The AER editorial board would do the profession a service by explicitly spelling out the sort of prestige that allows one to be taken seriously by the AER

From the inbox:

Dear AEA Member:

Our records indicate that your membership will lapse on Jul 31, 2013, and we invite you to renew your membership at this time.

AEA membership provides a number of important benefits including the ability to access all seven AEA journals online, preview pre-publication accepted articles for AEA journals, access EconLit for Members, sign up for update alerts by JEL code and quarterly AEA virtual field journals, and include yourself in the Directory of Members. ...

We look forward to continuing your membership in the American Economic Association.

Sincerely,

Peter L. Rousseau
Secretary-Treasurer

But, sorry fella, no need to submit your paper to the AER. Shouldn't there be a tiered fee structure? I would propose lower membership fees for less prestigious members (e.g., those at the piddly schools, ag econ departments, fields in environmental/resources, etc)? Or, the more prestigious members of the AEA might propose higher fees to get rid of some of the riff raff.