For example the Realtytrac statistics were great but nothing you wouldn't know by reading the housing / servicing related websites.It's not for a lack of high quality speakers.

I just wanted to provide my experience thus far with the two that I have been to.Sarasota REIA, http://sarasotareia.com/ (Manatee county area)Suncoast REIA, http://www.sreia.com/ (Pinellas county area)So, I have only attended one of the Suncoast meetings and didn't get a good feel for it but I will say the speaker that night was excellent.

The Listing Agent put them on the phone on speaker so I could hear.

But I did encounter a gentlemen's who said he went to another one in the next county over and it is more of a seminar type meeting and the guest speaker spoke about putting things in a trust where the bank does not know who is actually in the trust and who is paying the mortgage.

Consistency and quality are key.You may want to bring in a guest speaker for the first few get togethers. maybe a banker, a real estate attorney, an asset protection attorney, a tax attorney or some high end specialist who isn't involved directly in mentoring real estate agents so there isn't a conflict of interest.

There is a different speaker each week.

if it was me I would do what Tony Soprano did.. get a huge speaker and blare it 24 7 right into the unit ..

TO THE EXTENT of attacking CNN conservative speakers saying things like it need not have any conservative message on CNN. 

:-)they sold properties  be it rentals they sold lots ( lehigh acres)  most of the rentals they sold were D class to some C class so they had a lot of issues with investor getting hammered kind of like Clayton Morris although not outright fraud like Morris.. just poor product  ( U know hood properties in detroit are not going to be consistent cash flow machines)  They also were a seminar fullfilment company who did the back end and marketing for your top name motivational speakers etc etc. 

They've met with the governor, speaker of the house, dozens of representatives, department of revenue, realtors association,  and the list goes on.