This page is designed to help school employees seek better pricing, particularly when it comes to purchases for the classroom. Please keep in mind that it is generally better to by locally from the "Mom & Pop" stores owned by our students' families. Please email information regarding any businesses that offer teacher discounts, particularly those that are local to tbrown@vcmail.ouboces.org. For a listing of local businesses explore our Community: Villages & Towns of VC Link.

Link to TransFair: Certifying Website for Fair Trade Goods before purchasing your goods. The Fair Trade Certified™ Label guarantees consumers that strict economic, social and environmental criteria were met in the production and trade of an agricultural product. Fair Trade Certification is currently available in the U.S. for coffee, tea and herbs, cocoa and chocolate, fresh fruit, flowers, sugar, rice, and vanilla. TransFair USA licenses companies to display the Fair Trade Certified label on products that meet strict international Fair Trade standards.

VCTA Member Discounts From Local Vendors

Joy Insurance Agency: VCTA Member Discount on Travelers Auto & Home Insurance; 639 East main Street, Middletown, NY 10940; Phone (845) 342-4888; Fax (845) 342-9117

Discount Category, Reduction & Coverage Application

account discount on both auto & home; 10%; all
accident prevention or driver training course; 10%; applies to most coverages
anti-lock braking; 5%; collision; PIP/NYS No Fault
anti-theft discount; 5-15%; comprehensive; discount depends on the system
daytime runniong lights; 3%; comprehensive; collision
hybrid vehicle; 10%; applies to most coverages
multi-car discount; 22%; applies to most coverages
passive restraint; 30%; personal injury protection
home buyer credit; 10%; sliding
new home credit; 23%; sliding (new home = 30 years old)
prime time home credit; 5%; over 50 years of age and not working
protective device home credit; 2-8%; discount depends on the system

In addition to the above standard Travelers discounts, VCTA members will receive and additional:

5.5% discount on auto insurance and
7% on home insurance.

These additional Travelers discounts for VCTA members are available exclusively through the Joy Insurance Agency. To view their website select the link in the above heading. To download insurance rate quote forms select the following links:

Fax or mail these forms to Joy Insurance Agency. At the top of each form provide the following code to indicate your eligibility for a VCTA discount: OMI861.

To request an auto quote online use the following link:

http://www.travelers.com/personal?sponsor=joy

The Joy Insurance Agency is a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. Owner Christopher Joy is a Valley Central graduate and Valley Central School District resident.

Golf Lessons, Clothing, Equipment: John Schmoll, Otterkill Country Club Golf Pro and Valley Central graduate, is offering discounts to VCTA members:

20% discount on clothing
20% discount on golf lesson
10% discount on clubs & equipment

To contact John call (845) 427-2301 or email him at jdschmoll@aol.com. The Otterkill Golf and Country Club is located at 100 Otter Road, Campbell Hall, NY 10916. Directions and information about the club can be found on the web at http://www.otterkillcountryclub.com/.

Tracy's Kitchen: Tracy Barry, a VC graduate, is offering VCTA members a 10% discount. Delivery is available by calling (845) 457-2480. Select MENU to view Tracy's Kitchen options. Two menu options are available:

Half-Tray Options―Feeds Up To 15 People
Full-Tray Option― Feeds Up To 30 People

Other Discounts for Educators at Local and/or Retail Business

AC Moore Arts & Crafts: 10% storewide; inventory includes floral & home decor, framing & art materials, general crafts, holidays & celebrations, kids crafts, scrapbooking, weddings, yarn & needlecrafts
AFT Plus Member Benefits: Discounts & Services, Financial Services, Insurance, Travel
Ariel's Child: 10% or free shipping on purchases over $100; teacher supply and specialty toy store
Barnes & Noble: 20%
Book Warehouse: 15%
Borders Books: 20%
Discovery Channel Store: 15% not to be combined with other discount offers; inventory includes, dvd & books, telescopes & binoculars, toys & games, home & office, electronics & gadgets, fan gear & clothing, outdoor travel, fitness & spa
FedEx Kinko's Educator Savings Program offers 15% discount on most products and services at participating stores
Grainger: NYS Employee Discount Applies; Grainger sells over 800,000 products including adhesives, sealants & tape, electrical, fasteners & hardware, heating, ventilation & air conditioning, lighting, material handling, metalworking, welding & lubrication, motors & power equipment, outdoor equipment, pneumatics & hydraulics, pumps & plumbing, safety & security, tools & test instruments
JoAnn Fabrics & Crafts: 10% educator discount card
Microsoft Office Discount: Software deals for Faculty & Students
NYSUT Member Benefits: Discounts & Travel, Insurance, Financial, Legal, Payroll & Pension Deduction
Office Depot: 5% on school supply purchases
Office Max: 10 - 40% with Retail Connect Card featured in the March 29, 2007 New York Teacher. Members can also order online. For information contact NYSUT Member Benefits at (800) 626-8101, email benefits@nysutmail.org, or visit www.memberbenefits.nysut.org online.
Staples: 10% on their inventory of office supplies, technology & furniture
Teachers Count: Offers a teacher discount page. Teachers Count is a national, independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to raise the status of the teaching profession in America, using public service announcements and related initiatives, and to provide resources to teachers, prospective teachers, and others concerned about education. They believe that there is a crisis in the teaching profession in this country as teachers retire in record numbers and nearly 50% of new teachers leave the profession by their fifth year, due to low pay and a lack of respect for the profession.
Union Plus: Member discounts in multiple areas including Money & Credit, Insurance, Health & Wellness, Education Services, House & Home, Legal Resources, Pet Services, Travel & Recreation, and Union-Made Clothing and Goods.
United Farm Workers (UFW): 20% on UFW educational supplies and a free elementary curriculum with any order

Online Discounts for Educators, Union Members & Working Families

All American Clothing Company: Union Made and USA Clothing
Dean's Beans: 100% Organic and Fair Trade Coffee
Equal Exchange: Fairly Traded partner with co-operatives of farmers who provide high-quality organic coffees, teas, chocolates and snacks from farmers all over the world, including here in the United States.
Leather Coats Etc: USA Union Made items offered
No Sweat Apparel: 100% Union Made Apparel
Powell's Bookstore: Independent book store in Portland, Oregon
Teacher Group Travel (TGT): Discount Travel for Educators and Their Families and Freinds
Working Advantage: Provides employee discount and reward programs to corporations nationwide
USA Made Toys: Classic toys, fun games, and unique gifts for all ages that are made in the USA

Tracy Barry
Tracy's Kitchen

Tracey Barry, a VC graduate, presents her culinary creations to members at the VCTA's Annual Member Benefits Display.

Chris Joy
Joy Insurance Agency

Chris Joy, a VC graduate and owner of Joy Insurance Agency offers competitive rates as a broker for multiple insurance companies.

The VCTA consists of three bargaining units: teachers, secretaries and paraprofessionals. We are affiliated with the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), which is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the National Education Association (NEA) and the AFL-CIO. Email tbrown@vcmail.ouboces.org for questions or comments regarding this website. The VCTA would like to thank Online School Records for their generous support with this website. Online School Records specializes in the development of custom student management systems.