COOPERATIVE ORGANIZATION BUSINESS METHODS. 7 
form of a wholesale department which deals in a number of lines 
of merchandise such as are generally handled by wholesale grocers 
and commission houses; and in the case of grain elevators, Lumber 
and coal and other supplies have been dealt in as side lines. These 
enterprises are engaged in not only to aid the members in buying 
these commodities at better prices, but to provide work for the 
office force when it is not engaged in the work of the regular ship- 
ping season. One of the large organizations in New England has 
established a fertilizer plant in connection with its already ex- 
tensive dealings in growers' supplies, the business thus created war- 
ranting the retention of the entire office force throughout the yq^v. 
THE SECRETARY. 
The duties of the secretary are usually clearly denned in the by- 
laws of the organization. He is the recording officer and keeps the 
corporation books, the minute book, the stock-certificate book, the 
stock ledger, and the transfer book. He also has charge of, and is 
responsible for, the seal of the organization. 
Various matters involving corporate procedure constantly arise, 
and for the proper discharge of his duties the secretary should keep 
himself fully posted. A digest of the statutes of the State relating 
to corporations, a manual of parliamentary law r , and a book on 
corporate procedure will be found of much assistance. A corporate 
calendar will also be found of great convenience. This is a calen- 
dar of the dates of the meetings of the directors and stockholders 
and of the dates on which notices for the same must be mailed. 
It is a comprehensive record of the important corporate formalities 
that must be attended to at fixed periods, such as the filing of re- 
ports, etc. By the use of such a book the secretary can tell at a 
glance what corporate duties require his attention. 
It has been found advisable by some of the larger organizations 
to confer the titles and duties of secretary and treasurer upon 
officers other than members of the board of directors. Often the 
office manager is made both secretary and treasurer, by which ar- 
rangement there is no delay in securing signatures to papers when 
needed and the office force has the necessary authority to complete 
all business routine. 
RECORDS OF MEETINGS. 
Corporate meetings, both of shareholders and directors^ being 
held for deliberative purposes, should be conducted according to 
parliamentary usages. The record of these meetings is the best 
evidence of the action taken, and other evidence is not admissible 
until it is shown that the records can not be obtained. 
