By-Laws

ARTICLE I

MEMBERSHIP

SECTION l. REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP. Any person, firm, association,

corporation, or body politic or subdivision thereof may become a member of Piedmont

Telephone Membership Corporation (hereinafter called the “corporation”) by:

(a) Being at least 18 years of age;

(b) Presenting positive identification;

hereinafter specified;

(d) agreeing to comply with and be bound by the certificate of incorporation and

bylaws of the Corporation and any rules and regulations adopted by the Board of

Directors hereinafter called the “Board”), and

(e) agreeing to pay a non-refundable membership fee hereinafter specified on uniform

terms and conditions established by the Board;

No person, firm, association, corporation or body politic or subdivision thereof may hold

more than one membership in the corporation, and no membership shall be transferable,

except as provided in these bylaws.

SECTION 2. MEMBERSHIP NUMBER. Each membership in the Corporation shall be

assigned a membership number.

SECTION 3. JOINT MEMBERSHIP. A husband and wife may apply for a joint

membership and subject to their compliance with the requirements of Section l of this

Article, may be accepted for such membership. The term “member” as used in these

bylaws shall be deemed to include a husband and wife holding a joint membership and any

provisions relating to the rights and liabilities of membership shall apply equally with

respect to the holder of a joint membership. Without limiting the generality of the

foregoing, the effect of the hereinafter specified actions by or in respect of the holders of a

joint membership shall be as follows:

(a) The presence at a meeting of either or both shall be regarded as the presence of one

member and shall constitute a joint waiver of notice of meeting;

(b) The vote of either separately or both jointly shall constitute one joint vote;

(d) Notice to either shall constitute notice to both;

(e) Expulsion of either shall terminate the joint membership;

(f) Withdrawal of either shall terminate the joint membership;

(g) Either but not both may be elected or appointed an officer or director provided that

both meet the qualifications for such office.

SECTION 4. MEMBERSHIP AND SERVICE CONNEC-TION FEES. The nonrefundable

membership fee shall be TEN DOLLARS ($l0.00).

SECTION 5. PURCHASE OF SERVICE. Each member shall, as soon as

communication or media service is available, take service from the Corporation to be used

on the premises specified in his application for membership, and shall pay therefore

monthly at rates which shall from time to time be fixed by the Board. It is expressly

understood that amounts paid for communications or media service in excess of the cost of

service are furnished by members as capital and each member shall be credited with capital

so furnished as provided in these bylaws. Each member shall pay all amounts owed by him

to the Corporation as and when the same shall become due and payable.

SECTION 6. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP.

(a) Any member may withdraw from membership upon compliance with such uniform

terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe. The Board may, by the

affirmative vote of not less than a majority of all the directors expel any member

who fails to comply with any of the provisions of the certificate of incorporation,

bylaws, or any rules or regulations adopted by the Board, but only if such member

shall have been given written notice by the Corporation that such failure makes him

liable to expulsion and such failure shall have continued for at least ten days after

such notice was given. Any expelled member may be reinstated by vote of the

Board or by vote of the members at any annual or special meeting. The membership

of a member who has permitted the installation of service within thirty (30) days

after he has been notified service is available to him, or of a member who has ceased

to purchase communications or media service from the Corporation may be

canceled by resolution of the Board.

(b) Upon the withdrawal, death, cessation of existence or expulsion of a member, the

membership of such member shall thereupon terminate. Termination of membership

in any manner shall not release a member or his estate from any debts due the

corporation.

ARTICLE II

SECTION l. PROPERTY INTEREST OF MEMBERS. Upon dissolution, after

(a) all debts and liabilities of the Corporation shall have been paid and

(b) all capital furnished through patronage shall have been retired as provided in these

bylaws, the remaining properties and assets of the Corporation shall be distributed

in accordance with the applicable provisions of law.

SECTION 2. NON-LIABILITY FOR DEBTS OF THE CORPORATION. The

private property of the members shall be exempt from execution or other liability for the

debts of the Corporation and no member shall be liable or responsible for any debts or

liabilities of the Corporation.

ARTICLE III

MEETING OF MEMBERS

SECTION l. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the members shall be held on

the third Saturday in March of each year, beginning with the year l952, at any place within

the counties served by the Corporation as shall be designated in the Notice of the meeting,

for the purpose of electing directors, passing upon reports for the previous fiscal year and

transacting such other business as may come before the meeting. It shall be the

responsibility of the Board to make adequate plans and preparations for the annual meeting.

Failure to hold the annual meeting at the designated time shall not work a forfeiture or

dissolution of the Corporation.

SECTION 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the members may be called

by resolution of the Board, or upon a written request signed by any three directors, by the

President, or by not less than 200 members or ten per centum of all the members,

whichever shall be the lesser, and it shall thereupon be the duty of the Secretary to cause

notice of such meeting to be given as hereinafter provided. Special meetings of the

members may be held at any place within the counties served by the Corporation, specified

in the notice of the special meetings.

SECTION 3. NOTICE OF MEMBERS’ MEETINGS. Written notice stating the place,

day and hour of the meeting and, in case of a special meeting or an annual meeting at which

business requiring special notice is to be transacted, the purpose or purposes for which the

meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than ten days nor more than twenty days

before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the

Secretary, or upon a default in duty by the Secretary, by the persons calling the meeting, to

each member. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the

United States mail, addressed to he member at his address as it appears on the records of

the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. The failure of any member to receive notice

of an annual or special meeting of the members shall not invalidate any action which may

be taken by the members at any such meeting.

SECTION 4. QUORUM. That fifty members or one per centum of the members present

in person, whichever shall be the larger, shall constitute a quorum. If less than a quorum is

present at any meeting, a majority of these present in person may adjourn the meeting from

time to time without further notice. The minutes of each meeting shall contain a list of the

members present in person.

SECTION 5. VOTING. Each member shall be entitled to only one vote upon each matter

submitted to a vote at a meeting of the members. All questions shall be decided by vote of

a majority of the members voting thereon in person except as otherwise provided by law or

the certificate of incorporation. Voting may be by written ballot or voting machine. When

any matters or questions are presented to the members requiring the vote of the members by

written ballot, no ballot shall be cast until the matters in question shall have been submitted

and explained to the members.

SECTION 6. WHO MAY VOTE. Each membership shall have one vote, and the person

authorized to cast that one vote shall be:

(a) the named member;

(b) A relative, who is at least l8 years of age, living in the same home as the member;

(d) memberships in the name of any organization, club or church may be voted by any

officer of the organization, club or church;

(e) a membership in the name of a public or private school may be voted by the

principal, or assistant principal of the school, or by any member of the faculty;

(f) a membership in the name of a governmental agency or subdivision (other than a

school), shall be voted by an official of that agency or subdivision;

(g) a membership in the name of a solely owned business shall be voted by the owner of

the said business or his or her spouse;

(h) a membership in the name of a partnership may be voted by any one of the partners.

SECTION 7. CAMPAIGNING. Any nominee for a director may campaign as he sees fit.

However, there shall be no campaigning or handing out of literature inside the building

where the members are voting, except in the event of inclement weather. In the event of

inclement weather, the Elections Credentials Committee shall designate an area inside the

building and all campaigning and handing out of materials shall be limited to this area.

SECTION 8. ORDER OF BUSINESS. The order of business at the annual meeting of

the members and, so far as possible, at all other meetings of the members, shall be

essentially as follows except as otherwise determined by the members at such meetings.

1. Report on the number of members present in person in order to determine the

existence of a quorum.

2. Reading of the notice of the meeting and proof of the due publication or mailing

thereof, or the waiver or waivers of notice of the meeting, as the case may be.

3. Reading of unapproved minutes of previous meetings of the members and the taking

of necessary action thereon.

4. Presentation and consideration of reports of officers, directors and committees.

5. Report of Election.

6. Unfinished Business.

7. New Business.

8. Adjournment.

SECTION 9. ELECTION AND CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE.

If more members are nominated for directors than vacancies to be filled, the Board of

Directors shall, at least ten (l0) days before any meeting of the members, appoint a

Credentials and Elections Committee consisting of an uneven number of members, not less

than five (5) nor more than fifteen (l5), and who are not close relatives or members of the

same household of, existing directors or known candidates for directors to be elected at

such meeting. In appointing the Committee, the Board shall have regard for equitable

representation of the several areas served by the Corporation. The Committee shall elect its

own chairman and secretary prior to the member meeting. It shall be the responsibility of

the Committee to approve the manner of conducting member registration and any ballot

voting, to pass upon all questions that may arise with respect to the registration of members

in person, to count all ballots cast in any election or in any other ballot vote taken, to rule

upon the effect of any ballots irregularly or indecisively marked, and to pass upon any

protest or objection filed with respect to any election or conduct affecting the results of any

election. In the event a protest or objection is filed concerning any election, such protest or

objection must be filed within three (3) business days following the adjournment of the

meeting in which the election is conducted. The Committee shall thereupon be reconvened,

upon notice from its chairman, not less than seven (7) days after such protest or objection is

filed. The Committee shall hear such evidence as is presented by the protector(s) or

objector(s) who may be heard in person, by counsel, or both; and the Committee, by a vote

of a majority of those present and voting, shall, within a reasonable time but not later than

thirty (30) days after such hearing, render its decision, which may be either to affirm or

change the results of the election or to set aside such election. The Committee’s decision

(as reflected by a majority of those actually present and voting) on all such matters shall be

final.

ARTICLE IV

DIRECTORS

SECTION l. GENERAL POWERS. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be

managed by a Board of Directors which shall exercise all of the powers of the Corporation

except such as by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws conferred upon or

reserved to the members. The Board of Directors may, from time to time, act through an

“Executive Committee.” The Executive Committee shall be made up of the President,

Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Any action taken by the “Executive Committee”

shall be deemed action taken by the entire Board of Directors unless such action is repealed

at the next regular or special meeting of the entire Board of Directors.

SECTION 2. ELECTION AND TENURE OF OFFICE.

The areas served by the Piedmont Telephone Membership Corporation shall be divided into

eight Districts as follows:

District No. 1 — All members served by the Level Cross Exchange

District No. 2 — All members served by the Westfield Exchange

District No. 3 — All members served by the Zephyr Exchange

District No. 4 — All members served by the Beulah Exchange

District No. 5 — All members served by the Red Brush Exchange

District No. 6 — All members served by the Shoals Exchange

District No. 7 _ All members served by the Reeds Exchange

District No. 8__All members served by the Churchland Exchange

There shall be one (1) director from each of the eight Districts for a total of eight (8)

directors of the company

Directors shall be nominated and elected by the members. Directors shall be elected by

secret ballot when there are more nominations than vacancies. Directors shall be elected by

a plurality vote of the members representing a quorum

SECTION 3. QUALIFICATION. No person shall be eligible to become or remain a

director of the Corporation who:

(a) is not a member and is not presently residing in the area served or to be served by

the Corporation; or

(b) is employed by the Corporation, or its subsidiary(s), or a competing enterprise or

has been employed by the Corporation, or its subsidiary(s), at any time during the

ten years preceding the date of the election or financially interested in a competing

enterprise or a business engaged in selling communication services or supplies, or

constructing or maintaining communication facilities, other than a business

operating on a corporate, non-profit basis for the purpose of furthering rural

telephony and/or communications.

Upon establishment of the fact that a director is holding office in violation of any of the

foregoing provisions, the Board shall remove such director from office. Nothing contained

in this section shall effect in manner whatsoever the validity of any action taken at any

meeting of the Board.

SECTION 4. NOMINATIONS. It shall be the duty of the Board at the regular Board

meeting held in November of each year to appoint a committee on nominations consisting

of not less than five (5) nor more than eleven (11) members who shall be selected from

different districts so as to insure equitable representation. A list of the persons named to

the nominating committee and the date and place set for their initial meeting shall be sent to

the members prior to the date for the initial meeting of this nominating committee. No

member of the Board shall serve on the nominating committee. The nominating committee,

keeping in mind the principal of district representation, shall prepare and post at the

principal office of the Corporation on or before January 20 of each year a list of all

nominations for directors, which shall include at least one (l) candidate for each director to

be elected. Seventy-five (75) members residing in the district for which an election for

director is to be held may nominate by written petition a nominee for director from that

district. This nominee must reside in the district for which the election of a director is to be

held and shall have held a membership in the Corporation for at least one year prior to the

filing of the petition in the office of the Corporation. A written petition for nomination

shall be filed in any office of the Corporation on or before l2:00 noon, February l5, unless

the l5th falls on a Saturday or Sunday, then in that event, the deadline shall be l2:00 noon

on the Monday following February l5. (Each petition is subject to verification.)

Any member that has been nominated for director may withdraw his name as a nominee for

director by filing a written notice with the Corporation ten (10) days prior to the holding of

the annual meeting of the members. All nominees, with the exception of such nominees

who have withdrawn, will be voted on at the annual meeting.

The Secretary of the Corporation shall post all nominations for director, including

nominations by written petition and nominations by the nominations committee, at the

office of the Corporation. In addition to the posting of the nominations, the Secretary shall

mail with a notice of the meeting or separately, but at least ten (l0) days before the date of

the meeting, a statement of the number of directors to be elected and the names and the

addresses of the candidate, specifying the nominations made by the committee and the

nominations made by petition, if any. The ballot or voting machine to be used at the

election shall list the names of the candidates nominated by the committee and the names of

the candidates nominated by petition, if any. No members may nominate more than one

candidate. There shall be no nominations from the floor. All nominations for directors

shall be in accordance with this Article 4, Section 4.

SECTION 5. REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS BY MEMBERS. Any member may bring

charges against a director and by filing with the Secretary such charges in writing together

with a petition signed by at least ten per centum of the members, or two hundred members,

whichever is lesser, may request the removal of such director by reason thereof. Such

director shall be informed in writing of the charges at least ten days prior to the meeting of

the members at which the charges are to be considered and shall have an opportunity at the

meeting to be heard in person or by counsel and to present evidence in respect of the

charges; and the person or persons bringing the charges against him shall have the same

opportunity. The question of the removal of such director shall be considered and voted

upon at the meeting of the members and any vacancy created by such removal may be filled

by vote of the members at such meeting without compliance with the foregoing provisions

with respect to nominations.

SECTION 6. VACANCIES. Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws with respect to

the filling of vacancies caused by the removal of directors by the members, and also subject

to the provisions of SECTION 2 of this Article, a vacancy occurring on the Board shall,

within ninety (90) days be filled by the affirmative vote of the majority of the remaining

directors for the unexpired portion of the term. A vacancy must be filled by a member from

the district in which the vacancy exists or, in the case of a “director-at-large” reside in any

of the six districts. The Executive Committee shall act as a nominating committee to

recommend to the full Board of Directors the name or names of potential directors to fill

the vacancy created by the death or resignation of a sitting director.

SECTION 7. COMPENSATION. Directors shall not receive any salary or compensation

for services as directors, except as is authorized by resolution of the Board.

SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION. Every director, officer or employee or former

director, officer or employee of the corporation shall be indemnified by the corporation

against all expenses and liabilities, including counsel fees, reasonably incurred or imposed

upon him in connection with any proceeding to which he may be made a party, or in which

he may become involved, by reason of his being or having been a director, officer or

employee of the corporation or any settlement thereof, whether or not he is a director,

officer or employee at the time such expenses are incurred, except in such cases wherein

the director, officer or employee is adjudged guilty of negligence of misconduct in the

performance of his duties. Provided, however, that in the event of a settlement the

indemnification herein shall apply only when the Board of Directors approves such

settlement and reimbursement as being to the best interest of the corporation. The

foregoing right of indemnification shall be in addition to and not exclusive of all other

rights to which such director, officer or employee may be entitled.

ARTICLE V

MEETING OF DIRECTORS

SECTION l. REGULAR MEETINGS. A regular meeting of the Board shall be held

without notice, immediately after the meeting of the members. A regular meeting of the

Board shall also be held monthly at such date, time, and place within the counties served by

the Corporation as the Board of Directors may provide by resolution from time to time.

SECTION 2. SPECIAL MEETING. Special meeting of the Board of Directors may be

called by the President or by any three directors, and it shall thereupon be the duty of the

Secretary to cause notice of such meeting to be given as hereinafter provided. The

President or the directors calling the meeting shall fix the time and place (which shall be

within the counties served by the Corporation), for the holding of the meeting.

SECTION 3. NOTICE OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS. Written notice of the time,

place and purpose of any special meeting of the Board shall be delivered to each director

not less than five days previous thereto either personally or by mail, by or at the direction

of the Secretary, or upon a default in duty by the Secretary, by the President or the directors

calling the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited

in the United States mail addressed to the director at his address as it appears on the records

of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid.

SECTION 4. QUORUM. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum provided,

that if less than such majority of the directors is present at said meeting, a majority of the

directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time; and provide further, that the

Secretary shall notify any absent directors of the time and place of such adjourned meeting.

The act of a majority of the directors in office shall be the act of the Board.

ARTICLE VI

OFFICERS

SECTION l. NUMBER. The officers of the Corporation shall be a President, Vice

President, Secretary, Treasurer, and such other officers as may be determined by the Board

from time to time. The offices of Secretary and of Treasurer may be held by the same

person.

SECTION 2. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE. The officers shall be elected by

ballot annually by and from the Board at the meeting of the Board held immediately after

the annual meeting of the members. If the election of officers shall not be held at such

meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as conveniently may be. Each

officer shall hold office until the first meeting of the Board following the next succeeding

annual meeting of the members or until his successor shall have been elected and shall have

qualified. Except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, the vacancy in any office shall be

filled by the Board for the unexpired portion of the term.

SECTION 3. REMOVAL OF OFFICERS AND AGENTS BY DIRECTORS. Any

officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board may be removed by the Board whenever

in its judgment the best interest of the Corporation will be served thereby. In addition, any

member of the Corporation may bring charges against an officer and by filing with the

Secretary such charges in writing together with a petition signed by ten per centum of the

members, or two hundred members, whichever is the lesser, may request the removal of

such officer. The officer against whom such charges have been brought shall be informed

in writing of the charges at least ten days prior to the Board meeting at which the charges

are to be considered and shall have an opportunity at the meeting to be heard in person or

by counsel and to present evidence in respect of the charges; and the person or persons

bringing the charges against him shall have the same opportunity. In the event the Board

does not remove such officer, the question of his removal shall be considered and voted

upon at the next meeting of the members.

SECTION 4. PRESIDENT. The President shall:

(a) be the principal executive officer of the Corporation and, unless otherwise

determined by the members or the Board, shall preside at all meetings of the

members and the Board,

(b) may sign any deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, notes, bonds, contracts or other

instruments authorized by the Board to be executed, except in cases in which the

signing and executing thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board or by these

bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation, or shall be required by law

to be otherwise signed or executed; and

duties as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.

SECTION 5. VICE PRESIDENT. In the absence of the President, or in the event of his

inability or refusal to act, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President, and

when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the

President. The Vice President shall also perform such other duties as from time to time may

be assigned to him by the Board.

SECTION 6. SECRETARY. The Secretary shall:

(a) keep the minutes of the meetings of the members and of the Board in one or more

books provided for that purpose

(b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with these bylaws or as required by

laws;

the seal of the corporation to all documents, the execution of which on behalf of

the Corporation under its seal is duly authorized in accordance with the provisions

of these bylaws or at the direction of the Board of Directors;

(d) keep a register of the names and post office addresses of all members;

(e) have general charge of the books of the Corporation;

(f) keep on file at all times a complete copy of the certificate of incorporation and

bylaws of the Corporation containing all amendments thereto (which copy shall

always be open to the inspection of any member and at the expense of the

Corporation, forward a copy of the bylaws and of all amendments thereto each

member; and

(g) in general perform all duties incident to the Office of Secretary and such other

duties as from time to time be assigned to him by the Board.

SECTION 7. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall:

(a) have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the

Corporation;

(b) be responsible for the receipt of and the issuance of receipts for all monies due and

payable to the Corporation and for the deposit of all such monies in the name of

the Corporation in such bank or banks as shall be selected in accordance with

provisions of these bylaws or as directed by the Board of Directors; and

be assigned to him by the Board.

SECTION 8. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Board may appoint a Chief

Executive Officer who may be, but who shall not be required to be, a member of the

Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall perform such duties and shall exercise such

authority as the Board may from time to time vest in him.

SECTION 9. BONDS OF OFFICERS. The Treasurer and other officer or agent of the

Corporation charged with responsibility for the custody of any of its funds or property shall

give bond in such sum and with such surety as the Board shall determine. The Board in its

discretion may also require any other officer, agent or employee of the Corporation to give

bond in such amount and with such surety as it shall determine.

SECTION l0. COMPENSATION. The powers, duties and compensation of officers,

agents and employees shall be fixed by the Board, subject to the provisions of these bylaws

with respect to compensation for directors and close relatives of directors.

SECTION ll. REPORTS. The officers of the Corporation shall submit at each annual

meeting of the member’s reports covering the business of the Corporation for the previous

fiscal year. Such reports shall set forth the condition of the Corporation at the close of such

fiscal year.

ARTICLE VII

NON-PROFIT OPERATION

SECTION l. INTEREST OR DIVIDENDS ON CAPITAL PROHIBITED. The

Corporation shall at all times be operated on a Corporation non-profit basis for the mutual

benefit of its patrons. No interest or dividends shall be paid or payable by the Corporation

on any capital furnished by its patrons.

SECTION 2. PATRONAGE CAPITAL IN CONNECTION WITH FURNISHING SERVICE.

In the furnishing of communications or media service the Corporation’s operations shall be

so conducted that all patrons will through their patronage furnish capital for the

Corporation. In order to induce patronage and to assure that the Corporation will operate

on a non-profit basis the Corporation is obligated to account on a patronage basis to all its

patrons for all amounts received and receivable from the furnishing of communications or

media service in excess of operating costs and expenses properly chargeable against the

furnishing of communications or media service. All such amounts in excess of operating

costs and expenses at the moment of receipt by the Corporation are received with the

understanding that they are furnished by the patrons as capital.

The Corporation is obligated to pay by credits to a capital account for each patron all such

amounts in excess of operating costs and expenses for communications or media service.

The books and records of the Corporation shall be set up and kept in such a manner that at

the end of each fiscal year the amount of capital, if any, so furnished by each patron for

communications or media service is clearly reflected and credited in an appropriate record

to the capital account of each patron, and the Corporation shall, within a reasonable time

after the close of the fiscal year, notify each patron of the amount of capital so credited to

his account. Provided, however, that individual notices of such amounts furnished to each

patron shall not be required if the Corporation notifies all patrons of the aggregate amount

of such excess and provides a clear explanation of how each patron may compute and

determine for himself the specific amount of capital credited to him. All such amounts

credited to the capital account of any patron shall have the same status as though they had

been paid to the patron in cash in pursuance of a legal obligation to do so and the patron

had then furnished the Corporation corresponding amounts for capital.

All other amounts received by the Corporation from its operations in excess of costs and

expenses shall, in so far as permitted by law, be

(a) used to offset any losses incurred during the current or any prior fiscal year and

(b) to the extent not needed for that purpose, allocated to its patrons on a patronage basis

and any amount so allocated shall be included as a part of the capital credited to the

accounts of patrons, as herein provided ; or

members prior to dissolution of the Corporation

In the event of dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, after all outstanding

indebtedness of the Corporation shall have been paid, outstanding capital credits shall be

retired without priority on a pro rata basis.

If, at any time prior to dissolution or liquidation, the Board shall determine that the

financial condition of the Corporation will not be impaired thereby, the capital then

credited to patrons’ accounts may be retired in full or in part. Any such retirement of

capital shall be made in order of priority according to the year in which the capital was

furnished and credited, the capital first received by the Corporation being first retired,

provided, however, that beginning with the year l964, cash made available for retirement in

any year may be used to retire capital furnished by all patrons during the most recent fiscal

year subject to the requirement that at least fifty per centum (50 per cent) of such cash shall

be applied to the retirement of the oldest outstanding capital credits as hereinabove

provided.

Capital credited to the account of each patron shall be assignable only on the books of the

Corporation, pursuant to written instructions from the assignor and only to successors in

interest or successors in occupancy in all or a part of such patron’s premises served by the

Corporation unless the Board, acting under policies of general application, shall determine

otherwise. Notwithstanding any other provision of these bylaws, the Board, at its

discretion, shall have the power at any time upon the death of any patron who was a natural

person, if the legal representatives of his estate shall request in writing that the capital credit

to any such patron be retired prior to the time such capital would otherwise be retired under

the provisions of these bylaws, to retire capital credited to any such patron immediately and

upon such terms and conditions as the Board, acting under policies of general application,

shall deem appropriate, including the discounting of the account to reflect present value;

provided, however, the financial condition of the Corporation will not be impaired thereby.

No corporation or entity shall be entitled to have capital credited other than as a general

payment of patronage capital to all members.

ARTICLE VIII

DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY

The Corporation shall not sell, mortgage, lease or otherwise encumber or dispose of any of

its property (other than merchandise and property which lie within the limits of an

incorporated city or town, or which shall represent not in excess of ten per cent (l0 percent)

of the total value of the Corporation’s assets, or which in the judgment of the board of

directors are not necessary or useful in operating the Corporation) unless authorized so to

do by the votes of at least a majority of its total membership and by the consent of the

holders of seventy-five percentum (75 percent) in an amount of the Corporation’s

outstanding bonds, except that the members of the Corporation may, by the affirmative

majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy at any meeting of the members, delegate to

the board of directors the power and authority (l) to borrow monies from any source and in

such amounts as the board may from time to time determine and (2) to mortgage or

otherwise pledge or encumber any or all of the Corporation’s property or assets as security

therefore.

ARTICLE IX

SEAL

The corporate seal of the Corporation shall be in the form of a circle and shall have

inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the words “Corporation Seal, North

Carolina.”

ARTICLE X

FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS

SECTION 1. CONTRACTS. Except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, the Board

may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents to enter into any contract or execute

and deliver any instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, and such

authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

SECTION 2. CHECKS, DRAFTS, ETC. All checks, drafts or other orders for the

payment of money, and all notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the

name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents,

employee or employees of the Corporation and in such manner as shall from time to time

be determined by resolution of the Board.

SECTION 3. DEPOSITS. All funds of the Corporation shall be deposited from time to

time to the credit of the Corporation in such bank or banks as the Board may select.

SECTION 4. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first

day of January of each year and shall end on the thirty-first of December of the same year.

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 1. WAIVER OF NOTICE. Any member or director may waive in writing

any notice of a meeting required to be given by these bylaws. The attendance of a member

or director at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting by such

members or director, except in case a members or director shall attend a meeting for the

express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the

meeting has not been lawfully called or convened.

SECTION 2. RULES AND REGULATIONS. The Board shall have power to make and

adopt such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with law, the certificate of incorporation

or these bylaws, as it may deem advisable for the management of the business and affairs of

the Corporation.

SECTION 3. ACCOUNTING SYSTEM AND REPORTS. The Board shall cause to be

established and maintained a complete accounting system which, among other things, and

subject to applicable laws and rules and regulations of any regulatory body, shall conform

to such accounting system as may from time to time be designated by the Administrator of

Rural Utilities Services of the USDA. The Board shall also after the close of each fiscal

year cause to be made a full and complete audit of the accounts, books and financial

condition of the Corporation as of the end of such fiscal year. Such audit reports shall be

submitted to the members at the next following annual meeting.

ARTICLE XII

AMENDMENTS

These bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of not less than

a majority of the members of the Board at any regular or special meeting, provided the

notice of such meeting shall have contained a copy of the proposed alteration, amendment

or repeal.

By-Laws

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