A great way to network and meet people in your local community is to attend in person meet ups.

I bought a ticket for this event but will be unable to attend.

do you yourself attend? 

I would do a Google search for a local club and attend the meetings. 

Some of the webinars that BiggerPockets offers often touch to greater or lesser degree on analyzing deals -- you might try attending this one.

Going into the new year, I’m looking to attend more REIA meetings in Houston, collaborate with other RE investors and most importantly learn from those experienced.

With that said I would definitely encourage you to attend any local real estate investment clubs as well.

Keep doing your research, stay on BP, attend meet ups in your market (even if you don't plan to invest there).

Foreclosure auctions in major metropolitan areas are attended by a number of “professionals” who have been doing this for a long time; they are knowledgeable, experienced, and have enough capital to buy numerous properties so that they engage the power of diversification.  

A school can also be a draw for "other activity" during evening hours.Rental:     Positive for those who have children attending that particular school - BUT a negative for those who do not have children or those with children attending elsewhere.My recommendation would be to thoroughly know the market and the prospective tenant pool.