I belong to a small guild (38 members and growing), and we just had out 2nd birthday. Money is always an issue (as in we don't have much), so we try to make it interesting without a large price tag.
One meeting each year is our Women's Health Issues meeting. The first year, we had someone from the American Heart Association come and speak about healthy heart issues. This year, we are having a nutritionist from one of the local hospitals come and talk about diabetes. The speakers don't charge anything, but we make a small wall hanging (15" or so) as a thank you.
Our first October, we had a "fashion" show with a faux catwalk and those who wanted to wore an apron they had made or inherited from someone. The next October, in preparation for the Quilt Festival (we are just north of Houston), we had a tote challenge and those who participated showed the tote they planned to carry to the Festival.