I belong to a very large guild--more than 200 people. We meet monthly and often have national speakers, who stay a 2nd day for a workshop. (There is a fee for these.) We support charities, making quilts--and other items-- for sick children, veterans, and abused women. A beginning quilter when I joined, I found amazing encouragement and friendship. Though cliques are inevitable in big groups, almost 10 years later, I still find inspiration, especially in show and tell. For me the best part has been joining two small bees (one with 10 members, the other six.) Maybe others view those as cliques.The ones who gain the most from a guild jump in with both feet and participate. I see a lot of comparisons to this board--the inspiration, the encouragement, the friendships, the tutorials and otherhelp.. Guilds may not be for everyone, but they can be wonderful. Wordy..sorry.