Membership Benefits

 

You and Your Chamber -- Stronger Together!

 

Membership in the Chamber is important to you as a businessperson.  The Chamber works to help you build your business here in Greater Wilkes-Barre and your Chamber investment allows us to make NEPA an even better place to live and work.  

 

As a part of that effort, the Chamber offers a constantly evolving menu of specific "members only" benefits that you can take advantage of.  Here are a few of the many member programs:

 

Health Care Program and Employee Benefits for Chamber Members: 

Chamber members have a choice in healthcare plans and employee benefits through ChamberChoice.  The program includes ChamberChoice’s traditional or managed care benefits, which are provided through Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and the benefits of a dedicated service team, easy administration, billing and personalized consultation for businesses with 1 – 50 employees.  Also available are three specially designed dental insurance plans from United Concordia for Chamber member businesses.  Dental insurance plans are available for everyone from the sole proprietor up to the business owner with an unlimited number of employees.  Other available benefits include life, disability as well as supplemental benefits.  For more information, visit chamberchoice.com or wilkes-barre.org.   

 

Discounted Advertising Programs with Area Media: 

Advertise your business at discounted rates through key local media companies including the Citizens’ Voice and the Times Leader, along with WBRE-TV, WYOU-TV/22 and WILK/WISH radio.

 

Chamber of Commerce Gift Certificate Program:

Chamber of Commerce gift certificates are available for purchase online at certifichecks.com or at the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce (2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre).  These gift certificates are redeemable at all participating Chamber of Commerce member businesses.  Participation is a great way to support local businesses, reward your employees, and drive business to your firm.

 

Business Advocacy: 

By continually monitoring and taking positions on legislation affecting businesses, your Chamber is able to make legislators aware of what is best for Northeastern Pennsylvania.  The issues we address as a Chamber are brought to us by our membership and the volunteers who serve the Government Affairs Committee. 

 

NEPA Outlook Magazine:

As part of your membership dues, you enjoy a free subscription to NEPA Outlook magazine.  This full color magazine is published four times a year with a circulation of over 4,000.  The magazine presents a positive image of the Chamber, its member businesses and all of NEPA through in-depth feature articles, profiles on extraordinary local businesses, new technology, details on community projects, coverage of key business issues, new products and services and more.  NEPA Outlook is sent to key business contacts in NEPA and is also sent to over 1,000 site selectors, industrial realtors and businesses throughout the nation that are looking at a possible location in the region.  Many affordable advertising opportunities are available.  The publication also features guest columnists from the local business community and stories on local businesses, people, issues and projects.  For more information, visit nepaoutlook.org or e-mail Kristen@wilkes-barre.org.  

 

 

Guide Books, Small Business Information and Programs:

In partnership with area colleges and universities and many private educational institutional businesses in the area, the Chamber offers educational sessions on business topics at a reduced price to Chamber members. Whether you are a family-owned business or a one-person shop, your Chamber also provides help for small businesses through our:

·       Human Resource Guidebook:  This special publication, designed and developed by the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber Human Resources Committee provides general information and sample policies regarding human resources/personnel issues that frequently arise in the workplace.  This guide was designed with the small business in mind, will provide your business with a cost-effective solution to managing many of your HR needs.

·       Emergency Plan Guidebook:  Something every business needs to have in place BEFORE a crisis.  The Chamber’s Guidebook tells you where to start to create a plan for your business.

·       Diversity in NEPA Guide: Northeastern Pennsylvania has a long history of ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity, which has enriched our community resulting in a diverse population of people of differing backgrounds who work, live, and play together in harmony. If your business is looking to recruit for our diverse workforce or you need information on the resources available within Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Chamber offers “Diversity in NEPA.” This guide is designed to assist new members of our community, but also to be available to our members who wish to learn more about the many different traditions and venues that populate our community. The guide is available in print or online at wilkes-barre.org/diversity.  

 

Business Referral Program:

The Chamber refers only Chamber members in response to the thousands of inquiry calls we receive regarding area business.  This promotes a strong local business climate where businesses do business with people who support and believe in the same goals that they think are important. 

 

Member-to-Member Referral Program:

The Chamber becomes a stronger network with the addition of each new member. As a member, you are familiar with the benefits of joining the Chamber and can serve as our strongest advocate. If you refer a non-member business to our staff and that business joins the Chamber, your company will receive a $50 credit toward your next year’s membership. For more information, contact Kristen Callaway, Membership Services Coordinator, at 823-2101, ext. 152 or Kristen@wilkes-barre.org.

 

Access to News and Information:

In addition to NEPA Outlook, members receive monthly e-mail/fax updates through the Chamber’s “E-Report” publication, along with special issue update e-mail/faxes that can be specifically targeted to interested businesses.

 

Website

Online news about the Chamber, Chamber members and the community can be found at our website, wilkes-barre.org.  As a member, your business website and email receive a free listing in the Business Directory section of the site -- a site that receives 6 million hits a year.  The website is also a great place to promote your business through enhanced directory listings and banner ads.  You can submit information to be included in the Chamber's website "Members in the News" area.  Register online for Chamber events and see what is happening throughout the region on the Chamber's Community Calendar!

 

Member’s Marketplace:

Market your company’s programs/services to more than 2,200 business contacts by including a one-page flyer in the Chamber’s Members’ Marketplace mailing.  Particular offerings, specials and business opportunities are among the promotional items mailed to members up to six times per year.  Your cost to participate in one of these mailings would be significantly less than if you mailed from your individual business.

 

Networking Events/ Membership Mixers:

Throughout the year, the Chamber holds several Business-to-Business mixers, an Annual Dinner and a Legislative Breakfast along with other breakfast sessions and membership mixers in partnership with its members.  Attendance and networking with other members gives you an opportunity to meet and do business with other companies that need your products and services.

 

Chamber’s Arena Box Rental

The Chamber’s Founders Suite at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza is available to all Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce members to rent on open dates.  This gives our members who were unable to secure a luxury box at the arena the opportunity to entertain guests at hockey games, ice shows, concerts, the circus, etc. The suite has an occupancy capacity of 14-20 external seats. 

 

Special Event Assistance

The Chamber is happy to assist you in organizing a special event for your business.  From ribbon cuttings to grand openings, the Chamber can provide the information and assistance that makes planning easy and efficient. 

 

Membership Labels

Only Chamber members can purchase our membership list on labels for a low cost of 10 cents per label, plus tax. 

The Chamber’s website – wilkes-barre.org – with its searchable membership database receives 6 million consistent hits per year. 

 

Other Valuable Benefits:

·       Free Certificate of Origin authorization to member companies who are involved with exporting.

• Chamber Directory Listings: The Chamber’s printed Membership Directory, published as a special issue of NEPA Outlook magazine, goes to over 4,000 business owners throughout the nation and lists each member business in both a business category and an alphabetical order category. 
• Free Notary Service to Chamber members. 
• Access to information packets and resources at reduced rates, including an area map, a manufacturer’s directory and more!
• Business relocation packets filled with critical information on our community – all at a reduced cost to members

 

About Membership:

Find out more about why your Chamber membership is the Smartest Business Investment You Can Make!  Go to wilkes-barre.org for a complete benefit list.

 

For more information about becoming a member of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, or about how your Chamber membership is working for you, please call us at (570) 823-2101, e-mail Kristen Callaway at Kristen@wilkes-barre.org, or visit our website at wilkes-barre.org for more information.