Is it time for lunch yet?

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Jace D.
Jace D. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations Team.

Jace D. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations Team.

I’m not much of a brown bag lunch type of guy. To me, PB&J sandwiches are only exciting for about this….long. Thankfully, I’m spoiled rotten at work with the options coming out of our two amazing cafés on campus: Visions Café and Specs, which are run through a partnership with VSP and Bon Appétit. Here’s a short list of why I love the food at work:

1. Quality – The majority of the food on the menu is grown and bought locally. “Farm to Fork” as they call it, is the café’s way of supporting the local farming communities and in turn, providing the freshest food to people like me on the other end.

2. Value – I’m getting a healthy meal with exceptional taste for less money than I would spend on some processed slop at the nearest drive-thru (sadly, a temptation I still live with).

3. The Wow Factor – Whenever a business partner, friend, or family member joins me for lunch, they are blown away at the food and service VSP employees enjoy every day.

4. Variety – The menu is packed with choices, and they change daily. From fresh fish, to vegetarian dishes, to wraps, there is truly something for everyone.

5. Just look at it! (But pardon the cell phone quality picture – it doesn’t do my lunch justice)

lunch

Hungry yet?

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Can you see all the colors of the rainbow? Prove it.

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Jessica G.
Jessica G. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.

Jessica G. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.

I’m pretty competitive. To be totally honest, VERY competitive. This manifests itself in various ways, up to and including taking online tests of all types. So, when I found the Munsell Hue Test, I thought I was up to the challenge. Just rearrange the colors according to hue. How hard can it be?

The test is based on the Munsell color system, developed by Albert Munsell at the turn of the 20th century as a way to identify colors in a scientific fashion. He based the system on three elements: hue (the actual color); value (lightness); and chroma (color “purity”). The system allowed for a standardized perception of color, and forms of it are still in use today.

Scoring on the hue test is like golf – the lower the score, the better you’ve done. I took the test and scored 21 out of 99. Thinking that was a pretty respectable score, I posted it to my Facebook page, throwing down the gauntlet for my friends.

Lo and behold, my husband scores a 4! And that’s quickly followed by a perfect score of zero from one of the graphic designers here at VSP. I suppose that’s one of the reasons why she’s so awesome at what she does. For the time being, I’ll keep my day job.munsell

It amazes me what minuscule nuances our eyes can discern (some more than others!). Learn more about how eyes detect color.

Why don’t you see how you rate? Take the test now, and share your score in the comments.

(thanks to spectralcolor.com for the test)

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What does the size of your carbon footprint say about you?

Posted on July 8, 2009 by Jill N

One of my favorite “Do you know?” questions I like to ask people is about VSP’s ongoing commitment to the environment. One of VSP’s core values is to support our community by “positively impacting our communities and environment in ways that truly make a difference in people’s lives.” A lot of companies are talking about being “green” these days, and I am happy to say that VSP doesn’t just talk about it, they do something about it. And it has been inspiring!

VSP's HQ1 was certified as a LEED-EB Platinum buiding in October 2008.

VSP's HQ1 was certified as a LEED-EB Platinum buiding in October 2008.

After learning more about environmental sustainability, and looking into the USGBC and LEED, VSP made the decision to take HQ1 through LEED-EB certification starting in 2007. On August 29, 2008, VSP received platinum-level LEED-EB certification, the highest level possible, for our main corporate headquarters building. At the time of certification, there were only 14 other LEED-EB platinum-level certified buildings in the nation, and only seven in California. When certified, it was the oldest (15 years) platinum LEED-Existing Building certified by the USGBC!

But what is just as notable is VSP’s on-going efforts after certification. VSP is on a mission to not only reduce our own carbon footprint by continuing to invest in sustainable practices on campus (we have a goal to LEED certify all buildings on campus), but we have also shown a commitment to motivate a variety of other companies to become environmentally responsible in their business!

VSP has opened our doors to individuals and companies, including the State of California, to tour our campus and share the changes we have made such as reducing waste water, implementing innovative recycling programs, and subsidizing sustainable, healthy food choices for employees. (See video below) VSP shares our best practices, as well as lessons learned, at many conferences and we have encouraged our experience to be used in case studies by many other professionals in the industry.

Before I learned all of the above, I was fairly blasé about my own carbon footprint. But now I have a renewed sense of responsibility! How about you? Do you have examples of individuals or companies that have impressed you with their green practices?

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Filed under: Environment, VSP in the Community | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Polarizing Priority

Posted on July 7, 2009 by Patti S
Patti S. is a member of VSP's Ophthalmic Services division.

Patti S. is a member of VSP's Ophthalmic Services division.

Real sunglasses are more than just darkly tinted lenses in a cool frame. Although these types of glasses may serve a function in terms of fashion and diminished light transmission, they are not sufficient, in my opinion, to act as genuine protective sunwear.

Truly protective sunwear should, at a minimum, include a tint with ultra-violet [UV] protection. Many materials, (e.g., polycarbonate), naturally absorb harmful UV rays and don’t require an additional coating. Tinted lenses, however, don’t reduce the disturbing affects of glare—they just reduce light transmission.

Polarized lenses do decrease glare and are an indispensable feature I want when buying my own sunglasses. Glare is created when light bounces off a surface. The more reflective a surface, the more glare is produced. A wet road produces more distracting and interfering glare than a dry one, but both surfaces do reflect light. Glare actually interferes with your vision and can obscure images, like children playing in the street or the rear bumper of the car you’re following.SusanandJim

Polarized lenses can be likened to microscopic venetian blinds for your eyes. They actually contain a filter that’s embedded with iodine crystals stretched so that they are oriented in one direction. When rotated correctly prior to insertion into your frame, they reduce visual interference from glare created from light bouncing off horizontal surfaces by preventing those scattered rays from reaching your eyes. Fishermen love them because they allow them to see into the water, not merely the bright reflection off the water.

There are many lens options you can add to polarized lenses, including anti-reflective coatings, variable tints, and a variety of colors. They are also available in almost any multi-focal or single vision design. Polarized lenses are more expensive than simple tinted lenses, but they serve a vital function in terms of your health and comfort as well as your own and others’ safety.

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Filed under: Eye Safety, Frames & Lenses, eye health | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Are You an Andrea?

Posted on July 6, 2009 by Tamiko M.
Tamiko M. is a member of VSP's Provider Services Team.

Tamiko M. is a member of VSP's Provider Services Team.

“Thank you for calling Dr.’s Keddington and Kalra. This is Andrea. I’m so glad you called; how can I help you?”. That’s how I’m greeted by Andrea when calling a San Diego area optometric practice. So happy I called – really? What a way to set the stage. I can hear her smile through the phone. And she walks the talk. I’ve visited the practice, met with the staff, interacted with a doctor – everyone follows through on the expectation that Andrea sets. The doctors and staff don’t take their patients and business partners for granted.

Andrea from Drs. Keddington and Kalra.

Andrea from Drs. Keddington and Kalra.

At VSP we take service seriously. In my work in Provider Relations I meet with doctors and their staff members regularly. The most common feedback? “You guys provide great customer service!” (or some similar comment). The service that our providers receive from our Customer Service Representatives sets the bar high for me. Customer Service is my Andrea – they frame the expectations that providers have of me. In these difficult economic times, more than ever, I know that I can’t afford to take the loyalty and hard work of our providers for granted.

I’m glad there are “Andreas” on my team. Does your business have an Andrea? Tell us about her (or him!).

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Eye Got This

Posted on July 2, 2009 by Melissa W.
Renee McCandless, Creative Services

Renee McCandless is a member of VSP's Creative Services team.

Renee’s Video Blog

They call me McCandless. My mission: to ambush employees with random questions before they get their morning fix of caffiene. My weapon of choice: the camcorder. My motto: Press “record” and see what happens.

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