The Bronze, silver and gold under your avatar are currently just tests.
Under the old system you logged into your account and when you came to the forum you would automatically be logged in and your status would be put on the forum.
During the first phases of the upgrade this no longer happens, hence why you must currently login at the web site and/or the new forum.
In phase 5 of the upgrade the web site will be updated and then we will be back to one login.
We are currently on phase 2 of the upgrade, but I am making sure I can get the roles of each member to be displayed on the forum.
Keith..