added check to ensure the parameter is passed for the join append
added check to ensure the parameter is passed for the join append

hbeatty/incubator-trafficcontrol,hbeatty/incubator-trafficcontrol,hbeatty/incubator-trafficcontrol,hbeatty/incubator-trafficcontrol,hbeatty/incubator-trafficcontrol,hbeatty/incubator-trafficcontrol,hbeatty/incubator-trafficcontrol,hbeatty/incubator-trafficcontrol,hbeatty/incubator-trafficcontrol,hbeatty/incubator-trafficcontrol