Please help - need suggestions for setting up group forum

Hi, I wonder if the regulars at sowpub could do some brainstorming with me about an idea I have.

I recently attended a professional development seminar that lasted 4 weeks. I met 19 other participants and we're trying to keep in touch and help one another stay motivated. All of us at one time were employed in fairly good paying jobs, but were downsized over the last 6-13 months. We are also all 40+. Many in their mid-late 50's. Some are looking at the self-employment route, others still haven't gotten their heads around how to market their services and are looking for the traditional job. These men and women are all professionals, civil engineers, Presidents and CEOs of small to medium sized manufacturing and technology companies, marketing directors, accountants, ex. cop now private investigator, business analyst and many other types in our group.

There is certainly a wide range of talent and skills among the members. My object is for us to grow our network, help one another by exchanging ideas, offering advice, and find some way for us to put this talent base to work for us. I thought of creating a community forum where we could meet online and both exchange ideas and invite others outside the group to join in. Communityzero.com comes to mind as a place to start such a group.

And this is where I'm stuck. Naturally, I need to sell the idea to the group, but before I do so, I want to go to them with a bit more sturcture around my idea. Keeping in mind, this group, although made up of professionals, many are not into the net as I am.

Can you see this kind of group dynamics making sense if I set up a community group forum?
Other than word-of-mouth among all members, how can we get others of like mind to paritcipate?
I'd like to keep it regional, i.e. mainly in SW Ontario, Canada. Why? Many of the group are really not internet savvy. They use the internet to post their resumes, research prospective employers and access email and job related functions, but that's it. They really don't use the internet for surfing and research as much as I do.
Once we're set up in this kind of forum, can we use search engines to get listed if we don't have our own domain name?
Any suggestions on how we could turn this into a viable business opportunity down the road?

All comments or suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks.

Eliz.