Maybe send an email to everyone in the club to try to restrict chatting to outside the listening room.
I think eventually it will catch on....people try to mimic others behavior....sometimes.
Ha .. fat chance with these old biddies. We can't even get 75% of them to come to this forum and post. Technically Challenged is a term for those who find things difficult, but still try them. These guys don't even want to try, for the most part.
You are right though. We are in a transitional growing pains kind of situation. When the group was smaller there seemed to be a common goal, and listening was an integral part of the meeting agenda. With large groups it turns into a "rave" and we all know how much fun those are, but how little listening actually happens.
Perhaps we just need to let go when the crowd is large. I personally like to attend a large gathering, but I only host smaller groups at my home so listening can take place, and because my wife would freak if 50 guys showed up. Mucho payback for moi!