Our Bylaws
Bylaws of North Country Cooperative Corporation
I. NAME
This cooperative corporation shall be known as North Country Cooperative Corporation (the “Cooperative”), an entity that is incorporated as a general cooperative corporation under Article 2 of the Cooperative Corporations Law of the State of New York (the “Cooperative Law”). The principal office of the Cooperative shall be in the City of Plattsburgh, County of Clinton, and State of New York.
A. Purposes
The purpose of the Cooperative is to acquire and distribute food and related goods and services on a cooperative basis for the benefit of its member-owners.
B. Cooperative Values and Vision
A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically controlled enterprise.
Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.
Cooperators share a commitment to building an economy and society that is just, sustainable and democratic. As such the Cooperative will strive to educate our local community in the value of cooperative principles and enterprises.
II. MEMBERSHIP
A. Eligibility and Acceptance.
Any person may, as provided below, become a member of the Cooperative. A Person may become a member of the Cooperative by:
(i) filing with the Cooperative an application for membership in such form and containing such terms as shall be from time to time determined by the Board of Directors. Included in the application shall be a statement that the applicant agrees to comply with and be bound by the terms and conditions contained in the Cooperative’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and in these Bylaws, as amended from time to time (the “Bylaws”);
(ii) tendering to the Cooperative a membership fee in such amount as may be established by the Cooperative’s Board of Directors from time to time;
(iii) being approved for membership by the Cooperative’s Board of Directors;
(iv) receiving from this Cooperative written notification and a copy of the Bylaw providing for consent to take patronage distributions received from the Cooperative into income in the manner provided in 26 U.S.C. §1385(a);
(v) making the Capital Contribution required of the Cooperative’s members, and
(vi) meeting such other membership criteria or requirements as established from time to time by the Cooperative’s Board of Directors
B. Termination; Consequences of Membership Termination
(i) Membership may be terminated voluntarily by a member upon notice to the Cooperative. Membership shall terminate automatically if a member (1) who dies or (2) becomes ineligible for membership for any reason.
(ii) A member whose actions are deemed in violation of the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, or rules of the Cooperative, or whose actions interfere with the operations of the Cooperative may be suspended or expelled by a two thirds vote of the Board of Directors, provided that the Board of Directors has provided written notice of the reason for such suspension or termination to the member and the member is afforded a reasonable opportunity, not to exceed thirty days, to respond to such notice. An expelled or suspended member retains all rights of response and appeal. Appeal can be made to the Board of Directors and ultimately to the General Membership Meeting.
(iii) Upon termination of membership, regardless of the reasons, all rights and interests in the Cooperative shall cease except for rights to redemption of the Capital Contribution pursuant to these Bylaws.
C. Rights
(i) Each member in good standing shall have one vote only in the affairs of the Cooperative.
(ii) Each member in good standing shall be eligible for other benefits as may be offered from time to time by the Cooperative that are available generally to members.
(iii) The Membership owns the Cooperative and has the right to control the Cooperative through participatory democracy. The Members retain the right to elect the Board of Directors, to recall any official as provided in these bylaws, to shape the Cooperative’s position and actions in regard to important social issues.
III. MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
A. Annual Meeting
(i) The annual meeting of the members of this Cooperative shall be held in the month of April or May at the principal place of business of the Cooperative or at any other place conveniently located within the area served by it at such time as the Board of Directors shall determine.
(ii) A written report including a balance sheet showing the true assets and liabilities of the Cooperative, and an operating statement for the fiscal period under review, shall be submitted to the annual meeting of the Cooperative held after the close of the fiscal year.
B. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the members of the Cooperative may be called when a majority of directors, or 5% per cent of the members, or 75 members, whichever is less, submit a petition in writing and request a special membership meeting, which shall be called by the Board of Directors within thirty days of that request.
C. Notice
Notice of every annual and special meeting of members shall be prepared and emailed or mailed to the last known email address or mailing address of each member, and posted on prominent signs at all Cooperative locations, not fewer than 10 (ten) nor more
than sixty (60) days before such meeting. Such notice shall state the nature of the business expected to be conducted and the time and place of the meeting. No business shall be transacted at any special meeting other than that referred to in the notice.
D. Voting
(i) Each member shall have one vote only upon any matter submitted to a vote of the members. In the case of any member that is not an individual, such member shall designate in writing an individual to act on the member’s behalf in conducting the affairs of this Cooperative. That designation shall remain in effect until written notice of a properly authorized change in the designated individual shall be received by the Cooperative.
(ii) Voting may be by written ballots, if authorized by the Board of Directors. Members shall be allowed to vote on written ballots until the close of the voting period as set by the Board of Directors. Voting to elect directors, except to fill a vacancy, must be by written ballots, as authorized by the Board of Directors.
(iii) There shall be no proxy voting.
(iv) Unless otherwise stated in the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, or required by applicable law, all questions shall be decided by a vote of a majority of the members voting thereon, and each member shall be entitled to only one vote.
E. Quorum
At any annual or special meeting of the members, a quorum necessary for the transaction of business shall be at least 30 members in good standing.
F. Order of Business
The order of business at the Annual Meeting, and, where applicable, at all other meetings of the members shall be:
(i) Determination of quorum.
(ii) Proof of due notice of meeting.
(iii) Reading and disposition of minutes.
(iv) Annual reports of officers and committees.
(v) Unfinished business.
(vi) New business.
(vii) Election of directors.
(viii) Adjournment.
IV. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. Number, Eligibility
The Cooperative shall have a Board of Directors of 7 directors and the option of one alternate, each of whom shall be a member of the cooperative in good standing, or, for those members who are not natural persons, a designated representative of such member.
B. Terms, Limits
Directors will be elected for three year terms at the annual meeting or members. Terms of office shall be so staggered that one-third shall expire in each year. Directors shall hold office until their successors are elected.
C. Termination
The term of office of a director may be terminated prior to its expiration in any of the following ways:
(i) voluntarily by a director upon notice to the Cooperative;
(ii) automatically upon termination of membership in the Cooperative;
(iii) by action at a meeting of members whenever the best interests of the Cooperative would thereby be served; and
(iv) for cause by the members in accordance with Section 63 of the Cooperative Law.
D. Vacancies.
Any vacancy among Directors elected by the members may be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors. A Director so appointed shall act as Director and shall serve until the next annual meeting, at which the members shall elect a Director to complete the pertinent term.
E. Officers and Directors
Officers and Directors shall be compensated in the form of a discount on store purchases not to exceed ten percent (10%). Officers and directors shall also be entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in attending Board of Directors meetings or other business of the Cooperative. Such expense claims shall be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors.
F. Contracts for Profit
During her or his term of office, a director shall not be a party to a contract for profit with the Cooperative which in substance shall differ in any way from similar contracts by it with members or with others, or which shall vary from terms generally current among members.
G. Conflict of Interest.
Directors shall be under an affirmative duty to disclose their actual or potential conflicts of interest in any matter under consideration by the Board of Directors. Directors having such an interest may not participate in the discussion or decision of the matter. A transaction in which a director has an interest shall be prohibited unless the transaction is fair to the Cooperative and is approved by no less than a two- thirds majority of all disinterested directors.
H. Powers and Duties
The business and affairs of the Cooperative shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall make all necessary rules and regulations not inconsistent with law or with these Bylaws. The Board of Directors shall have power to hire, oversee and dismiss a General Manager to coordinate and facilitate the daily functioning of the Cooperative.
I. Limitation on Director Liability
No Director of the Cooperative shall be liable personally to the Cooperative or to any of the Cooperative’s members for damages for any breach of duty in his or her capacity as a Director, provided that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of any Director if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the Director established that his or her actions or omissions:
(i) were in bad faith;
(ii) involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
(iii) resulted in the Director personally gaining in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which the Director was not legally entitled; or
(iv) violated Section 719 of the New York Business Corporation Law, as amended, or any successor statute.
J. Indemnification of Directors
This Cooperative shall indemnify each director, officer, or manager of this Cooperative, and any person serving at the request of this Cooperative as a director, officer or manager of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonable incurred to the greatest extent to which such officers, directors or managers of the Cooperative may be indemnified under the New York Business Corporation Law, as amended, or any successor statute.
K. Insurance Regarding Directors
This Cooperative shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, manager, employee, or agent of this Cooperative, or is or was serving at the request of this Cooperative as a director, officer, manager, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted and incurred in any capacity.
L. Committees
The Board of Directors may establish and dissolve standing and ad hoc committees.
M. Election
All directors shall be elected by secret ballot, and the candidate(s) receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected.
V. MEETINGS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. Meetings
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall at such times and places as the Board of Directors may determine and shall be held monthly if possible but no fewer than 10 times per year.
B. Action without a meeting.
Decisions of the Board of Directors may be made without a meeting if a consent in writing, stating the action to be taken, is signed by a majority of the directors of the Cooperative who would be eligible to attend and vote at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors and filed with the minutes.
C. Action by Conference Call, Etc.
Action of the Board of Directors may be taken by participation in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time; participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
D. Special Meetings
A special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held whenever called by the president or by a majority of the directors. Each call for a special meeting shall be in writing, shall be signed by the person or persons calling the meeting, shall be addressed and delivered to the secretary, and shall state the time and place of such meeting. Only the business specified in the written notice shall be transacted at a special meeting.
E. Notification
Notice of each meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given each director by, or under the supervision of, the secretary of the Cooperative not less than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the time of meeting.
F. Quorum
A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors.
G. Absence
If a Board member is absent from 3 consecutive meetings or 4 out of any 12 consecutive meetings, unless excused by the Board for good cause, the members seat may be declared vacant by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Board.
VI. OFFICERS
A. Designation of Officers
At the first meeting following the annual meeting of members, the Board of Directors shall elect a President and Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer from among the Directors, and may, in their discretion, combine the office of Secretary and Treasurer. All such officers shall hold office for a term of one year, or until their successors have been elected and qualified. Such officers shall serve at the will of the Board of Directors and may be removed by the Board of Directors and successors elected at any Board of Directors meeting.
B. Duties of President
The president shall:
(1) preside over all meetings of the Cooperative and of the Board of Directors,
(2) call special meetings of the Board of Directors,
(3) perform all acts and duties usually performed by an executive and presiding officer, and
(4) sign all membership certificates and such other papers of the Cooperative as (s)he may be authorized or directed to sign by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may authorize any person to sign any or all checks, contracts, and other instruments in writing on behalf of the Cooperative. The president shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
C. Duties of Vice President
In the absence or disability of the president, the vice president shall perform the duties of the president.
D. Duties of Secretary
The secretary shall keep a complete record of all meetings of the Cooperative and of the Board of Directors and shall have general charge and supervision of the books and records of the Cooperative. The secretary shall sign all membership certificates with the president and such other papers pertaining to the Cooperative as he may be authorized or directed to sign by the Board of Directors. The secretary shall serve all notices required by law and by these bylaws and shall make a full report of all matters and business pertaining to his office to the members at the annual meeting. The secretary shall keep the corporate seal and affix it to all papers requiring a seal. The secretary shall keep complete membership records. The secretary shall make all reports required by law and shall perform such other duties as may be required of him or her by the Cooperative or the Board of Directors.
E. Duties of Treasurer
The treasurer shall perform such duties with respect to the finances of the Cooperative as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
VII. MEMBER CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
A. Required Capital Contribution
For the reasonable capital needs of the Cooperative members shall make Capital Contributions in amounts and at times determined by the Board of Directors.
B. Means of Capital Contributions
These shall be made by means of cash, check, and any other methods approved by the Board of Directors. Capital Contributions may be made by means of a payment plan as determined by the Board of Directors.
C. Waived or Deferred Capital Contributions
Capital Contributions may be waived or deferred in whole or in part by the Board on any reasonable basis. Required Capital Contributions and any available waivers or deferrals shall be applied equitably among members.
D. Capital Contributions shall be entitled to no dividend or other monetary return.
E. Capital Contributions may not be transferred or pledged as collateral.
F. Redemption
Upon request following termination of membership, Capital Contributions shall be redeemed when replacement capital is provided by other members. Capital Contributions shall be redeemable at the lesser of their carrying value on the books of the Cooperative or their net book value less a reasonable processing fee, if any, as determined by the Board. Redemption proceeds shall be subject to offset by amounts due and payable to the Cooperative by the member. No redemption shall be made when such payment would impair the ability of the Cooperative to meet its other obligations as they become due or would impair the claims of instruments having a higher priority than Capital Contributions. Reapplications for membership after full or partial redemption shall be subject to full repayment of redemption proceeds.
VIII. BORROWING
A. The Board of Directors has authority to borrow on behalf of the Cooperative.
B. Member Loans
The Cooperative may borrow from its members.
C. Other Borrowing
The Cooperative may borrow from other persons or entities.
IX. FISCAL MATTERS
A. The Fiscal Year of the Cooperative shall end October 31st of a given year.
X. OPERATIONS ON A COOPERATIVE BASIS
This Cooperative shall be operated on a cooperative basis. Each transaction between this Cooperative and each member shall be subject to and shall include as part of its terms the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of this Cooperative. Upon doing business with this Cooperative, each member shall be entitled to the net savings or patronage proceeds, in the manner provided in these Bylaws, that arise out of the patronage transactions of such member with the Cooperative.
XI. PROCEEDS AND DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS
A. Operation at Cost
The Cooperative shall at all times be operated on a cooperative service-at cost basis for the mutual benefit of its members. No interest or dividends shall be paid by the Cooperative on any capital furnished by its members pursuant to this Article XI.
B. Refunds and Patrons’ Capital
In its business with or for members, the Cooperative’s operations shall be so conducted that all active members will through their patronage furnish capital for the Cooperative. To assure that the Cooperative will operate on a service-at-cost basis, the Cooperative is obligated to account on a patronage basis to all of its members for all amounts received from the business done with such member in excess of operating costs and expenses (“Net Savings”). Provided, however, that the Board of Directors retains the right to reduce Net Savings by the amount of such reasonable reserves as it determines for the necessary business purposes of the Corporation.
The Cooperative is obligated to make payments of all Net Savings in cash refunds or by credits to a capital account (whether or not reflected in allocation certificates or other evidences of allocation) for each member as determined by the Board of Directors, and in accordance with Subchapter T of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The books and records of the Cooperative shall be set up and kept in such a manner that at the end of each fiscal year the amount of capital, if any, so furnished by each member is clearly reflected and credited in an appropriate record to the capital account of each member. The Cooperative shall within 8 1⁄2 months after the close of the fiscal year notify each member or patron, in the form of a written notice of allocation (as defined in 26 U.S.C. 1388), of the amount of capital so credited to his/her account.
All other amounts, such as interest or amounts from non-patronage sources, received by the Cooperative from its operations in excess of costs and expenses shall, insofar as permitted by law and to the extent practicable, be allocated to its members on a patronage basis and any amount so allocated shall be included as a part of the capital credited to the accounts of members as herein provided.
C. Revolving Capital
If at any time, the board shall determine that the financial condition of the Cooperative will not be impaired thereby and that such action is permissible under applicable law, the capital then credited to members’ accounts may be retired in full or in part. Any such retirement of capital shall be made in order of priority according to the year in which the capital was furnished and credited, the capital first received by the Cooperative being first retired. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, the Board of Directors, at its discretion, shall have the power to retire any capital credited to members’ accounts on such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the parties in any instance in which the interests of the Cooperative and its members are deemed to be furthered thereby and funds are determined by the Board of Directors to be available for such purposes.
XII. CONSENT TO TAKE PATRONAGE DISTRIBUTIONS INTO INCOME
Each person or organization that hereafter applies for and is accepted for membership in this Cooperative and each member of this Cooperative on the effective date of this Bylaw who continues as a member after the effective date shall, by these acts alone, consent that the amount of any distributions with respect to patronage which are made in written notices of allocation (as defined in 26 U.S.C. §1388), and which are received by the member from this Cooperative, will be taken into account by the member at their stated dollar amounts in the manner provided in 26 U.S.C. § 1385(a) in the taxable year in which the written notices of allocation are received.
XIII. LOSSES
A. Netting of Losses
In the event of a loss in one or more departments or divisions of operation of this Cooperative, but not of such magnitude as to cause an overall loss for the fiscal year of the Cooperative, such loss or losses may be prorated against each of the remaining profitable departments on the basis of their respective percentage of the total net proceeds during such fiscal year.
B. Allocation of Net Losses
In the event this Cooperative shall incur a net loss in any fiscal year, the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may
(a) charge such net loss against any earned surplus or paid-in surplus which is unallocated, or against any unallocated reserve other than valuation reserves; or
(b) may recover the amount of such loss from prior or subsequent years’ net margins or savings. If such loss exceeds the total of said unallocated earned surplus any unallocated reserves, or in any event, if the Board of Directors so elects, the amount of such loss may be recovered from prior or subsequent years’ Net Savings. In no event shall the Board of Directors have the authority to make any assessment against members or patrons. This section shall not be construed or administered in such a way as to deprive the Cooperative of the right to carry back or carry forward net operating losses to past or future years, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or state taxing statutes.
XIV. MISCELLANEOUS
A. Reserved Rights of the Membership
Only the members, voting according to these bylaws can amend the Certificate of Incorporation for the Cooperative. Only two-thirds of the members voting according to these bylaws can dissolve the Cooperative.
B. Amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation
The Certificate of Incorporation of the Cooperative may be amended only by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members voting thereon at any regular or special meeting.
C. Amendments to the Bylaws.
These bylaws can be amended by the affirmative vote of the majority of members present, after a quorum has been established at any regular or special meeting held after due written notice setting forth the proposed action and the purpose of the meeting. These bylaws can also be amended by the Board of Directors, but any amendment adopted by the Board of Directors shall be reported to the next annual meeting of members and, if not affirmatively approved thereat, shall cease to be in effect.
D. Dissolution of the Cooperative
Dissolution can proceed only with two-thirds vote of members present in person or by written ballots at a meeting called and conducted in accordance with these bylaws. A committee of three members, selected by the membership, shall carry out the dissolution. Notice of dissolution must be provided to the members of the Cooperative. Upon dissolution, after
(1) all debts and liabilities of the Cooperative shall have been paid,
(2) the value of capital contributions returned, and
(3) all capital furnished through patronage shall have been retired without priority on a pro rate basis, the remaining property and assets of the Cooperative shall be distributed among the members and former members in the proportion which the aggregate patronage of each member bears to the total patronage of all such members, unless otherwise provided by law.
E. Severability
In the event that any provision of these bylaws is determined to be invalid or unenforceable under any statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to such extent and shall be deemed modified to confirm with such statute or rule of law without affecting the validity or enforceability of any other provision of these bylaws.
F. Officers and employees to be bonded
Pursuant to Section 65 of Cooperative Corporation Law, before handling funds or securities of the corporation, amounting to one thousand dollars or more in any one year, an officer or employee shall be covered by an adequate bond to be approved by the board of directors.