I've started several of these groups, some of which became quilt guilds with executive boards and non-profit status. But each started with a like-minded group of ladies who just wanted a place to meet other quilters and work on their own projects.
The first meeting is usually a get-acquainted, show-us-what-you're-working-on time. Often we play an interview game...arrange seats in a bit of a circle, interview the person on your left - learn about their quilting AND non-quilting life. You will introduce your new friend, and YOU will BE interviewed and introduced at the next meeting. Great way to make a new friend!
At the second meeting we usually chatted about whether we wanted to be more formal.....with a name, by-laws, board members, and a set date and time for meeting. Let people talk about what they hoped, expected, desired from the group when they first heard about it.
Sometimes we just wanted someone to keep track of us all, notify everybody else of time/date/location changes, and be the one to unlock and lock up. You will always have those who come and "take" and never seem to give back (put up chairs, tables, pick up trash, bring snacks/clean up, etc.) and at some point you have to chose to accept that as just the way people are and let it go.
As you continue to meet, someone will begin to ask questions about how to do something and you can then offer to have a little workshop at a meeting, or have someone present a small "program", or do a "meet the quilter" once a month or so where someone shares their progression as a quilter from beginning to present day.
It'll be fun! Just enjoy it and let it happen. The girl who started our first group wanted an organized guild, pushed hard for setting it up and then was not elected the president and left, hurt.
Jan in VA