(a) Unless the articles or bylaws provide otherwise, the board of directors may create one (1) or more committees. A committee may consist of one (1) member. All members of committees of the board of directors who exercise powers of the board of directors must be members of the board of directors and serve at the pleasure of the board of directors.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 43-38-615

  • board of directors: means the board of directors of a cooperative. See Tennessee Code 43-38-103
  • Bylaws: means a written agreement described in §. See Tennessee Code 43-38-103
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Cooperative: means an association organized under this title conducting business on a cooperative plan as provided under this chapter. See Tennessee Code 43-38-103
  • Majority: means , with respect to a vote of the members, if voting on a per capita basis, a majority in number of the members entitled to vote on a specific matter, or if the voting is determined otherwise, a majority of the voting interest, which may be expressed as a percentage, entitled to vote on a specific matter, and with respect to a vote of the directors, a majority in number of the directors entitled to vote on a specific matter. See Tennessee Code 43-38-103
  • Member: means a person or entity reflected on the books of the cooperative as the owner of governance rights of a membership interest of the cooperative and includes patron and nonpatron members. See Tennessee Code 43-38-103
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
(b) The creation of a committee and appointment of a member or members to it must be approved by the greater of:

(1) A majority of all the directors in office when the action is taken; or
(2) The number of directors required by the articles or bylaws to take action under § 43-38-613.
(c) Sections 43-38-612 – 43-38-614, which govern meetings, action without meetings, notice and waiver of notice, and quorum and voting requirements of the board of directors, apply to committees and their members as well.
(d) To the extent specified by the board of directors or in the articles or bylaws, each committee may exercise the authority of the board of directors under § 43-38-603.
(e) A committee may not:

(1) Authorize distributions, except according to a formula or method prescribed by the board of directors;
(2) Fill vacancies on the board of directors or on any of its committees;
(3) Adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws; or
(4) Authorize or approve the issuance or sale or contract for sale of shares or determine the designation and relative rights, preferences, and limitation of a class or series of shares, except that the board of directors may authorize a committee, or senior executive officer of the cooperative, to do so within limits specifically prescribed by the board of directors.
(f) The creation of, delegation of authority to, or action by a committee does not alone constitute compliance by a director with the standards of conduct described in § 43-38-616.