"So let me get this straight....I let a membership lapse for 5-10 years. During those years, I was not as trustworthy as I was when I was a member."

Didn't say that David, you did. You were not a club member during those years; simple as that. I prefer to deal with club members as a matter of personal choice and I recognize their club membership number as something special. Do I sometimes deal with non-members? Of course I do. I don't know you. If you were to bid on any of my ebay auctions, or chipboard items I may have for sale, I would not reject your offers ... but I would choose not to mail any packages until they were paid for up front. Not so with club members. It's more a matter of courtesy extended to another club member that I would not extend to a non-club member as a matter of precaution. I'm sure that you are a probably a good guy. You just disagree with the policy the club has had for over twenty years now... and personally speaking, I don't see the club changing that policy.