This article explains what a private chapter is, who can access it, and how to add members to one.
Overview
A private chapter limits participation to approved members only. Non-members cannot join discussions or register for events in a private chapter, even if they can see the chapter page.
A few terms to know:
- Private chapter—A chapter whose events and discussions are restricted to approved members.
- Member—A person who has been added to a chapter and can take part in its private discussions and events.
- Non-member—Anyone who has not been added to a chapter.
Making a chapter private cannot be undone
Once you save a chapter as private, it cannot be made public again. Consider using the Hidden setting instead if you are not ready to make a final decision. For steps, see Chapter Access and Status.
Making a chapter private cannot be undone. Once you save this setting, the chapter cannot be made public again.
Add members to a private chapter
Non-members cannot join a private chapter on their own. To add members to a private chapter, do one of the following:
- Add members one at a time from your chapter's member list.
- Add multiple members at once with a CSV upload.
- Ask a Super Admin to add members through the API.
What non-members can see
A non-member who visits a private chapter's page can still see the chapter's title, description, and latest discussions list. They cannot see upcoming events or take part in discussions.
| Visible to non-members | Not visible to non-members |
|---|---|
| Chapter title and description | Upcoming events |
| Latest discussions list |
The discussions list can be hidden from non-members with a Page Builder display rule. Select the container, then select the Members only display rule for that container. When you apply a display rule to hide the latest discussions list on the chapter page, the discussions still remain accessible through the API.