Comembers

Comembers are individuals who hold membership in the same organization, program, or collective, with the term commonly used to indicate that two or more people share a single membership or hold separate memberships that are linked by a common structure. The arrangement can be found in a range of contexts, including family or household memberships in clubs or gyms, joint memberships in professional associations, or shared arrangements in cooperatives and mutuals. Some organizations offer a single shared membership that covers multiple people, while others maintain separate accounts for each comember but link them for fee calculation, access, or voting rights. The specific rights and duties of comembers are defined by the organization's governing documents, such as bylaws, membership agreements, and codes of conduct.

In practice, comembership affects access to services, eligibility for events, and voting rights where permitted. It can simplify membership management for households or teams, but may raise considerations around privacy, liability, and accountability. Organizations may impose limits on the number of comembers per primary member, require consent for adding or removing comembers, and specify procedures for handling dues, renewals, and terminations. Understanding the terms of the comembership agreement is essential for both the granting organization and the individuals involved.