Step Two - Joining or Creating a Group

Joining a Group.

First check the status of the group you are interested in joining. Do this by going to the group page and looking at the right-hand sidebar information box (see example box on right).  This box will tell you the current status of the group and give you a link to either join immediately or begin the process of joining. 

The example on the right says that the group is semi-private (which means you may view their content but not edit it).  It also says that the membership is open to apply.  If you had decided to be a part of this group you would be lead through the process by clicking the Apply for Membership link.

There are many combinations of privacy level and membership type for groups.  No matter which combination you encounter, there will be clear instructions to follow in the status box.

Finding a Group.

Groups can be found using the search bar at the top of the page and selecting groups. You can search by keyword, name, area of focus, privacy settings, or membership settings. Alternatively, you can browse by selecting Groups under the Browse section of the left-hand sidebar. You can browse groups by Name or by Recency.

Creating a Group.

The option to create a group can be found on the left-hand sidebar under the Contribute section. Click Create a Group to begin.  The process is fairly simple, and similar to creating other content on WiserEarth.  Fill in each field and click "Create a Group".

You will need to think of your group's address (www.wiserearth.org/groups/your group name here) in order complete the process, as this is the only aspect that cannot be changed.  Everything else about your group may be edited after creation including the name of the group. Visit the Group Admin Tutorial page for further guidance in creating a group.  For questions or discussions on WiserEarth groups, please join WiserEarth Group Support.

There are privacy options and member sign-up options.  The following outlines how they work.

A. Group privacy options.

There are 3 options available in setting the privacy of a group:

Private

Only members of the group can both view and edit information about the group.  Non-members will not be able to view or edit any information until they become a member.  This option works well for administrators seeking a specific community to form their group.

Semi-Private

Non-members are able to view information in a group, but not able to contribute/edit.  This is a good option for administrators who want to make content in the group available to the general community, but don't want to lose control over who gets to edit the information.

Public

Anyone who is a member of WiserEarth can sign-up and be a member of the group, allowing them to both view and edit information in the group.  This is a great option for administrators who want a causal informative space that's open and welcoming to all members on WiserEarth.

B. Membership Setting options

You can set how people join your group in 4 different ways:

Open

Anyone can join

Open to apply

People need to apply to group administrators for membership

Member referral

People need to be referred by group members

Invitation only

People have to be invited by a group administrator

For more on specific use and functions of Groups visit the FAQ page.