David, examples of what i am referring to:

the current snccc auction occurring on the chipboard has a rule that only cca and snccc members may bid, so the auction is closed to all other users of this board.

there have been instances where sellers have held an auction or a sale with the stipulation "only members of said organization may participate".

i believe this practice perpetuates the notion of an "old boy network", a term used by mike p. and others to describe this board.