Wow! I think My guild members and I are fortuante we live in a small area. Our dues are $7/year. We don't have fancy speakers but do enjoy getting together. Try to learn something at least once a month and we all go on a retreat together in the fall where for the past two years, a quilt design was taught by one of us to all the rest and everyone went home with almost all their top finished. We try to do something community-wise every year, too..help with library fundraiser etc. One bonus is that the nearby town is beginning to have famous quilting teachers come for lessons so when we have to pay more for those, we can all afford to go. I think I am happy that ours is such a laid-back little group. We all get along and everyone helps each other out.