Steve,
I'm a member of the PSAS as well but neither you nor I were there when the PSAS first started out with 6 guys hanging out in another guys basement geeking out over some tank. Its not like it started off with 350 people wanting to pony up their $20 to see Anthony Calfo or Charles Delbeek give a talk.
I'm sure people will pay dues when there is something worth paying for. That is going to take time.