1374                           LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 649

association or associations formed in this or in any other state on a
cooperative basis for the carrying on of its business, or any part
thereof. Any two or more such associations may, by agreement
between them, unite in employing and using or may separately em-
ploy and use the same methods, means and agencies for carrying on
and conducting their respective business.

(b) Any such associations may use marketing agencies in com-
mon and their members may make necessary contracts and agree-
ments to effect such purposes.

359.    Bylaws—Amendment.

[Each association incorporated under this subtitle must,] [w]
Within thirty (30) days after [its incorporation] the acceptance for
record by the Department its articles of incorporation or its articles
of amendment and restatement of charter under Section 374 of this
Article, each association shall adopt, for its government and man-
agement [a code of] by-laws not inconsistent with the powers
granted by this subtitle or with its charter. [A majority vote] The
affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members or stockholders [,
or their written assent, is] voting in person or by written ballot shall
be necessary to adopt, alter, [or] amend or repeal such by-laws.
The original or a certified copy of the by-laws, including all amend-
ments, shall be kept at the principal office of the association in this
State.

360.    Directors.

(a)    The affairs of the association shall be managed by a board of
not less than five directors, at least two of whom shall be residents of
the State of Maryland and who shall be elected by the members or
stockholders from their own number [at such time and for such term
of office as the by-laws may prescribe].

(b)     Until the first annual meeting of members or stockholders
or until successors are duly elected and qualify, the board shall con-
sist of the persons named as such in the articles of incorporation, or
the incorporators, if no such persons are named. Unless otherwise
prescribed by the by-laws, the directors shall be elected at the first
annual meeting of members or stockholders and at each annual meet-
ing thereafter, to hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting
or until their successors are elected and qualify.

(c)    The by-laws may provide that the territory in which the
association has members shall be divided into districts and that the
directors shall be elected according to such districts by the members
residing respectively therein. In such case the by-laws shall specify
the number of directors to be elected [by] for each district[,] and
the manner and method of apportioning or reapportioning the direc-
tors and of districting or redistricting [the] said territory [cov-
ered by the association]. The by-laws shall provide that primary
elections shall be held in each district [to nominate] among a
number of [directors] candidates greater than the number of direc-
tors to be elected [in] for such district and the result of [all such]
the primary elections in the several districts must be ratified by
majority vote of the members or stockholders [present] voting in
person or by written ballot at the next regular meeting of the asso-
ciation.