1 - Keep an open attitude that 90% of the people who join will not be active participants
2 - It is the active participants that make the club a quality club,
3 - Without good leadership any club will fail early and fail fast. If the one who starts it gets bored, overwhelmed or tired, he will drop it, when that happens, it all goes down the tubes fast.
4 - The more people "at the top" of the club management structure, the stronger it becomes... to a limit. 2 is better than 1, 4 is better than 2. 25 people pulling in 25 different directions is a recepie for disaster.
5 - Structure. Have events regularly and often. Some people come to some events, some to others. Make the events interesting.
6 - Take advantage of what the pool of club members can offer. If one member is (for a random example) a gym owner, set up a shoot session in the gym with various club members, almost like a trade for pics session. How many body builders would not want to have some awesome pics of themselves flexing away?
7 - Do not make a club expecting to make money. The moment you start imposing large fees or dues or regular donations, many people start to leave. Times are tough, do not add to them. However, if you do events that require money (rent an old thearter for a day for some 1920's shots), promote the event, split the costs evenly.
8 - Network. Contact local make-up artists, local models pro AND amateur. The more here the merrier. Contact hair salons. They also are good sources. Talk to the local camera shops, and while you are at it, talk to the local news papers once you are a bit stronger established... get known in a POSITIVE and POPULAR manner. Do charity work. Visit the local old folks home, the hospitals, the shelters, help out with more than just photos, but be sure photography is ALWAYS an integtal part of it
9 - Regular meetings are nice but having an internet accessible forum is important. It can be free... like a flickr group! Use that tool a lot and use it hard.
10 - This one is related to #5... consistency. Don't make 3 events one week, 5 the next and then nothing for a month. 1 maybe 2 events or gatherings per month is enough. A central gathering to discuss ideas or something could be done once a week, but this is better done online without a schedule.
I could go on and on becuase at one point, I was going to start one (but someone beat me to it)... but thats enough ideas for a start. Congrats and good luck!