Hi chairmanphil....as far as I know there isn't any activation here on BCUK.
If you click My Profile in the top right of the forum, it will bring you to a page with visitor messages. If you then click the about me tab, it will show some headings such as biography. Next to each of these headings is a small pencil, click on that and you will be able to edit.
Hope that helps and welcome to BCUK
Edit....
Oooh just noticed I can change my profile colours and text...must be new.