message boards

I'll step in first.

There's http://www.write4kids.com
and http://www.verlakay.com

They both have great boards.
And welcome!

You've already mentioned the two best boards. Here are a few others.

For beginners: http://forums.institutechildrenslit.com:6080/mb/system/login.html?method=GET

Sporadic:
http://groups.msn.com/thechildrensbookwriterscafe/messageboard

Yahoo groups (I just check them online, like a board
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/childrens-writers/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cw-biz/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NFforKids/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/just4kidsmagwriters/

I haven't joined SCBWI yet. I've heard that their message board is pretty good, though it can be a little weak at times. I think Verla's is the best. She doesn't tolerate any bad behavior and has a lot of professional sections. There's even a hidden section that only appears after you've been there awhile. This message board (absolute write) is the best overal writer's board, but not the best for children's writers. We've got a few pros on here, but don't get as much action as others. At Verla's for example, she's got one section just on response times. So, if you submit to Cricket magazine and have waited for a month, you can go check and see how long others have waited and what kind of response they've gotten. They're also very good at keeping each other up to date on where the editors and agents are. The CW Yahoo list can be very busy, but it's very good. I check it online, because I don't need that much e-mail. Some of the best resources in kid's lit read that board (and post occasionally.) There are also some very unique personalities - so you can go from talking about school visits to latex cat suits quickly. There are other variations on Yahoo as well, like boards just for historical fiction writers, and so on. If you have to choose only two to join, pick those first two mentioned. They are the best. If only one, then choose Verla. Be sure to nose around in Write4Kids and Verla's. They both have extra content (articles and such.) Write 4 Kids has more that way - including a great subscription option.

I swear by Verla's board, but still check in with the others every so often.

I used to belong to SCBWI as a full member, but found that I didn't get what I wanted out of it, for the price each year. As for their boards, there seemed to be a few more snobby people there than on other sites. One person in particular at SCBWI seemed to nix everything I said, or at least had some opposing comment. But then, maybe it's just my paranoia kicking in...