Greetings fellow Pacific Northwester!
CGsociety is just getting started, but Leonard sums up the current benefits here:
http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=234144
More is planned and “coming soon,” and there is much discussion in the boards about exactly what that will be. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Since you are a Seattlite, you may be interested in this thread:
http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=235408
Welcome, I hope you enjoy your stay.
~T
Yea… now i found da best benefit…
Findin U and gettin to reply in ur thread 
Welcome to CGS… i guess we got lots in store for we members comin up…
Thanks! Cool website you’ve got going there!! Looks like you’re quite the scientist!
Thank you - art and science - my perfect marriage!
By the way, I am very much enjoying your artistic anatomy thread.
Gina`
Gina,
Thank you very much! I hope you will post some of your fabulous work! 
Cheers,
~Rebeccak
Hey, thank you Gina! You are really sweet to say that. There are so many talented folks here on CGTalk, it makes my head swim!!
Cheers!
~Rebeccak
Hi Gina
May I just say…WOW… a Nanotechnologist who likes animation. Nuff said.
Awesome. Are you still rendering 
Darrin
You are too kind. Thank you. I did finish rendering but there are a few tweaks that I noticed need repairing before I can send it for approval. At the moment my computer is resting as I’ve been over working the poor thing.
Gina`
Nanotechnology is an emerging technology that is based on building complex molecular structures, similar to the way mother nature does, but without all of the nasty little biological errors that society is forced to suffer. The future applications of this technology could provide such benefits as cures for disease, the clean up of pollution and environmental soil repair thus the capability to grow food in places that are currently hindered from doing so and there for eliminating hunger. There is a lot of diverse nanoscale research going on, some more mundane than the futuristic “strong” nano apps I just listed, but none the less important steps to getting there.
Gina`
I thought (dont get me wrong) that you just used that as a cool name…
Shows what I know/get.:shrug:
Not everything is obvious especially when it appears in the midst of a popular trend. I just downloaded your movie, and see, now I understand your lightbulb avatar. And, I know what you mean, about idea theives! It can hurt. Cute movie, smile inspiring.
Gina