35-18-301. Members. (1) A person who is not an incorporator may not become a member of a cooperative unless that person agrees to use electrical energy, electrical energy delivery services, or telephone service as provided by the cooperative's bylaws.
(2) Membership in the cooperative is not transferable, except as provided in the bylaws. The articles of incorporation or the bylaws may allow joint membership and may prescribe additional qualifications, limitations, rights, and obligations in respect to any membership and membership class, including but not limited to the number of trustees that each class or membership or class or classes of membership within a voting district under 35-18-313 are entitled to elect.
(3) The articles of incorporation or the bylaws of a cooperative may provide for classifications of members in a cooperative.
(4) Members or a class or classes of members may designate voting delegates, as provided by 35-18-313 and the cooperative's bylaws, and may vote through their designated voting delegates. The bylaws may provide that each classification of members may designate a different number and method for selecting and governing voting delegates.
History: En. Sec. 8, Ch. 172, L. 1939; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 80, L. 1957; R.C.M. 1947, 14-508(a); amd. Sec. 45, Ch. 7, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 406, L. 2001.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Title 35. Corporations, Partnerships, and Associations
Chapter 18. Rural Cooperative Utilities
Part 3. Operation -- Members, Trustees, and Officers
35-18-302. Nonliability of members, trustees, and officers for debts of cooperative
35-18-303. Meetings of members -- general and special -- place -- notice -- quorum -- voting
35-18-304. Initiative by members -- approval of trustees not required
35-18-305. through 35-18-310 reserved
35-18-312. Trustees -- term -- quorum -- powers
35-18-315. Authority to take acknowledgments -- officer, trustee, or member
35-18-317. Disposition or encumbrance of property
35-18-318. Long-term indebtedness -- membership approval and review -- cooperative requirements
35-18-319. through 35-18-324 reserved
35-18-325. Duties of trustees and officers
35-18-326. Trustee or officer conflict of interest
35-18-328. Authority to indemnify
35-18-329. Mandatory indemnification
35-18-330. Court-ordered indemnification
35-18-331. Determination and authorization of indemnification