I belong to 2 quilt groups and one CareCap group for Cancer, each meet once a month. One quilt group has the do it for yourself sew with a show and tell and a volunteer for refreshments. The other is about 40+ women with a quilt agenda in the morning, bring your own lunch and afterwards free sewing eith for yourself or whatever volunteer quilt sewing is scheduled. This group is pure pleasure as a learning experience, a sewing pal experience, whatever. If there is any discord I have not heard any. All three groups I have been in several years and enjoy. I forgot about their retreats. Love to go and sew and sew. Maybe you should try to find another group meeting in your area through the internet. Done that too. Enjoyed.