Chapter 188

188.13(3) (3) Sections 180.0203 and 181.0203 shall not apply to corporations organized under this section. The provisions of this section shall apply to all corporations incorporated hereunder whether incorporated before or after March 28, 1939.

188.13 History History: 1975 c. 94; 1987 a. 20; 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 79; 2017 a. 275; s. 35.17 correction in (3).

188.14 188.14 Corporate powers of the Military Order of the World Wars. Any chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars in this state shall have full corporate power to transact business in this state upon filing with the department of financial institutions a full and complete list of its duly elected officers, and shall by so doing become a body corporate. No filing fees shall be charged by the department of financial institutions for so doing.

188.14 History History: 1995 a. 27.

188.15 188.15 Corporate powers of Marine Corps League and affiliates.

188.15(1) (1) Any detachment or state department of the Marine Corps League, organized and existing in this state pursuant to the acts of congress passed August 4, 1937, and the acts amendatory thereto, and any unit of the auxiliary of the Marine Corps League organized in this state and recognized by the local detachment, shall have full corporate power to transact business in this state, to take over the assets and liabilities of the existing detachments, units or departments, upon filing with the department of financial institutions a statement of its intent so to do and a full and complete list of its duly elected officers, and shall by so doing become a body corporate. No filing fee shall be charged by the department of financial institutions for so doing.

188.15(2) (2) All acts done by any department, detachment, unit, their auxiliaries or affiliated organizations so incorporated, or its constituted authorities, shall be considered acts of said department, detachment, unit, their auxiliaries or affiliated organizations, as a body corporate, and no personal liability shall be attached to any member therefor.

188.15(3) (3) Sections 180.0203 and 181.0203 shall not apply to corporations organized under this section. In the execution of any conveyance or encumbrance by such corporations, the detachment or department commandant and the detachment or department adjutant or senior vice commandant, or like or similar officers, shall have the powers and duties granted to presidents and secretaries, respectively, under s. 706.03 (2) and (3). The provisions of this section shall apply to all corporations incorporated hereunder whether incorporated before or after June 4, 1941.

188.15(4) (4) Any department or detachment of the Marine Corps League in this state shall be incorporated under this section. Any corporation organized under this section is subordinate to the national Marine Corps League and is a corporation described under section 501 (c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code that is exempt from taxation under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

188.15(5) (5) 

188.15(5)(a) (a) By October 1 of each year, each detachment of the Marine Corps League in this state that is incorporated under this section, including any unit, auxiliary, or affiliate of such a detachment, shall file an annual report with the Marine Corps League, department of Wisconsin, as incorporated under this section, showing the elected officers of the detachment.

188.15(5)(b) (b) The Marine Corps League, department of Wisconsin, shall file a consolidated annual report under s. 188.25 that includes information of the department and of each detachment that files a report under par. (a).

188.15 History History: 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 79; 2013 a. 102; s. 35.17 correction in (3).

188.16 188.16 Corporate powers of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

188.16(1) (1) Any chapter, county or district council or department composed exclusively of persons who were awarded the medal known as the Purple Heart organized in this state pursuant to the constitution and bylaws of the national organization of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and any unit, county or district council or department of the auxiliary of the Military Order of the Purple Heart organized in this state shall have full corporate power to transact business in this state and to take over the assets and liabilities of the existing chapters, units, county or district councils, or departments upon filing with the department of financial institutions a statement of its intent so to do and a full and complete list of its duly elected officers and thereupon it shall become a body corporate. No filing fee shall be charged by the department of financial institutions for so doing.

188.16(2) (2) All acts done by any chapter, unit, county or district council or department, so incorporated, or its constituted authorities, shall be considered acts of such chapter, unit, county or district council or department, as a corporate body, and no personal liability shall be attached to any member therefor.

188.16(3) (3) Sections 180.0203 and 181.0203 shall not apply to corporations organized under this section. In the execution of any conveyance or encumbrance by such corporations, the chapter, county or district, or department commander, and the chapter, county or district council, or department adjutant, or like or similar officers, shall have the powers and duties granted to presidents and secretaries respectively under s. 706.03 (2) and (3). The provisions of subs. (1) and (2) shall apply to all corporations incorporated thereunder whether incorporated before or after March 28, 1943.

188.16(4) (4) Any chapter, county, district council, department or other unit of the Military Order of the Purple Heart or of the auxiliary of the Military Order of the Purple Heart which has become a body corporate under the provisions of this section may change its name or dissolve by the adoption of a written resolution to that effect, by a vote of a majority of its members present at a meeting called for that purpose and by filing the same as herein provided. Such resolution, with a certificate thereto affixed, signed by the commander and adjutant, or like or similar officers, stating the facts, including the date of the adoption of such resolution, the number of members present at such meeting, and the number of members who voted for the adoption of the resolution, shall be forwarded to and filed with the department of financial institutions, and thereupon the name of such corporation shall be changed or the corporation shall cease to exist, as the case may be, except that in case of dissolution it shall continue to exist for the purpose of winding up its affairs. No fee shall be charged by the department of financial institutions for such filing.

188.16 History History: 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 79.

188.17 188.17 Corporate powers of Navy Club.

188.17(1) (1) Any unit, department or auxiliary of the Navy Club of the United States of America organized in this state under 36 USC 140 to 140c shall have full corporate power to transact business in this state and to take over the assets and liabilities of existing navy clubs and navy club auxiliaries upon filing with the department of financial institutions a statement of its intent so to do and a full and complete list of its duly elected officers and shall by so doing become a body corporate. No filing fee shall be charged by the department of financial institutions for so doing.

188.17(2) (2) All acts done by any such corporation or its constituted authorities shall be considered acts of said corporation as a body corporate and no personal liability shall be attached to any member therefor.

188.17(3) (3) Sections 180.0203 and 181.0203 shall not apply to corporations organized under this section. In the execution of any conveyance or encumbrance by such corporation the commandant and the ship’s writer, or like or similar officers, shall have the powers and duties granted to presidents and secretaries respectively under s. 706.03 (2) and (3). The provisions of this section shall apply to all corporations incorporated hereunder whether incorporated before or after April 8, 1943.

188.17 History History: 1981 c. 391; 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 79; s. 35.17 correction in (3).

188.18 188.18 Corporate powers of Reserve Officers Association.

188.18(1) (1) The department of Wisconsin and any chapter or unit of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States, organized in this state pursuant to the constitution, bylaws and rules and regulations of such association or such department, shall have full corporate power to transact business in this state and to take over the assets and liabilities of the existing department, chapters or other units upon filing with the department of financial institutions, a statement of its intention so to do, its name, location and a full and complete list of its duly elected officers, and by so doing shall become a body corporate. No filing fees shall be charged by the department of financial institutions for so doing.

188.18(2) (2) All acts done by the department or any chapter or other unit so incorporated or its constituted authorities shall be considered acts of such department, chapter or other unit as a body corporate and no personal liability shall be attached to any member thereof. The provisions of ss. 180.0203 and 181.0203 shall not apply to corporations organized under this section.

188.18(3) (3) Any department, chapter or other unit which has become a body corporate under the provisions of this section, whenever its constitution or bylaws do not provide the manner in which its name shall be changed or the dissolution effected, may change its name or dissolve by a majority vote of its members at a meeting called for that purpose. A certificate signed by the president and secretary stating the facts shall be filed with the department of financial institutions, and thereupon the name shall be changed or the corporation shall cease to exist except for the purpose of winding up its affairs. No filing fee shall be charged for such filing.

188.18 History History: 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 79.

188.19 188.19 Corporate powers of American Veterans of World War II (AMVETS).

188.19(1) (1) Any post, county, district council, and department of the American Veterans of World War II (AMVETS) organized in this state pursuant to the acts of congress passed July 23, 1947 and the acts amendatory thereto, and any unit, county or district council, and department of the auxiliary of the American Veterans of World War II (AMVETS) organized in this state, shall have full corporate power to transact business in this state and to take over the assets and liabilities of the existing posts, units, county or district councils, or departments upon filing with the department of financial institutions a statement of its intent so to do, and a full and complete list of its duly elected officers, and shall by so doing become a body corporate. No filing fee shall be charged by the department of financial institutions.

188.19(2) (2) All acts done by any post, unit, county or district council, or department so incorporated, or its constituted authorities, shall be considered acts of said post, unit, county or district council, or department, as a body corporate, and no personal liability shall be attached to any member therefor.

188.19(3) (3) Sections 180.0203 and 181.0203 shall not apply to corporations organized under this section. In the execution of any conveyance or encumbrance by such corporations, the post, county or district, or department commander, or the post, county or district council, or department adjutant or like or similar officers, shall have the powers and duties granted to presidents and secretaries respectively under s. 706.03 (2) and (3).

188.19 History History: 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 79; s. 35.17 correction in (3).

188.20 188.20 Changing names and dissolving units. Any post, county, district council, department or other unit of the American Veterans of World War II (AMVETS) or of the auxiliary of the American Veterans of World War II (AMVETS) which has become a body corporate under the provisions of s. 188.19 may change its name or dissolve by the adoption of a written resolution to that effect by a vote of a majority of its members present at a meeting called for that purpose and by filing the same as herein provided. Such resolution, with a certificate thereto affixed, signed by the commander and adjutant, or like or similar officers, stating the fact, including the date of the adoption of such resolution, the number of members present at such meeting, and the number of members who voted for the adoption of the resolution, shall be forwarded to and filed with the department of financial institutions, and thereupon the name of such corporation shall be changed or the corporation shall cease to exist, as the case may be. Or any corporation formed under s. 188.19 may be dissolved by the filing of a certificate in the office of the department of financial institutions reciting that such corporation has ceased to be a unit of the American Veterans of World War II (AMVETS) auxiliary. Such certificate shall be signed by the national commander and national adjutant of the American Veterans of World War II (AMVETS) or by the state commander and state adjutant of the American Veterans of World War II (AMVETS) department of Wisconsin. In the case of units of the auxiliary the certificates shall be signed by the national president and national secretary or the department president and department secretary. Corporations dissolved under this section shall continue to have corporate existence, subject to the limitations on their activities under s. 181.1405. No fee shall be charged by the department of financial institutions for such filing.

188.20 History History: 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 79.

188.21 188.21 Corporate powers of the Veterans of World War I of the U.S.A., Inc.

188.21(1) (1) The department of Wisconsin and any post, unit, barracks, department or auxiliary of the American Veterans of World War I of the U.S.A., Inc. organized in this state pursuant to the acts of congress passed July 18, 1958 (P.L. 85-530) (72 Stats. at Large pp. 370-375) and the acts amendatory thereto, shall have full corporate power to transact business in this state and to take over the assets and liabilities of the existing department of Wisconsin, posts, barracks, units, departments or auxiliaries of the Veterans of World War I of the U.S.A., Inc. upon filing with the department of financial institutions a statement of its intent so to do, and a full and complete list of its duly elected officers, and shall by so doing become a body corporate. No filing fee shall be charged by the department of financial institutions.

188.21(2) (2) All acts done by the department of Wisconsin or by any post, barracks, unit, department or auxiliary so incorporated, or its constituted authorities, shall be considered acts of said department of Wisconsin, post, unit, department or auxiliary, as a body corporate, and no personal liability shall be attached to any member therefor.

188.21(3) (3) Sections 180.0203 and 181.0203 shall not apply to corporations organized under this section. In the execution of any conveyance or encumbrance by such corporations, the department of Wisconsin, post, barracks, unit, department or auxiliary commander, and adjutant or like or similar officers, shall have the powers and duties granted to presidents and secretaries respectively under s. 706.03 (2) and (3).

188.21(4) (4) Section 188.20, so far as applicable, shall apply to corporations formed under this section.

188.21 History History: 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 79; s. 35.17 correction in (3).

188.22 188.22 Corporate powers of the Jewish War Veterans.

188.22(1) (1) Any post, county or district council or department of the Jewish War Veterans organized in this state pursuant to the constitution, bylaws and rules and regulations of said organization shall have full corporate powers to transact business in this state and to take over the assets and liabilities of the existing posts, units, county or district councils or departments upon filing with the department of financial institutions a statement of its intent to do so and a full and complete list of its duly elected officers. By so doing such organization shall become a body corporate. No filing fee shall be charged by the department of financial institutions.

188.22(2) (2) All acts done by any post, unit, county or district council or department so incorporated or its constituted authorities shall be considered acts of said post, unit, county or district council or department as a body corporate and no personal liability shall attach to any member thereof.

188.22(3) (3) Sections 180.0203 and 181.0203 shall not apply to corporations organized under this section. In the execution of any conveyance or encumbrance by such corporation the post, county or district or department commander and the post, county or district council or department adjutant, or like or similar officers, shall have the powers and duties granted to presidents and secretaries respectively under s. 706.03 (2) and (3). This section shall apply to all corporations incorporated hereunder whether incorporated before or after May 14, 1937.

188.22 History History: 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 79.

188.23 188.23 Corporate powers of the Polish Legion of American Veterans.

188.23(1) (1) Any post, county or district council or department of the Polish Legion of American Veterans (P.L.A.V.) organized in this state pursuant to the constitution, bylaws and rules and regulations of said organization, and any unit, county or district council or department of the auxiliary of the Polish Legion of American Veterans, shall have full corporate powers to transact business in this state and to take over the assets and liabilities of the existing posts, units, county or district councils or departments upon filing with the department of financial institutions a statement of its intent to do so and a full and complete list of its duly elected officers. By so doing such organization shall become a body corporate. No filing fee shall be charged by the department of financial institutions.

188.23(2) (2) All acts done by any post, unit, county or district council or department so incorporated or its constituted authorities shall be considered acts of said post, unit, county or district council or department as a body corporate and no personal liability shall attach to any member thereof.

188.23(3) (3) Sections 180.0203 and 181.0203 shall not apply to corporations organized under this section. In the execution of any conveyance or encumbrance by such corporation the post, county or district or department commander and the post, county or district council or department adjutant, or like or similar officers, shall have the powers and duties granted to presidents and secretaries respectively under s. 706.03 (2) and (3). This section shall apply to all corporations incorporated hereunder whether incorporated before or after May 14, 1937.

188.23 History History: 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 79.

188.235 188.235 Corporate powers of the Army and Navy Union of the U.S.A.

188.235(1) (1) Any post, county or district council or department of the Army and Navy Union of the U.S.A. organized in this state pursuant to the constitution, bylaws and rules and regulations of said organization shall have full corporate powers to transact business in this state and to take over the assets and liabilities of the existing posts, units, county or district councils or departments upon filing with the department of financial institutions a statement of its intent to do so and a full and complete list of its duly elected officers. By so doing such organization shall become a body corporate. No filing fee shall be charged by the department of financial institutions.

188.235(2) (2) All acts done by any post, unit, county or district council or department so incorporated or its constituted authorities shall be considered acts of said post, unit, county or district council or department as a body corporate and no personal liability shall attach to any member thereof.

188.235(3) (3) Sections 180.0203 and 181.0203 shall not apply to corporations organized under this section. In the execution of any conveyance or encumbrance by such corporation the post, county or district or department commander and the post, county or district council or department adjutant, or like or similar officers, shall have the powers and duties granted to presidents and secretaries respectively under s. 706.03 (2) and (3).

188.235 History History: 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 79.

188.24 188.24 Corporate powers of the Catholic War Veterans.

188.24(1) (1) Any post, county or district council or department of the Catholic War Veterans organized in this state pursuant to the constitution, bylaws and rules and regulations of said organization shall have full corporate powers to transact business in this state and to take over the assets and liabilities of the existing posts, units, county or district councils or departments upon filing with the department of financial institutions a statement of its intent to do so and a full and complete list of its duly elected officers. By so doing such organization shall become a body corporate. No filing fee shall be charged by the department of financial institutions.

188.24(2) (2) All acts done by any post, unit, county or district council or department so incorporated or its constituted authorities shall be considered acts of said post, unit, county or district council or department as a body corporate and no personal liability shall attach to any member thereof.

188.24(3) (3) Sections 180.0203 and 181.0203 shall not apply to corporations organized under this section. In the execution of any conveyance or encumbrance by such corporation the post, county or district or department commander and the post, county or district council or department adjutant, or like or similar officers, shall have the powers and duties granted to presidents and secretaries respectively under s. 706.03 (2) and (3). This section shall apply to all corporations incorporated hereunder whether incorporated before or after May 14, 1937.

188.24 History History: 1989 a. 303; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 79.

188.25 188.25 Annual reports of veterans’ organizations. Subject to s. 188.15 (5), the state organization of any veterans’ society or society affiliate which has a unit incorporated under this chapter shall file with the department of financial institutions on or before January 1 an annual report showing the elected officers of the state organization. No filing fee shall be charged. The secretary of any such state organization shall on request furnish the department of financial institutions information about subordinate units. Subject to s. 188.15 (5), if any veterans’ society or society affiliate has no state organization each unit incorporated under this chapter shall file an annual report of the elected officers with the department of financial institutions on or before January 1.

188.25 History History: 1995 a. 27; 2013 a. 102.

188.26 188.26 Veterans; corporations. Whenever any corporation is formed under ch. 180 or 181 or this chapter for the purpose of assisting any veteran, as defined in s. 45.01 (12), or a person under s. 45.51 (2) (a) 2., or operating social clubs in which the name “veteran” appears, the department of financial institutions shall investigate the same to ascertain the character thereof, and whether or not the same has been procured by fraudulent representation or concealment of any material fact relating to such veteran’s name, purpose, membership, organization, management or control or other material fact. If the department of financial institutions so finds, such findings, misrepresentation or concealment shall be reported to the attorney general, and the attorney general shall bring an action to vacate or annul the corporate charter.

188.26 History History: 1979 c. 32 s. 92 (6); 1983 a. 430; 1995 a. 27, 400; 2005 a. 22.