How will membership benefit me?

• Access the members-only areas of elephant.org.il (job listings)
• Advertise in the Writers for Hire section - effective and free for members
  
• Valuable discounts on services that are worth far more than the cost of the membership
• Posting privileges that give you a high profile within the Israeli technical and writing and marcom community (revocable if abused)
• Posting privileges to the Calendar of Events
• Access to salary and freelance rate reports if you participate in the surveys (nonmember participants have more limited access or must subscribe to the surveys)
• Support networking meetings and other activities of Elephant

Who has committed to provide discounts?

"In Other Words" has agreed to give members of the Yokneam Forum (Elephant) a 7% discount on all courses other than Introduction to Technical Communication.

"Microtype" (Shlomo Perets) has agreed to give members of the Yokneam Forum (Elephant) a 5% discount on all courses given in Israel. This discount is in addition to other discounts.

JTF Hosting has agreed to give members of the Yokneam Forum (Elephant) its Bronze Web Hosting plan for $150/year rather $180/year. This is the same plan used by elephant.org.il and my experience with the service has been excellent (well worth the full price even without the members discount). Not only that, but it includes a 60 day money back guarantee. And it gets better ... for another $50/year you can use NetDoc and edit the site online directly on the server!

Dr. Carolyn Tal has agreed to give members of the Yokneam Forum (Elephant) a 5% discount on Professional Coaching Services, except the Equine Assisted Learning.

Morad Winery has agreed to give members of the Yokneam Forum (Elephant) a 15% discount on all of their wines. Details...

"Context" (Steve Wiseman) has agreed to give members of the Yokneam Forum (Elephant) a $30 discount off the local price for a single-seat Mif2Go license. Forum members pay $290 instead of $320. That is even below the regular price for licenses purchased in the US. Details...

Rotem Center of Integrated Medicine at Kibbutz Dalia has offered members of the Yokneam Forum (Elephant) a 10% group discount on private treatments (i.e., not via Kupat Holim Leumit or Insurance).

David Maeir Epstein (www.israelgrants.com), MSSA has agreed to give a 50 NIS discount on his grantwriting and fundraising courses to members of the Yokneam Forum (Elephant).

Method M  has agreed to give a 10% discount on its Dita Immersion Workshop.

Can I use the membership card more than once?

Yes of course.

If you take a course at Microtype, you save 5% of the cost of the course (between 67.50 and 123.75 + VAT).

If you later take the Introduction to Marketing Communication  course with In Other Words, you save another 7% of the cost of that course (245.00 + VAT).

If you decide to setup your own website (or move your existing one), you can save up to $145 on web hosting for a year at JTF Hosting.

You can take as many courses as you like and save each time.

What is the price of membership?

Annual dues for the year 2009 are 350 NIS + VAT.

Why is the price so low?

Volunteerism is still the backbone that keeps Elephant alive so membership only need cover a small portion of the real costs of the services provided.

Why not wait until I need to use a discount or other benefit?

Membership is valid until Dec. 31, 2009 whether you join now or later. 

How do I apply?

What do the companies giving the discounts gain?

They hope to get more customers. Even if it doesn't work, they will end up with free advertising for a discount that no one used.

Will I need a membership card to come to Forum meetings, lectures and activities?

No. The Forum will remain open and you won't need to have a membership card to participate or be part of the Forum.

Why should I pay a fee if I can be a member for free?

The additional benefits of membership far outweigh the low cost of the membership. The membership also supports Forum activities and the cost of www.elephant.org.il.

I live in Tel-Aviv and work in Herzelia, how can I benefit?

Although meetings and free lectures take place in Yokneam, Elephant has been a national organization almost from the start with many of its members living and working in Central Israel. Both In Other Words and Microtype offer their courses in Central Israel. Method M and www.israelgrants.com hold their courses in Jerusalem.

Will I get an invoice and receipt that I use to ask my employer to reimburse me?

Yes. Tax invoices and receipts will be issued for all fees collected. All income and VAT will be duly reported to the tax authorities.

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