About 6 months ago I joined a new quilt guild. Like you, I didn't know where to begin. The first meeting was awkward but the second meeting I jumped right in and ask if I could sit with a group that I had noticed to be very comfortable with each other. The following month I sat with another group and so on I am still 'invading' a different group each month. I have alway been welcomed and am making many new quilting buddies and friends. We have had a couple new people join since I did and I wasted no time to insure she sat with one or another group. To take the lead and place a newbie with a group it a great welcoming activity. You can just take the lead and go for it.