I just joined a local quilt guild, I attended one meeting and enjoyed all the items on the agenda, but no member actually spoke to me in kind, except for another new member (it was her 3rd meeting). She joined to be able to attend the classes, but she felt uncomfortable with all the "clicky friends" and insider "remarks" also. Quilt guild board members should have a "welcome committe" who would explain all the "normal" stuff - like the black bag challenge, all the other "stuff" that they do, sit next to the "newbie" for a meeting. I sat in the next to the last row, because all the other row empty seats had bags and stuff on them (saving seats for other members). Members who came later and had to sit behind us, sat together, rather than sit with the 2 newbies.