DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


 CHAPTER IV

 Suggested Organization Forms

 Requests often come to this office asking for blank
forms to be used in applying for charters for cooperative
associations. There is no one blank form that will meet
the requirements of every kind of association coming
under this head.
 The suggestions herein offered are intended as guides
only, and not as finished forms. Other suggested forms
for agricultural cooperatives appear on succeeding pages.
Articles of incorporation and by-laws for non-stock asso-
ciations are included, as well as several other forms
needed for non-stock association use. These forms how-
ever may be adapted to the use of stock associations by
contacting an attorney, by contacting the office of the
Secretary of State, Tallahassee, or by securing a copy
of the book, "Legal Phases of Cooperative Associations,"
by L. S. Hulbert, Bulletin No. 50, Farm Credit Admin-
istration of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Addi-
tional assistance with any of these forms may be secured
by contacting your County Agent, who will arrange for
a specialist from the Agricultural Extension Service to
meet with you.
 The fundamental cooperative principles discussed in
the text, such as democratic control, the revolving-fund
plan of financing, adequate reserves, and equitable dis-
tribution of earnings, are reflected in the forms.
 Since these forms are general in character, the serv-
ices of an attorney who is familiar with cooperative law
may be required for adapting them to suit the needs of
a particular association; and they should be checked,
altered, and modified to meet the local needs and legal
requirements of the State of Florida. The forms would
also be modified so as to best serve the business needs
and methods of operation of the Association.