We have a sewing group that has been meeting for at least  12 years.  Usually a member will demonstrate a technique or a project that they are interested in and we also do one or two charity projects a year.  For instance some of the recent ones were walker  bags and lap quilts..a totally wild assortment of  scraps that kept the dementia patients attention,   and colorful  pillowcases that doubled as duffle bags for a children's crisis center.  We usually use things from our stash and  make those items at a meeting. Or we bring projects as you mentioned or have an exchange of unwanted or surplus sewing gadgets. 

We have a monthly door prize, usually something made by one of us or  something sewing related that we bought.   We have a price limit.   We pitch in $1 for the prize drawing so effectively our dues are $1 a month and the money collected goes for supplies for our charity projects or a donation to the church that lets us use a room.  We decided not to have food or snacks except at Christmas.  I guess we average about 12 and  sometimes more or sometimes less.

I really look forward to going and I hope that you can find a similar group