I've been reading this post with interest as, having been involved with two local clubs, I have seen two diametrically opposite attitudes. At one, the hands on evenings form a significant part of the calendar, are very well attended and raise funds to pay for guest demonstrators. At the other, the finances have convinced them that hands on are a necessary way of raising funds, but they still struggle to attract members to hands on meetings. To be fair, they only had one lathe. That is about to change, but, as has already been said, there are numerous other things that can be done at a hands on meeting.
Having said that, what really prompted me to post this message was the final paragraph of Tony's post.
We've been in existence long enough to know what to look out for, but were a bit surprised recently when meths was sprayed onto a thin walled goblet and ignited to dry the surface before sanding. It was a bit like a chip pan fire. Not very safe for someone with facial hair!!
I have seen this done, both at a club and on a DVD but, aside from the safety implications, I queried its efficacy. It looks spectacular but all that is happening is the meths vapour is burning. Any heat generated is well away from the surface, so there is minimal drying effect. I don't know if you have ever seen a stage trick where a small amount of meths is poured into the showman's hand, then set alight. Since it is the vapour that is burning, not the liquid, he feels virtually no heat. Looks spectacular but his hands feel virtually no heat.
May I suggest a better way of getting some heat into a wet turning is to hold some of the shavings firmly against the surface with the lathe spinning. The friction will generate warmth, and, of course, this was one of the traditional means of 'finishing' a turning.
