17 June 2008
June 2008 E-News
1. Membership drive: Goal reached!
2. Focus group updates: Retirement and mental health care
3. Results from our health insurance satisfaction survey
4. New discounts: GotVMail, Imagetech, and Blankspaces
5. Member-to-member discounts: SKAE Learning, Ms. Management
__________________________________________________________
1. Membership drive: Goal reached!
We set a goal to build up our membership to 75,000 by Independence Day, and we reached that goal with a month to spare. However, California’s the only state that’s reached its individual goal, so we're counting on each of you to continue to spread the word. You can help your state rise to the top by telling your friends to join us, and by adding the “Join the Movement” button to your blog or website.
Learn more about the membership drive and watch our progress on the advocacy page.
2. Focus group updates: Retirement and mental health care
Last month, Freelancers Union hosted three focus groups, where members could share their thoughts about some important issues. In the first one, we talked about how freelancers save for retirement. It’s a given that independent workers have unique challenges when it comes to retirement planning, which is why we want to develop a program that would make saving easy and affordable.
In the next two focus groups, we met with members to talk about their mental health care needs. Of course, mental health care can be difficult to navigate for anyone, and freelancers who have uneven incomes sometimes have a hard time maintaining continuous treatment. We’re working on a project that would streamline the referral process and make mental health care more affordable for our members.
If you want to be a part of upcoming focus groups, subscribe to the Products & Services email list in your account preferences. We’ll be sending out announcements for several events later this summer.
3. Results from our health insurance satisfaction survey
This spring, we asked members on our health insurance plans to tell us what they liked, what they didn’t, and the factors they considered in choosing a plan. 1,600 of you spoke up, and now highlights from the results are available at freelancersunion.org. We were glad to see that most members with Empire BlueCross BlueShield insurance are really happy with the provider network, since that was a huge factor in our decision to offer those plans. And predictably, members with the lowest monthly premiums said that was the best thing about their plans, while those with the highest premiums said it was their least favorite thing about their insurance.
4. New discounts: GotVMail, Imagetech, and Blankspaces
Freelancers Union members have access to new discounts (and if you’re getting this e-newsletter, you’re a member!).
Phone system: GotVMail is a virtual phone system that’s offering members 400 free minutes and waived activation fee (a $50 value). You can use GotVMail for things like a virtual toll-free or local number, call forwarding and transferring, dial-by-name directory, or music on hold.
Office supplies: Freelancers Union members are eligible for a 25% discount on most products from Imagetech Office Supplies, which also offers a full line of environmentally-friendly items.
Work space: Do you work in the L.A. area? Freelancers Union members get a discount at BLANKSPACES, a co-working space there. They’re offering 50% off the first month when you sign up for at least 3 months. The space includes access to phone and high-speed internet.
5. Member-to-member discounts: SKAE Learning, Ms. Management
You can get a discount on services from other Freelancers Union members, or offer a discount of your own. The member-to-member discount section is visible when you sign in to the website. Here are the latest offerings:
SKAE Learning (Nationwide, Online)
offered by Richard Gandon
Freelancers Union members save 20% off all SKAE Learning online courses: Sales, Marketing, Leadership, Career Development, Personal Finance, and more, by referencing this coupon code: freelancersrock.
Ms. Management (New York)
offered by Lisa Giella
Numbers not your thing? Let Ms. Management help you with your bookkeeping needs at a discount of 20%! Ms. Management loves to help set up, clean up, and keep your books in order.
2. Focus group updates: Retirement and mental health care
3. Results from our health insurance satisfaction survey
4. New discounts: GotVMail, Imagetech, and Blankspaces
5. Member-to-member discounts: SKAE Learning, Ms. Management
__________________________________________________________
1. Membership drive: Goal reached!
We set a goal to build up our membership to 75,000 by Independence Day, and we reached that goal with a month to spare. However, California’s the only state that’s reached its individual goal, so we're counting on each of you to continue to spread the word. You can help your state rise to the top by telling your friends to join us, and by adding the “Join the Movement” button to your blog or website.
Learn more about the membership drive and watch our progress on the advocacy page.
2. Focus group updates: Retirement and mental health care
Last month, Freelancers Union hosted three focus groups, where members could share their thoughts about some important issues. In the first one, we talked about how freelancers save for retirement. It’s a given that independent workers have unique challenges when it comes to retirement planning, which is why we want to develop a program that would make saving easy and affordable.
In the next two focus groups, we met with members to talk about their mental health care needs. Of course, mental health care can be difficult to navigate for anyone, and freelancers who have uneven incomes sometimes have a hard time maintaining continuous treatment. We’re working on a project that would streamline the referral process and make mental health care more affordable for our members.
If you want to be a part of upcoming focus groups, subscribe to the Products & Services email list in your account preferences. We’ll be sending out announcements for several events later this summer.
3. Results from our health insurance satisfaction survey
This spring, we asked members on our health insurance plans to tell us what they liked, what they didn’t, and the factors they considered in choosing a plan. 1,600 of you spoke up, and now highlights from the results are available at freelancersunion.org. We were glad to see that most members with Empire BlueCross BlueShield insurance are really happy with the provider network, since that was a huge factor in our decision to offer those plans. And predictably, members with the lowest monthly premiums said that was the best thing about their plans, while those with the highest premiums said it was their least favorite thing about their insurance.
4. New discounts: GotVMail, Imagetech, and Blankspaces
Freelancers Union members have access to new discounts (and if you’re getting this e-newsletter, you’re a member!).
Phone system: GotVMail is a virtual phone system that’s offering members 400 free minutes and waived activation fee (a $50 value). You can use GotVMail for things like a virtual toll-free or local number, call forwarding and transferring, dial-by-name directory, or music on hold.
Office supplies: Freelancers Union members are eligible for a 25% discount on most products from Imagetech Office Supplies, which also offers a full line of environmentally-friendly items.
Work space: Do you work in the L.A. area? Freelancers Union members get a discount at BLANKSPACES, a co-working space there. They’re offering 50% off the first month when you sign up for at least 3 months. The space includes access to phone and high-speed internet.
5. Member-to-member discounts: SKAE Learning, Ms. Management
You can get a discount on services from other Freelancers Union members, or offer a discount of your own. The member-to-member discount section is visible when you sign in to the website. Here are the latest offerings:
SKAE Learning (Nationwide, Online)
offered by Richard Gandon
Freelancers Union members save 20% off all SKAE Learning online courses: Sales, Marketing, Leadership, Career Development, Personal Finance, and more, by referencing this coupon code: freelancersrock.
Ms. Management (New York)
offered by Lisa Giella
Numbers not your thing? Let Ms. Management help you with your bookkeeping needs at a discount of 20%! Ms. Management loves to help set up, clean up, and keep your books in order.
