berkeley berkeley pictures

Here's Toby and me... We started together in the Extension program in the Fall of 1998. If I have my facts straight, he's now President of Chateau.

( more pictures from berkeley )

cooperative enterprises in the empire state

As I am due to become a resident of the State of New York in a nigh five days, I thought it would be a good time to start learning the law of the land. I've been at this for all of two minutes, and I've already found something interesting: New York State has official recognization for co-ops.

(c) The terms "cooperative," "cooperative association" and "cooperative corporation" mean a corporation organized under this chapter, or heretofore organized under any special or general law of this state, for the cooperative rendering of mutual help and service to its members. A cooperative shall be either a general cooperative, a membership cooperative, an agricultural cooperative as defined in article six of this chapter or a worker cooperative as defined in section eighty-one of this chapter.

(d) A cooperative corporation shall be classed as a non-profit corporation, since its primary object is not to make profits for itself as such, or to pay dividends on invested capital, but to provide service and means whereby its members may have the economic advantage of cooperative action, including a reasonable and fair return for their product and service.

(e) The term "member" means the holder of a membership in a cooperative, whether evidenced by a certificate of membership or by a certificate of stock or by other authorized means of identification. The term includes a member association or corporation as provided in this chapter.

(j) The term "cooperative," "cooperation" or any abbreviation, variation or similitude thereof, shall not be used as or in a name except by a corporation defined in this chapter. Any cooperative corporation may sue for an injunction against such prohibited use of the term. A violation of this prohibition is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars.

Alright, I just need to find four other interested individuals, and I can solicit a charter from the State... w00t!

When I moved to Sweden, the migrationsverket sent me all kinds of yummy info on how to be Swedish, including such gems as "You do not own your wife or children. You may not beat them." (paraphrased). I wonder if NYS will send me any snazzy info on how to fit in.