Shirl,
To start a new topic/thread just click on the "New Topic" button and when the page comes up enter a "title" for your message and a "description" (description is not necessary unless you want it) and type your message in the large box. If you want to add a "smilie" just click on one of them when you want one of them to appear in the text box.
To reply to another message already posted just click on the "Add Reply" button and follow the same directions above without the "title" and "description". And welcome to the board!
Webmaster