Just getting started and need some help....

...OK first like on this forum, there's this HOME PAGE that has some stats on it, sign up (register), who on line, etc., but NOT THE ACTUAL FORUM!! I love that!!

HOW DO I DO THAT????

Also, I would love to have down the left hand side of my forum, and that home page, HECK, ON EVERY PAGE!! This WASTE area!! IN THAT area I would like to have a long list of "SPONSORS" I.E. BANNER ADS.

I've already found a BANNER HACK that works GREAT!!, but I can't seem to figure out how to create this "waste area". The banners are going to be 175x50 so the area doesn't have to be that wide??

HOW DO I DO THAT TOO???

Thanks for such a wonderful and BEAUTIFUL (to the eye) site.

Yours,

Kirk Voclain