[Mr_Rippe]

Updates to the rules are accompanied by a post on the thread saying there has been a change. Scroll down to check if there's a change when you connect.

Why not announce it to the people playing the game currently, though? 

I mean, is it really that hard? 
(The answer should be no, and if it's not, then you really need to reevaluate the way you guys run things)

That's the responsibility of the staff members online at the time.