The History of the P.C.R.E.I.A.

Just like any other successful organization, PCREIA is rich in history. As we look forward to the future, it is always important to remember where we came from.

Below are two articles reviewing the formation of the Polk County Real Estate Investors Association. Each article was written by the founder of the two clubs that eventually became the PCREIA.

Polk County REIA
By Franklyn Berry
January 1, 2004

During the summer of 2001, I entertained the idea that Polk County, Florida could have another, more aggressive real estate investors' association so I began to study what was available to the investors.

I found two groups were operating here, one in Auburndale that met every Friday to have breakfast and to discuss real estate and one that met once a month. I attended the one in Auburndale but found fewer than eight people attended any one week and the other I attended only once.

Each of the groups was told of my intentions to start a group that all investors could come to and learn to network with each other on a weekly basis. The only night that was available at Ryan’s Steak House was a Tuesday night, which I did not care for because it would cause a conflict. However, since that was the only night available I took it.

On the first night, 25 people attended; the second Tuesday 20 people were there. Over the next 2½ years, we have had over 650 people come through our doors and our actual membership has grown to 55 people, most of whom come each week.

Some of those that belonged to other groups have given up their membership and now come only to the Polk County REIA.

Because I felt this REIA was not only a place to network but a place to learn I began to e-mail a short, one page letter to each member and if each member had kept these they would now have a short but diverse course in real estate.

I felt it was time for the REIA to move to another level for our membership and decided to allow a group appointed by the membership take over the reins of the organization.

While I may have entertained the idea of this REIA, it is the members; those people that attend week after week that make it work.

Real Estate Investors Group - Polk County
By Bill Inlow
October 17, 2001

This group was started by people who attended Ron Legrand’s “Pretty House” Boot Camp in Tampa July 6 – 8, 2001. The first meeting was Monday, July 13, 2001, at Harry’s Restaurant in Lakeland. Parking and privacy problems caused us to move to Strollo’s Restaurant in Lakeland, meeting at 1 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. Nine people attended the July and August meetings, a few more [were] at the September meeting.

I discovered another group of investors in Polk County had been meeting in Auburndale at 7 a.m. on Friday each week. Frank Berry of this group, the Polk County Real Estate Investors Association (PCREIA) arranged an evening meeting for the combined groups at Ryan’s Steakhouse in north Lakeland for Tuesday, October 9, 2001. Frank and I called the attendees of our respective groups to notify them of the upcoming combined meeting. Twenty-five people attended, of which six were from the REIG-PC. Those in attendance that night indicated they preferred evening meetings.

With everyone’s approval, October 17, 2001 was the final meeting of the REIG-PC. Thereafter everyone meet as one group – the Polk County Real Estate Investors Association (PCREIA).