Every foreign corporation which on the effective date of this chapter is authorized to conduct activities in this state under a certificate of authority heretofore issued to it by the secretary of state shall continue to have such authority. Such foreign corporation, its members, directors, and officers shall have the same rights, franchises, and privileges and shall be subject to the same limitations, restrictions, liabilities, and penalties as a foreign corporation authorized under this chapter, its members, directors, and officers respectively. A foreign corporation may by amendment to its certificate of authority set forth whether it is a charitable corporation or a non-charitable corporation and in the absence of such amendment an authorized foreign corporation shall be a charitable corporation. Reference in this chapter to an application for authority shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include the statement and designation and any amendment thereof required to be filed by the secretary of state under prior statutes to obtain a certificate of authority.