Investment clubs need attention and care if they're to succeed. Remain focused on learning about investing and studying companies, not just tracking stocks that the club has bought. And be patient. Amazing portfolio performances aren't built in a year.

Consider sharing copies of -- and discussing -- interesting articles you've read on various websites or in print. Or read a book on investing or about an interesting company or business strategy, and then report on it to the group.

Two good books worth considering are Built to Last by James Collins and Jerry Porras, and Selling the Invisible by Harry Beckwith. You'll find a lot more on this big page of resources -- just scroll way down to the book section. (Don't mind that it's a page for teens. Most of its resources are wonderful for adults and teens alike.)

Consider inviting guest speakers. If your club is invested in Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) or McDonald's (NYSE:MCD), for example, you might invite a friend or acquaintance who works there to share impressions. For example, the Wal-Mart employee can address concerns you might have about the company (just as many do on our Wal-Mart discussion board), and the McDonald's employee might explain the company's recent successes and challenges.

Learn a lot more about investment clubs in our Investment Clubs area, at Yahoo!, and in our book Investment Clubs: How to Start and Run One the Motley Fool Way. Our Investment Analysis Clubs discussion board is also useful. The National Association of Investors website is a key resource for clubs -- check it out. And finally, here's a previous Fool article listing additional investment club resources.

By the way, if you'd like to receive several promising stock ideas delivered via email each month, learn more about our suite of investment newsletters, which we offer along with some free research reports. The newsletters' performance may surprise you. You can also learn all about brokerages and find one that's right for you by going to our Broker Center.