I've got 2 bits myself. This is the NATIONAL convention, isn't it? If you're not a member of CCGTCC, then you don't get to participate in Member Only events. If you choose to only belong to a local chapter, your membership is only good at the local level. If it is, as it sounds, a violation of the national rules for a chapter to allow membership by someone who is not also a national member, then the chapter is not upholding the Constitution, and may be subject to other sanctions.

As has been pointed out previously, an associate membership is NOT a second class member. Simply one who does not receive a copy of the magazine, assuming one copy per household can be shared. Archie has made it clear in the past an associate member has all the privledges of any other member.