LANSING – In a society centered on me, why do we volunteer in and around our communities? Each one of us lives in a distinct community comprised of businesses, schools, faith communities and civic institutions ? from the local symphony to neighborhood garden clubs. Together, this combination is home.

Each leg of the community is important to the wellbeing of the whole, and provides us ?quality of life.? Professional employment recruiters tell us that quality of life is often the key element that closes a deal to hire out-of-town talent to fill an open position. So it must be true that keeping workers requires the same ?quality of life.? Since I have learned that hiring and keeping first rate employees is key to small business success, I see a close connection between business success and community involvement.

The elements that provide our quality of life would not survive if each of us did not rise to the challenge of community involvement. As key members of small businesses, we have a finger on the pulse of the community. Our knowledge can be crucial to rightly directing some local activity or organization. My community, Grand Rapids, experienced again our annual Festival of the Arts, an all volunteer art and food festival attracting more than 500,000 visitors. This event would die without community involvement. And without this activity, we would lose a chunk of the ?quality? in our lives. Members of the small business community are part of keeping this event relevant and vital.

Quality of life is real, although often not tangible. It is both personal and collective. Each one of us finds a different key element to create quality of life. For me, local efforts to preserve open space inspire me to put forth extra effort. I have had an opportunity to work with my family to restore open space and also with neighbors to rebuild worn out housing. I also understand the need for community leadership. With others in the business community, I have spent many hours working to develop leadership resources in my region.

In addition to sore hands, more than one ruined pair of pants and many early mornings spent gathered around conference room tables planning, conversing and developing leadership programs, I have had the satisfaction of knowing that I have contributed to the quality of life in my community. Looking at the faces of others in my community who are involved in many of these activities, I see the face of small business. I am very thankful for each of you who give so much.

I?m grateful that life is more than work. But I also recognize that many of these community involvement activities benefit our small business community, so I urge you to get involved. It is good for your business, it?s the right thing for your community, and you will have fun. I know that many of you have you own stories about how you have benefited your community. I would like to hear them.

Please email me at [email protected]

Jeff VanWinkle, of Clark Hill PLC Attorneys at Law, is the 2006-2007 chair of the Small Business Association of Michigan.