>aren't you running some type of (idea) exposure
>risk to a certain degree by having to define or explain your
>model to some body or source of information? In other words,
>in order to find out if you really have a unique idea you have
>to "bounce" it off some authority or person, right?
>
>
>From that first inquiry above I would like to segue into
>another question that could have been my first as well: are
>there any groups, organizations, possibly even individuals out
>there that feature a well known, public record or recorded
>history of recognizing great ideas and then successfully
>working with, helping the people with the idea?

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I've dealt with this issue a few times in the past, both personally and through clients. I'm often introduced to people as they are developing their ideas, and security is far to often ignored.

The most effective way of really solidifying yourself as the originator of an idea is also the most effective way of getting it started, plaster it everyplace, in it's full version. Share your exact idea with the world! Twitter, Facebook, a blog, your profiles everyplace. Once you've told the world your idea, it's hard for someone else to claim it's theirs, and you've also exposed it to as many eyes as possible, which is often one of the greatest things you can do to any seed-level venture.

-Tom, SporkBit.com