Check out The Melting Pot cookbook assembled by the Women in Business Committee of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce! With recipes from other women and local chefs you're bound to find a new family or party favorite! For $10.00 each you can get your own copy today by calling the Chamber at 570-296-8700 or ordering it online here: www.pikechamber.com/index.php?page=wib_cookbook

The impact of federal health care reform in 2014 will be the subject of a Pike County Chamber of Commerce seminar next week. The seminar will feature a description of what the new regulations mean for businesses and individuals and how they should prepare and the penalties for noncompliance.

Learn about the pros and cons of government controlled healthcare and some of the new regulations including: each American must have health insurance or pay a penalty, there will be more people added to Medicaid and subsidies for other Americans, insurance companies must change the way they cover Americans, the state and federal governments are creating health insurance “exchanges”, employers will be impacted, learn the effect on kids and the elderly, there will be more taxes and fees, how you get health insurance may change, seeing a doctor could be a challenge - once the reform is in full swing, it is estimated that 30+ million people will be “added to the system”, and the costs will continue to increase.

So depending on your current situation, the Affordable Healthcare Act may have a dramatic impact on your life or it might pass relatively unnoticed but one of the controversial issues with it is that if an individual fails to purchase a government approved insurance plan, a penalty will be assessed to them (probably on your annual tax return).

Our panel of knowledgeable speakers includes Joseph Sileo, Esq. with the firm of McNees, Wallace & Nurick and his colleagues Jennifer LaPorta Baker, Esq. and Jennifer Walsh, Esq., Jeff Haudenschield, co-founder of The Benefits Group as well as Rob Unger, CPA from the firm Judelson, Giordano & Siegel, PC.

Since this effects everyone, we are anticipating a “full house” so please call now to reserve your seat at 570-296-8700. It is on Thursday, February 28th at 7:30a.m. at The Best Western Inn at Hunt’s Landing in Matamoras, PA. Cost is $15.00 for Pike Chamber Members or $20.00 for Non-Members and includes full buffet breakfast.

The Pike County Chamber of Commerce would like to make every person aware of one of the most sweeping changes since the enactment of Social Security that is about to descend on American Business and yet, little is known about it. In a very special 90-minute seminar on Thursday, February 28, 2013, you will have an opportunity to hear from three fine professionals as to what is about to happen with respect to this new law. Joseph Sileo is an attorney with the firm of McNees, Wallace & Nurick in Scranton, PA. Joseph's firm specializes in this new law and other labor and management issues. He and his colleagues, Jennifer LaPorta Baker, Esq. and Jennifer Walsh, Esq., will be on hand to address issues facing small and medium-sized businesses. They will be presenting in conjunction with Jeff Haudenschield, Co-Founder of The Benefits Group. Also, a representative from the CPA firm of Judelson, Giordano & Siegel, PC will address the fiscal implications of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Those who attend this seminar will be far better prepared to deal with the requirements of this law.

Joseph Sileo, Esq.
The most controversial and far-reaching requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka "Health Care Reform") take effect in January 2014. Many business executives and HR professionals are struggling with the ever-evolving and often confusing health-care reform information coming at them daily. This session is designed to educate businesses about the practical steps they should be taking now in order to stay on top of PPACA compliance in 2013 and 2014. We will address recent changes that have taken effect and provide guidance on how to prepare for the sweeping changes that are scheduled to take effect in 2014, including shared responsibility penalties and health care exchanges.

This seminar is designed to bring clarity to businesses as well as individuals on the many pressing issues that will be part of their decisions regarding health coverage in the coming months, including: the definition and importance of "full time" employment status under PPACA, the "shared responsibility" requirements and what they mean for your business, an update on Pennsylvania's approach to establishing a health care exchange, important notice requirements, a review of the important deadlines over the next few years and what you should be doing to prepare and practical steps that businesses of all sizes should be doing now.

Reservations are required by calling 570-296-8700 for this breakfast seminar on Thursday, February 28th at the Best Western Inn at Hunt's Landing in Matamoras, PA beginning promptly at 7:30a.m. Cost is $15.00 for Pike Chamber Members or $20.00 for Non-Members which includes a full breakfast buffet. Since this impacts everyone, we are expecting a very large group so please call to reserve your seat as soon as possible.

Photo is Joseph Sileo, Esq.

The Pike County Chamber of Commerce will be continuing their Third Thursday Breakfast Seminar Series on January 17, 2013 with the topic of “How to Convert Low-Cost Networking into Big Income” with Guest Speaker Cena Block of Sane Spaces.

Pike County, like everywhere else in America, has been experiencing difficult economic times. This has been felt by every business in virtually every business sector. Everyone who relies on new business activities agrees that they must maintain a vigorous marketing presence, however, how do you do it with diminishing resources? In this seminar you will learn low cost and no cost options with highlights including but not limited to networking to cash flow-compelling reasons to start today, low cost networking opportunities, networking toolbox, ideal client avatar, “elevator pitch” formula, key networking questions and follow-up strategies.

Program speaker Cena Block is an efficiency expert, sought after presenter, published author, speaker and the President of the Northern NJ Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers. Cena works with corporate and non-profit groups to deliver her engaging, interactive and shape-shifting workshops and keynote programs. Her professional expertise comes from more than 25 years in human performance management, people and project management, coaching, entrepreneurship, training design, delivery and consulting.

Held at the Best Western Inn at Hunt’s Landing in Matamoras, PA, the program begins promptly at 7:30a.m. with breakfast ready at 7:15a.m. on Thursday, January 17, 2013. It is $15.00 per person for Pike Chamber members and $20.00 per person for Non-members and you must RSVP to reserve your space by calling 570-296-8700 no later than January 15th.

The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the 2nd Annual Children’s Holiday Event on Sunday, December 9th was a great success! It initially started out last year with local business J-Angelo Event Planning who contacted the Chamber after seeing the original article of the Holiday Ornament Event for kids in which the event fee was supposed to be $7.00 per child. In keeping with spirit of the holiday season, James Campistrous of J-Angelo Event Planning said they would sponsor the event so that every child that wanted to attend and make an ornament would be able to join the fun and parents wouldn’t have to worry about another cost involved! For the 2012 Children’s Event J-Angelo Event Planning also sponsored again along with Pike County Light & Power Company and Price Chopper. The Chamber is very grateful for these generous sponsorships that helped purchase the supplies and food in order to keep it a free event for the community. Some of the families that attended also brought baked goods for everyone to share as well as a nice collection of food donations for the local food pantry.

The Women in Business Committee of the Chamber who runs the event that was held at the Best Western Inn at Hunt’s Landing was so excited to see the 300 people come out to have an afternoon of fun. This Committee also would like to thank Diane Bollen from Dragonfly Studio who took professional photos of the kids with Santa and his Elf for free. The Committee also greatly appreciated the following Delaware Valley football players and cheerleaders, Josh Edelman, Tommy Lee Shelton, Cory Savarese, John Hurley, Brendan Paulison, Justin & Ryan Viscardo, Heather and Haley Connolly, Laura Horowitz and Kelly Buckner, who volunteered their time to help the kids decorate ornaments and it made the afternoon fun. A big shout out to Keith Raser for his generous efforts to arrange the arrival of Santa and his Elf! Thank you to all of the volunteers that helped make this another successful community event and we are already planning a bigger and better event for 2013. The Pike County Chamber extends Happy Holiday wishes to all.

For further information contact the Chamber by e-mailing info@pikechamber.com or calling the Chamber office at 570-296-8700.

The Pike County Chamber of Commerce and Best Western Inn at Hunt's Landing want you to celebrate this holiday season by taking this opportunity to network your business, organization or upcoming event. Pike County Light and Power are the proud sponsors of this holiday networking event. Bring your friends and business associates along with plenty of business cards to make new contacts and get more business no matter what industry you are in. Making face to face contacts at this networking event is a powerful and affordable marketing technique that can help your business grow.

This networking opportunity will be held at Best Western Inn at Hunt's Landing in Matamoras, PA just off of I-84 on Thursday, December 13th from 5:30p.m. to 7:30p.m. Admission at the door is $5.00 for Pike Chamber members or $10.00 for non-members. There will be a cash bar, hors d'oeuvres, 50/50 raffle and door prizes! If you would like to donate a door prize, please call ahead to let us know.

To get more information please call 570-296-8700