Registering for the Forum

Registration is required in order to post topic messages, send and receive private messages, create/update a personal profile, and access some of the other forum features.

Registration is free. Membership is easy on the nerves.

To register for the forum, do the following:

At the top of any forum page, click the Register link.

The Member Registration forum is displayed.

Scroll to the center of the form and read the statements in the Terms of Service text box. If you agree to adhere to them, continue with step 3.
In the Username text box at the top of the form, enter the username you want to use to log into the forum.
In the Password text box, enter the password you want to use to log into the forum.

Tips:

Your username must have at least 3 characters; your password must have at least 5.
You need your password to log in and to change your user name, screen name, password, or email address. Be sure to write it down somewhere where you can find it.

In the Password Confirm text box, re-enter the password you entered in step 4.
Your screen name is the name that others can see throughout the forum (in your topic message posts, personal profile, private messages, Active online users list, etc.). In the Screen Name text box, do one of the following:

If you want to use the same name that you used for your username, leave the text box blank.
If you want to use a different name, enter it in the Screen Name text box.

Note: If you enter a name that another member has already taken, you receive an error message when you submit your registration. You can click the Back link to return to your registration form and change the name.

In the Email Address text box, enter your email address.

Tip: This is the email address that the system uses to send you topic reply notifications, private message notifications, and email messages from the forum administrator and other members. Although it is required for registration, you can modify your email preferences to opt out of receiving email and to disable topic and/or private message email notification.

In the URL text box, you may enter one website address (business URLs are allowed). Members and non-members can click a WWW button in your personal profile to visit the website.

Note: If you include a website address, we ask that you visit the site from a computer with updated virus software first and refrain from posting a link to a site that contains a virus.

In the Zip Code text box, enter your Zip Code.
From the Age Range drop-down list, select your age range.
In the Annual Income drop-down list, select your annual income range.

Note: No member can ever see your Zip Code, age range, or income range. When we share this information with potential sponsors, we only disclose the number of members for each one of these; we never reveal any specific member information.

In the text box under the CAPTCHA graphic, enter the characters you see in the graphic.
Select the "I agree to the terms of service" check box, indicating that you agree to adhere to all the statements written in the Terms of Service text box. (Please note that registered members who do not adhere to them will have their memberships revoked without any notification.)
Click the Submit button to complete your registration.

The system sends you an activation notice. You must you must activate your account before you can log in.