Chap. 1009.—An ACT to incorporate the Bohemian-Slavonic farmers’ mutual
benefit insurance society of Virginia.

Approved March 7, 1900.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That Joseph
Machat, Jacob Cizek, John Zaruba, Frank Kudlata, Joseph Rezabek,
Lewis Kokesh, Joseph Kafron, Joseph Basl, Antonia Malon, Anton Rott,
Edward Zaruba, George Reiter, Vaclow Walta, Vaclow Sredl, Matthew
Hanzlik, and John Krunil, or any five of them, their associates and
successors, Of the Bohemian- Slavonic race, are hereby constituted a
body politic and corporate by the name of the Bohemian-Slavonic
farmers’ mutual benefit insurance society of Virginia, and by such name
shall have perpetual succession.

2. That the said society may contract and be contracted with, sue
and be sued, make and use a common seal, which it may alter at its
pleasure.

3. That the said society shall be entitled to and shall receive the
protection of the grantors of this charter in all matters appertaining to
said society not inconsistent with the laws of this or any other state in
the United States.

. The purposes for which this society is formed are to mutually
insure the dwelling-houses, barns, and other buildings, including store
and warehouses and contents of the same, flouring, grist, and saw mills,
and all other farm and city buildings; also live stock, including horses,

cattle, sheep, mules, and hogs, and all other personal property, and xo
forth, of its members who are of Bohemian-Slavonic race or nationality
and their kindred by affinity or consanguinity, avainst loss or damage by
fire, wind, or lightning, and upon such terms and conditions as m: Ly be
fixed by the by-laws of said society.

That the said society may make by-laws fixing the number of its
hoard of directors and other oflicers, and defining the power and duties
of such directors and officers; also making rules and reculations govern-
ing the society for the proper conduct of its business not inconsistent
with the laws of this state or any other state in the United States.

6. ‘This society shall have power to organize and create local divisions,
in any one or more counties of this state, or in anv other state in the
United States, and such local divisions shall be constituted of Bohemian-
Slavonics only and their kindred as aforesaid, and shall be governed by
and under the rules and regulations prescribed by the said society until
such a time as the strength and condition of the said local division or
divisions shall warrant to the said society that a separate jurisdiction
under this charter can be granted, at which time the said society, or its
authorized officer, may deliver to the said local division or divisions a
copy of this charter, duly signed by the said officers of this society,
specifying the cause and date of such deliv ery, and such delivery made
in accordance with the provisions of this section, shall empower the
officers and members of said local division or divisions with such au-
thority in said local division or divisions as that granted by this charter
to the said society and nowise be exceeded.

That every member (policy-holder) of said society or local division
whensoey cT organized by said society shall be bound to pay his, or her,
or their ratable proportion of all losses and expenses accruing against

said society or local division; and if any member, or his, her, or their
representative or representatives, on being notitied by the authorized
otlicer of said society, or local division, shall fail to pay his, her, or
their ratable proportion within the period prescribed by the by-laws of
said society or local division which he, she, or they may be a member
of the same, shall be recovered in the corporate name of this society by
motion after ten days’ notice in the county or magisterial court of the
county wherein such member or his, her, or their representative or
representatives reside: provided, however, that any member or members
of this society holding policies of insurance in any local division or-
ganized and operating under the provisions of this charter shall be
responsible and lable only for such losses and expenses as may occur
and accrue within the comprises of any such local division in which said
member or members hold policies of insurance, and beyond this there
shall be no liability against said member or members of such local
division nor against the property embraced in their policies and in-
surance.

8. That all persons insured under the charter of this society shall be
liable as herein provided until all outstanding losses and expenses shall
have been paid and until they shall have withdrawn said property from
suid society or local division in the manner prescribed by the by-laws
of said society or local division of which they are members.

9. That the officers for the first year shall be president, Joseph
Machat; vice-president, Joseph Rezabek; secretary, Frank Kudlata;
assistant secretary, John Zaruba; treasurer, Lewis Kokesh, who shall
each hold office for one year from the passage of this act.

10. That the principal office of said society shall be located in Prince
George county, Virginia: provided, however, that the said society may
have such other branch offices in the city of Petersburg and other
counties, cities, and towns of this state or in the United States as may
be necessary for the proper and orderly conduct of its business.

11. The said society shall have power to acquire and hold real estate
in the state of Virginia not to exceed in the aggregate one hundred
acres.

12. That said society shall pay all taxes and other dues to the state
of Virginia in current money of the United States.

13. This act shall be in force from its passage.