Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 35. CORPORATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND ASSOCIATIONS

CHAPTER 17. COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL MARKETING

Part 2. Formation

Bylaws

35-17-206. Bylaws. (1) Each association incorporated under this chapter shall, within 30 days after its incorporation, adopt for its government and management a code of bylaws, not inconsistent with the powers granted by this chapter. A majority vote of the members or stockholders or their written assent is necessary to adopt the bylaws. The bylaws may be amended at any regular or special meeting if approved by a majority vote of the stockholders.

(2) Each association under its bylaws may also provide for any or all of the following matters:

(a) the time, place, and manner of calling and conducting its meetings;

(b) the number of stockholders or members constituting a quorum;

(c) the right of members or stockholders to vote by proxy or by mail or by both and the conditions, manner, form, and effects of those votes;

(d) the number of directors constituting a quorum;

(e) the qualifications, compensation, duties, and term of office of directors and officers, the time of their election, and the mode and manner of giving notice of these matters;

(f) penalties for violations of the bylaws;

(g) the amount of entrance, organization, and membership fees, if any, the manner and method of collection of the fees, and the purposes for which they may be used;

(h) the amount that each member or stockholder is required to pay annually or from time to time, if at all, to carry on the business of the association, the charge, if any, to be paid by each member or stockholder for services rendered by the association to the stockholder or member and the time of payment and the manner of collection, and the marketing contract between the association and its members or stockholders which every member or stockholder may be required to sign;

(i) the number and qualifications of members or stockholders of the association and the conditions precedent to membership or ownership of common stock, the method, time, and manner of permitting members to withdraw or the holders of common stock to transfer their stock, the manner of assignment and transfer of the interest of members and the shares of common stock, and the conditions upon which and the time when membership of any member ceases;

(j) the automatic suspension of the rights of a member when the member ceases to be eligible for membership in the association and the mode, manner, and effect of the expulsion of a member;

(k) the manner of determining the value of a member's interest and provision for its purchase by the association upon the death or withdrawal of a member or stockholder or upon the expulsion of a member or forfeiture of membership or, at the option of the association, by conclusive appraisal by the board of directors.

History: En. Sec. 10, Ch. 233, L. 1921; re-en. Sec. 6437, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 6437, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 298, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 14-410(part); amd. Sec. 1331, Ch. 56, L. 2009.