Why do REIA groups charge a membership fee, and is it worth it?

[Mike Nowicki]

I am a fairly new investor looking to meet up with other investors in my area. Based on comments from other BP members it sounds like local REIA groups are a great way to get started. In my area most of those groups are around $150/yr. While that is a small price to pay to get knowledge from seasoned investors I am curious as to what this money is typically used for and if this is common in other parts of the country. I am in Charlotte, NC