[Jeannie]

While we used to have open membership where you could just sign up and start posting, we ran into problems with spam-bots registering and posting junk. Requiring sign-ups to click on a link in an email the forums sends when you sign up only went so far as the spam-bots found a way around that too.

So to sign up and post, this is what we're doing now:

1. Register, including info in the couple fields for your profile
2. Click on validation link in email that is auto-sent
3. Then I will manually approve you if it appears that you're human, based on the extra fields you filled out in step 1. (The spam-bots haven't figured out how to put anything meaningful in those fields.)
4. I will send you a Personal Message here on the forums to let you know that everything is in place and officially welcome you.

NOTE: I'm a single mom now, working a full-time job and still homeschooling among other things. There is a chance that a new membership might have to wait until Sunday when I have time set aside for looking at them, but I am generally able to check for new memberships and approve them 2-3 times a week.

If you have any questions about signing up, or encounter problems, please post them to the "Help Me" forum at the bottom of the message boards. This particular forum does not require membership to post to it. As soon as a moderator comes along, they will be able to approve your post and address you.

Thank you for joining us.