You might also consider other activities of mutual interest. In NE Ohio USA, just south of Cleveland, we have been doing this 5-6 times a year, for a 2 or 3 day weekend, for 1.5 years. Our APUG gatherings have ranged from 10-25 people coming from four states or a radius of about 200 miles. We have found that many of these people prefer to shoot alone, but love to gather to talk about like minded interests. Many do go out in a near by national park at break of day or sunset to shoot, but the prime draw that I have seen as host is the opportunity to share ideas, look at the work we are producing, discuss in person problems we are encountering, help each other and by doing so help ourselves.
We try to schedule the events to coincide with an interesting photography exhibit at one of several local galleries or museums or a local photo swap meet. If none of these is happening when we want to gather someone has volunteered to show his or her specialty. Last event Peter Spangenberg gave a platinum printing demonstration using 5x7 negatives from a trip to China, interesting from many points of view. Having another possible thing to do has helped deal with weather problems. It rains in Ohio sometimes, but we try to schedule it at convenient hours. We have had someone in Pennsylvania or Michigan learn of free or inexpensive equipment available, announced it, and bring it to an event for someone several hundred miles away. We even got an enlarger donated to the local university’s photo darkroom. By giving a little each has gotten much in return.
John Powers