Don't give up. I once sat in a quild which was "not for beginners" for a year before I opened my mouth. When the group needed someone to teach a class on pattern fitting prior to a jacket class, I offered to teach it and the members nearly dropped their teeth! Needless to say, their attitudes changed immediately. Do your own thing and keep quilting. We need all the "young-uns" we can get. I'm 77 and we went this wonderful craft to keep going after my generation is dead and gone.