Title 10 – Corporations and Associations

Chapter 19 – Not for Profit Corporations and associations, Cooperatives and Fraternal and Benevolent societies

Article 1 – Cooperative Marketing associations

• An association incorporated under this article may:
• 1. Engage in any activity in connection with the manufacturing, marketing, harvesting, processing, storing, handling or utilization of products or services, or the providing of labor, or in connection with the purchase, hiring or use by its patrons of supplies, machinery or equipment, or in the financing of any such activities, but the associations shall not deal in the products of nonmembers to an amount greater in value than that of products handled for members.
• 2. Borrow money and make advances on products delivered.
• 3. Act as the agent or representative of any member or patron in such activities.
• 4. Acquire, hold, own and exercise all rights of ownership in, and sell, transfer or pledge shares of the capital stock or bonds, or become a member or a stockholder of any corporation or association engaged in a related activity or in the handling, marketing or financing of any products handled by the association, but stocks, bonds or other securities owned by a subsidiary may not be pledged, sold or otherwise disposed of until thirty days notice has been given to all members of the association in the manner provided by its bylaws. Such stock, bonds and other securities of a subsidiary may be placed with the state treasurer for safe keeping, and he shall not surrender them until proof of notice as required by this article has been given.
• 5. Establish reserves and invest the funds thereof in stocks and bonds of any corporation or association engaged in a related activity, or in the handling, marketing, processing or financing of the products handled by the association, or in such other property as the board of directors of the association deems satisfactory.
• 6. Do any act necessary to carry out the specific powers conferred by this article, and do such acts within or without the state.
• 7. Possess the powers, rights and privileges of corporations organized under the general law of the state, unless inconsistent with this article.
• 8. Engage in any activity in connection with the marketing or distribution of manufactured goods for import and export purposes or the providing of labor, in connection with the purchase, hiring or use by the association’s patrons of supplies, machinery or equipment, or in connection with the financing of any such activities, but the association may not deal in the products of nonmembers to an amount greater in value than that of products handled for members.
• 9. Engage in any activity involving the harvesting, processing, storing, handling or use of products for the production, manufacturing and sale of products or services or the providing of labor, in connection with the purchase, hiring or use by the association’s patrons of supplies, machinery or equipment, or in connection with the financing of any such activities, but the association may not deal in the products of nonmembers to an amount greater in value than that of products handled for members.
• 10. Raise equity from nonprofit investors and patron members.