Christian Home-Educators of the Bluegrass
"Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge." -Proverbs 23:12

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about CHB:

Q. On your membership form, you ask for the name of the church we attend. What is the purpose of this question for a home school support group? Or, what is CHB's denominational affiliation?

A. The first reason we ask this question is that we want potential members to realize that we are serious about being a Christian home school group. It allows us all to have a common ground (love of God, understanding of the faith, etc.) from which to labor together to provide one another home-educating support. Secondly, we list the church you attend in our directory. This allows members to connect more easily with other home-educators in their own church. Sometimes members are surprised to discover who else in their church are home-educating! While CHB as an organization does not have a denominational affiliation, we are bound together by the common thread of home schooling our Christian families.

Q. Are you a legal support group?

A. Home-educating support groups have no special laws that apply to them. The founders of CHB did choose to have the group legally incorporated. This may be what you mean. Incorporation is simply the form of organization we decided was best for CHB, allowing the group to act as an entity. We also chose incorporation so that we could apply for tax-exempt status if we decide to do so later on. Other than that, there is nothing special about incorporated status.

Q. I think "John Lastname" would make a great board member. Whom do I have to get to know to get him on the board?

A. Each spring the Vice President heads up a nominations committee. This committee pulls together a list of names, checks on their qualifications using the sections of CHB's official by-laws that apply to being a board member, approaches the potential candidates to see if they are interested in serving, and publishes the names for election. Our elections are held in May or June (the current board sets the date) of each year. In short, if there is someone you'd like to see on the board, send his/her name in to the Vice President in March or April of the current year.

Q. What are the perks of being a board member?

A. Board members attend monthly meetings, which are open to all current CHB members. These are normally hed the first Thursday of the month, 7:00 P.M. at KET. Check the Events Calendar to confirm meeting dates/location. At the meetings we are updated about on-going support efforts, we handle suggestions by members and problems members are having, and we generally try to be helpful. Besides the monthly meetings, we field new home-educator questions, answer lots of e-mail and telephone calls, and lend support to the many functions of CHB. We also train members to organize and lead the various activities CHB offers. There is no pay or special benefits for being a board member. These are specifically prohibited in our by-laws.

Q. I am new to home schooling. I home-educate a third grader, a first grader, and have a pre-schooler and a baby in tow. I am afraid to join your group because I am not sure I could ever spend volunteer hours. Can I join and not volunteer?

A. Yes, you could join and not volunteer. However, you would run the risk of not being renewed as a CHB member the following year. Don't let the requirement to volunteer deter you from joining CHB. We've all been volunteers in other organizations where if you volunteer for activity, you get loads and loads of work. With so many member families in CHB, the work is widely spread out. Also, we like for members to work together, therefore you won't be alone when you volunteer. There will be someone else with you if you have a situation where you're unsure what to do. Working together accomplishes two purposes. First, it lessens the work, and secondly, it allows you to get to know another home-schooling family. Volunteering at CHB is not that hard, and it can be very rewarding and lots of fun - REALLY!

Q. Can I just pay an extra fee instead of serving on a committee? I really just don't have the time.

A. No, paying an extra fee is not an option. Since we are all volunteers, there is no one to pay for doing your share. We realize that all of us go through seasons in our lives, allowing us either more or less time to volunteer. Contact your committee chairperson or any board member to discuss your situation. You may be surprised that your volunteer work can be something you're already doing or had considered doing.

Q. May I write one check for all my CHB field trips and other expenses?

A. No, each event must normally have a separate check. This keeps the paper trail very clear in our bookkeeping. There may be specific exceptions at the Back-to-school event when one check may be written to cover multiple events at the same venue (i.e. theatre).

Q. If our family decides later on in the year that we no longer want to be members, can we get a prorated refund on our membership fee?

A. Generally, membership fees are nonrefundable.

Q. Does CHB offer scholarships?

A. No, CHB does not have the funds to offer scholarships. We try to only charge the bare minimum to meet our expenses and have no source of income other than what we collect from our members. Any CHB member, however, may choose to sponsor a family in need. Folks seeking financial assistance might consider seeking support from their extended family or their church.