Even though I have read a bunch of posts about people attending meetings with stand-offish members or not very friendly ones, I consider myself very lucky because after joining my first club I can say I have had nothing but positive experiences since I joined a year ago, have made some new friendships and found new places to hunt because of those friendships, and have nothing less than great times at every one of our monthly meetings.
The one I joined has been around since 1976 so I think it is one of the oldest out there, and maybe it is the midwest sensibility that the people possess out in this part of the country that makes most of the people in this group some of the friendliest I have ever met.
Very forthcoming with information if I asked about sites right from the start, and the whole experience has made this hobby that I love so much even better...and I did not even think that was possible.
Our indoor meetings are fun throughout the winter months, but our outdoor meetings are even more so in the spring summer and fall because we meet at different sites all over the area for those, have pot-luck bar-b-ques at every one and sometimes get a chance to hunt areas that are usually off limits because of the connections some of the members have with the communities in 2 different states.
Not only do they give away 1st, 2nd and 3rd place coin prizes in 7 different different contests each month, (which I have won many), but our annual seeded hunt was one of the most fun 2 day events I have ever attended in my life.
Not only did I get back every cent of my entry fee in silver but I found tokens that got me some very high quality prizes that totaled over $300.
Also the food at this annual hunt was extra specially good...can't believe I could even get out and swing after eating so much.
Joining my local club like joining this forum was one of the better ideas I have had since starting this hobby.
http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=100113
http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=104198
http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=127475
http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=12747
http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=121523
For those that join these clubs with a little more unfriendly members, I do know that Ryanchappell joined the Birmingham Ala. club awhile ago and most of those members were like that at first, (not only would they not talk about any sites they wouldn't even tell you what kind of detector they used), but after he continued to go to the meetings and they realized he was not there just to wring some site info out of them and then quit, lots of them warmed up and he now has had much more positive experiences since.