Go volunteer, help the church, spend time with your kids, travel, etc.

So, I'm looking to partner with an experienced investor that I can help add value to by volunteering my IT/Photography/Video services while learning the RE Investing from them.

Not for profit clubs that are run by volunteers will be less likely to have sharks, but you need to be careful there too.  

most all nonprofits in this space are setup as state filed C Corporations that take the federal IRS Tax Exempt status later and make 1,000 copies of the determination letter to show to donors, states, cities, etc. to payNO property taxes, NO income taxes (IRS/states), NO sales taxes (states), etc. keeping costs downwhile providing deductions through donations that come from foundations, tax payers, corporations, etc. and there's a lot of collaboration with your tax payer dollars from govt.the biggest builder is probably Habitat for Humanity (Christian volunteer model), Proud Ground uses the Land Trust model and we like First Story's model based on working with for profit companies that donate materials and labor.The pieces of the affordable housing model that we DON'T WANT to use are "equity caps" and dependency on subsidies.Generally, the model has been to feed people fish.We want to teach them how to fish.So connecting renters to affordable home ownership opportunities/resources WITHOUT equity caps through small homes and free financial education can help some of the 100M Americans paying rent to many BiggerPockets millionairesso that renters can start their American Dream.We want our customers to be able to sell their small starter homes for a profit TAX-FREE under the primary home $250K/500K exclusion to be able to move up towards their American Dream.

Your REI meetup will help to boost your credibility and you joining the clubs will help you find friends with common interests that would potentially translate down the road into doing business with you.My suggestion if you like to volunteer then find a cause and join the group.

I'm a full-time software developer, husband, father of two small kids, and volunteer firefighter. 

I'm also interested in connecting with fellow Baltimore/DMV investors and will be interested in volunteering my time/knowledge(however small) to a professional in exchange for guidance and a chance to learn.

Hell, if anyone needs help with ANYTHING in the central NJ area, I will gladly volunteer as I am really trying to get started on my future.Thanks for any and all help.

I also am a introvert so I forced myself to volunteer at work to teach training classes and signee up for other projects where I had to talk in front of 60+ people, that helped me tremendously, considering that I would've never had a single post on this site if I hadn't done that.Good luck out there!

Find a mentor and volunteer to help them for free.