I've been a charter member of several club 'starts'. But saying that, it is really hard to understand what that means. In all three cases, the rest of the charter members and I had been doing things together that were group things before we decided we were a club. I guess the big difference between the day before starting the club and the day after was that we decided we had a name and that we had started. But in all cases, we also had a purpose or thing. In the first club's case it was to meeting regularly and to keep tabs on the place and space where we would meet. We also decided to do an activity together, as a club.
In the latter two cases. the thing we were doing came first, and making the name up was just a way to tell people about it. The ARRL and banks and lawyers were not involved until much later.
In 2021, things are very different than in 1989. First off, there are domain names and web pages to make. Pretty much every club has an email address or web page or both. But that's not what makes the club. Anybody can volunteer to have that. I think the big deal about club vs not club, is the repeat performance. Whatever it is you are doing, you'll do it again or more of it. Who is doing it? Oh, it's the club doing it. Super.
So the question is, who is meeting? And why? And will a name help? Do you need to recruit and promote? Is money involved?
Tadd - KA2DEW