* Send BUSINESS CALENDAR items to the...

* Send BUSINESS CALENDAR items to the Daily Pilot, 1375 Sunflower

Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626; by e-mail to lindsay.sandham@latimes.com;

by fax to (714) 966-4667; or by calling (714) 966-4625. Include the

time, date and location of the event, as well as a contact phone

number.

FRIDAY

The Inventor’s Forum, an Orange County-based, all-volunteer,

nonprofit inventors’ support group, will present a seminar

on market research for the inventor -- “Do you have a Good Idea or

a Dumb Idea? How to Find Out!” John Rau of Ultra-Research Inc. will

be the keynote speaker. Registration and networking begin at 7 p.m.

at the Orange Coast College Science Lecture Hall 101, 2701 Fairview Rd., Costa Mesa. Cost is $5 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

Information: (714)540-2491 or https://www.inventorsforum.org.

MAY 18

THINK (Together Harnessing Innovation, Networking and Knowledge)

will host a conversation with Jim Roberts, Director of Operations of

Billabong International, as part of its Series of Success Stories in

Business, Politics and Community. Billabong International, a

publicly-traded corporation, makes Billabong-brand surf and extreme

sport apparel and accessories. Products sporting its wave logo

include board shorts, swimwear, T-shirts, jackets, backpacks and

footwear. The company sponsors surfers, skaters and pro surfing

tournaments in Australia, South Africa and Spain. Event starts at 7

p.m. RSVP and payment are required for location. Information:

https://ww.thinkjaycees.org.

ONGOING

The Costa Mesa chapter of Ali Lassen’s Leads Club, an

international group for business referrals and networking, meets at

noon Thursdays at the Newport Beach Yacht Club. Information: (800)

767-7337 or https://www.leadsclubla.com.

Learn how to expand your local business contacts by joining the

Costa Mesa chapter of Leads Club. The Costa Mesa chapter will be a

Thursday lunch group. Information: (800) 767-7337.

Learn how to expand your local business contacts at the Newport

Beach-Irvine chapter of Leads Club on Tuesdays from 8 to 9:15 a.m. at

the Marriot Suites, 500 Bayview Circle, Newport Beach. Information:

(949) 551-8135.

The Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce hosts networking luncheon

meetings Wednesdays from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Costa Mesa

Country Club. The cost is $14. The club is at 1701 Golf Course Drive,

Costa Mesa. (714) 885-9090.

The Costa Mesa Communicators Toastmasters Club meets from noon to

1 p.m. Wednesdays at the Orange County Department of Education, 200

Kalmus Drive, Costa Mesa. Meetings are open to anyone who wants to

improve his or her public speaking skills. (714) 444-8783.