Editing Rochdale Principles (section)

=== Voluntary and open membership ===
The first of the Rochdale Principles states that co-operative societies must have an open and [[wikt:voluntary|voluntary]] membership. According to the ICA's Statement on the Co-operative Identity, "Co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination."<ref name="icastatement1995" /><ref name="ICAguidancenotes">{{cite web |last1=ICA |title=Guidance Notes to the Co-operative Principles |url=https://www.ica.coop/sites/default/files/2021-11/ICA%20Guidance%20Notes%20EN.pdf |publisher=[[International Co-operative Alliance]] |access-date=14 November 2022 |date=2015}}</ref>

==== Anti-discrimination ====
To discriminate [[socially]] is to make a distinction between [[people]] on the basis of [[Social class|class]] or [[Categorization|category]]. Examples of social discrimination include [[racism|racial]], [[Casteism|casteist]], [[Religious discrimination|religious]], [[Sexism|sexual]], [[sexual orientation]], [[Disability discrimination act|disability]], and [[Ethnic persecution|ethnic]] discrimination. To fulfill the first Rochdale Principle, a co-operative society should not prevent anyone willing to participate from doing so on any of these grounds. However, this does not prohibit the co-operative from setting reasonable and relevant ground rules for membership, such as residing in a specific geographic area or paying a membership fee to join, so long as all persons meeting such criteria are able to participate if they so choose.

==== Motivations and rewards ====
Given the voluntary nature of co-operatives, members need reasons to participate. Each person's motivations will be unique and will vary from one co-operative to another, but they will often be a combination of the following:
*Financial&nbsp;– Some co-operatives are able to provide members with financial benefits.
*Quality of life&nbsp;– Serving the community through a co-operative because doing service makes one's own life better is perhaps the most significant motivation for volunteering. Included here would be the benefits people get from being with other people, staying active, and above all having a sense of the value of ourselves in society that may not be as clear in other areas of life.
*Giving back&nbsp;– Many people have in some way benefited from the work of a co-operative and volunteer to give back.
*Altruism&nbsp;– Some volunteer for the benefit of others.
*A sense of duty&nbsp;– Some see participation in community as a responsibility that comes with citizenship. In this case, they may not describe themselves as volunteers.
*Career experience&nbsp;– Volunteering offers experiences that can add to career prospects.