How to Manage REI Networking Group - Seeking Suggestions

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I chose the forum category "Real Estate Success Stories" because I consider this my biggest real estate success so far: April 2016 I was looking for more RE networking but no group existed in Las Cruces, New Mexico that I could find. So I STARTED ONE! First meet-up was May 2016 and tonight is our 15th meet-up! Yay! We started with about 7 people and attendance has peaked at about 25...average of 15 though. However, our email list has grown to about 80 people and our Facebook group has a following of 60-70. So I've felt like it's pretty successful.

BUT...

I'm looking to restructure the group. Currently this is it:

-meet-up EVERY month, first Thursday of the month, 7pm

-same location each month

-I find new speaker for each month, most local, our first out-of-town speaker is tonight (someone driving down from Albuquerque just for this!! They approached me and we are honored they are willing to come)

-Attendance/participation is free, speakers volunteer their time too

SO...

The question I have is, how do other Real Estate Investor networking groups operate? In your experience, what works to get people committed to attending? Someone recently suggested to me that if people had to pay they'd be more committed, and to maybe have meet-ups less frequently so they can plan for once a quarter, or something like that. Any wisdom about what works in your areas? I just want to make the greatest impact for the most people and I know a lot more people are interested in coming but have just let life get in the way instead of committing. 

In addition to this post I'm also working now to contact those on the list who do not yet attend to see what we can do to better support them in coming so I'm sure I'll get ideas there.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

PS - We've talked about taxes, property management pros and cons, pros and cons of self-managing, mobile home investing, our local market (Las Cruces and El Paso), public improvement districts and how our own city is looking to make improvements to grow our downtown into a thriving market, goal setting, success stories, pros and cons of new construction versus previously owned properties....a lot of great things...Just wanted to add that to my feelings of this group being a success...and also to add in some other "key words" that might get more people to see this post :)