I went to a guild meeting this month to "visit" to see if I wanted to join. I wasn't charged to visit. The ladies all seemed very nice. The dues are very reasonable $15 a year. This guild makes quilts to be donated to the local hospital neonatal unit, which is great and I'd like to do that.
I'm going to go back next month for another visit before I join. I don't want to be hounded for money all the time either like you said.
I think the group you went to were very rude to you. That's not the kind of group I would join. Afterall, aren't we supposed to share and learn from each other??