diff --git a/src/common/set_roles.rs b/src/common/set_roles.rs
index d47313d..e47b95c 100644
--- a/src/common/set_roles.rs
+++ b/src/common/set_roles.rs
@@ -312,6 +312,11 @@ pub mod committee {
         }
       }
 
+      if !roles_required.is_empty() {
+        // if there are committee roles then give the general purporse role
+        roles_add.push(committee_member);
+      }
+
       for role in &roles_required {
         if !roles_current_id.contains(role) {
           roles_add.push(role.to_owned());