Affiliated Workers Association (AWA). AWA is dedicated to providing small business owners and entrepreneurs with resources, benefits and discounts that can help them run their business more efficiently and save money. (855.351.7536) http://affiliatedworkersassociation.org/member-benefits/
American Booksellers Association. Founded in 1900, ABA is a not-for-profit organization devoted to meeting the need of its members of independently owned bookstores nationwide. (800.637.0037) www.bookweb.org
TechAmerica. Formed in 2008 from a merger involving AeA, ITAA, GEIA and the Cyber Security Industry Alliance, TechAmerica represents about 1,200 companies from both public and commercial sectors. (408.987.4200) www.techamerica.org/insurance-services
American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). Supports more than 15,000 design professionals through more than 40 local chapters and 80 student groups nationwide. AIGA offers access to health insurance options to members in many states, including California. Call TEIGIT, AIGA’s insurance provider, at 800.886.7504. Dental plans are also available. www.teigit.com
Artists’ Health Insurance Resource Center. Sponsored by the Manhattan-based Actors’ Fund of America, this site describes health insurance coverage choices and regulations in every state and provides links to artists’ groups offering health insurance plans as well as other public and private health care resources. (212.221.7300) www.actorsfund.org/services-and-programs/ahirc
Graphics Artists Guild. A national union of illustrators, designers, Web creators, production artists, surface designers, writers, editors, multimedia, broadcast, marketing and other creatives. www.graphicartistsguild.org
National Small Business United (NSBU). This is a volunteer-directed association, the primary mission of which is to advocate for state and federal policies that are beneficial to small business, the state and the nation; and to promote the growth of free enterprise. (NSBA: 800.345.6728 or Mutual of Omaha: 800.223.6927) http://www.mutualofomaha.com/nsba
National Writer’s Union (NWU). Represents more than 6,500 members in 17 local chapters nationwide. NWU is the trade union for freelance writers of all genres who work for American publishers or employers. (212-254-0279) www.nwu.org
Painting & Decorating Contractors Association/California Council. Represents anyone with a C-33 license; covers anyone who’s applying coating to a surface. (800.332.7322) www.pdca.org
Printing Industries Association of Southern California (PIASC). This is the trade association for the graphic arts community in Southern California. It was founded in 1935 and today is the largest graphic arts trade association in the nation. (323.728.9500 ext. 242) www.piasc.org
Visual Media Alliance A nonprofit trade association that serves several industry segments in Northern California, primarily the print production and print buying segments. (800.659.3363) www.vma.bz
Western Growers Association (WGA). Founded in 1926 to provide growers of fresh produce in California and Arizona with support programs that could not be generated by any single grower alone. (949.863.1000 or 800.333.4WGA) www.wga.com