These lead to differences in programming and formats for meetings. When the focus of the organization is on providing information about the invention process, a format for meetings often features speakers or presenters who have knowledge or expertise to share with the group. The second approach raises issues of confidentiality and ethics. Each group needs procedures in place for dealing with confidentiality issues appropriately and fairly. While some inventors' organizations decide to not allow members to discuss their ideas out of concern about how to deal with confidentiality, there are a number of groups who have developed effective arrangements and who argue that the format is important to supporting the independent inventor's success.
Some groups define their purpose broadly and others are quite specific.
Some groups, in addition to addressing their members' needs and interests, make a commitment to supporting efforts to teach school-aged children about inventing or present workshops for the larger community in an effort to provide an alternative to invention scam companies. Others are involved in community-outreach projects. There are a number of resources that provide information about developing an inventors' support or resource group. Information on starting a group can be located on several inventor group web sites, such as the one for the Houston Inventors Association. We've found that people who are members of inventors' support organizations are very willing to share their experiences.