When we first moved to the NC, I was still into Tole Painting, so found a once a month group to go to. Boy, was I disappointed! Like your experience, all most did was sit around & chat! No one else finished their class projects at class! I came to paint with, & socialize with, others, but they all had their own little clicks & mostly just visited with each other. I went two or three times, saw nothing would ever change, so I quit going after that. This was real disappointing too, a long ways from my house, & not even worth the trip! So I know just how you feel!