Walt, welcome to the forum. Lot's of good info here.
If you are interested in meeting some other like-minded individuals face-to-face, I'm hosting a metalshaping meet in Cumberland, WI on October 5, 6, and 7. Might be around a 4 hour drive for you. You can attend any, or all, days, whatever fits your level of interest and your schedule.
http://www.allmetalshaping.com/showthread.php?t=16900
The link below includes some photos from last year. (You'll have to scroll down a ways for the photos.)
http://www.allmetalshaping.com/showthread.php?t=15048
The cost is a free-will donation. I expect around 20 people. Approximately half are pretty new to metalshaping. The others have between a little more and a whole lot of experience. Bring a project if you have one. It's a good opportunity for everyone to share what they are working on and learn from one another. If you have an idea for a project but don't know where to start, bring it, we can help with that too. We'd love to have you there.
Pat Brubaker is doing a couple of classes the weekend before if that interests you. (See more info in the first link above.)