{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-493.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-493.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-493.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-493.html"}],"law_id":65385,"edition_id":1,"section_id":65385,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-493","catch_line":"Membership; voting; nonprofit operation","history":"1950, p. 591; 1956, c. 434; 1968, c. 100; 1992, c. 6; 1996, c. 708.","full_text":"A cooperative may issue to its members certificates of membership. Only members shall be entitled to vote at the meetings of the members of the cooperative. A member entitled to vote may vote in person or, unless the articles of incorporation or the bylaws otherwise provide, may vote by proxy executed in writing by the member, appointing some other member to cast his vote, or may vote by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact, who shall be a member. If a member is not voting in person, by proxy, or by attorney-in-fact, the spouse of such member shall be entitled to vote for the member, in person or by proxy, if permitted by the articles of incorporation or bylaws. No proxy shall be valid after eleven months from its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy. When directors or officers are to be elected by members, the bylaws may provide that such elections may be conducted by mail. The liability of each member shall be limited to the unpaid portion of his membership fee or subscription to capital stock, and any unpaid bills for telephone service from the cooperative. The equity of members of a nonstock cooperative shall be in proportion to the revenue paid the cooperative by each member. A cooperative shall be operated on a nonprofit basis for the mutual benefit of its members. The bylaws of the cooperative or its contract with its members shall contain such provisions relative to the disposition of revenues and receipts as may be necessary and appropriate to establish and maintain its nonprofit and cooperative character.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":237678,"text":"A cooperative may issue to its members certificates of membership. Only members shall be entitled to vote at the meetings of the members of the cooperative. A member entitled to vote may vote in person or, unless the articles of incorporation or the bylaws otherwise provide, may vote by proxy executed in writing by the member, appointing some other member to cast his vote, or may vote by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact, who shall be a member. If a member is not voting in person, by proxy, or by attorney-in-fact, the spouse of such member shall be entitled to vote for the member, in person or by proxy, if permitted by the articles of incorporation or bylaws. No proxy shall be valid after eleven months from its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy. When directors or officers are to be elected by members, the bylaws may provide that such elections may be conducted by mail. The liability of each member shall be limited to the unpaid portion of his membership fee or subscription to capital stock, and any unpaid bills for telephone service from the cooperative. The equity of members of a nonstock cooperative shall be in proportion to the revenue paid the cooperative by each member. A cooperative shall be operated on a nonprofit basis for the mutual benefit of its members. The bylaws of the cooperative or its contract with its members shall contain such provisions relative to the disposition of revenues and receipts as may be necessary and appropriate to establish and maintain its nonprofit and cooperative character.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14091,"edition_id":1,"name":"Telephone Cooperatives Act","identifier":"16","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12881,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:51","permalink":{"id":250125,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14091,"identifier":"16","token":"56\/16","url":"\/56\/16\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12881,"edition_id":1,"name":"Public Service Companies","identifier":"56","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":248473,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12881,"identifier":"56","token":"56","url":"\/56\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":63853,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-485","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/56-485\/","token":"56\/16\/56-485","metadata":false},{"id":85481,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-486","catch_line":"Who may form cooperative; purpose","url":"\/56-486\/","token":"56\/16\/56-486","metadata":false},{"id":70906,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-487","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/56-487\/","token":"56\/16\/56-487","metadata":false},{"id":76789,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-488","catch_line":"Certificate of incorporation","url":"\/56-488\/","token":"56\/16\/56-488","metadata":false},{"id":74509,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-489","catch_line":"Limitation of use of words \"telephone cooperative.\"","url":"\/56-489\/","token":"56\/16\/56-489","metadata":false},{"id":85742,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-490","catch_line":"Filing certificate of incorporation","url":"\/56-490\/","token":"56\/16\/56-490","metadata":false},{"id":84965,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-491","catch_line":"Board of directors; officers","url":"\/56-491\/","token":"56\/16\/56-491","metadata":false},{"id":77358,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-492","catch_line":"Powers of board of directors","url":"\/56-492\/","token":"56\/16\/56-492","metadata":false},{"id":65385,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-493","catch_line":"Membership; voting; nonprofit operation","url":"\/56-493\/","token":"56\/16\/56-493","metadata":false},{"id":64616,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-494","catch_line":"Service to members; to nonmembers","url":"\/56-494\/","token":"56\/16\/56-494","metadata":false},{"id":87301,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-495","catch_line":"Powers granted corporation","url":"\/56-495\/","token":"56\/16\/56-495","metadata":false},{"id":84850,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-496","catch_line":"Disposition of property","url":"\/56-496\/","token":"56\/16\/56-496","metadata":false},{"id":68695,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-497","catch_line":"Issue of obligations","url":"\/56-497\/","token":"56\/16\/56-497","metadata":false},{"id":67120,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-498","catch_line":"Covenants","url":"\/56-498\/","token":"56\/16\/56-498","metadata":false},{"id":73742,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-499","catch_line":"Purchase of own obligations","url":"\/56-499\/","token":"56\/16\/56-499","metadata":false},{"id":87088,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-500","catch_line":"Consolidation or merger","url":"\/56-500\/","token":"56\/16\/56-500","metadata":false},{"id":77715,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-501","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-501\/","token":"56\/16\/56-501","metadata":false},{"id":61079,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-501.1","catch_line":"Payment of certain patronage capital to spouse or next of kin of deceased person","url":"\/56-501.1\/","token":"56\/16\/56-501.1","metadata":false},{"id":71418,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-502","catch_line":"Regulation by State Corporation Commission","url":"\/56-502\/","token":"56\/16\/56-502","metadata":false},{"id":65253,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-503","catch_line":"Dissolution","url":"\/56-503\/","token":"56\/16\/56-503","metadata":false},{"id":80777,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-504","catch_line":"Charter amendments","url":"\/56-504\/","token":"56\/16\/56-504","metadata":false},{"id":86446,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-505","catch_line":"Charter fees","url":"\/56-505\/","token":"56\/16\/56-505","metadata":false},{"id":72543,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-506","catch_line":"Construction of chapter; conflicting laws","url":"\/56-506\/","token":"56\/16\/56-506","metadata":false},{"id":55217,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-507","catch_line":"Adoption of provisions by existing corporation","url":"\/56-507\/","token":"56\/16\/56-507","metadata":false},{"id":81225,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-508","catch_line":"Extension of service to territory not being served","url":"\/56-508\/","token":"56\/16\/56-508","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":77358,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-492","catch_line":"Powers of board of directors","url":"\/56-492\/","token":"56\/16\/56-492","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":64616,"structure_id":14091,"section_number":"56-494","catch_line":"Service to members; to nonmembers","url":"\/56-494\/","token":"56\/16\/56-494","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-493\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1956, chapter 434; in 1968, chapter 100; in 1992, chapter 6; in 1996, chapter 708<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":250159,"object_type":"law","relational_id":65385,"identifier":"56-493","token":"56\/16\/56-493","url":"\/56-493\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-493\/","token":"56\/16\/56-493","dublin_core":{"Title":"Membership; voting; nonprofit operation","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-493","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A cooperative<\/span> may issue<\/span> to its members<\/span> certificates of membership. Only members<\/span> shall be entitled to vote at the meetings of the members<\/span> of the cooperative<\/span>. A member<\/span> entitled to vote may vote in person<\/span> or, unless the articles of incorporation or the bylaws otherwise provide, may vote by proxy executed in writing by the member<\/span>, appointing some other member<\/span> to cast his vote, or may vote by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact<\/span><\/span>, who shall be a member<\/span>. If a member<\/span> is not voting in person<\/span>, by proxy, or by attorney-in-fact<\/span><\/span>, the spouse of such member<\/span> shall be entitled to vote for the member<\/span>, in person<\/span> or by proxy, if permitted by the articles of incorporation or bylaws. No proxy shall be valid after eleven months from its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy. When directors or officers are to be elected by members<\/span>, the bylaws may provide that such elections may be conducted by mail<\/span>. The liability of each member<\/span> shall be limited to the unpaid portion of his membership fee or subscription to capital stock, and any unpaid bills for telephone service<\/span> from the cooperative<\/span>. The equity<\/span> of members<\/span> of a nonstock cooperative<\/span> shall be in proportion to the revenue paid the cooperative<\/span> by each member<\/span>. A cooperative<\/span> shall be operated on a nonprofit basis for the mutual benefit of its members<\/span>. The bylaws of the cooperative<\/span> or its contract<\/span> with its members<\/span> shall contain such provisions relative to the disposition<\/span> of revenues and receipts as may be necessary and appropriate to establish and maintain its nonprofit and cooperative<\/span> character.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMEMBERSHIP; VOTING; NONPROFIT OPERATION (\u00a7 56-493)\n\nA cooperative may issue to its members certificates of membership. Only members\nshall be entitled to vote at the meetings of the members of the cooperative. A\nmember entitled to vote may vote in person or, unless the articles of\nincorporation or the bylaws otherwise provide, may vote by proxy executed in\nwriting by the member, appointing some other member to cast his vote, or may\nvote by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact, who shall be a member. If a member\nis not voting in person, by proxy, or by attorney-in-fact, the spouse of such\nmember shall be entitled to vote for the member, in person or by proxy, if\npermitted by the articles of incorporation or bylaws. No proxy shall be valid\nafter eleven months from its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy. When\ndirectors or officers are to be elected by members, the bylaws may provide that\nsuch elections may be conducted by mail. The liability of each member shall be\nlimited to the unpaid portion of his membership fee or subscription to capital\nstock, and any unpaid bills for telephone service from the cooperative. The\nequity of members of a nonstock cooperative shall be in proportion to the\nrevenue paid the cooperative by each member. A cooperative shall be operated on\na nonprofit basis for the mutual benefit of its members. The bylaws of the\ncooperative or its contract with its members shall contain such provisions\nrelative to the disposition of revenues and receipts as may be necessary and\nappropriate to establish and maintain its nonprofit and cooperative character.\n\nHISTORY: 1950, p. 591; 1956, c. 434; 1968, c. 100; 1992, c. 6; 1996, c. 708.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}