The Event – Celebrating Business Excellence 2022,  sponsored by M&T Bank, is later this month, and we are thrilled to announce our awardees below. 

We cannot wait to honor this incredible group of recipients Monday, October 24, at Salvatore's, and we hope you will join us. We still have a few days left if you are interested in taking an ad in our program book, and we anticipate another sellout, so don't wait until the last minute to try and secure your tickets; for more information, please see here.

While the Chamber is busy preparing for The Event, we are also reaching out to our Health Insurance members as the start of open enrollment is upon us. As the only Chamber in Western New York with a dedicated in-house team of licensed insurance brokers, we are here to assist you and your company. The Chamber offers plans from all three major carriers in our area, as well as Dental Insurance, Life Insurance, and a first-in-class Employee Assistance Program. I would encourage all members, if you have any questions regarding employee benefits, to reach out to benefits@amherst.org, and our dedicated team will be happy to schedule a meeting with you.

The Chamber is hosting our final New Member Orientation of the year this Friday morning, October 7^th. We have seen explosive growth in new members this year, and this is a great time for long-term members to get reacquainted with the Chamber to ensure you are taking advantage of all we have to offer. On Friday, October 14, we will have our next Lunch Mob at One Eyed Cat Brewing Company on Main Street in Williamsville. Lunch Mob has been exceptionally busy over the past few months. This is an open networking event and a great way to network informally over lunch; if you have someone who might be interested in joining the Chamber, please encourage them to attend this event with you.

As we prepare for 2023, we will be reaching out to you to hear your thoughts and ideas on how we can provide better programming or even start a program that you feel would benefit our membership. We are always receptive to our members, and the Amherst Chamber values your voice in helping us grow our organization and the Western New York region... READ MORE.

Engaging in effective treatment and intervention helps those struggling with behavioral health challenges. There are a number of available programs lead by Horizon's trained team of professionals who specialize in providing individualized treatment for children and adolescents. Horizon offers mental health counseling for those as young as 3 years old, and provide substance use and mental health services for adolescents (ages 13 and up).

Schedule an appointment by calling Horizon Health's Patient Engagement Center today at 716-831-1800.

In addition to in-person services, Horizon telehealth offers easy-to-use technology that allows them to bring safe, secure, and life-changing treatment into your home.

We know sleep, diet, and exercise are important to overall health but what about Human Connection? Increasingly, social connection is recognized as a core human need. We are inherently social creatures; biologically, physically, emotionally, and cognitively. We need it to survive, we want to belong, and it gives us purpose and meaning. Here are a few ways to increase social connections:

Mobility, Strength & Stretch. Join the wellness team as they connect with a special guest then follow along as they introduce ways to keep your body mobile, strong & stretched, using 6 movements.

Seminar

Digital Detox

Influenza (“flu”) season is now upon us. The flu is a contagious respiratory illness that infects the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.

The best way to protect you and your family from the flu is by getting an annual flu vaccine. This vaccine can reduce the intensity and duration of flu, and can decrease flu-related illnesses, doctor visits, hospitalizations and sick days from work and school. It’s especially important to get a flu shot if you are pregnant, have a chronic medical condition such as heart disease, asthma or COPD, or take care of someone who is at high risk for flu complications.

Here’s what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says about the flu vaccine:

·       Recommended for everyone over 6 months of age

·       Get the flu vaccine annually because the virus changes year to year

·       Special high-dose flu vaccine is available for those 65+

·       Some young children may require two flu vaccines

The combination of flu and COVID-19 could make for a rough fall and winter. Australia is often a predictor of how bad flu season will be in the United States and it just had its worst flu season in five years. As a result, health experts want people to get their flu shots as soon as possible.

If you have yet to get a flu shot this fall, don’t wait any longer. Your body needs at least two weeks to build up immunity to the virus. You may be able to get vaccinated at your doctor’s office and other locations, such as local pharmacies, supermarkets and community centers. Plus, since flu shots are a preventive care service, they have a $0 copayment with most insurance plans, including Independent Health.