I suggest the developers consider having a settable light next to your name to show people whether you are in a group or not.
Red light - grouped or not looking for a group (this would be the default setting when you logged on so that you would have to choose to change your colour to opt in to things)
Yellow light - In a group but looking for more players to join
Green light - looking actively for a group to join
Also perhaps one more option - blue light - wanting to be added to a 12 man group

Currently if you have a large friends list of competent people, when you form a group you go through the list trying to invite people who are online and not in a game - and have to wait for the small delay while MWO checks to see if they are currently in a group or not.
Hopefully this is something that has already been considered but just putting it out there...
Cashel Or'Kenset.