> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.earthcoop.ir/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Find and Join a Cooperative Group on EarthCoop

> Join cooperative groups on EarthCoop through automatic profile matching, browsing public groups by location, or using an invitation code from a member.

EarthCoop is built around the idea that the right groups find you — not the other way around. As soon as you complete your profile, the system connects you to groups that fit your location and profession. You can also discover additional groups by browsing, using a referral link, or accepting a direct invitation from an existing member.

## Ways to Join a Group

### 1 — Automatic Matching

The most common way to end up in a group is through the platform's automatic matching process. When you finish the three-step registration flow, EarthCoop reads your profile and does the following:

* Creates or assigns you to the **general cooperative group** for each geographic level in your address hierarchy — neighborhood, city, province, country, and continent.
* Creates or assigns you to the **professional group** matching your primary occupational field at your current geographic level.
* Creates or assigns you to any **specialised groups** you opted into during registration.

You do not need to take any action. Open your Groups dashboard and your matched groups are already listed.

<Info>
  If you update your address or occupational fields in your profile later, the system re-evaluates your group assignments. Navigate to **Profile → Edit → Address** or **Profile → Edit → Occupational Fields** to trigger this update.
</Info>

### 2 — Browse and Request to Join

Public groups are discoverable by all authenticated users.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Groups Directory">
    Click **Groups** in the main navigation to open your group dashboard, then select **Browse Groups** or use the search bar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Filter by Geographic Level">
    Use the geographic level filter to narrow results to groups at the neighborhood, city, province, country, continent, or global scope. This helps you find communities that are relevant to where you live or work.
  </Step>

  <Step title="View the Group Profile">
    Click on any group to see its name, description, member count, activity level, and current managers. Public groups show their recent activity feed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Request Membership">
    Click **Request to Join**. The group manager receives a notification and can approve or decline your request. You will be notified of the decision.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Filter by **Professional** or **General** category alongside a geographic level to quickly find co-op groups in your field and area.
</Tip>

### 3 — Use an Invitation Code

Any existing group member can share an invitation code or a referral link with you.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Receive the Code or Link">
    Ask a current group member to generate an invitation code from their group's settings and share it with you.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the Code">
    Navigate to **Groups → Join with Code** and paste the invitation code into the input field, then click **Join**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm Membership">
    If the code is valid and has not expired, you are added to the group immediately. Your initial status is **guest** until a manager promotes you to active member.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Invitation codes are time-limited. The inviting member sets an expiry window (in hours) when generating the code. If your code has expired, ask the member to generate a fresh one.
</Warning>

## Browsing Groups by Geographic Level

The Groups directory lets you explore the full cooperative hierarchy. Use the level selector to move between:

| Level            | What You Find                                      |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| **Neighborhood** | Hyper-local groups for your immediate community    |
| **City**         | Groups covering your entire municipality           |
| **Province**     | Province-wide or state-wide cooperatives           |
| **Country**      | National networks and sector groups                |
| **Continent**    | Continental cooperative alliances                  |
| **Global**       | Platform-wide communities and specialised networks |

Each level shows both general groups and any professional or specialised groups operating at that scale.

## Membership Roles Within a Group

Once you join a group, you are assigned one of the following roles. Your initial role depends on how you joined and the group's geographic level:

| Role              | Description                                                                                     |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Observer**      | Can read all content; can post only if the group is set to open mode                            |
| **Active Member** | Full participation rights: send messages, vote in polls, stand for election                     |
| **Inspector**     | Active-member rights plus the ability to moderate reported messages and review group reports    |
| **Manager**       | Full administrative control: manage members, change roles, update group settings, run elections |
| **Guest**         | Temporary access via invitation; limited rights until promoted by a manager                     |

<Note>
  Members who join neighborhood-level or smaller groups are granted **active member** status automatically, because hyper-local groups are built for direct participation. Members joining groups at city level and above start as **observers**, reflecting the larger, more structured nature of those communities.
</Note>