NETWORKING IS FOR THE LIONS

I just needed to vent just a little bit. I have spent the last few hours looking up new networking groups/organizations to add some new clients to my business to get it up and running again. Yet as I looked through all the groups within my city and those on the internet and national level my fustration began to really grow and I found myself becoming angry.
Everyone always talks about how the were able to start their business through networking and sharing with other people but has anyone ever stopped and looked at the fees associated with these groups that are set up to help businesses both SMALL and large? I mean really!!!!! I saw one that had membership dues based on how many employees that you had and the lowest one was $249 and that didn't include the one time $25-$30 fee to get you enrolled. Think about that for a second. Let's say that you are starting a business and you have 10 employees and you have only been in business for 3 or 6 months. Now business has been good but most businesses don't turn a major profit within the first year or two but in order to add some new customers you find yourself turning to networking groups. You find two or three that you like and each has fees ranging from $250 to $500. And that isn't counting having to pay at every meeting. These groups are robbing us blind.
There is one group that I really want to join because I have heard such great things about how their networking is really great. Yet it is like $200 application fee and then somewhere around $250 or $270 yearly dues plus you have to pay like $15 dollars for every meeting because they offer breakfast. And to top it off you can only miss like 2 or 3 meetings within the year before your membership is SUSPENDED. Are you kidding me? I didn't pay that much to apply to college and I know that I missed way more than 2 or 3 classes without my teachers telling me I couldn't come back. That is just crazy. Plus I don't think I have ever gone to breakfast and spent $15 on just me. I could take my whole team out for breakfast for that and might actually have some left over depending on where we go.
Maybe I'm in the wrong business. Maybe I should start a networking group and just invite people to join. Because really what are you paying $200 dollars for? To be able to sit around with a group of people that you didn't know that can recommend you to their friends and family. I think I could find people that most didn't know and let them tell each other about their business and then exchange business cards and even with renting a room I still could come out ahead.
Well I just needed to vent and now I feel a little better and can go back to figuring this out. Maybe I could find a nice women's chat club that is free and just take some business cards to them and see what happens.