Everybody's got it right here, Drummer, except for one thing--there's an implication that the new forum is in some sort of crippled state. No true at all. IMHO, it's going stronger than ever these days, with most of the old members intact and lots of newer folks on board worldwide. In fact, just this week, the international forum has released a major collaborative CD compilation (3 CDs & a DVD, professionally packaged). The initial reviews have been stellar.
Head on over and join the helpful fun. Pay special attention to the collection of stickies posted there for newer folks like yourself. These tips can really save some time when getting started.
Good luck,
J.