SMETHPORT — Board members of CASA of McKean County are inviting the public to their annual meeting at 9 a.m. Jan. 26, when they will provide an update on the organization and recognize volunteers and donors.
Due to COVID-19, this year’s annual meeting will be held virtually via Zoom.
At the meeting, Suzy Meyer-Page, executive director of CASA of McKean County, will report on the year’s accomplishments for the program. Board President Bob Esch will speak to the community about the mission and vision of CASA of McKean County. Guest speaker is Idelia Robinson-Confer of Greensburg, a junior at California University of Pennsylvania and winner of the Akerman Academic Excellence Scholarship offered to individuals that have received CASA services.
“I heard Idelia speak at this Fall’s Virtual National CASA/GAL conference. I am excited to have her speak at our annual meeting so that community members can get a first hand understanding how CASA advocacy impacts the lives of abused and neglected children,” Meyer-Page said.
The 2020 board includes Robert Esch, Katy Pude, Julie Cleland, Christy Graham, Patsy Arrowsmith, Gary Buchsen, Lindsay Burns, The Rev. Stacey Fussell, Ginny Hauser, Becki Ivancic, David London, Christy Sullivan and Jim Wiseman.
Also at the meeting, active CASA volunteers and those who served during 2020 will be recognized: Brenda Baker of Kane, Vickie Baker of Bradford, Rebecca Boorum of Port Allegany, Eddie Buggie of Olean, N.Y., Karen Cassin of Bradford, Karen Cochran of Port Allegany, Amber Davenport of Bradford, Kylie Donovan of Port Allegany, Jennifer Fitton of Bradford, Bonnie Fuller of Kane, Karen Haberberger of Kane, Joy Jeffrey of Bradford, Lisa Leschner of Mount Jewett, Jean Luciano of Bradford, Kim Mooney of Bradford, Carol Newman of Bradford, Julie Newman of Bradford, Beth Price of Bradford, Kimberly Pollock of Bradford, Autumn Stiles of Smethport, Jennifer Tanner of Smethport, Whitney Thomas of Smethport, Susan Townsend of Smethport, David Trask of Smethport, Annie Wolfe of Mount Jewett, Jo Wolfe of Kane, Debra Yohe of Bradford and Jim Young of Port Allegany.
The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program was established in McKean County in 2014. Since then, 50 volunteers have served 85 children, 28 of whom have been successfully placed in permanent homes.
Those planning to attend the virtual annual meeting are asked to RSVP by Jan. 25 to Becky Koza via email at bjkoza@mckeancountypa.org or by phone at 814-568-2170. Koza will send out a Zoom link to access the meeting.
