Just Over Half of You Participate in Local Community Groups

question:

Do you participate in your local Chamber of Commerce, Rotary or other local community groups?

Yes: 53%

• We work with The Lions Club to give free exams and glasses to children and adults in our community that otherwise wouldn’t get eyecare. — Angel Miller, Cynthiana Vision Center, Cynthiana, KY
• We are active in our local Chamber, it helps to connect us with other small business, and there are a variety of events each month to network with. — Jenna Gilbertson, McCulley Optix Gallery, Fargo, ND
• I do participate and I get so much good coaching information as well as networking. I’m also looking for ways to offload tasks to others, and these groups are a good resource to find ways to buy back your time. — Nikki Griffin, EyeStyles Optical and Boutique, Oakdale, MN
• The Chamber of Commerce helps increase visibility in the community. There are networking opportunities and access to resources. It can enhance our credibility and provides marketing opportunities. — Jeanne Heinzelman, Spring Hill Eyecare, Spring Hill, TN
• We are in the Chamber. They do education and business meet and greats. They also bring the big scissors to the grand opening. — K Elizabeth Bouravnev, Bergh White Opticians, Springfield, IL
• BNI, mostly for referrals. — Kathryn Collins, OD, Kissel Eye Care, Lititz, PA
• I got involved in our morning Rotary Club. — Amy Donoho, 20/20 Optical, Fergus Falls, MN
• Yes… and no. We are members, but mainly to get a good health insurance rate. There are some good reasons to be active, but I am just too busy to be engaged. — Mike Broome, OD, Broome Family Eye Care, Evans, GA
• We support The Lions Club, our local library, the DDA (Downtown Development Authority), our local food bank (OCEF), and our church. The ability to give back to a community that has given us so much is truly a blessing. — Candace Ingham, Full Scope EyeCare, Ortonville, MI
• What I love most about Colorado is the strong local community support — it’s a huge reason why I love living here. I’m involved with the Opticians Association of Colorado and I try to stay connected with local groups to explore ways we can collaborate. Right now, I focus on grassroots community engagement — reaching out to groups and events that align with myself, eyecare, education, and small business growth. For me, that’s where I’ve found the most meaningful connections — both personally and professionally. — Heather Harrington, Optical Nomad, Denver, CO
• I was more involved when the business was new, but backed down for business, kids and such over the years. Now I just watch others run it! — Jim Williams, Eye to Eye Optometry, Mexico, MO
• I was looking to connect with other business owners as a way to co-market. So far, it hasn’t worked as I may have wanted. — Kevin Count, Corner Optical, Glenview, IL
• When I first opened, I joined the Chamber and Kiwanis and attended BID (Business In Downtown) meetings. It was great for networking. I made great connections for new clients and created a few new friendships. I did end up leaving Kiwanis, only because I couldn’t make my schedule work with their events. However, I then joined two boards. I think if the community supports you, you should support it. — Jennifer Yerden, Sights and Shades, Canandaigua, NY
• I believe having a strong sense of community strengthens a small independent business. But in addition to my own business, I feel good that I am strengthening other local businesses. — Elena Jawitz-Blue, Myoptic, Nashua, NH
• To help network. — Valerie Lambert, Optical Arts, Toledo, OH
• The local Chamber of Commerce is integral part of the local business scene; they are very active with networking breakfast and lunches. When attending these events I try to meet one new businessperson so that we can help each other’s business. — Ron Catterson, Clear View Optix, The Villages, FL
• Yes! Rotary is wonderful for doing community service and the Chamber of Commerce (local and county) keeps me updated on what’s going on in my community, offers many free business classes (on computers, taxes, social media, etc.) and both advertise my business for me. I love being involved! — Jennifer Leuzzi, Mill Creek Optical, Dansville, NY
• It’s a good networking opportunity to meet other members and exchange ideas. — Melanie Jenkins, Spring Hill Eyecare, Spring Hill, TN
• It helps us network because we are in a hyper-local community. — Rialeigh Yoder, Sea Eye Care, Norfolk, VA
• Rotary 1982-2022. President 2011-12. Leadership Broward 1983-84. Alumni ever since. Oakland Park Leadership 2019-2020. Sigma Chi Alumni 1982-present. President 1983-85 and 2025-27. Commerce Club 2015-2020. 100 Club of Broward County 2022-present, serving on Board of Directors. I’ve always have given back to the community I serve. — Robert M Easton Jr. OD, FAAO, Oakland Park, FL
• Our doctor is active in Rotary; the benefit is what she is able to do for the community. — Lisa Smith, Precision Eye Care, Vancouver, WA
• It is a recent addition to my rewiring, not retiring, business. I’ve shifted my focus to elder vision care. Industry professionals and the general public need to do better and these channels are a springboard for this message. — Karen Michaelson, Kare Consulting/I Wear By K, Wyoming, MN
• We have participated in various community groups over the years. It is hard to assess the professional benefits, but it does help you make relationships in the community and puts your name in the mind of people who are typically more involved in the community via word of mouth. — Zachary Dirks, OD, St. Peter and Belle Plaine Eyecare Centers, Saint Peter, MN
• I was a member and then did their very intensive leadership program. I got involved so I would be seen as part of the community and a recognized name to drive new patient growth. I have found for the amount of time I dedicated to it — a full day out of the office for eight months and an overnight retreat — attending city council and school board meetings, and countless other things I went to, I have gotten one ideal client. It has not been revenue driving. Given my limited time between the business and a young child, I decided to move my efforts elsewhere. I think it actually hurt revenue because I moved my normal clinic day at the end of each month to accommodate and that is usually a big revenue driver day and critical for finishing the month well. — Susan Elizondo, OD, Westlake Hills Vision Center, Austin, TX
• We like to support our local organizations. It gets our name out to the community and also allows us to know what is going on locally. — Eryn Shaver, Full Scope Eyecare, Ortonville, MI
• Got involved because of a previous job. — Terri Brown, The Eye Site, Alva, OK

No: 47%

• I don’t like the people in the groups. I tried BNI. I realize it isn’t a “community” group but folks there were not true. I didn’t take their vision plans, so they didn’t come to me. — Kandi Moller, The Eye Team, Gig Harbor, WA
• No, because it’s difficult to currently make time between work, family, and maintaining my sanity, but I would like to become more involved with the community as I am able to reclaim more personal time. — Jason Klepfisz, OD, Urban Eye Care, Phoenix, AZ
• The cost for the Chamber kept going up and they have most events in the early evening when the office is the busiest. — Kristina Jordan, The Eye Site, Mishawaka, IN
• I used to but have not for several years. — Scott Brase, OD, Island Family Eyecare, Bainbridge Island, WA
• Chamber of Commerce and Rotary are proven methods for growth. I just haven’t made the time to get engaged. — Ben Thayil, OD, Lifetime Vision and Eye Care, Miami, FL
• Where’s the time? I’m lucky if I can brush my teeth at least twice a week! — Mark Perry, OD, Vision Health Institute, Orlando, FL
• We don’t directly participate just because of time/opportunity however we do participate indirectly in community activities. So we like to be involved but in ways that we have time for. — Cynthia Sayers, OD, EyeShop Optical Center, Lewis Center, OH
• I can’t imagine having time for that. — Kelsey Bredice, A Proper View, Winston Salem, NC