How to Identify which Meetups and REI Groups are Worth Your Time

[Jeremy Toney]

Being new to REI, when working on developing connections and building relationships, how do you identify what groups and REI meetings are beneficial for you for you to attend to network? In taking the steps and finding networking opportunities, the first meeting in my area is coming up and in researching the information about the meeting, the moderators language seems arrogant and unprofessional. I want to learn from, interact, and network with the best. I don't want to repeatedly attend meetings and events where I end up sitting there shaking my head like "what the heck and I'm doing here?" I consider myself a professional, and as you all know, time is one of our most valuable assets. How do I identify what meetings are best for me to attend, and how do I weed out the people that are going to be a sheer waste of time in my growth and development, especially if I'm giving my time and energy in return?

[JD Martin]

Other than networking with other people that have attended the meetings, taking "expert" testimonials from those who have attended, or just going yourself, I don't know of any resource that's going to answer this question for you. Different people get different things out of meetings. Some people just like to hobnob with others, not looking for anything specific, while others want to learn things relevant only to their interest. I think you just have to go once and see how it goes. You don't have to stay for the whole meeting if you find it's a waste of time, after all.