What does it mean to be a voluntary organization, 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?

This week Kevin, Larry and Cinar discuss the first principle of the first of the Rochdale Principles: Voluntary and Open Membership, which states, "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."

These principles were first written in 1844 and were adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) in 1937. Learn more about these principles on the website of the International Cooperative Alliance and the ICA's Guidance Notes to the Co-operative Principles.