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Liz Bryson

Bryson Media

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce Adds Health Insurance, Other Member Services

Ellensburg, Wash. (Jan. 12, 2007) – Since becoming the Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce's executive director in January of 2006, Ron Cridlebaugh, along with chamber board members, have made it a mandate to increase member services in order to strengthen ties with current members, as well as to recruit new ones.

One of those newest services is health insurance, something the chamber understands small businesses struggle to obtain.

“It's so hard to get health insurance if you're a small business,” Cridlebaugh said.

Through the Affiliated Associations of America (AAOA), the Regence BlueShield insurance will include individual and group medical plans, group dental and vision plans, discount prescriptions, long-term care insurance, Medicare Part D prescriptions and Medicare Supplements, as well as other services.

“For the past nine months, our member services committee has been looking for quality health care plans that would be the most cost effective for small businesses,” Cridlebaugh said.

Other soon-to-be added services include traveling discounts, conference calling, an online shopping mall, which will allow members to sell goods and services to a wide customer base, and telephone on hold services.

Traveling discounts will give members up to 50 percent off on hotel rates, as well as discounts on rental cars, for only $15 a year. Many of the major hotel and car rental chains are part of the discount plan, which will also include roadside assistance.

The only requirement to qualify for the insurance, or any of the many other chamber services, is to simply be a chamber member.

“The chamber has been working hard as a business advocate since 1908, and this is just another example of our continued efforts to help and assist our business community,” Cridlebaugh said. “We will continue with our commitment to be a voice for our business community and assist and help in any way possible. We are excited to be able to add these new benefits to all of the ones we already offer our members, and we encourage feedback and ideas,” Cridlebaugh said.

Cridlebaugh advised all members to keep an eye on their mail. Within the next two weeks, members will receive a letter from the chamber that will assist in the insurance sign-up process. Membership cards with assigned PIN numbers will also be mailed out, which will enable members to view all the services available online.

For more information, go to the chamber's Web site at www.ellensburg-chamber.com, or call 925-2002.