Our experince from WMSE starting a chapter a year ago. Our interim
comitte (four persons) started without any IRL meeting, and all
communcaion throught Skype.
For the first four months we had a budget of around 400 punds, from
member fees and small doantions. This money was used up by the AGM
metting (free coffe and a bun to all participating!) and basic markting
material (a brochure, some posters, some buttons). The first steering
comitte of six only communciated by Skype and some occational meeting
person by person. We concentrated the first couple of month to get all
fomalities in place (wiki, all docuemts to the authorities etc). After
about six month we were fully operational and also active in marketing
activites etc And with new mebers fees dropping in, donations, and
grants from funds our finances have been sound since then. And we will
have our first real planning day when all participate IRL 13 month after
startup. We have never payed any travel money for us to meet, but we do
pay travels occationally when someone attends a marketing acitivity
Anders