I would like to join
Also have a potential solution to this issue.
Go into your Admin Area for this group
Manage Members section.
on the left there is a list of all kinds of admins, affiliate members, any deviant ect. Click on the 'Members' option and a new section on the right will appear with all kinds of options but mostly need to be looking for the drop-down bar under Join Requests, click it and change it to "Automatically Accepted" or "subject to vote"
I hope this was helpful.
I can do screen-shots if needed
(Also, you might want to have a scroll down while you are there to On Artwork, Members > show all folders
and check / change all folders to be available for art to be submitted into by members)