Dear CCIA Members and Friends,

Amazing how the time has flown past. At the time we started the Chicago Creative Investors Association back in June 1984, I’m sure a 25th anniversary was as far from everyone else’s minds as it was ours. We just needed a positive supportive environment where we could meet, learn and discuss real estate investing with people who were excited about the business. The time was brutal – unbelievable interest rates, lots of people losing their jobs, and the economy in turmoil. It was vital to be around people who had a plan and were working it.

Twenty-five years later we are still here, still working hard to provide the education, motivation, and networking you have come to count on. A few dozen of our original members are still actively participating, and others check in from time to time from retirement. It is gratifying to see the successes. And, that positive supportive environment is as important to our members now as it was 25 years ago.

Many of you have helped over the years by speaking on panels, providing expert advice, helping check people in, website design and maintenance, writing articles, carrying boxes, transporting speakers, putting together the power point presentations, running the meetings, offering advice and ideas, helping with the charity events, monitoring legislation, calling your legislators, providing door prizes, telling friends and fellow investors about meetings, and countless other roles I may not even be aware of. In the meantime we have seen thousands of investors and would be investors come through the doors. I would like to think that we have been instrumental in helping everyone who has come, even if it was just helping some decide that real estate wasn’t the financial vehicle for them.

I would like to acknowledge some folks of special importance. Marc Goodfriend, my late husband, was a key figure in getting all of this off the ground. Some of our long time members can tell you what a privilege it was to know him. I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr. Albert Lowry who gave us a jumpstart by sending his Chicago area students to us for the first several years. They may have been beginners, but they were all enthusiastic. We benefited greatly by being the local answer folks for Carleton Sheets as well. When my sister came to visit, she dubbed the nonstop phone calls as “Jane’s free consulting service”. Many others like John T. Reed have been immensely helpful by keeping us in touch with the national press. Closer to home, Wes Bishop has volunteered his time and ideas for as long as I can remember. Without his help and support I am pretty sure CCIA would not have made the 25-year point. There are others who have been there through thick and thin to help whenever and wherever they could. We are extremely grateful for all of your help.

Marc and I had just quit our jobs as Loyola Professors when we started CCIA. Being educators at heart we spent countless hours writing books, articles, courses, and teaching. Then there are the stories I could tell of the years Marc and I spent on the national circuit as gurus. Much time was also spent helping to launch National REIA and serving on their Board of Directors and as their newsletter editor. When statewide legislation started to be a problem we refocused our attention. Years of monitoring and fighting legislation via Illinois Rental Property Owners Association have followed. Somehow, none of this was in the plan when we started CCIA, but it has all come with the territory. If you are going to run a responsible organization, you need to take care of the needs of the people that belong.

CCIA has helped a number of speakers launch their careers. Of special note was Jeffrey Taylor, (aka Mr. Landlord). CCIA was the first real estate association to welcome Jeffrey to its stage. He has since developed his newsletter and website into one of the most trusted sources for landlord advice in the country.

Most of the speakers you see at CCIA have well-established national reputations as experts in their chosen niche. You have also seen some of the local areas most knowledgeable folks specializing in topics that demand some local expertise. A few years ago one of our members suggested the tagline “Bringing Chicagoland the most brilliant minds and ideas in real estate for over 25 years.”

Here’s to our members. It is through you and with your support that we have been able to provide all of this for the real estate investing community of Chicago for the past 25 years.

Thank you!

M. Jane Garvey

PS Please join us as we celebrate the CCIA’s 25th anniversary at our meeting June 28th. We have a great program planned, and lots of fun in the works for this meeting.

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