I believe that while you can read forums day and night, action will get you further. Try these things:
Hold a few team meetings, and discuss everything you told us, without bashing the previous leader. Last year is behind you. Simply cite that the team needs a leader.
Meeting 1: Discuss the future direction of the team. Find out what people want to go for. Do team members want to set up or improve a website? Create a stellar animation? Make a winning robot? Win the Chairman's award? Decide where you'd like go before you make any leadership decisions. This meeting should be a forum, not a "one person talks, all others listen".
Meeting 2: Start implementing some ideas from your first meeting. Start training members, talking about getting new members, working on summer projects, etc. If you can, do all of this with the entire team! Don't just sentence someone to doing an exceedingly simple job if they're new, or if they're scared to take charge. Do activities that the whole group can participate in. Start talking about what people want in a leader, and make sure every student knows their opinion is important.
Meeting 3: Decide on perhaps multiple leadership positions - and see where it takes you! Good luck
