howdy cynofox!
Nice to find another local Arduino user!! finally.
I fully support starting a Local Arduino Meetup/user group! I am the founder of the local Adobe (Macromedia) User Group and would like to see an Arduino group formed and have monthly meetings! Let me know what I can do to help and get it going.
I've tinkered with the Duemilanove and have a project that needs to be complete. Also have the UNO and have a project I'd like to build, with some help.