You're right!
I have done many of the things described here with modeling clubs in the past and present, and I would say that this--and more-- are ways to bring new membership and fresh new ideas into your club. When i helped start up a club in California we held our meetings and contest in a local arts adn craft store, and we adverstised the club through a flyer posted to the door, displays inside the shop, and a free monthly flyer that I produced and put out in the shop. We held a model contest under a canopy tent during a big car show with thousands of people in attendance, and picked up some new members that day.
A club website with the logo relfecting your website URL helps out a lot, which is what we currently enjoy here in Baton Rouge.
We also do regular (as regular as possible, that is) demonstrations in public spaces. We have foamcore boards made up with our website URL on it, a photo display board with past works (that includes as many pictures of people as models).
Have a simple self-printed business type card in your wallet when you go into Hobby Lobby or your LHS. You will always meet someone new and wish you had your card with your meeting info, dates, times and locations.
Get a van together and drive to another city to help support that club. Sponsor them with a small donatin if you are able to. Have flyers made up of your coming events, and ask the event chairman for a moment to introduce your group. You will most likely find others from your city who have travelled to the OTHER city, wishing there was somthing local! (I often see this!).
Make your website more PEOPLE focused with a bit less emphasis on the models. Five times in the last few months people have stopped me at a LHS or come directly to our meeting as a newcomer, and knew me by name and sight, having never met me before, because we try to keep a "people" focus on our site.
Get your local community newspaper Metro, Around Town or Arts section to do a piece about your club. this is exactly the kind of local coverage they are looking for. Again, make it people focused, with the models highilghted in the foreground. This was a real boost in the past, and it's time to do it again!
Hope these ideas help, and good luck from the (growing) Baton Rouge Scale Modelers
David
Build to please yourself, and don't worry about what others think!
TI 4019 Jolly Roger Squadron, 501st Legion