Z_Definitive_Guide_to_Running_a_Successful_REIA_Meeting_Reduced_size

LARRY GOINS AND SHAUN MCCLOSKEY
The way it works is simple. Let's say there are 100 people in the
room. You can either count off each person in the room into groups,
starting from 1 and ending at 10, then starting over, OR, you can
hand out raffle tickets if you're giving away attendance prizes at the
meeting and use the last number on the ticket to assign numbers to
people. Basically, each person in the room now has a number from 1
through 10 assigned to them. Before the meeting you will have set
up ten little signs spread out to locations numbered 1 – 10
throughout the room, and whatever number each person has been
assigned is where they go when directed. This means you'll have ten
little mini-groups consisting of ten people in each group spread out
around the room. Once the host blows his whistle, each person
within each group gets one minute to share with the other nine
people in their group who they are, why they're at the meeting, and
what they can offer that will benefit the others in the group.
This is a great strategy because it gets everyone talking about their
favorite subject—themselves. It also forces people to get to know
others in the room. This has several benefits. First, it gets the
newbies in the room meeting experienced people they might not
have otherwise met. This increases repeat attendance and helps
people want to come back. Second, it gives people a chance to talk
about how they can help others at the REIA and promotes a
community environment. At our meetings, we have all kinds of
people get up and let the others know how they can help one
another. One person may get up and say, "I'm John Smith. I'm a
rehabber, and I can help each of you by letting you know who some
of the best contractors and staging companies are. Here's my card."
Another person may say something like, "Hi, I'm Janet and I'm a
real estate attorney, so if any of you need help evicting tenants that
aren't paying, I can help you with that."
When we surveyed our members, we found that this one feature is
what kept both newbies and experienced investors coming back
each month. The reason for this is because it focused on getting
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