14 BULLETIN 541, XT. S. DEPAKTMEXT OF AGRICULTURE, 
SUGGESTED FORM OF BY-LAWS FOR A COOPERATIVE NONPROFIT 
MARKETING ASSOCIATION FORMED WITHOUT CAPITAL STOCK. 
The following suggested form of by-laws provides for nonprofit 
agricultural associations, formed without capital stock. These 
by-laws should be regarded as merely suggestive and should be 
changed to meet the individual needs of the association. 
The notes following some of the sections are merely explanatory 
and ; of course, are to be omitted in the by-laws adopted by the 
organization. 
BY LAWS OF THE [HERE INSERT NAME OF ASSOCIATION]. 
Article I. — Name. 
Section 1. This Association shall be known as the [Monroe County Cooperative 
Fruit Association], 1 and shall be incorporated under the laws of the State of [New York}. 
Its principal office shall be located in the town of [Hilton, State of New York]. 
Note.— The name should indicate the territory covered and the class of products handled as for 
instance, the "Maine Potato Shippers' Exchange," "Richmond Egg Circle," etc. Some of the State 
cooperative laws provide that the word "cooperative" shall form part of the name of organizations 
incorporated thereunder. Practically all associations should be incorporated under the laws of the 
State in which they are located. 
Article II. — Objects. 
Section 1. The objects of this Association shall be to encourage better and more 
economical methods of production; to secure better results in grading, packing, 
marketing, and advertising the products of its members; to buy supplies in a coop- 
erative way; to hire, buy, build, own, sell, and control such buildings and other real 
and personal property as may be needed in the conduct of its operations; to cultivate 
and develop the cooperative spirit in the community, and to perform any other work 
which may tend to the betterment of the members and the general benefit of the 
neighborhood . 
Note. — Make the objects as definite as possible. It is also well to make them sufficiently broad in 
scope to cover any future euorts of the association. Care should be taken to state the objects so as to 
keep the activities within the limits of the power conferred by the statute under which the association 
is incorporated, as well as in harmony with the articles of association. 
Article III. — Membership. 
Section 1. Any [bona fide grower of farm products, in any territory tributary to 
the shipping points of this Association] may become a member of the Association 
by agreeing to comply with the requirements of these by-laws. 
Sec 2. Upon his entering into such an agreement and paying the membership fee, 
the Association shall issue a certificate of membership to the applicant. Such cer- 
tificate of membership shall not be transferable. 
Sec. 3. At any time that the Board of Directors determines that a member has 
ceased to be a bona fide grower of farm products, his membership shall be terminated 
and his membership certificate shall be canceled. 
Note. — There may be conditions where it would be wise to limit membership to those who have been 
recommended by the Board of Directors or who have received a two-thirds vote of the members present at 
any meeting. In some localities there are persons who are continually finding fault with the way things 
are managed and such people make undesirable members. Organizations desiring to comply with the 
requirements of Section 6 of the Clayton amendment of the antitrust laws should be made up entirely 
of farmers. 
1 All matter appearing in brackets is simply suggestive, and is to be altered to suit the best interests oi 
each individual association. 
