Member Affinity Programs

You can save hundreds of dollars by taking advantage of our Member Affinity programs.  Just click on the links below for details. 

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 From The President

All Politics is Local

 

The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of meetings with elected officials from all levels of government. First, the NVCC hosted a meeting with U.S Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren (okay, technically she's not an elected official). Ms. Warren spent nearly an hour with a group of local business people sharing her reasons for entering the race and how she wanted to help small business. We hope to have Senator Scott Brown attend a future meeting with chamber members.

 

The following week I had an opportunity to travel to Washington DC with 25 other people representing Chambers of Commerce and business owners from throughout the Commonwealth. Our agenda was packed with informational meetings and visits with our state delegation.

 

We met first at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce across from the White House. U.S. Chamber staff briefed our group on three major business-related issues that were in play on Capitol Hill: Transportation Policy (the Chamber-backed two-year surface transportation reauthorization was approved by Congress last week), Health Care Policy (a presentation on how different scenarios could play out based on the then pending Supreme Court decision) and Labor Policy (updates on the NLRB's encroachment into labor policy, particularly regarding unions).

 

We then headed to the American Petroleum Institute (API), one of the largest trade associations in the country, representing companies in the oil and natural gas business. They provided an extremely informative overview of U.S. energy policy and naturally, spoke of the tremendous reserves of oil and natural gas that sit untapped beneath us. Enough to make the U.S. energy independent in about a dozen years.

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Standing in front of the U.S. Chamber Building in Washington. The giant JOBS sign is visible from the White House as a reminder to the President of the nation's top priority.

Members and staff of the Neponset Valley and South Shore Chambers of Commerce met with Congressman Stephen Lynch in his DC office.

 

 

 

 

Long-awaited discounts for small businesses are here. The Massachusetts Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (MACCE) recently introduced the Chamber Health Coop, a group purchasing program that makes health insurance more affordable for businesses with 1 to 50 full-time employees.

Any small business that belongs to one of the more than 60 participating chambers of commerce and other business associations is eligible to join the Chamber Health Coop. The Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce is among this first wave of organizations to make the program available to its members.

Our members can save hundreds or thousands of dollars a year on their health insurance from Fallon Community Health Plan, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Health New England, which are each discounting several of their plans. Fallon and Harvard Pilgrim are trimming rates by 3 percent, and Health New England by 5 percent. Businesses with a maximum of 50 employees who work 30 or more hours a week can now enroll for coverage beginning as soon August 1st.

"The Commonwealth is pleased to support the new Chamber Health Coop through MACCE," said Governor Deval Patrick.  "Small businesses are vital to our continued economic success here in the Commonwealth and we need more innovative programs like the coop to reduce the high costs of health care that inhibit growth and development."

"Chambers have fought for years to lower the cost of health insurance. We are pleased that Governor Patrick, Senate President Murray, and Speaker DeLeo share this aim and helped pave the way for group purchasing cooperatives," said Neponset Valley Chamber President Tom O'Rourke. Mr. O'Rourke is also President of MACCE and has led the effort to create the money-saving Cooperative. "The Chamber Health Coop will give businesses one more tool they can use to lower the cost of insurance for themselves and their employees."

In addition to offering savings on health insurance plans, the Chamber Health Coop provides wellness programs to help employees live healthier lives that in turn may help keep premium costs at bay. The health and wellness offering is free for all covered employees and their families.

The Massachusetts Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives represents the 100+ Chambers of Commerce in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MACCE's mission is to be an accessible and valuable resource to the chamber professionals serving our state's communities. MACCE provides a wide-range of resources and opportunities for all chamber professionals and their member businesses.

To learn more, visit www.ChamberHealthCoop.com, or contact your certified insurance broker.

 Upcoming Programs

 Easy registration  and more information for these beneficial programs

Advertise with the Chamber 

Chamber of commerce websites are frequently sought out when potential customers are looking for products and services in a local area. In fact, a 2007 study (by the Schapiro group) showed that when potential customers know that a small business is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 44% more likely to think favorably of it, and 63% more likely to purchase goods or services from the company in the future. Chamber credibility is important and it positively enhances click through rates.

For the past four years, online local ads sales had a compound growth rate of 48 percent and are projected to reach $13.9 Billion in 2009 (+7.5%). At the same time, other forms of advertising are projected to decline 1.4%. Advertising continues to shift away from other media and more toward online opportunities because it is cost effective, measurable, flexible, targeted, and most importantly - it works!

Don't delay, contact Cristoff more more information and affordable rates to fit any budget.

Cristoff@nvcc.com or 781-769-1126.

Member Spotlight

Greetings fellow members of the Neponset Valley Chamber!

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about The Hilton Boston/Dedham located conveniently right off of I-95. My hotel is the answer to all your business and personal needs. We are a full-service luxury hotel with 256 beautifully appointed guestrooms overlooking beautiful conservation land. Enjoy the comfort of full service amenities while visiting us, such as the Fountain Blue Grille Restaurant, Starbucks Café ( DELICIOUS), the Lobby Lounge, room service, full-service Fitness Center, indoor salt water pool/jacuzzi, racquetball court and basketball courts, outdoor walking trail, and Business Center!

We have a gorgeous regal dark wood ballroom that can hold up to 250 people and additional meeting facilities and services. The property tailors to the needs of small groups as well as large social events and conventions. If it's a social gathering or wedding you are planning, we will assist you in planning all the important events surrounding your special event.

Strategically located just 12 miles outside the city of Boston and 10 miles from Gillette Stadium and the Comcast Center, the Hilton Boston Dedham is the perfect location for Massachusetts business or pleasure. Our location also puts us within walking distance or by complimentary shuttle to Legacy Place and the commuter rail. It is also just two miles from the Amtrak train station.

So whether your travel is for pleasure or business, the Hilton Boston Dedham hotel is the answer to your needs.

A Sizzlin' Summer Deal

Contact LINDE SCHWARTZ, Catering Sales Manager for more information!

Join the NVCC for the 27th Annual Golf Tournament at the beautiful Easton Country Club for a day of amazing golf, fun, prizes (you could win $10,000!) and delicious food - all for a great cause!

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Norfolk Advocates for Children; an organization dedicated to helping children who are the victims of physical and sexual abuse.

Please be a part of this special event and show your support for Norfolk Advocates for Children.

Through an affinity program with First Point Power, NVCC members can save up to 15% on the supply portion of their electric bill.

With the deregulation of the electricity industry, you now have a choice of where you buy your electricity. Your local utility will continue to provide service, reliability, meter reading, and you still only get one bill from the utility company. 

This offer is for commercial accounts as well as residences. You can sign up your business and then offer it as a no-cost-to-you employee benefit to all your employees.  The only restriction is you must be an NSTAR or National Grid customer. If you are served by a municipal Power Company, you are precluded from taking advantage of this offer at this time.

Contact Brian at brian@nvcc.com, or 781-769-1126 for more information.