Unless otherwise provided by its articles, a cooperative may:

Terms Used In Wisconsin Statutes 185.03

  • Acquire: when used in connection with a grant of power to any person, includes the acquisition by purchase, grant, gift or bequest. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Articles: means the articles of incorporation of a cooperative unless the context otherwise requires. See Wisconsin Statutes 185.01
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Board: means the board of directors of a cooperative. See Wisconsin Statutes 185.01
  • Bylaws: means the bylaws of a cooperative. See Wisconsin Statutes 185.01
  • Cooperative: means an association incorporated under this chapter. See Wisconsin Statutes 185.01
  • Following: when used by way of reference to any statute section, means the section next following that in which the reference is made. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • members: as used in this chapter with respect to the right of a member to vote, voting procedure, the required proportion of member votes, actions that must or may be taken by members, the number of members required for a quorum and the eligibility of directors, means a member or members entitled to vote, unless the bylaws provide otherwise. See Wisconsin Statutes 185.01
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Municipality: includes cities and villages; it may be construed to include towns. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Officers: when applied to corporations include directors and trustees. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Property: includes real and personal property. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • seal: includes the word "seal" the letters "L S" and a scroll or other device intended to represent a seal, if any is affixed in the proper place for a seal, as well as an impression of a seal on the instrument. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • State: when applied to states of the United States, includes the District of Columbia, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the several territories organized by Congress. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia, the states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the territories organized by congress. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed; "year" alone means "year of our Lord". See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
   (1)   Exist perpetually.
   (2)   Sue and be sued.
   (3)   Have a seal.
   (4)   Make contracts, incur liabilities and borrow money; issue certificates representing indebtedness, or representing equity interests in its assets; acquire property; dispose of, mortgage, pledge, lease or otherwise use in any manner any of its property, or any interest therein, wherever situated.
   (5)   Invest its funds, lend money for its purposes, and hold any property as security for repayment.
   (6)   Conduct its business and affairs and have offices and exercise its powers in the United States or in any foreign country.
   (7)   Elect officers and appoint agents, define their duties and fix their compensation.
   (8)   Make and alter bylaws, consistent with its articles and the laws of this state, for the administration and regulation of its affairs.
   (9)   Make donations for charitable, scientific, educational or religious purposes.
   (10)   Effect the forfeiture to the cooperative of unclaimed funds, including all forms of distributions or credits under s. 185.45 (2) (b) and (c), (3) (a) and (b) and (4) (b) and unclaimed stock, membership fees and deposits, if all of the following conditions are met:
      (a)    No earlier than 3 years and no later than 5 years after the funds are first made available to their owners, the board declares the funds forfeited to the cooperative unless claimed by the date specified in par. (b).
      (b)    After the declaration under par. (a), the cooperative gives notice that states that the funds shall be forfeited if not claimed by a specified date.
      (c)    The date specified in the notice under par. (b) is a business day at least 60 days after the date of mailing of the notice.
      (d)    The notice under par. (b) is mailed to the last-known address of each owner, and the name and address of each owner to whom notice is mailed or an Internet site address where this information is posted, together with a brief description of the reason for the notice, is published as a class 1 notice under ch. 985 on or before the date of mailing in a newspaper published in the municipality containing the service area of the cooperative.
      (e)    The cooperative dedicates any funds remaining unclaimed after the date specified in par. (b) to educational purposes, limited to providing scholarships or loans to students, or to charitable purposes, as the board determines, within one year after the date the funds are declared forfeited under par. (a).
   (11)   Cease its activities and surrender its franchise.
   (12)   Exercise all powers necessary or convenient to effect its purposes.
   (13)   In anticipation of or during an emergency, as defined in s. 185.07 (4) (a), through its board or members, do any of the following:
      (a)    Relocate the principal office, designate alternative principal offices or regional offices, or authorize the officers to do so.
      (b)    Unless emergency bylaws adopted under s. 185.07 (4) provide otherwise, give notice of a meeting of the board only to those directors whom it is practicable to reach, and give notice to them in any practicable manner.

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