Not directed at you bud - just want less people without genuine reasons why they cannot make it.
People saying "I am interested", then nothing heard back from them don't help the cause because this is what the club gauges interest from for these types of events. If they then fail to attend, the club goes in the red for it, and generally wont run events again, like this thread expresses.
Those with genuine reasons are obviously not at fault, and when that happens, there is not much that can be done.