In this March Issue... A.J. makes the POWER 250! A look back at Colleen's career Luck O' the Irish LUNCH MOB! Business BEFORE Hours: KICK-start your day! Business AFTER Hours: Winging it in the 'burbs Member to Member Deals and Fish Fry Fridays! Independent Health's Ask the Expert: What is the criteria for group coverage?

Message from the President/CEO

Springing into March! Spring officially begins in a few weeks, and we are ready to embrace the new season with a new crop of events. We’ll help you kick off your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and kick up your workout a notch as we start to usher in warmer weather (hopefully!). The past month has been filled with hope. We cut the ribbon on The Hope Project at the Eastern Hills Mall. It’s a consignment shop for working families who are struggling to make ends meet.  Providing for a family can be difficult for the underemployed, and we are proud to have a Chamber member serving this niche group and also giving residents an outlet to support the cause by donating or volunteering. Thanks to News 4 Buffalo and Spectrum News for covering the event and spreading the word to the Western New York community. Read more .

Chamber in the News...

A.J. is named in the Power 250! Buffalo Business First listed the top 250 most influential people in Western New York and Chamber President/CEO A.J. Baynes made the list. Read more here .

As part of our 2018 Public Policy Agenda, the Chamber supports the environmental impact study recently approved by the NFTA Commissioners on the expansion of the light rail to Amherst. A.J. is quoted in this Buffalo Business First report .

Ch. 4 Looks Back at Colleen's Career

Our longtime leader, Colleen DiPirro stepped down in January, and after 36 years with the Chamber, she has plenty of stories to tell. Channel 4 anchor Jacquie Walker sat down with Colleen for a look back at her career. It's a wonderful retrospective of a young widow who broke gender barriers to help build the Chamber into what it is today. Watch Colleen's story here .

Chamber Health Insurance Broker Olivia Dann was interviewed by Buffalo Business First for an article on how young people are opting out of medical coverage because of the eventual repeal of the individual mandate penalty. Read more here . Congratulations to Chamber members FlipOut Academy and T.J. Miller who have landed a role in a new house flipping show on HGTV! They were featured in this Amherst Bee report .

Mark Your Calendar!

Lunch Mob-Start the St. Paddy's Day Celebration! This event gives a whole new meaning to lunch date! This month's LUNCH MOB is on Friday, March 9 at 12:00 p.m at The Irishman Pub & Eatery, 5601 Main St., Williamsville . This is a great opportunity to build relationships with other members while enjoying a healthy Dutch treat lunch. Check out the menu here , and let us know if you're IN by registering here .

KICK-start Your Day! Join us at CKO Kickboxing at 1600 Hopkins Road, Amherst for a kickboxing presentation and a chance to try the workout yourself! It's sure to get your morning moving! Date: Tuesday, March 13 Time: 7:30am-9:00am Register here .

Winging It in the 'Burbs!  Our Business After Hours is at Anchor Bar, Amherst! Don't miss this event, featuring a complimentary cocktail, networking and of course, WINGS! Join us Tuesday, March 20th from 5pm-7pm at 4300 Maple Road . Register here .

Get Deals from Members and Fish Fry Fridays!

As you're doing your shopping don't forget our Member to Member Discounts & Benefits ! Support your fellow Amherst Chamber of Commerce members and get a special discount. Check out the offers by clicking here . Want to add your own Member to Member Discount to our site? Log in to your MIC . Looking for a Friday Fish Fry or a Corned Beef and Cabbage? Check out our Member Restaurants !

Need Health Insurance? We Have You Covered!

The Amherst Chamber of Commerce operates a Health Insurance Agency within our organization with three licensed professionals on staff who can provide personal attention! We offer plans from the local carriers at all price points. Our brokers will help you identify the coverage that meets your needs and be available to answer any questions that may arise. We offer health insurance for individuals, sole proprietors and small groups.    If your small group health insurance is up for renewal, we can help! Just give us a call! Contact Penny, Christine or Olivia at 632-6905 or email healthinsurance@amherst.org

How to get group coverage? Independent Health has expert advice.

“Ask the Expert” Corner – Sheret Jagord, Manager of Sales at Independent Health   Q. How many common law employees must be enrolled for coverage to be considered group coverage?                                                                                                                             For a group health plan to be considered a “group health plan” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), there must be at least one common law employee enrolled. Under common-law rules, anyone who performs services for an employer is an employee if the employer can control what will be done and how it will be done. An employee benefit plan does not exist if no employees are covered by the plan. An employee does not include the sole owner of a business or a spouse of the business owner.

Thank You to Our Investors

Amherst Chamber of Commerce | (P) 716.632.6905 | (F) 716.632.0548 | www.amherst.org

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