Use year really doesn't have anything to do with making reservations. As long as you will have the points available by the time you check-in, you can make reservations as far ahead as 11 months at your home resort.
For example, if you want to call today to make a reservation for June 9, 2002 (check out June 10), you can do that even though you don't have the points today. The points you will have on September 1, 2001 can be used for a stay up through August 31, 2002. If you bank them, they can be used for a stay through August 31, 2003.
If you want to make a reservation for a time before 9-1-2001, you can borrow the points from the 2001 use year. If you do, you must use them before 9-1-2001, because once borrowed, they cannot be returned.
Ask again if I haven't answered your question.
PS. We don't consider any question stupid - We've all been new and full of questions.