I belong to a guild, for about a year now. It is mostly very nice ladies, but, they like sitting with their friends and visiting with the ladies that they know, like most of us. It is very hard for newcomers to break into that. The suggestion to just sit in the middle of all of them, doesn't always work, I've had them move to another table to make room for their friends. Having board members sit at a different table each month, is a great idea. The "bee" small groups at my guild are all full, which I understand, most of us can only accomadate so many in our homes, and there is a process to start new groups, but that means the new groups will mostly be made up of new quilters, not getting the help of experienced quilters who know all the ins and out's of the quild nor the help that the new quilters need from the experienced quilters. It would sure be nice if some of those in the groups would be willing to leave their established group to start a new one with the new people. I took on the job of refreshments to try to get to know people, but I spend most of the meeting in the kitchen setting up and cleaning up, missing most of the program. I'm kind of frustrated.