Some organizations also provide ingredients for a light meal, often at cost, prior to the meeting, so members can come directly from work, allowing them the opportunity to get to know and to help each other. A dedicated Public Relations person is one of the most valuable assets you can have. To be known through-out your area, there must be publicity in all available media. This is your life-blood, you need to gain new members. It is especially important to have a notice in the local newspaper several days in advance of every meeting.
Some newspapers publish a business calender of the week's events.
They will be happy to include your meetings. If you are in a location where you can call on individuals who can speak on related subjects, that is a real plus, but is not absolutely necessary and there is no need to pay an honorarium. We have never had a speaker even ask. One of the best speakers can be another inventor. Other good sources are local businessmen, even if their success isn't directly related, and even possibly politicians who can inform your members of pending legislative matters which can affect how we all do business.