I belong to a quilt group which has opted not to seek guild status for a number of reasons that I don't need to go into here. I should say, however, that I rather like the fact that it's not a guild. Since the structure is more informal, we are less tightly organized than guilds I have belonged to before. The downside is that we don't have access to the wonderful speakers and classes that guilds can sometimes arrange. I'd recommend that you do it. The support you will receive from fellow guild members an, above all, you own skill building, will be enough of a payback for membership. Add to that the fellowship and the fun and it's a sure winner.