The speaker tonight is one of the largest investors in the area with a large portfolio in Springfield. 

Honestly, I can't recall the last time I stayed for an entire meeting, mostly because the meetings are all the same and the content is mostly speakers trying to sell stuff to new investors.  

Hi Logan, I really appreciate the approach taken by Attorney Erik Bolinder of Exceed Legal, who also is our guest speaker at AVID tomorrow night.

Its educational and speakers are allowed to pitch themselves or their products but I will not advocate for the product myself.

After that there is usually a featured speaker on an important topic.

After that there is usually a featured speaker on an important topic.There's typically a good mix of attendees - usually one or more attorneys, a number of agents, many experienced investors, landlords, flippers, rehabbers, contractors, lenders, etc.

We always have an educational speaker, free food and drinks and no one trying to sell you anything.  

After taking small, low cost steps to add value to our Detroit home (in-ceiling speakers, HDMI cable runs from wall jacks, ethernet hookups in every bedroom), I notice that our tenants really appreciate these amenities and I see the results in how smoothly everything else has gone with the relationship.If anyone would like advice on investing in Detroit, I am happy to share our successes and struggles.

Interestingly, this was the very same point made by the speaker at a seminar I attended recently that was sponsored by my local REIA.

I got to meet @Jay Hinrichs and most all of the other speakers there, it was a great experience, but I have probably been to the Bay area 20 to 30 other times, maybe more.