By definition, in a virtual community, people communicate around the globe using tools such as e-mail, message boards, chat, and sometimes telephone and videoconferencing. And I often extol the advantages and the virtues of virtual communication for business. Not at all. Participants then go their respective ways and continue work using virtual tools, enriched by the experience and carrying with them a more holistic picture of their work partners. Other gatherings can be planned for specific intervals as work progresses.
Meetings organized by the community members are usually signs of a healthy community.
It's a sign of bonding, and any community worth its salt will find its members planning get-togethers as the community grows and matures. You can encourage these by providing physical space when available, posting notices of events, and reminding members of safe ways to meet people they know only from online. In other cases, the community exists simultaneously in virtual and physical realms. A local activist group might have an online presence and encourage networking among members. A church might have a number of e-mail discussion lists.