.P.A. of 3.0.

4)  Grade level.  You may determine membership by grade level:  ie:  open to junior-level students and above.

You have the freedom to decide which of these factors you will use to determine eligibility for membership into your chapter's SHH.  Please keep in mind that this is an honor society and only those top students in your Spanish classes should be recognized by membership.