Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • June 15, 2011 Area Several local chambers of commerce, including those in Allendale, Mahwah, and Wyckoff, have joined forces with a consortium of Bergen-Passaic chambers to change the law so small businesses with one to 50 employees could purchase group health insurance through the local chambers. The primary sponsor for this legislative amendment (Senate Bill 2874) is Senator Gerald Cardinale (R-District 39, Bergen), ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee. “In these tough economic times, it’s critical that government work with business to make health care more affordable,” Cardinale said. Since introducing the bill on May 12, Cardinale has garnered support from the bill’s Democratic co-sponsors, Senator Loretta Weinberg (D-District 37, Bergen), and Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-District 22, Middlesex/ Morris/Union). The group’s chairman, John DePalma, MPH, Regional Director of UHY Employee Benefits Consulting Services and member of the Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce, said health benefits purchasing alliances like this Chambers work to make health insurance available are common in other states. “With health care reform becoming effective in 2014, it is about time that the State of New Jersey allows companies with one employee to be eligible to participate in the small group offerings,” DePalma said. “Currently, these offerings require two employees or more. This is particularly important in our current environment where health care costs keep increasing at an alarming level, and it is important to note that the surrounding states already allow companies, such as this, to join their small employer programs.” The effort to change the law was begun over a year ago by Dr. Annette Freund, immediate past president of the Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce. This month, over 200 more chambers are being invited to join in a statewide letter-writing campaign. “We need to explain to our legislators and the governor that a vote for this bill is a vote for small business,” said Freund, “especially the startups, the sole proprietors, and the entrepreneurs with only one employee. Saving money on group health insurance could free up capital for hiring new employees, support the economic recovery, and encourage over half a million individual proprietorships to stay in New Jersey.” For more information, or to join the letter-writing campaign, visit www.allendalechamber.com or call Mike Lindsay at (201) 236-1910; visit www.mahwah.com or call the Mahwah Chamber office at (201) 529-5566; or visit wyckoffchamber.com or contact Wyckoff Chamber President Jay Vidockler at (201) 891-3711. The Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce will honor David Alai, corporate vice president of Sharp Electronics Corporation, as the Humanitarian of the Year at the Chamber’s 20th Annual Golf Outing and Dinner on Sept. 12 at the Tuxedo Club. Alai, who is responsible for Sharp’s corporate human resources, corporate facilities, corporate purchasing, and community relations departments, has been the recipient of a Joint Legislative Resolution from the New Jersey Senate and Assembly recognizing his record of community leadership, exemplary volunteerism, and professional achievements. David Alai is Humanitarian of Year Alai has chosen the Center for Food Action as the recipient of a portion of the proceeds from the September event. The Center for Food Action provides emergency food, rental, and utility assistance, counseling, and advocacy to residents of Bergen County and Upper Passaic Valley. In 2010, CFA distributed over 53,000 emergency food packages, and helped 1,500 families stay in their homes and/or kept their heat and electric from being turned off. CFA also operates the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition. For more information about the Golf Outing and Dinner, or to register to participate, visit www.mahwah. com.