We have hosted our local LL association for around 10 years now. We bring in speakers from all areas of our businesses. It has been great. And yes, we pretty much modeled it after Brad's 20k group, just smaller. lol

This year we are trying something different. NO DUES. Yep, a landlord's dream. Something free. If you thing collecting form residents is hard, try getting in those tight local landlord pockets. Gheesh! (wink)

All kidding aside, it is a great networking event. We now do lunch or breakfast. No speaker. No asking for dues. Come as you are. Food tab on you.

First month went well. About same participation. It should be a good trial run this year. We shall see

Lee,

Based on my past experience with clubs of various types, there is a psychological reason why you need to charge membership dues or just a entrance fee to inside.

Without dues, people 'think or assume' the club has no value and will not come for that reason. When you require money to get through the front door, the opposite happens, people who really want the information (even cheapskate L's) will pay the admission fee and attend. Everything in people's mindset today revolves around money. Anything that does not cost anything, usually is considered just a worthless sales pitch to get people inside to be sold something later on.

NE,

That is because you were not offering people anything of real value or even perceived value. There is a reason that Jeffrey has a small entrance fee to the Mr. LL convention,...people will pay it because of what he as to offer. If he did not charge anything to get in,...there would not be enough room inside to hold all of the cheapskates who would show up wanting something for nothing.

NE,

Roy, I totally get that. Brad told me the same thing several years ago. Just a little experiment on my part. Plus its eating so I am always game. lol. We may start charging $5 then donating the proceeds to a local charity or cause.

But you are right Roy, even our no strings attached FREE Christmas lunch gets first timers skeptical. No time share sales pitch here, just eat and be merry!

Lee,

I too have a soft heart, Roy.

And some folks don't "get it" when it comes to hand outs... Framework of Poverty by Dr. Ruby Payne explains a lot.

Roy, that homeless couple.... The road to Hades is paved with good intentions... they intended to ..... however, as you sharply learned, some people have absolutely no follow through... which is where the whole ' pull oneself up by the bootstraps mentality comes into play. Until THEY turn intentions into USEFUL actions, they will just suck others down with them into the mire....

For my LL association, the meeting day is one of my days of the week I am otherwise engaged, for a long, busy day. Too knackered to go out in the evening, even if I am available by meeting time. Then, if everyone is wearing face coverings, conversations will be useless to me. Didn't realize how much I read lips to decipher what others are saying, not to mention how it muffles speech. So free or not free, wouldn't matter.

Roy, why in the world would you do that? I have my reasons.

This homeless couple I met 4 years ago has been my 'go-to' people whenever I have an eviction and an entire house of junk needs to be put on the curb in less than 1 hour. They are experts at doing this and I pay them cash for it. The nice thing about about homeless people is they are always available and they never argue with me about how much or how little I may pay them. This is just the tip of the iceberg though, there are other things I use these people for,..ie. grunt work where I can't find anyone else to do at any price.

Our February meeting will be at

The Patio, Cannelton, IN 47520

2/18/2022 at 11:00 Central Time

NE,

With an over-flowed sewer cleanout, I need someone to scatter Lime on everything solid that is laying on the ground. Then take a rake and shovel and put everything inside a plastic garbage bag which will end up in the garbage can. Do you know how difficult it is to hire someone (on short notice too) to do this job? The tenant who unscrewed the cap is not going to do it and the kid next door who mows the lawn is not going to do it. So, with my homeless couple, I offer to give them $20.00 and they are happy to get this 30 minute job.

Leookie,

(Psst...don't tell my group!)

You are absolutely correct - LLs are THE HARDEST people to get money from!

Congrats on "reading" your group and trying something new.

Tip: we added AUTOMATIC RENEWAL via autodraft and have many takers.

Leadership makes all the difference. Lee and Pookie's upbeat attitude and williness to share ideas keeps people coming back.

We've been doing a LL lunch (just lunch, no topics) for years. Great gossip on on deadbeats and the judge.

Since Covid we've been online only for both lunch and the monthly training sessions. Attendance is unpredictable but I'm keeping the group alive.

We're getting several non-local, even out of state LLs joining.

It does take a lot of energy to keep it rolling.

I find new LLs are not interested until they figure out they lost $3000 and lost in court to a deadbeat. Even still they don't want answers, they want someone to complain to!

BRAD

LeePookie, that sounds like something I would like to join in on, but alas I am nearly four hours away.

Anybody know of gatherings like this, either in person or on a forum, in the East central part of IN? About mid way between Indy and Ft. Wayne.