Worthwhile?

I didn't learn to swim until recently (around 3 years ago). A couple of months after learning to dog paddle, I went to a local pool (like a Y) and started walking toward deeper water and swimming back. After a week or two I managed a whole lap, and things went better from there. Now here I am, at the start of another winter, and while I can do some OK yardage, I am awfully slow (1/4 mile in 14, 1/2 in 29, and 3/4 in around 44). My fastest hundred yards (remember, I am pacing myself) is usually just over 2 minutes and happens at around 1/8 and again at 3/8 miles. (I confessed this to a guy at work who then called me an anchor. Gee thanks :-) There is a local masters club (it's hard to get in touch with my best contact, though), and I might consider joining it, but... I don't have any real interest in competing, and would be more interested in improving technique. My question (finally), are master's clubs all about racing, or are there people that participate for the accountability and skill improvement? Thanks, Howard