Hello,

I'm trying to implement a simple association membership model in Odoo version 18.3. 

Most tutorials I've found are outdated, as the Members application has been refactored starting from version 18.3, and we now have a Members module and a separate Memberships application. I'm struggling to set up a straightforward subscription model.

Here are my requirements:

• Contacts can become members of the association (free amount/variable contribution).
• Memberships are valid for one year.
• We need to be able to identify members for mailing purposes and potentially restrict e-commerce access to members only.

What I've done so far:

I've installed the Memberships module, created a membership product with annual renewal, and then created a membership for a test contact.

My current blocker:

A new membership defaults to starting on the membership object creation date. However, I need to input historical data (memberships created during the last year or even earlier).

While I have the option to modify the start date after creation, it doesn't seem to have any impact. The membership status remains "in progress," even if this start date is more than a year in the past. I'd like to be able to enter all our historical memberships, so I can target previous members in the mailing app.

Any ideas on how to address this or what I might be missing?