In the beginning...our local meetup

It all began about 15 months ago. A member of this online community decided he wanted to start a meetup to network and learn from others.  He posted that he had started a chat group on an app and asked for people to sign up. From there it began.

The first couple of months, 3 or 4 people on average would show up to a local establishment to share their experiences, hopes, dreams and fears.  The meetings were scheduled based off of poll responses and then a location was selected. The core group grew to just over half a dozen at the meetings and twice that on the chat group.

Then we got serious. 

In November 2018, we decided to have our last meeting of the year (December) be a planning & goal setting meeting for the following year. This was also the first meeting that was posted under the Events section of BiggerPockets.
 

Luckily, we held that meeting at the office of one of our group members, as nearly 30 people attended. We set the schedule for the following year (first Saturday morning of every month), brainstormed topics, and set our personal goals for the following year. 

Our January 2019 meeting featured a local Wholesaler on of our group members knew. We once again filled the room with over 30 people. We had already outgrown our meeting space. 

Another member of the group gained us access to another location that was slightly larger and is still in use as of our May meeting. Although it is starting to get a little tight. 

To date this year, we have had speakers each and every month come in and share their expertise, free of charge and no sales pitch. Wholesaler, Hard Money Lender, Insurance Broker, Property Manager and next month a Real Estate Attorney. All have been eager to help and teach us. 

Our meetings now average 30-40 people a month with new members each and every month.  

We are even currently working together to purchase a larger multifamily project as a group....and it all started with one person deciding to hold a local meetup.