Audax Club Mid-Essex say "Hi" Yellowbellies, you won't regret it! The free membership thing works for us, and we've a growing band of riders, new organisers, helpers...
There's a whole new level of 'Type 2 Fun' out there. 
Out of interest how much bureaucracy is there in the free model?
Is it just quite simple, a list /loose grouping of folk that come together for audax purposes or is there a formal club constitution, indemnity insurance based on the more traditional way of running cycling clubs?
We have very little bureacracy in ACME and most 'constitutional' type things are discussed over a couple of pints or three on a, for the want of another name, club night that is our infamous Mid-Essex Mid-Week Nocturnal Series rides. Some of us get volunteered to take on certain tasks such as kitty holder, jersey designer and pusher, musical director, fire safety officer, web site designer, new ride route mistering, general tom foolery. Most of which you can see in the various ACME related threads on the forum.
Some beer fuelled suggestions even make it to the light of day such as our ACME jersey, Winter BP Series of rides, shiny badges, and stuff like that.
We happen to have a CTC affiliation we can employ if needed that is in place for another branch of cycling activities in Witham, but that's not really necessary if you arrange events underwritten by AUK as you get insurance cover from there.
As Tomsk says, it opens up a whole new level of type 2 fun, make it as simple or complicated as you like
ETA: One recommended action of membership of ACME is to sign over all your AUK points to us
