Why not, I'm fairly new, so I thought I would weigh in as well.
I think I vaguely remember either trying to join this club a few years back, or else a very similar one. At the time, I wound up losing interest and dropping away, mostly because the individual who had been assigned to get me through the training academy (if that ever happened to begin with) never finished...there might've been one or two turns, and then I never heard from him again. This time around, things were much better.
I agree wholeheartedly with the need for divisions and corps to stay in contact with each other. All those who have stated we all have real life issues are correct - I myself am balancing a wife, 2 young boys, a full-time job, graduate school, numerous 'extra' activities, and this group (and I'm just a brigade commander)...and I feel stretched to the max at times. But, I do hope that in the course of getting involved playing battles (I like seeing seas of blue fleeing for the safety of their Yankee homeland, but the smell of their soiled trousers isn't very pleasing
), I can develop several good friendships with others who enjoy the wargaming aspect, and learn strategies and such for playing better (whether against others or the PC). And having a group of others who is interested in this time period of history isn't bad either.
And, it doesn't always have to be an email a day, or even constantly involved in a game. Just try to get to know those under your command. The friendships that click will stay around and (hopefully) grow stronger, and it won't matter if real life gets in the way of communicating at times. Those who are around strictly for the medals and points and whatnot will drop out when they reach their "goal", no matter how much contact there is, so don't sweat it.
Me personally, I like the idea of the medals and ribbons, if for no other reason than it lets you look back and see, "Hey, I really AM getting better at this", and it gives you goals to shoot for - am I just going to play games, or am I really going to strive to improve and beat my opponents?...I thought about joining another group that plays Memoir44 online via VASSAL, for the same reason (ribbons and medals), but it's run through DaysofWonder who produces the game to begin with, and they charge money for belonging...so that one went out the window.
I've probably duplicated a lot of the thoughts that have already been mentioned, but so be it...
Regards,
ACWGC 
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