I scroll ALL the way to the very bottom of the opening page (or any page, really) and click on "Archive", just like Kitsie. I then open Chit-chat, Main, and Pictures on a daily basis, noting those topics that are blue and unread.
About once a week I read the other topics like Tutorials or Recipes or Introductions.
This Archive area has every topic posted within minutes of it appearing on QB, so I'm assured of being kept up to date.
Jan in VA