You are now a Jr. Member if you want to upgrade your rank you need to accumulated 10 merits to rank up to the next level.Its hard to rank up now because of the merit system but nothing is impossible if you are determined to rank up.
That's correct. If we joined early (2 year before), may be we could get senior member rank easily.
Now, it seems so difficults to earn more than 10 merits even for one year contribution.