Note regarding the membership activation process if you choose the free membership option:  After you submit your request for membership and your request is approved, you will receive an email telling you to: (1) come back to this page while you are logged in to the website, (2) select your requested membership level once again and then (3) enter your credit card number.  As you follow steps (1) and (2) you will come to a credit card payment page where your billing information will be requested but no credit card number will actually be required.  Continue with the process until you get to the page where you are offerred an opportunity to update your user profile.  Save any changes to your profile and you are done.