My Meetup Misadventures (Part 2)

After getting that rejection letter from Meetup.com, I responded with the following:

      > My reason for launching a Meetup is not to sell/market anything.
      > I make a living by trading. From a financial standpoint, $300
      > multiplied by few people for 12 monthly sessions where I would
      > be spending many hours preparing presentations is hardly
      > worthwhile. I have a passion for trading, I want to teach
      > others, and I also want to pay it forward. That’s why I am
      > looking to organize—not to establish a successful business
      > venture.
      >
      > The main reason to charge is to establish accountability. I
      > think the likelihood is much greater that someone paying
      > $300 will remain part of the group and continue attending.
      > I have been to many investing groups over the years. Most are
      > free. Some charge $3 – $5 each. People come and go from
      > month to month without any real consistency. This impedes
      > the learning curve from one topic to the next since the
      > average level of ignorance in the room remains constant as
      > older members stop going (often after attending just once)
      > and newer members join.
      >
      > I would argue that $300 is a nominal fee for which I plan to
      > offer tremendous value. I did a survey of roughly 10 trader
      > education programs. The average cost is somewhere around
      > $6,000 for 12 sessions (range $1,800 to $12,000). $300
      > is but a fraction for which attendees can be well on their
      > way to trading for a lifetime.
      >
      > Finally, the retail trading space sorely lacks community.
      > Money is a seldom-discussed topic. As a result, most people
      > know little about the fundamentals of trading/investing.
      > Meetup is a perfect way to bring people together for this
      > purpose. I plan to strongly encourage working together to
      > learn and to study simulated trades. I think one of the best
      > things any trader/investor can have is a group with whom to
      > share ideas and discuss losses. Isn’t community what
      > Meetup is all about?
      >
      > Again, I trade for a living so I will be fine if you deny
      > my group. I believe a Meetup like this is sorely needed,
      > though, and I believe it would provide spectacular value
      > to everyone involved.

I was very disappointed to receive no response to my e-mail. I thought it was decently written, too!

In retrospect, my downfall may have been the first paragraph. The first and last sentences contradict. Selling and marketing something is one thing while starting a successful business venture is quite another. Although my intent was not to make significant profit, I was looking to sell the group in order to secure an audience upon which to bestow my benevolence.

I will continue next time.