ORIGINAL: Jim Dines
On your Club search, by all means get out to the field and talk with people there. Clubs are not businesses: phone calls and emails are usually not the most effective ways to get information or meet people. Get face to face with the people. The fact that you have traveled to the field says a lot more about your level of interest and enthusiasm than a phone call or email. You may be pleasantly surprised.
I'd have to agree with Jim here. Don't just go off of phone calls. Go out to the field and talk to people there. You might find that they are a great bunch of people who welcome new people.
Ken