This first post appearing on the board is a "sticky". It stays first (before other posts)until the administrator of the site (A.J.) lets it go. So all other contributions to the site are posted AFTER the "sticky" thread unless they are meant to pertain to the "sticky".
Clear as mud?
Cal

If I understand, which could be problematical? - everyone is seeing the same messege that I am?? the first post is 2/7/07 and you have to go through everything to get to today??

Yes...

But once you get past all the messages having to do with the gathering, it goes back to "newest posts first".

New posts start after Re;"Gathering" unless someone is replying to some other post that appear below the "Sticky".