1. “01 - Introductory Member“

• Criteria For Admission:
  • Account registration, agreement to follow the forum posting rules, and completion of their account registration by introducing themselves in their Welcome Message.
  • Level One members must introduce themselves by posting in the Welcome thread within 5 days or their account will be deleted (this is a preventative measure to filter out spambots).
• Privileges:
  • Level One forum members are able to view most sections of the forum.
  • Level One status allows people to lurk while initially reading through the forum. By having an account, Level One members can receive notifications of new posts and thereby use forum resources to keep track of their reading.
  • After posting in their Welcome thread, the admin will then determine whether or not they will be granted full posting privileges (this is a preventative measure to filter out AI chatbots).
• Requirements To Maintain
  • Must log on once every three months
• Criteria for being moved to “Inactive”
  • After 6 months of inactivity member will be moved to “Level 01 - Inactive”

2. “Level 01 - Inactive”

• Criteria For Admission
  • Level Ones who have not been active for a period of 6 months
• Privileges
  • Posting restricted to Welcome Thread
• Requirements to restore full status
  • message the admin.

3. “03 - Established Member”

• Criteria For Admission
  • Posting regularly for at least three months (content supportive of the goals of the forum)
  • OR - Attending one or more monthly “New Participant/First Monday” Zoom discussions and “Wednesday Night” Zoom discussions.
  • Invitation only, which is extended through appointment by the admin or after deliberation among moderators (the “membership commitee”).
• Privileges
  • The main benefit for Level Three members is the invitation to attend our monthly “Twentieth Commemoration” Zoom discusions.
  • Access is granted to a Level Three discussion thread which covers more advanced material.
• Requirements to Maintain -
  • must sign onto the forum at least once every year
• Criteria for being moved to “03 - Inactive” -
  • After 18 months of inactivity (not signing onto the forum) member will be moved to inactive status.

4. “Level 03 - Inactive”

• Criteria For Admission - Level Threes who have not logged on for a period of 6 months (or 12 months?)
• Privileges - Posting restricted to Welcome Thread
• Requirements to restore full status - message the admin. 5. “04 - Active Supporter” (to be created)
• Criteria For Admission - involved on a weekly basis
• Privileges - entry to the Active Supporter Forum
• Requirements To Maintain: posting or attendance at a Zoom at least once per month
• Removal to “03 - Established Member” - after 3 months of inactivity member will be moved back to “03 - Established Member”

6. Level Five

• Criteria For Admission
• Privileges
• Requirements To Maintain

7. Moderator -

• Moderator status is given on an as-needed basis, to select long-time Level Three members who have shown their support of the goals and purposes of the EpicureanFriends forum through their lengthy and productive engagement on the forum.

8. Administrator -

• Administrator status is extended to long-time moderators who wish to participate in the ongoing leadership and maintenance of the forum.