Once a year?
Once a year seems a bit...long...to go without meeting up with people that share similar interests.
While I am still very very new to turning, in fact all I have done so far is do a bit of research after stumbling onto the topic, pricing equipment and registering for the forums here, all previous "skill" jobs and my current job we would meet up on a regular basis.
It is helpful to everyone to make sure we are always learning new things from one another, pushing each other to do something new, trading or even just chatting.
-Josh