The registration process for this site is basically the same registration process for any discussion forum, with a couple minor changes. If you are having difficulties, please read the following - and if you still have difficulty please use the Contact Us link to shoot me an email.

1) Username Selection: Most websites let you use all kinds of things in your username - spaces, percent signs, etc. We do not. There is a very specific reason we limit the things you can have in your name. Our system has it's own email server. While this feature is not yet public, each registered member of our forum is assigned an email address of {username}@ihmsa.net. It will most likely be months before this system is activated, but since it exists, all usernames must be permitted email usernames. Therefore only upper and lower case letters, numbers, hyphens, underscores and periods are allowed. The registration system will generally tell you if you are using an illegal character, but the REGEX code is not perfect at finding these, and unless you are a tech person, the error message may not be entirely clear. I am working on cleaning that up. If you need help falling asleep, you can read the full Simple Mail Transfer Protocol RFC 2821.

2) Image Verification: As you register you will see a picture that has some random letters in it that you need to retype - without any mistakes. The software this site is based on actually has three different types of image verification, each with a number of settings to make the images more or less complex. In our world of evil Internet users there are thousands that run programs to automatically go out and find discussion forums, automatically register fake users and then start posting SPAM messages. The entire purpose of image verification is to make sure that a Human Being is at the keyboard. Now, I have this image set to the easiest possible setting with no extra complexity. Many of the SPAM systems can get around it at this setting. If we do not have problems, I will leave it as it is - but I am also leaving the door open to making this more complex in the future. One of the settings (not currently turned on) is ReCaptcha. Read through their website for a more detailed explanation of the problem and the solution.

3) Required Fields: Many forum based website only ask name, password and email address. I ask a few more things. Birthday is required (though you can select to hide it entirely or hide only the year). This is to comply with COPPA, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, to confirm that you are over 13. I also require that you state if you are an IHMSA member, your membership number and region. This is to allow you access to the IHMSA Members Only private forums. Yes, it is an honor based system and not entirely secure but it is appropriate for the site. The private area is more just to hide any heated discussions over rule interpretations from search engines and casual viewers. We do not want to turn people off shooting IHMSA over an argument about aftermarket T/C barrels or the like... Once someone joins and gets shooting they will understand that like every organization, not all of our membership is in 100% agreement on every issue. The use of these extra fields may also be used for future features. For example, I can build email lists and groups so that everyone in Region 2 can get an email from the Region 2 Director, etc. I ask that you complete these extra fields accurately. Putting false information will cause you to miss possible announcements - it doesn't make any difference to me. Failing to complete these fields at all will, however, stop your registration.

4) Email Verification: All forum software has a number of different ways to allow someone to register. I can set it up so that everyone that registers must be approved manually. I can also set it up so that anyone can register and immediately start posting. I have gone a more middle-of-the-road way. I allow anyone to register, but I require that the website send you an email and that you click on the link in the email. This lends some validity to who you are - not just someone pretending to be you. The system keeps full records of the emails, your Internet IP address, etc. It is also helpful in stopping SPAM programs. If you do not receive the verification email you can return to the site and request it again - but first please check your SPAM/Junk Mail/Deleted folder. If it ended up there then please set your SPAM filter software to allow the domain ihmsa.net or you will not receive any announcements or subscription notifications/private message notifications. You will absolutely not be able to post and fully register until you receive this first email and click on the link. Also, you will not be able to try to re-register using the same name and email address, since the original one IS actually in the system, you just have not yet verified it.

5) This is an Independent Site: This website is built on it's own server, independent of any other web site. It is NOT in any way officially affiliated with IHMSA but instead run by a member of IHMSA and comprised of primarily others who are either current or former members. This site is not in any way affiliated with AIMOO (and a separate IHMSA discussion forum there) nor with Specialty Pistols (and excellent site, by the way) or any other site. I do not have anything to do with the owners of those sites and in most cases do not even know who they are. Why do I mention this? So that you understand that your name and password from one of those websites will NOT work here. You are welcome to use the same username (if it meets the requirements in #1 above) and password here if you like - and most people do (at least username, I cannot see passwords so only you know that...) I do actual receive emails from people asking why their name and password are not working and I discover they have never even registered here - but expected their AIMOO account to work here. Some of those emails have been quite hostile. I have also received a couple emails about someone changing their password on another website and wanting to know why it did not change here. It happens...I take a few deep breaths and try to explain how the Internet works...but if you catch me before coffee...

At the end of the day I know that not everyone is a Geek at heart, and this is truly your loss.

If you have read the above and still have problems, please contact me and I will help you get it sorted out. I am actually easy to get along with and have helped several others who have had difficulties. All I ask is if you are frustrated, please take a moment and a few deep breathes before contacting me. Keep in mind that I run this site on my spare time and pay for everything without any help. If you send me one of those "Your damn site is broken!" emails and demand immediate satisfaction you probably won't get it. Remember, a lot of other people have registered without any issues, so there is at least some evidence that everything does in fact work...and it just *may* be an issue on your end...

Thanks!