Chamber Connection - Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce

October 2015
Chamber Connection
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Cayuga County Chamber of
Commerce Office
2 State Street
Auburn, NY 13021
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Index
1. Annual Dinner, Table of Contents
2. New Members Thank You, Board of
Directors
3. Upcoming Event
4. Navigator News
6. Member News
8. Employment Opportunities
9. Leadership Cayuga
10-11. Kelly Springer; Sponsor Thank You
12-13. Membership Advantage Program
15. IGNITE
16. Ambassadors Council/Save the Date
18. HR One
19. The State Report
20. Springside BAF
21. October Calendar At A Glance
Our Mission: To advocate as the voice of the business community, provide
value-added services to our members, and facilitate collaboration that supports
economic development for the greater good of Cayuga County.
1
Connect
with
Us!!
www.cayugacountychamber.com
Thank you to our new
members!
1840 Dulles Inn
67 South Street
Auburn, NY 13021
315-941-8666
epkoenigl@gmail.com
Auburn Regional Media Access (ARMA)
108 Genesee St.
Auburn, NY 13021
315-282-7049
www.armatv.org/
staff@armatv.org
Brew Funeral Home
48 South Street
Auburn, NY 13021
(315) 253-6293
www.brewfuneralhome.com
Sam.Darling@verizon.net
Farmers Insurance
144 Genesee St. Suite 100
Auburn, NY 13021
www.farmersagent.com/rlockwood
Rlockwood@farmersagent.com
Kelly’s Choice, LLC
6 Hannum Street​, Skaneateles, NY 13152
P: 315-730-4459
www.kellyschoice.org/
2015
Chamber Board of Directors
David Tehan
Chair
Karpinski, Stapleton, & Tehan
Sue Edinger Vice-Chair
Inns of Aurora
Allison DiMatteo
Secretary
Crème Della Crème
Christopher Alger
Treasurer
Grossman St. Amour, CPAs
Patrick Carbonaro
Legal Counsel
Carbonaro Law Offices
Michelle Barber
Five Star Bank
Adam Santana
Unity House
Ryan Pine
Genesee Capital Advisors
Richard Elliott
Beardsley architect +
engineers
Tom Minicucci
Central Building, LLC
Kevin Ellis
Cayuga Marketing, LLC
Tom Filiak
Auburn Community Hospital
Rob Forcey
The Citizen
Mike Trapani
Jacobs Press
Dan Lovell
Code Munkeys
Lisa Myers
Merry-Go-Round Playhouse
Jeffrey Pirozzolo
Auburn Enlarged City School
District
Steve Woodard Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES
Chamber Staff
Andrew Fish Executive Director
Amy Fuller
Chamber Manager
Michelle Prego-Milewski
Office Manager
Ginny Kent
Education and Resource Coordinator
Stephanie DeVito
Communications
Coordinator
Christine Bonvino
Health Insurance Navigator
If you know a business who would
benefit by being a Chamber
Member please call
(315) 252-7291
to learn more about the
Cayuga County Chamber
of Commerce Today!
2
Upcoming Events
Healthy Cayuga: 106th Chamber Annual Dinner
Wednesday, October 21 5:30 - 8:30 pm
Please join us for the 106th Annual Chamber of Commerce dinner at the Emerson Pavilion. The event includes
dinner, silent and live auction items and a keynote address by Kelly Springer.
Cost is $60 per person or $550 for a table of 10.
Call 315-252-7291 or email sdevito@cayugacountychamber.com to register.
IGNITE the Vote: Auburn candidate debate
Monday, October 21, 5-8 pm
Join members of IGNITE for a forum with City of Auburn Mayoral and City Council candidates. Cash bar cocktail
hour from 5-6, Mayoral Debate from 6-7 and City Council debate from 7-8.
To register for this event, email sdevito@cayugacountychamber.com or join our event at
www.facebook.com/ignitecny.
VOLUNTEERS
WANTED
Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency has an immediate need for volunteers to support
Agency initiatives. Many opportunities are available to accommodate all skill levels and
interests. Volunteers are needed to:
 Work in our local food pantry packing food baskets, processing intake forms, stocking
shelves, etc.
 Deliver meals and food baskets to homebound residents
 Process Christmas Elf applications
 Assist with Warm the Children referrals and coat distribution
 Organize food, clothing and toy drives to help families in need over the holidays
 Perform light office work (data entry, filing, answering phones, tracking donations, etc.)
For more information. Please contact Kathy DaVia, Human Resources Director
at (315) 255-1703 ext.129 or through email at kdavia@cscaa.com.
3
Navigator News
Countdown to Open Enrollment!
It’s that time again – the annual Open Enrollment season for health insurance is upon us. If you purchased a
Qualified Health Plan (QHP) from the New York State of Health Benefits Exchange Marketplace (Marketplace)
in 2015, your current plan will be ending on December 31, 2015. If you have coverage through your employer,
your Open Enrollment period is based on your employer’s effective date. If you currently don’t have health
insurance, Open Enrollment provides an opportunity for you and your family to get coverage.
Open Enrollment begins on Sunday, November 1, 2015 and concludes on Sunday, January 31, 2016.
See the chart below for coverage effective dates:
Complete Enrollment Within These Dates: Coverage Will Begin On:
November 1, 2015 - December 15, 2015
January 1, 2016
December 16, 2015 - January 15, 2016
February 1, 2016
January 16, 2016 - January 31, 2016
March 1, 2016
After January 16, 2016 you must meet certain conditions in order to enroll.
Some Important Changes for 2016:
• Health Republic will no longer be offering plans in New York. If you are a Health Republic customer with
a plan from the Individual Marketplace, your insurance will be honored through the end of this year. You will
need to choose a new health insurance company during Open Enrollment for your 2016 coverage. If you have a
Small Group plan through your employer it will be honored until the end of the employer’s annual enrollment
(as of the time of this writing). Health Republic is no longer accepting new business.
• The new “Essential Plan” will be available starting in January 2016. This plan will provide the same essential benefits as the other QHPs on the Marketplace, but will cost less and has no deductible. This plan is for
lower-income New Yorkers who do not qualify for Medicaid. Eligibility will be based on annual household
income. The Essential Plan is not available on the SHOP Marketplace.
• The Individual Shared Responsibility penalty will increase. If you choose not to have minimal essential
health insurance coverage in 2016, you may have to pay a penalty. The penalty will increase to $695 for each
adult and $347.50 for each child, up to $2,085 per family, or 2.5% of family income above the federal tax filing
threshold, whichever is greater. There are several exemptions to the penalty. See your tax advisor or visit irs.gov
for more information on the penalty.
The Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce Health Insurance Navigator Program can assist you with your
enrollment or renewal. To make an appointment call (315) 252- 7291 and ask to speak with a Navigator.
Membership in the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce is not required to receive assistance from the Heatlh
Insurance Navigator Program.
4
Join IGNITE for a
forum with City of Auburn
Mayoral and City Council candidates
Monday, October 26
The Hilton Garden Inn
5-8 PM
5 PM - Networking
6 PM Mayoral Debate
7 PM City Council Debate
Build Your
Relationship
Today.
A valuable benefits package helps
to attract the best and brightest.
Offering access to Empower FCU
products, services, and educational
sessions is a valuable enhancement
to your overall benefits package.
For more information
800.462.5000 x 5020
www.empowerfcu.com
Federally insured by NCUA
5
Members in the News
HomeInstead, Auburn Community Hospital to offer family caregiver workshop
Tuesday, October 27, 2015 from 6-9 pm at Auburn Community Hospital, 3rd floor Medical Staff Conference
Room. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias is very challenging! This workshop
will give you an overview of dementia, help you to understand more about the behaviors that can be caused
by the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, identify techniques that will assist you with
handling challenging behaviors and encourage your loved one to engage in activity. Finally, we will talk
about ways for you, the caregiver to care for yourself - physically, mentally and socially! Sponsored by
Home Instead Senior Care. RSVP 315-252-2354 by Monday, October 26, 2015.
For More Information Contact (315) 252-2354
Solarize Cayuga is a part of the Solarize CNY Program, helping to make Solar Power more accessible and
affordable for our community. We invite you to learn more about how Solar Power can work for you, your
family or your business, by attending one of our Workshops, or by viewing the additional information found
on this site.
By combining the purchasing power of our community, Solarize Cayuga has negotiated a reduced price for
your Solar Installation. This reduced price, when combined with state
and federal tax credits and state incentives, makes Solar Power more
affordable than ever!
In Cayuga County, we have partnered with two Solar Panel Installers;
Halco Energy and Renovus Energy. They were chosen for their excellent reputations and quality equipment.
By partnering with these Installers, we are offering you an excellent opportunity to “Make the Switch” to
Solar Power.
You can find out more about Solarize Cayuga and our Partner Installers by attending an upcoming
workshop. They are free, and open to the public.
If you are eager to move forward, enroll today for your free no-obligation site assessment. This will
determine whether your site is suitable for Solar Power, and how much you can save if you “Make the
Switch”.
For More Information Contact (315) 252-1283
Inns of Aurora to host cooking classes
The Inns of Aurora continue to offer its signature cooking classes with its 2015-2016 calendar, focused on
perfecting culinary classics and entertaining for the holidays. Running from October through April, the series
takes place at Rowland House — the newest of the Inns of Aurora — and pairs each culinary experience with
an overnight stay. From Soups & Salads to Perfect Pasta, the classes are designed to be intimate and hands-on,
suited for both kitchen masters and beginners alike.
Each class costs $450 per couple, including overnight accommodations, class instruction, dinner, a take-home
gift, and tax and gratuity. For a more detailed description of each class, please visit innsofaurora.com or call the
Aurora Inn at 315.364.8888 for reservations. Rowland House is located at 453 Main Street, Aurora, NY 13026.
For More Information Contact (315) 364-8888
If you have an upcoming event, or would like to see your
business news listed in the Member News
contact mmilewski@cayugaeda.org
or call (315) 252-7291 today!
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The Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce is here to help you with announcing your business job openings! If
you have a job opening and would like the Chamber to post it in the Chamber Connection Newsletter please
e-mail the following information to mmilewski@cayugaeda.org:
• Organization, Job Title, Whether the position is full time, part time, or seasonal, Link to your website
for full position details, Date your accepting applications until, Contact information on where to send
applications
All job opening information is due no later than Monday, November 2, for the November Chamber Connection
Newsletter. Thank you!
Job Opportunities:
Organization: Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce/CEDA
Job Title: Communications Coordinator
Hours: Full Time
Website: www.cayugacountychamber.com
Application Deadline: Until position is filled
Contact Information: Andrew Fish, Executive director, 315 252 7291, afish@cayugacountychamber.com
Organization: Cayuga Centers
Job Title: Fundraising and Major Gifts Specialist
Hours: Full-time
Application Deadline: Applications accepted until position is filled
Organization: Auburn Community Federal Credit Union
Job Title: Member Service Representative
Hours: Part-time (no Saturday hours)
Contact Information: samscro@auburnfcu.com
Application Deadline: Applications accepted until position is filled
Organization: Volpi
Job Title: Senior Manufacturing/Process Engineer
Hours: Full-time
Contact Information: davenikolson@volpiusa.com
Application Deadline: Applications accepted until position is filled
Organization: Inn of Aurora
Job Title: Assistant Controller
Hours: Full-time
Contact Information: jobs@innsofaurora.com or (315) 364-8014
Application Deadline: Applications accepted until position is filled
8
Leadership Cayuga alumni, friends, and members of the Chamber bid welcome to the Class of 2016 at the
Springside Inn’s Business After Five event on September 9.
Anthony Alberici Auburn High School/Student
Kate Budlong ARISE
Kara Carbonaro Champions for Life
Chrissy Cornell US Congressman John Katko
Kathi Craig Cayuga Seneca Community Action Agency
Debra Dennis Onondaga Lake Park
Josh Edwards Auburn Community FCU
Christina Ehlers Cayuga Seneca Community Action Agency
Melissa Flask Empower Federal Credit Union
Ryan Kustyn Five Star Bank
Mary Lovell Seymour Library
Amy Mahunik Auburn Enlarged City School District
Kevin Manning Tyburn Academy/Student
Michelle Prego-Milewski Cayuga Strategic Solutions
Andrew Sagarin Auburn Doubledays
Amy Sargent Unity House
Deedee Schenck Cayuga Centers
Bruce Sherman Cayuga Economic Development Agency
Ken Tanner Beardsley A&E
Erica Turner Homsite Inc.
Jennifer Watkins Cayuga Seneca Community Action Agency
Dale Whittaker Inns of Aurora
Kelley Zabriskie Inns of Aurora
Two days later, as tradition, the class headed to Casowasco Conference Center
in Moravia for an overnight Orientation Retreat. Denise Pellegrino, of Auburn
Education Foundation and ALDC executive boards, formerly of Bank of
America, shared her expertise on interpretation of personality types how
this affects our leadership and personal relationships. Heather Paris of Live
Inspired Now! presented on public speaking and offered tips on organizing
your content, reading your audience and engaging people. Guy Cosentino
‘89, reviewed the results of the 20 Clues
to Community Survival, an analysis
completed by the class prior to the program. Ginny Kent ‘03, Education
and Resource Coordinator for the Chamber, runs the program and took
the class through team activities and an overview of the program. Between
presentations, the class enjoyed the beautiful surroundings and Casowasco
game room. Corporate Sponsor is Nucor. Special thanks to Stephanie DeVito
for all of her help with the retreat.
9
The cayuga county chamber of commerce’s
2015 Annual Dinner Keynote Speaker:
Kelly Springer
K
training with the Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics to receive her certificate in Adult Weight
Management.
During her time at Fingerlakes Bariatrics, Kelly
realized there was great need for nutritional
counseling at the individual level. She started
her own private practice in 2010 in Skaneateles,
collaborating with local physicians.
In 2012, Kelly was named Syracuse Division
Nutritionist for Wegmans, where she develops
programs and educates Wegmans employees and
customers on how to make great meals easy. Today,
she educates the public on live TV, through blogs,
and written articles. Kelly has since expanded her
reach to include workplace wellness, dietitian
placement for physicians and clinicians, restaurant
menu development, school nutrition education,
plus individual counseling, all under the umbrella
of Kelly’s Choice. Launched in 2012, Kelly’s Choice
is dedicated to educating individuals and clinicians
on “real food nutrition for real people.”
elly Springer has been practicing in the field of
dietetics for almost two decades. Her passion
for food and nutrition began at age 17 when she
worked at Auburn Community Hospital. Kelly
graduated from West Virginia University in 2001
with a bachelors of science in nutrition, and was
hired full time at the hospital. During the next two
years she continued to learn and started counseling
bariatric patients while she completed her masters
in health education at SUNY Cortland.
Kelly continued her career as Head Nutrition
Educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension, took
some time off to have two daughters, then joined
Hillside Children’s Center upon her return to the
workforce. There, she developed a comprehensive
wellness group that identified guidelines to
promote health and good nutrition for the residents
and staff at the Auburn and Varick campuses.
Auburn Community Hospital (Fingerlakes
Bariatrics) then recruited Kelly as their Bariatric
Dietitian. She received her Registered Dietitian
credentials and went on to complete additional
Call 315-252-7291 or email sdevito@cayugacountychamber.com to register.
10
The Chamber would like to thank the sponsors
of the 2015 Annual Dinner:
Diamond
Gold
Silver
Bronze
11
The Member Advantage is an exclusive members only program designed to save you money and time. Using
collective buying power, the Member Advantage Program has negotiated members-only pricing and special offers
on products and services that businesses like yours use every day - office supplies, merchant services, energy,
payroll and human resource services, 401K plan management, background checks, conferencing services,
multiple wireless device management and employee assistance plans. This unique program directly supports your
operational, communications and health and human services needs. Contact us and learn how you can get these
savings and deals typically reserved for large companies.
Karen DeJoseph
Phone: 315-470-1997
Email: memberadvantage@centerstateceo.com
Employee and Benefit Services
Payroll and HR Services
Health Insurance
Employee Assistance
Program
Employee Background
Checks and Employee
Screening
Multiple Employer
(MEP) 401K Plan
ADP provides a convenient, easy to use web-based payroll and human resource technology to help businesses
better manage cash flow and compliance in order to reduce risk and increase accuracy and efficiency. Includes
an HR help desk, employee handbook wizard, job description wizard, HR tracking, compliance updates and
training and HR forms and documents.
BSNY specializes in meeting the needs to employers and employees of all sizes. They are a licensed, independent
agency that works with chamber members, and non-members providing services, products and programs that
help you navigate through the employee benefit system.
A support services which assists your employees who have personal challenges that could adversely affect
their job performance. An investment that will yield your company savings through minimizing absenteeism
and increased on the job performance, while establishing your organization as a compassionate employer.
Rochester Business Alliance has the expertise to help companies make better hiring decisions while minimizing
risk. They provide reference and background screening, with an experienced staff, the most current and
comprehensive database system in the country and quick one to three day turnaround time.
In partnership with Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Services, member businesses, with as
few as two employees, can establish a 401K Plan, by outsourcing to MEP benefit program (Multiple Employer
Plan 401k). Through this program, member businesses can discharge fiduciary responsibilities, eliminate from
5500 plan audits, day to day operational concerns and increase buying power. Plans are designed to best
suit the business needs.
WWW.MEMBERADVANTAGENY.COM
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Operational Services
Office Supplies
A family owned, local business, Hummel’s has served the Upstate NY business community for over 80 years
providing streamlined office supply solutions. Hummel’s saves your business time and money with its easy
ordering process, and average savings of up to 40% on office supplies and 5-90% on all items sold.
Constellation Energy Services is a competitive retail energy supplier providing expertise and solutions so
customers can be smart with their price, secure with their supplier and save on their energy costs.
Electric Energy
TSYS Merchant Solutions is thrilled to offer you merchant services at its highest level. With secure processing
equipment, local support, competitive pricing, loyality programs and more. We look to customize a solution for
each individual business. We welcome the opportunity to offer you a free analysis of your current processing
and discuss more in more detail, what we can do to help your business grow.
Communications
Web, Video and Telephone
Conferencing Services
Wireless Device
Management
Syntela Conferencing is your single source provider for audio, web and video conferencing. This locally
woman-owned, NYS based conferencing company is committed to providing members with the best possible
product and service at a guaranteed discount.
WBG is a cellular consulting firm that helps companies efficiently manage their wireless services. Through their
consultative approach WBG helps companies get their wireless expenses under control and develops a plan
to address their mobile device objectives.
WWW.MEMBERADVANTAGENY.COM
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Some reasons to Tap into the Equity of your Home are listed below:




Invest in Home Improvements
Help Cover the Cost for College
Consolidate High Interest Loans
Take a Vacation Away from all this Cold Weather
Some of the reasons to consider a Home Equity Loan are:




It’s a Closed-End Loan - you know when it will be paid off.
Lower Interest Rates
Lower Monthly Payments - compared to Personal Loans/Credit Cards
Possible Tax Savings - interest may be tax deductible.*
Current Rates Available at www.auburnfcu.com
*Tax deductibility depends on many different factors. Please consult a14
professional tax advisor for your specific situation.
The Ignite Outlook
Q & A with
Jessica Cantu,
Hilton Garden Inn
W
hat do
you do in
your profession/
job title for
Cayuga County?
At the Hilton I
get to make help
make Wedding Days perfect by
working with brides and grooms
on planning their reception at
our beautiful hotel. I also work
with corporate clients, local
agencies, and social groups
in the community to plan
their meetings, conferences,
fundraisers, and social events. I
love working with people and I
get to do that every day.
What do you like about living
the CNY community?
I love how beautiful it is
here and that there is always
something to do. Live music,
theater, outdoor activities - we
have it all!
One thing about you that
would surprise people?
I don’t know if this would
surprise many people, but I’m a
pretty terrible dancer!
As a young professional in
Cayuga County, what are some
tips you’d like to give other
young aspiring professionals?
Be as active in the community
as possible. Having a strong
network of friends and fellow
professionals is invaluable.
T
IGNITE to Host Debate
his October 26th, IGNITE will kick
off this year’s IGNITE the Vote!, a
political forum the Hilton Garden Inn
from 5-8pm. This year’s IGNITE the
Vote! campaign continues our mission
of connecting, engaging and involving
Cayuga County’s younger population
by informing them about local election candidates, their platforms and
the issues our community is facing.
Our nonpartisan approach provides
various opportunities for young voters
to gather the necessary information
they need to make an informed decision about who would best represent
them. The ultimate goal is to convey the
message that local elections matter and
each vote counts. You have a say. You
October
21st!
Auburn
Candidate
Debate!
can IGNITE the Vote!
We believe an open discussion about
issues in the community will help to
inform and engage voters ahead of the
election. As such, the forum will be open
to the public and the event will be recorded
to be shown on local access television.
Each candidate will be given 2 minutes for
an opening statement and 2 minutes for a
closing statement. Questions asked during
the forum will be submitted by members of
IGNITE. Candidates will be given 2 minutes to answer and 1 minute for a rebuttal.
Mayoral candidates will be from 6-6:45pm;
we will then take a five minute break, and
then proceed with City Council candidates.
All of the candidates have agreed to attend
and it will be a packed house!
November:
IGNITE at
Auburn
Community
Hospital
IGNITE at the Apple Station: Recap
I
t ‘s that time of the year again when
the leaves begin to fall and the days
get shorter. I couldn’t think of a better
place to be than in central New York.
In turn with the season, IGNITE held
its monthly event at The Apple Station
located at 5279 Cross Rd in Cayuga, NY.
Our monthly events are generally held
on the second Tuesday of each month
but we
wanted
to take
advantage
of the
wonderful
weather
15
with fall around the corner by switching
it to the weekend. The Apple Station
offered a variety of apples, cheeses,
crackers, donuts and even tastings
of their wine for the event. It was a
beautiful day and a number of us were
able to bring our families to pick apples
and feed the farm animals (a highlight
for the kids for sure). IGNITE has
made a point of having family events
after receiving feedback from our
membership and The Apple Station
was a
perfect
fit.
2015 Ambassadors Council
This dedicated group of volunteers works hard to promote the Chamber and to
welcome and nurture new members. You will see Ambassadors welcoming new
members by attending ribbon cuttings and stopping by businesses to say hello and
to answer any questions about the services and benefits of the Chamber.
Ambassadors also volunteer to help at Chamber sponsored events like Business
After Five, the Annual Chamber Cup Golf Tournament or at our Annual Dinner.
Gillian DiMora, AXA Advisors
Kim Baley, Buffington & Hoatland CPAs
Michelle Barber, Five Star Bank
Gina Lamannis, Fingerlakes Radio Group
Jon Wilcox, Savannah Bank NY
Katrina Wilson, Wells College
Eric Roper, New York Life Insurance
John Taylor, Staples
If you are interested in joining the ambassadors council contact the chamber today!
Call 315-252-7291 for more information on becoming an Ambassador!
Save
the
Date!
• Wednesday, October 21 - Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner
• Thursday, December 3 - Chamber of Commerce Holiday Party
• Keep checking back for updates on the Phyllis Goldman Award!
• Schedule your 2016 Business at Noon today!
Just four slots left for 2016!
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Our members
experience the best.
...now you can too.
Owasco Country Club is home to a beautiful nine hole golf course with eighteen
challenging tee boxes, a full service pro shop, beautiful Har-Tru clay tennis courts,
kid’s summer camps, a gourmet dining facility and two outdoor patios.
The rich history of OCC includes prestigious members such as W.H. Seward Jr., a
former course record holder, and PGA member Walter Hagen, a former club professional.
Bob Fagan recently wrote a review calling Owasco Country Club
not only charming, but challenging.
“gem you will want to play!”
Bob Fagan is an accomplished player and instructor,
PGA Section Executive Director, and highly acclaimed golf writer.
The 100 year old stately clubhouse provides exquisite dining overlooking the
pristine waters of Owasco Lake. The restaurant offers both a casual tavern
setting as well as fine dining. It’s a prime location for weddings and other
banquet events and available to members at no charge.
For More InForMatIon
Visit our website at www.OwascoCountryClub.com • Click on the Become a Member Drop Down
Call Carolyn Moore at 315-252-3580 or Pro Mark Flurschutz at 315-253-3971
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Did You Know...
Annual Medicare Part D Notices Are Due By Oct. 15
Employers that offer prescription drug coverage are required to notify Medicare Part D eligible individuals
who are covered by, or who apply for, prescription drug coverage under the group health plan of whether
or not their coverage is creditable, meaning that the coverage is expected to pay on average as much
as the Medicare prescription drug coverage. Medicare Part D eligible individuals may include active
employees, disabled employees, COBRA participants and retirees, as well as their covered spouses and
dependents. To simplify administration, group health plan sponsors provide the Disclosure Notice to all
plan participants.
Notification is required at least once a year and at the following times:
Prior to an individual’s initial enrollment period for Medicare Part D;
Prior to the effective date of coverage for any Medicare-eligible individual that joins your plan;
Whenever prescription drug coverage ends or changes so that it is no longer creditable or becomes
creditable; Prior to the Medicare Part D Annual Coordinated Election Period beginning on Oct. 15 – Dec.
7 of each year; or Upon the request of a beneficiary.
Creditable Coverage Model Notice Letters can be downloaded by clicking the following links:
https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-Coverage/CreditableCoverage/Downloads/
ModelCreditableCoverageDisclosureNotice051711.pdf
https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-Coverage/CreditableCoverage/Downloads/
ModelNonCreditableCoverageDisclosureNotice051711.pdf
Additionally, plan sponsors are required to complete an online disclosure form to the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The disclosure should be completed at the following times:
No later than 60 days from the beginning of a plan year (contract year, renewal year);
Within 30 days after termination of a prescription drug plan; or Within 30 days after any change in
creditable coverage status. The online disclosure form can be completed at: Creditable Coverage
Disclosure Form. This is the sole method for complying with the CMS disclosure requirement.
The MMA imposes a late enrollment penalty on individuals who do not maintain creditable coverage for
a period of 63 days or longer following their initial enrollment period for the Medicare prescription drug
benefit.
If you have questions or for more information, call HR One’s Human Resource Helpline at 1.800.457.8829.
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NYS P-TECH Partnerships gear up for Manufacturing Day
NYS P-TECH partnerships gear up for Manufacturing Day
ALBANY, N.Y.—The Business Council of New York State, Inc. today announced that a number of manufacturers involved in NYS P-TECH partnerships across the state will host open houses in October to commemorate
Manufacturing Day. The official Manufacturing Day is on October 2, and the
events — geared toward local parents, teachers and other community members
— are part of a nationwide effort to educate the public on modern manufacturing and draw attention to outstanding job opportunities in the industry.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo declared October 2015 as Manufacturing Month in
New York State.
The NYS P-TECH program establishes grade 9-14 career schools throughout the state. The schools, which are the result
of partnerships between businesses, community colleges and school districts, focus on student achievement of a two-year
college degree, high school diploma and mastery of professional skills by end of the sixth year. Students also gain the workplace experience necessary to be first in line for STEM jobs.
Partnerships that will host events include Hudson Valley Pathways Academy, P-TECH Auburn, P-TECH OHM, WNY
P-TECH STEM Academy, Valley P-TECH, Southern Adirondack P-TECH, ADK P-TECH, HFM P-TECH, Clean Energy/
Sustainable Technologies ECHS, LI P-TECH, Syracuse P-TECH and Wayne Finger Lakes P-TECH.
“Growing manufacturing is a key to our economic success and closing the skills gap,” said Heather Briccetti, president and
CEO of The Business Council. “Jobs in this sector are good-paying and have an impressive multiplier effect, but unfortunately, many positions remain open in the state and nationwide due to a lack of skilled workers. We are thrilled to be
involved in the NYS P-TECH program and support these innovative partnerships, 16 of which include at least one career
pathway in advanced manufacturing.”
According to recent report by ReadyNation, New York could
face a deficit of 350,000 workers for mid-level skill jobs by
2020.
The Business Council represents nearly 2,400 private sector employers across New York State, with members in all
economic sectors and of all sizes, who together employ more
than 1.2 million New Yorkers. It was formed in 1980 with the merger of Associated Industries of New York and the Empire
State Chamber of Commerce, and manufacturers remain the largest component of its membership.
Please contact Robin Willner at robin.willner@bcnys.org or Sonia Lindell at sonia.
lindell@bcnys.org for more information on local Manufacturing Day events.
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Springside Inn BAF
Members gather for Springside Business After Five and
Leadership Cayuga Class of 2016 kickoff
On September 9th, Chamber and community members
joined with the Leadership Cayuga Class of 2016 for Ribbon
Cutting/Business after Five and Welcome Reception for the
new Class. The Springside feature it’s new outdoor space,
The Grove. Guests had a wide
variety of hors d’oeuvres to
choose from.
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October Calendar at a Glance
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Annual Dinner
Owasco
Pavilion
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IGNITE the
Vote at Hilton
Garden Inn
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