I used to be in the ASV. I received a lot of help in my younger years, but these days I cannot justify the membership price. When I get off my backside, perhaps SVAA in March.
The "politics" mentioned is in every club, no matter which hobby. You should see what it's like in model railways clubs
Les has explained the "politics" aspect perfectly.
My advice for anyone thinking of forming a group or club? Keep to an informal group and meet amongst yourselves. No presidents, no treasurers, no bank accounts, no model association rules, no AGM's, no auditing the books at the end of the financial year. Do not try to create a formal incorporated club unless you are really, really ready for it.
If you all get along, then each person throws in $5 every time you meet (or $1 or $2, whatever) for refreshments, consumerables, end-of-year bbq or whatever. I do this with five others in my area in another hobby, where we used to be a part of an incorporated club, but we all left because we wanted to spend the club nights enjoying the hobby, not having meetings. Now we meet at someone's home every fortnight and enjoy the hobby.