Chapter 188 — FRATERNAL SOCIETIES

188.01 Election of trustees. The members of any grand lodge or division or of any subordinate lodge or division acting under the authority of any grand lodge or division of Free Masons, Odd Fellows, Hermann’s Sons, or Sons of Temperance, Grand Army of the Republic, or of the Stat…

188.02 Powers of trustees. The trustees of a society that is subject to this chapter: (1) May have a common seal that may be altered at the trustee’s pleasure. (2) Shall be considered a corporation for all purposes for which they are authorized to act. (3) In pursuance of the rul…

188.03 In whom property to vest. All of the real and personal property that shall have been conveyed by devise, gift, grant, purchase or otherwise to any society that is subject to this chapter or to any person as trustee for the use of the society shall vest in the society’s tru…

188.04 Election, term and removal of trustees. (1) The trustees of a society that is subject to this chapter shall be elected annually at the time and place and in the manner prescribed by the rules or bylaws of the society. The trustees shall severally hold their offices for one…

188.05 Council of granges. Any members of subordinate granges of the Patrons of Husbandry, not less than 5, located in any county or in adjoining counties may unite and be known and designated by some especial name as a council of granges of the Patrons of Husbandry, and may, as …

188.06 Powers of trustees. The powers conferred by this chapter upon the trustees of a subordinate grange or council of granges of the Patrons of Husbandry shall not be exercised until the chief officers of such grange or council of granges shall make and sign a certificate setti…

188.08 Corporate powers of American Legion. (1) Any post, county or district council or department of the American Legion organized in this state pursuant to the acts of congress passed September 16, 1919, and the acts amendatory thereto, and any unit, county or district council,…

188.085 Changing names and dissolving units of the American Legion. Any post, county, district council, department or other unit of the American Legion or of the auxiliary of the American Legion which has become a body corporate under the provisions of s. 188.08 may change its na…

188.09 Corporate powers of the Disabled American Veterans and affiliates. (1) Any chapter, county or district 2 council, or department of the Disabled American Veterans, organized in this state pursuant to an act of congress of the United States, known as Public No. 186, seventy-…

188.095 Changing names and dissolving units of the Disabled American Veterans. Any chapter, county or district council, or department of the Disabled American Veterans, or other unit of the Disabled American Veterans, or of the auxiliaries of the Disabled American Veterans, which…

188.10 Corporate powers of the Wisconsin Veterans Council. The Wisconsin Veterans Council 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. The Wiscon…

188.11 Corporate powers of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and affiliates. (1) Any post, county or district council, or department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, organized in this state pursuant to an act of the seventyfourth Congress of the United States, and…

188.115 Changing names and dissolving units of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and affiliates. Any post, county or district council, department or other unit of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, or of the auxiliaries of the Veterans of Foreign W…

188.12 Corporate powers of the 40 and 8; liability for acts. (1) Any Grand Voiture or Voiture Locale of the La Societe des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux organized in this state pursuant to authority granted by La Societe Nationale des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux shall have full corporate pow…

188.13 Corporate powers of 32nd Division Red Arrow Clubs. (1) Any Red Arrow Club organized in this state and composed of members of the 32nd Division who served at any time from World War I or II, who served in the 32nd Division in the United States Army, or who served with the 3…

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…

188.15 Corporate powers of Marine Corps League and affiliates. (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 auxi…

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

188.17 Corporate powers of Navy Club. (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 liabili…

188.18 Corporate powers of Reserve Officers Association. (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…

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

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 …

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

188.22 Corporate powers of the Jewish War Veterans. (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 tr…

188.23 Corporate powers of the Polish Legion of American Veterans. (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 organizati…

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

188.24 Corporate powers of the Catholic War Veterans. (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 t…

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 ann…

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 …