Both these functions can be accessed from your 'home' page. When logged in your name appears in the top right of your screen. Click on this to access your 'home' page.
When you are in your home page you will see a menu on the left with all the functions you can access.
Select Avatar and that will take you to a page that allows you to upload a personal avatar from your computer.
Select New Message in your PM Message section and you will access a message box that allows you to PM any other member.
FYI Xenon is the administrator and Humanoid and myself are Moderators that can assist with most of your queries.
You can also select our names from the List of Users and write on our whiteboards if you prefer...