I don't like your assumption, but I'll bite anyway.

CSSA does not attend any Games in NorCal. I have not seen a Stewart tent in Pleasanton or Woodland in 4 years. There are no "functions" in Northern California. There is no one to contact within the organization to volunteer for anything. I made several phone calls after paying my first dues trying to reach someone, anyone who could answer questions that I had about the society (including how to volunteer). After leaving no fewer than 10 messages, I gave up and tried the internet. Their website is terribly difficult to navigate, is not current, and does not have a members area. It's basically the login page for the officers.

Gunn, on the other hand. My fiancee had never been to a G&G, and was interested in researching her possible Scottish roots. We went from clan tent to clan tent checking sept names and associated names until we came to Gunn. Robinson, her grandmother's maiden name, is a sept of Gunn. We were immediately welcomed into the society. They didn't care that the connection hadn't yet been verified, or that I had absolutely no connection to Gunn. We started getting e-mails, phone calls, invitations to post-Games barbecues in the camping area, dinner at members' homes that lived near us...


Different organizations, different ways. Like I said initially, whether or not it's "worth it" depends on your motivation. Fulfillment means different things to different people. Some people want to make a donation for the preservation of history (CSSA). Others want participation (Gunn). I don't begrudge the CSSA their bi-annual fees, but I sure do have fun at the Gunn tent twice a year.