LEON TRAMMELL: I'd never been a person to volunteer for anything as most small businesses are too busy. But I don't golf. I hate golf. Golf hates me.

HATTIE: (VO) Leon Trammell is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tramco Inc.

LEON: Most people in the public sector do not view business as honorable. They think we're all crooks. And so that is a perception that is near and dear to my heart to change that perception. Businesses, oh of course, there some that are crooks. But I'm going to suggest that the vast, vast high percent, in the high 90s are honorable businesses and most people in my opinion, they may not shout the golden rule everyday, but they play by the golden rule.

MIKE NEAL: 93 percent of our 3300 plus businesses are small business.

HATTIE: (VO) Mike Neal, President and CEO of the Nashville area Chamber of Commerce talks about small business participation.

MIKE: Local chambers of commerce are the voice of business. Local chambers of commerce represent small businesses in local communities, in local counties, and states across America. Small business owners drive the agendas of local chambers. Small business owners set those agendas, set those priorities. Small business owners are getting involved and making a difference.

SUSAN HAGER: ...specializes in national public awareness.

HATTIE: (VO) Susan Hager is founder of the public-relations firm Hager Sharp.

SUSAN: I think being a part of groups is very important to getting your message out and to having more political or public clout then you'd have as an individual.

HATTIE: (VO) This hard working and hard thinking group that makes up the United States Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Advisory Council meets several times a year to advanced policy that will empower the job creation engine of the country. Giovanni Coratolo works for the Chamber as director of small business policy.

GIOVANNI CORATOLO: You know, we have to think outside the box. And we're very good at that, at doing that within our businesses, but we have to do that within our organizations. We have to challenge this council. We have to challenge our organizations. We have to challenge ourselves. And that's to do better for small business because if we don't who else is.

HATTIE: (VO) Construction company owner Maura Donahue is a volunteer who serves not only as the chair of this council, but on the board of the U.S. Chamber where in 2005 she was elected to its top volunteer job.

MAURA DONAHUE: Small business is being heard. Small business is being listened to, so and this is proof that we understand that and see that and are very appreciative of it, so. The heat is turned up. Let's take some action.

SUSAN: I think you need to be involved because when you're not you can't complain about what happens to you. Simple as that.

RANDY GORDON: You know I would say probably three-fourths of the leaders that I've been involved with are small business owners with employs 50 or less.

HATTIE: (VO) Randy Gordon is President and CEO of the Long Beach area Chamber of Commerce.

RANDY: Absolutely, public policy and what we do and our efforts for public policy is probably the most important reason because we advocate for our small business owners. We are the so-called hundred thousand dollar lobbyist that they can't afford and it's free with their membership.

ISABEL HILLIARD: I think that all small business should get involved, I really do.

HATTIE: (VO) Isabel Hilliard is founder, President and CEO of Old Dominion Home Health Care.

ISABEL: I think it would help change some of the policies that have been written. I think it would help give our senators, give a our legislation, give our representatives, give people an idea of what it's like in the real world. Many of the people who are sitting, making decisions do not know what it's like in the real world.

JOHN HAWKINS: It's in an international airport but it only does about 13 million people year.

HATTIE: (VO) Representing the real world of small business in San Diego is John Hawkins owner of Cloud 9 Shuttle. He's worked for over a decade as a volunteer at the San Diego Chamber of Commerce and just completed a busy term as its President.

JOHN: Oh look at this, this is our...

HATTIE: (VO) Cloud 9 has tried to be a good member of the community. The vans carry ads for nonprofit organizations.

JOHN: Ten of our vans we give to good things every month.

HATTIE: This is a good cause.

JOHN: Yes, March of Dimes, Think Ahead, Healthy Babies...

HATTIE: So they didn't pay for that.

JOHN: No, no... this month it's March of Dimes, next month it's the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines. The next month is Happy 85th Birthday to the Girl Scouts. The next month April is good luck Padres opening day.

HATTIE: So you have all this in your head.

JOHN: Oh yes, because it's so much fun.