That's very true, vonboy. A trip WITHIN the country is much more feasible, at least for me. I was VERY, VERY fortunate in getting financial aid for my Eurotrip last year, as the dice really just rolled my way (I applied for financial aid for my last semester, but since I had never applied before, they backpaid me for the fall semester as well, and that allowed me to finance my study abroad, but I don't think I'll EVER get that lucky again, until of course I start an actual career).
So yeah, I think meeting individual members is definitely doable, especially when we don't live that far away, as you said.
As for this continent, Washington, D.C. can be nice, though pricy in terms of lodging, but at the same time, no matter what major city or region you choose, they almost always have group rates for hotels and sometimes even large houses, and if each member chipped in an equal amount, it might not be too bad. I could research it a bit more, depending on what everyone else thinks.