The "ranks" reflect the number of posts people have made since joining.
It is easy to join the club if you want to. The joining on line at the club website (same site as you access the forum from) does work or, if you prefer to send in membership dues, you can contact the Bulletin Editor (the lady who does the monthly newsletter) via email on this club website also and ask for a sample of a past email bulletin. The bulletins contain a membership form that you can print off and mail if that is your preference.
Now for some of the other points, and I speak from 40+ years of experience here:
1. If you can, get involved with the club. The monthly newsletters have "The Grand Schedule" on its cover. This is a list of all regional, divisional or National club events that those organizing same let the Bulletin Editor know about. If you don't see someting in your area (say, up to 100 miles each way from where you live) you can contact the member who is in charge of the region or division that you are a member of based on geography. The break out of regions and divisions, as well as the names/addresses/contact info on these people is part of the QUARTERLY magazines that I have (and, hopefully will continue to) done (starting Spring 2018). These people can help you to get in contact with others who have the same type of vehicle you have (if there is another one in your area).
2. We have more people in the club who periodically sell parts and things KF than those who regularly advertise in the newsletter. Members can run FREE ADS in the newsletter's WANTED section and ask if anyone has a whatzit orcan help with a restoration/ maintenance problem you're having.
3. Some members (I will admit I fall into this category at times) are reluctant to help non-members who have used the Forum to play "hit and run". These are the people who seem to feel (my opinion) that if they can get what they want for free why should they join the club? After all, depending on which size and type you order, the $35.00 annual membership can break down to the price (including tax, where applicable) of just 1 Starbucks Latte a month ($2.92 rounded up to nearest penny). To the non-members who've been part of this Forum for a year or more, isn't worth it to be part of the group?
4. To all Forum members reading this who have cars in running condition, I ask this question: how often do you take your K-F or Willys product to one of your LOCAL general car shows (not hot-rod or muscle car events or those functions intended specifically for one make/type of vehicle)? K-F and Willys products these days rarely show up at local level general shows (and I speak from experience) and are crowd stoppers. Bustidwing's comments in another area of the Forum are typical of what happens when a 1947 Frazer, 1953 Aero Willys, 1952 Henry J or other type shows up and the owner stays with their car(s) to answer questions from the curious. You may even get a new member to join the club because that person found out there are parts available, prices are not as high as they expected and there is a club to provide support.
5. Ideas and opinions from new members ARE WELCOME and DO GET CONSIDERATION. Some ideas may not be workable right away. If any club member feels that they have been ignored, go directly to the Club President via phone call, letter, email, whatever and let him know your thoughts. His information in in the Officers section of the forum. I for one, would like to see the club try to set up a group of members (by the way, some of the more active information givers are not officers of the club) who would act as "technical advisors" on specific year/make/type vehicles to act as a conduit for newer members or those with specific questions about their car(s). If they themselves cannot help on a particular situation, they (hopefully) can refer people to someone who could be more helpful. I have done this a number of times on inquiries that I cannot handle (I am not a mechanic so I can't answer techincal repair questions, for example).
