The trick is not to abandon too soon. Aved me from an Agent From Hell, once. The hardest part about doing art is knowing when to stop. Yes, SFWA does have a web site. It's too early day after Halloween for me to be much original.
Online groups are a way to network with people.
Cons are good, especially meeting with fellow writers. Writers' groupss are also helpful, very often. That's why the most important part is writing and sending it out. Yes, I heard from a little birdie that Speculations was nominated for a Hugo this year, and Kent himself was up for a Nebula earlier. Work on your craft, read what's been done in the field already and the publishers' venues to which you wish to submit.