The UKE is experiencing a revival in the U.S. (and I hear the schools in UK are using this instrument as a student instrument)
There are several festivals centered around this instrument.
http://www.pica-org.org/ukulele/index.htm
http://winecountryukefest.wordpress.com/
http://www.myspace.com/milwaukeeukulelefestival
http://www.portlandukefest.org/
http://www.ukulelefestivalhawaii.org/en/waikoloa.htm

A couple of years ago, i had a 2 hour special on mhy radio show
featuring Ukulele music, with a couple of
live musicians in the studio sharing a variety of styles.

this site has info about how to start a UKE group
http://ukulelehunt.com/2009/02/25/ukulele-group/

this is our local Ukulele lady (her car liscence says so!)
http://ukuleletonya.com/blog/

there are many such groups cropping up