nibot ([personal profile] nibot) wrote2004-08-17 11:13 pm

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.

[identity profile] nibot.livejournal.com 2004-08-17 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
S 77. Annual license fee. 1. Each cooperative corporation organized, ... shall pay to the
commissioner of taxation and finance an annual fee of ten dollars, in lieu of all franchise or license or corporation taxes.


hilarious!

[identity profile] janviere.livejournal.com 2004-08-17 11:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Doesn't "co-op" usually mean "apartment building" in New York?

[identity profile] nibot.livejournal.com 2004-08-17 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
no idea.

the law is completely general, though.

[identity profile] nibot.livejournal.com 2004-08-17 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)

S 4. Vesting of crown lands in the people of the state. The absolute property of all messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments, and of all rents, royalties, franchises, prerogatives, privileges, escheats, forfeitures, debts, dues, duties and services by whatsoever names respectively the same are called and known in the law, and all right and title to the same, which next and immediately before the ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, did vest in, or belong, or was, or were due to the crown of Great Britain be, and the same and each and every of them hereby are declared to be, and ever since the said ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, to have been, and forever after shall be vested in the people of this state, in whom the sovereignty and seigniory thereof, are and were united and vested, on and from the said ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six.

awesome!

[identity profile] nibot.livejournal.com 2004-08-17 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Forget co-ops. We can found a benevolent order! Unfortunately it's not clear whether we're permitted to start a new one entirely. The following benevolent orders are officially recognized by the State of New York:

1. A lodge of Free and Accepted Masons duly chartered by and installed
according to the general rules and regulations of the Grand Lodge of
Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York;
2. A chapter of Royal Arch Masons duly chartered by and installed
according to the general rules and regulations of the Grand Chapter of
Royal Arch Masons of the state of New York;
3. A council of Royal and Select Masons duly chartered by and
installed according to the general rules and regulations of the Grand
Council of Royal and Select Masters of the state of New York;
4. A commandery of Knights Templar duly chartered by and instituted
according to the general rules and regulations of the Grand Commandery
of the state of New York;
5. A consistory, chapter, council or lodge duly chartered by and
instituted according to the general rules and regulations of the Supreme
Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for the Northern
jurisdiction of the United States;
6. A lodge of Odd Fellows, duly chartered by and installed according
to the general rules and regulations of the Grand Lodge of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the state of New York;
7. A Temple of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine duly chartered by and
instituted according to the general rules and regulations of the
Imperial Council of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic
Shrine for North America;
8. A lodge of the Knights of Pythias, duly chartered by and installed
according to the general rules and regulations of the Grand Lodge of the
Knights of Pythias of the state of New York;
9. A post of the Grand Army of the Republic, chartered and installed
according to the regulations of that organization;
10. Any lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks duly
chartered by and installed according to the regulations of that
organization;
11. Any subordinate lodge, tribe or other body of any benevolent or
fraternal order or society incorporated under and pursuant to the laws
of this state;
12. A council of the Knights of Columbus chartered and instituted by
the National Council of the Knights of Columbus, pursuant to the
constitution and laws of said order;
13. Any high court, subordinate court, or companion court of the
Independent Order of Foresters chartered and instituted by the Supreme
Court of the Independent Order of Foresters pursuant to the constitution
and laws of said order;
14. A tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men, duly chartered by and
instituted according to the general rules and regulations of the Great
Council of the Improved Order of Red Men of the state of New York;
15. The Supreme Council of the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the
Enchanted Realm, or a subordinate grotto duly chartered by and
instituted according to the general rules and regulations of said
supreme council;
16. Any subordinate lodge of the Order of American True Ivorites
chartered and instituted in accordance with the regulations of the Grand
lodge of the Order of American True Ivorites;
17. Any subordinate aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles chartered
and instituted in accordance with the regulations of the grand aerie of
the Fraternal Order of Eagles;
18. Any subordinate council of the Junior Order of United American
Mechanics under the jurisdiction of the national council of such order.
19. Any local camp of the Modern Woodmen of America chartered and
instituted in accordance with the regulations of the head camp of the
Modern Woodmen of America.
20. The Supreme or Cosmopolitan Council of the Brotherhood of the
Commonwealth.
21. A tent of the Knights of the Maccabees of the World, duly
chartered and instituted according to the general rules and regulations
of the supreme tent of the Knights of the Maccabees of the World:
22. Any subordinate lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose, duly chartered
and instituted in accordance with the constitution and laws of the
supreme lodge of the world, Loyal Order of Moose.

[identity profile] nibot.livejournal.com 2004-08-18 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
the marriage law seems decently liberal.

Marriage a civil contract. Marriage, so far as its validity in
law is concerned, continues to be a civil contract, to which the consent
of parties capable in law of making a contract is essential.


I don't see anywhere in the code (http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?cl=29&a=5) that says that a marriage has to be between a man and a woman, or between exactly two people for that matter. It always seems to say "the parties desiring marriage" or something to that effect.

check out this paragraph:

The preceding provisions of this chapter, so far as they relate to the
manner of solemnizing marriages, shall not affect marriages among the
people called friends or quakers; nor marriages among the people of any
other denominations having as such any particular mode of solemnizing
marriages; but such marriages must be solemnized in the manner
heretofore used and practiced in their respective societies or
denominations, and marriages so solemnized shall be as valid as if this
article had not been enacted.


on changing your name:

(1) Every person has the right to adopt any name by which he or she
wishes to be known simply by using that name consistently and without
intent to defraud.

[identity profile] sarasita.livejournal.com 2004-08-18 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
i was a new yorker for 3 months... and while i lived in a part of the state that likely did own and beat their wives, i didn't get any handy information ^_~

[identity profile] barks.livejournal.com 2004-08-18 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
dude, you have too much time on your hands.

[identity profile] roxymartini.livejournal.com 2004-08-18 11:12 am (UTC)(link)
the loyal order of moose.
the Odd Fellows.
excellent.
so, you're starting the loyal order of muffins, yesh?