Membership Overview
Your membership in the Hello World Co-Op DAO gives you access to our cooperative platform. This section covers everything you need to know about membership tiers and managing your membership.
Membership Tiers
The Hello World Co-Op has two membership tiers:
Registered Membership
Registered membership is granted automatically after email verification. With a Registered membership, you can:
- Platform access: Log in and use most features of the platform
- Otter Camp: Play our community game
- Community participation: Read proposals and discussions
- Membership NFT: A Soul-Bound Token (SBT) proving your Registered membership
- No expiration: Registered memberships do not expire
What you cannot do as a Registered member:
- Vote on proposals (Active membership required)
- Create proposals (Active membership required)
Age restrictions:
- Users aged 13-17 can have Registered membership but cannot upgrade to Active
- Users aged 18+ can upgrade to Active membership
Active Membership
Active membership unlocks full voting rights and governance participation. With an Active membership, you have:
- 1-Member-1-Vote: Equal voting power in all governance decisions
- Proposal creation: Submit proposals for community consideration
- All Registered features: Platform access, Otter Camp, community participation
- Membership NFT: Your SBT is upgraded to Active status
- Annual renewal: Active memberships expire on December 31 each year
Requirements to upgrade from Registered to Active:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Complete KYC verification
- Pay $25 annual membership fee
Membership Lifecycle
Register → Registered → Upgrade (18+, pay) → Active → Renewal Window → Renew or Expire
(Dec-Jan)| Phase | Description |
|---|---|
| Register | Complete signup and email verification |
| Registered | Limited membership (no voting, no expiration) |
| Upgrade | Complete KYC and payment (18+ only) |
| Active | Full membership with voting rights |
| Renewal Window | December 1 - January 31 |
| Grace Period | February 1-28 (30 days after expiration) |
| Expired | After grace period, Active membership lapses to Registered |
Note: If an Active membership expires and is not renewed, it reverts to Registered status. You retain platform access but lose voting rights until you renew.
Key Dates
- Membership Year: January 1 - December 31
- Renewal Window Opens: December 1
- Renewal Deadline: January 31
- Grace Period Ends: February 28
Annual Fee (Active Membership Only)
- Standard Fee: $25 USD per year
- First-Year Proration: New Active members pay a prorated amount based on upgrade date
- Registered membership: Free, no payment required
Proration Example
If you upgrade to Active membership in July, you pay approximately half the annual fee for your first partial year. The following January, you'll pay the full $25 for the complete year.
Registered members: There is no fee for Registered membership. You only pay when upgrading to Active.
Age-Based Restrictions
The platform enforces age-based restrictions to comply with COPPA and ensure appropriate access:
| Age Range | Registration | Registered Access | Upgrade to Active | Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 13 | Blocked | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 13-17 | Allowed | Yes | Blocked | No |
| 18+ | Allowed | Yes | Allowed | Yes (Active only) |
Why age verification? We collect date of birth at registration to comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which restricts data collection from users under 13. Your date of birth is encrypted and stored securely.
Guides
- Dashboard Guide - Navigate your member dashboard
- Member Directory - Explore the co-op community
- Upgrade to Active - How to unlock voting rights (18+ only)
- Renewal Process - How to renew your Active membership
- Expiration & Grace Period - What happens if you don't renew