Member Database Cleanup Project

Over time many of you have asked for updates to your existing profile, you have changed email addresses, moved, closed blogs or opened news ones. Rather than muck around we decided to just start the new site with an empty database and "invite" current members to "join" the MBA as if you were new applicants. Don't worry, your application will be immediately approved.

The idea is to leverage this really nice little "referral application" built into the new site. It is not really designed for bulk referrals but it so well suited to our goal of making sure the information in the database is accrurate that I am going through the trouble of initiating a referral for each member.

So, soon you will receive an "invitation" email from me. Just click the link in the email and complete the form on the site (skip the "essay" field).

Starting on January 15th we will begin to charge dues and application fees (so you have about 30 days to drop out of the MBA if you are not as excited as I am about our new initiatives).

Current members who do not complete the application process before 1/15 will be expelled. They will be able to re-apply in February but will have to pay the application fees (all members are required to be pay dues) so it will be in everyone's interest to fill out the form right away.

Special note for those with "group blogs":

One January 1st we will allow referrrals for bloggers who contribute to the blog of a current member. Between January 1st and January 15th, current members can refer bloggers who are part of any group blogs to which you belong. The bloggers you refer can avoid paying an application fee by completing their application before January 15th.

Just to avoid confusion, please note that we are NOT allowing the members of group blogs referred by current members who who also blog on some other group blog to use their new membership initiated by your referral to begin making their own referrals - for the time being. We have to draw the line somewhere; the members of your group blog will be able to make their own referrals starting in February.