Members will certainly be told when Archive accounts are available. We will make sure everyone's aware of the opportunity to get an archive account, and then they'll be able to sign up with whatever fan names/email addresses they like.
That being said, membership in the OTW has *never* equaled membership in one of our services (AO3, Fanlore, etc). Unlike LJ, DW, etc, we are not a business but a nonprofit organization: we don't sell levels of service (in fact, we don't sell any service at all!) Moreover, we don't want to imply that richer fans (who can afford OTW membership) are in any way advantaged over poorer fans who can't. Rather, we're raising funds to build tools that any fan can use, OTW member or not; what we hope is that people who like our tools or like us and support our mission will donate to us if they can (and help to support those fans who can't, in the model of public television or radio.)
I'm sorry if this wasn't clear to you; we've always tried to be explicit that all membership gets you is our thanks and a vote in any elections we hold. :( But the AO3 is there for any fan who wants it.
All that being said, I really wouldn't worry about not getting an account! Also, you don't have to get an invite from someone with an account: the queue system will allow people to sign up with us directly. (And we will be expanding quite radically in the move from Closed to Open Beta!)
Members will certainly be
Members will certainly be told when Archive accounts are available. We will make sure everyone's aware of the opportunity to get an archive account, and then they'll be able to sign up with whatever fan names/email addresses they like.
That being said, membership in the OTW has *never* equaled membership in one of our services (AO3, Fanlore, etc). Unlike LJ, DW, etc, we are not a business but a nonprofit organization: we don't sell levels of service (in fact, we don't sell any service at all!) Moreover, we don't want to imply that richer fans (who can afford OTW membership) are in any way advantaged over poorer fans who can't. Rather, we're raising funds to build tools that any fan can use, OTW member or not; what we hope is that people who like our tools or like us and support our mission will donate to us if they can (and help to support those fans who can't, in the model of public television or radio.)
I'm sorry if this wasn't clear to you; we've always tried to be explicit that all membership gets you is our thanks and a vote in any elections we hold. :( But the AO3 is there for any fan who wants it.
All that being said, I really wouldn't worry about not getting an account! Also, you don't have to get an invite from someone with an account: the queue system will allow people to sign up with us directly. (And we will be expanding quite radically in the move from Closed to Open Beta!)