I have been aware of them because I have a blog and that is kind of how it all started- with some of the more popular bloggers. I did not expect to be able to join, but have since talked to another blogger who is interested in starting one in my area. (The Upper Peninsula of Michigan)
I don't have the ambition to start a chapter, but I will definitely join of she goes through with it. I think that they provide a doorway for younger people to start making "cool" quilts. My own style leans toward the traditional, but I love to see people stretch their limits and break rules. I know I break a lot of them! LOL!
I am curious to see how that style of quilting will fare at juried shows and such. Some "modern" quilters just make very simple "wonky" log cabin type quilts but use expensive trendy fabric. Which in my book isn't really innovative, but still, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.