I can't remember how long I was the club's Membership Officer, but back then -- when there were many more members/collectors -- this issue only came up a few times. For most instances, if the returning member wanted their original membership number, then they paid a portion of the total amount of the missed membership fees, but not all of those fees. The reasoning had always been that an earlier number gave more "credibility" to a club member than a later number did. When these instances would come up, the BoD would discuss & then make a decision. The reinstatement date would then become their new "joined" date unless they paid fully for the years "missed". I remember only one person that opted to pay those missing years in full -- he recovered his original membership number & original "joined" date. There were/are some members that have joined the numerous times (receiving different numbers each time), others that don't care about their membership number & many, like Joel, that would like to retain their original number. Another fun decision for the current BoD to make.

Steve Bedo