auto increment

Ok, been using auto increment on a table. Table members; member_id
int(4), member_fname varchar(14), member_lname varchar(14).

Everything going ok until a recent change. This table is used on a
many-to-many join. Wanted way to add name to table so could indicate no
members had been assigned to group so added 9999 with verbage of 'no
members'.

Problem is that no all auto increments started with 10000....etc.

Anyone think of a way to get around this problem?

TIA