Brocton-Fredonia Citizens for Centralization thank supporters
Brocton-Fredonia Citizens for Centralization thanks its supporters and volunteers who helped with public information efforts prior to the advisory vote. Committee Co-Chairs Brenda Hayes of Brocton and Richard Ketcham of Fredonia noted that over 300 individuals supported its educational efforts, with many serving in a variety of capacities to increase awareness regarding the tax and educational issues of centralization.
Chamber announces 2010 networking mixer theme
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce has set its Networking Mixer lineup for the 2010 calendar year. This year's Networking Mixers focus around the theme of giving back to the community.
"Over the past two years, we have focused around really getting our membership involved in making those valuable connections through ice breaker games," explained Jenny Ingrao, Events Manager for the Chamber. "Now that great connections have been made in our membership, we wanted to be able to bring it to a new level in which our organization can give back to the Chautauqua County community and the themes this year are aligned with that goal."
The 2010 Networking Mixer dates are as follows:
Jan. 21 "Donate Blood" at The White Inn
April 22 "Earth Day" at the Jamestown Audubon Society
May 20 "National Stroke Awareness Month" at Chautauqua PT, OT & SLP Professionals
June 17 "National Great Outdoors Month" at The Watermark
July 22 "4-H - Head, Heart, Hand, Health" at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds
August TBA "Chamber Day at the Ballpark" at the Jamestown Jammers
Dec. 16 - "Angel Tree" at the Clarion Hotel in Dunkirk
For more information on the events listed or to become a sponsor contact Jenny Ingrao at 366-6200 or email jingrao@chautauquachamber.org.
Greater health insurance options gained through Chamber
Ashok Subramanian, President and Co-Founder of Liazon Benefits Solutions Company, told chamber members at its annual meeting that the Chamber's new Bright Choices program provides more choices to employers and employees.
According to Subramanian, Bright Choices acts as a regional Health Insurance Exchange, bringing a variety of different business types and sizes together at the table with insurance providers to offer a variety of options available to everyone in the program.
"We brought together the power of businesses that participate in the chamber today and the prospect of bringing other businesses in the county into that program and shopped around with the various health insurance carriers," he said. "And we've come up with a program that now enables small businesses to offer eight different health insurance plans to their company. A two person company can now offer a better benefits package than a 1,000-person company."
Employees enrolled in the program have more choices. In the new program, employers can budget a certain spending amount to employees, who then choose and tailor their plans according to their individual needs. In a basic sense, it is like being offered a gift card to spend on health care. Current plans range from about $150-$450 per month for a single plan or $380-$1,100 for a family plan. If an individual chooses a high deductible plan with an HSA, the employee could allocate the balance not used to the HSA account.
According to Subramanian, employees will have full disclosure to the aspects and costs of each plan, plus online tools to help them decide their optimal setup. Ultimately, offering the individual plans is more efficient and less wasteful than a more limited number of plans offered across the board to a group of employees.
"When you show people the actual costs and make it feel like they need to go spend their money on something they see the price tag for - as opposed to being told 'This is your insurance; it's free or you're going to pay 10 percent of it.' - people think very different things," Subramanian said.
This greater efficiency also has potential to curb rising health care costs. According to Liazon, companies under its programs have gone from annual double-digit percentage rate increases to single-digit increases slightly above the rate of inflation.
CCCC thanks supporters of Chautauqua County gift check program
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce wishes to thank those who purchased Shop Chautauqua County Gift Check Program this past year. And while gift checks are especially popular around the holidays, the Chamber reminds businesses and individuals that they are available year round and make the perfect gift for a variety of occasions. To date, the program has generated $2.1 million in economic impact in our county. To purchase checks or for more information, contact the CCCC at 366-6200 or 484-1101.
CCCC member benefits at a glance
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is the community's leading advocate and champion for business. Member beneifts include tools to increase profits, advocacy, connections to new customers, information and new ideas. To start taking advantage of these benefits, or if you would like to offer a member benefit, contact Guy Ditonto, Member Services Manager at 484-1101 or 366-6200 or by email at gditonto@chautauqua chamber.org.
