Make It Happen

When Gloria Estefan sang, Get On Your Feet … And Make It Happen. She should have been singing to inventors because they are always looking for the easy way out. There is no easy way out. Gloria’s triumphant return to the stage, overcoming crippling disabilities is a testimonial to her perseverance. We need to emulate her. We need to Make It Happen !

The USPTO is a hotbed of resources now to help us make it happen. Here is a link to a letter from the director Andrei Lancu published on Don Debelak’s site The One Stop Invention Shop that outlines his commitment and the programs he has developed for our community. http://bit.ly/2S4iGPK

As if by magic, right after reading that article an invitation popped up from the USPTO. It is to join a chat on July 17th http://bit.ly/32i3GCE on using the Pro Se Assistance program where an examiner from your art department will help you put together your own patent, how to qualify for the Pro Bono Program where a patent attorney will help write your patent for FREE and much more.

They will also be discussing Invention-Con 2019 which is a conference held at the patent office in Virginia on September 13 to14. The theme this year is “Leveraging Your Intellectual Property In The Market Place”. Here is a link http://bit.ly/32rXkAO

What, Virginia a little too far to travel? The USPTO Resource Center in Miami is running a one day special event with experts from the USPTO on July 23rd from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. It will be held at the Main Branch Auditorium at 101 W. Flagler Street. You must register for this event as there is limited seating by calling Shana Hinze at 305-375-2665. Here is the Outline for the event:

9:30-10:00am – Sign In and Registration Packets

10:00-10:15am – Welcome Remarks

10:15-11:15am – Overview of Copyrights, Trade Secrets, Patents, and Trademarks

11:15-11:30am – Break

11:30-12:45pm – Conducting a Preliminary Federal Trademark Search Using USPTO Website

12:45-2:15pm – Lunch on Your Own

2:15-3:30pm – 7-Step Strategy for Preliminary U.S. Patent Search Using USPTO Databases

3:30-3:45pm – Break

3:45-5:00pm – Local Resources Panel

Full disclosure; I am one of the Local Resources for the panel.
The Maker Movement is made up of people who make things like Drones, jewelry, all kinds of things. A lot of the local groups have closed but those that remain are stronger than ever.

Member Susie Jaye sent me a notice for a Maker Faire in Chicago whose main sponsors are the Ford Motor Company, University of Michigan, Pepsi and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Looks like one heck of an event. Check it out here http://bit.ly/2Lc2342

There is another big one in Orlando. Our friend David Wood from ICCF should be sending us a notice about that soon.

This Saturday we are hosting Making It Happen which is a presentation on a new site that has been described as eHarmony for the manufacturing industry. It can guide you through the maze making your product happen and its’ FREE for inventors.

There is limited seating so you Must register here http://bit.ly/2XAH4e1 to attend

Doors open at 12:30. If you register on line and check you name off the list at the door when you show up before the meeting starts, you will get a ticket for the raffle and could win a valuable prize.

Our theme for our EXPO in February is, Makin’ Money In 2020.

If you want a part of that you’re going to have to Get Off Your… wait, wait, sorry Gloria.