2020 NEPA Learning Conference Registration Now Open The 2020 Virtual NEPA Learning Conference offers an opportunity for local nonprofit organizations and nonprofit professionals to receive virtual in-depth training from local and nationally-recognized presenters.Hosted by the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit Excellence in partnership with Moses Taylor Foundation, the 2020 NEPA Learning Conference will take place on Thursday, September 17, and Friday, September 18, 2020. The full agenda including specific information about the breakout sessions, speakers, and more will be announced soon, but registration is open now. Registration for this conference is $49. Register Now
Senior Day Services Welcomes Mary Lynn Byers as Day Center Activities Director Mary Lynn Byers recently joined Senior Day Services as its Day Center Activities Director. In this role, she will be responsible for directing, implementing and evaluating client activities as well as completing assessment and care plan goals. Byers attended Penn State University and has several years of experience in planning events and activities in residential and community environments. She completed an Activities Director course through Illinois Valley Community College, focused on planning activities for individuals and groups, implementing programs, and monitoring the response to the programs in order to determine if the activities met individual clients’ care plan goals. Byers mentions, “I am excited to step into this new role in Senior Day Services’ adult day care setting. Now, especially, the social and emotional aspects of activity, connection and community are vital for our region’s seniors.”
Cancer Screening During a Pandemic Screening for cancers using evidence-based screening tests saves lives. Screenings are available for breast, cervical, colon and lung cancers. In the first half of 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many routine screenings could not be completed in a timely fashion. According to the National Cancer Institute, this could account for thousands of missed cancer cases and cancers diagnosed at a later stage, affecting overall mortality from these cancers for years. If you have missed a routine screening or think you are due, please contact your primary care practitioner about assessing your risk for these cancers and discussing screening options. For example, some tests can be done at home for colon cancer screening and may be an option for patients. Also, many screening sites are open with procedures in place to protect patients from the spread of this virus. Remember to wash your hands or use sanitizer, wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth and maintain social distancing to help reduce the spread of the virus. If you need assistance with getting screened, please contact the Community Based Cancer Screening Navigation Program at the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute at (570) 941-7984.
NET Credit Union Continues to Help Fight Pediatric Cancer NET Credit Union is proud to, once again, be the Presenting Sponsor for the Annual Matthew’s Hope 4 Miracles 5K. NET Credit Union CEO, Clarence Baltrusaitis, sat down with Matthew’s Hope 4 Miracles’ founder, Matthew McDonnell, to discuss his upcoming virtual event on August 15th. Matthew, a 9-year-old boy from Clarks Summit, was diagnosed with a rare form of Wilms’ Tumor (kidney cancer) at age three. He battled and defeated the disease four times since 2014. Matthew and his parents, Linda and Patrick, are beyond happy to say he is in remission! Now that Matthew is in remission, he has started his own non-profit organization, “Matthew’s Hope 4 Miracles.” Matthew’s mission is to raise awareness for the lack of funding for pediatric cancer research, to raise funds for more effective treatment options that will lead to a cure and to help other children and their families who are battling pediatric cancer. The Second Annual Matthew’s Hope 4 Miracles 5K is still allowing sign ups. Please sign up here https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Scranton/MatthewsHope4Miracles5kRunWalk to participate or donate.
Marion Munley Wins Prestigious Marie Lambert Award Munley Law is pleased to announce that senior partner Marion Munley received the Marie Lambert Award from the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Women Trial Lawyers Caucus. The Marie Lambert Award is presented annually to one female lawyer in the United States in recognition of exemplary leadership to her profession, her community, to the AAJ and to the Women Trial Lawyers Caucus. Munley has a venerable record of leadership positions within the legal profession. A longstanding member of AAJ, she currently serves on its Board of Governors, the Board of Trustees for the National College of Advocacy, and was recently elected to the AAJ Executive Committee. She belongs to the AAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus and served as chair from 2016‐2017. Munley has broken barriers for women in the legal profession, as in 2017 when she became the first female chair of the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group. She was the second woman in Pennsylvania to be board‐certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and the second woman in the nation to become triple board certified in Civil Trial, Civil Practice, and Truck Accident Law. The Women Trial Lawyers Caucus established the Marie Lambert Award in 1997 to recognize and honor women members of AAJ. The following principles guide the members of the Women Trial Lawyers Caucus: to advance the admirable and selfless philosophy in AAJ’s Mission; to strive to provide positive role models as women trial lawyers; to broaden the membership base of AAJ to include women by informing them of AAJ’s membership services and Mission; to provide a support system of women lawyers with whom to network, socialize, and form professional relationships; to develop female leadership for AAJ; to provide fellowship and mentorship to newly‐licensed female lawyers who embark on a career of trial law; and to uphold the honor, integrity, and dignity of the legal profession. “It is an incredible honor to receive this recognition from the AAJ. I am deeply humbled and grateful to the women who have been role models to me throughout my career,” said Marion Munley. “I lookforward to furthering the mission of the Women Trial Lawyers Caucus and the AAJ, and fighting for the rights of injured victims in the civil justice system.” Munley has been named to the Best Lawyers in America list by Best Lawyers since 2012 and wasselected as “Lawyer of the Year: Personal Injury – Plaintiffs” for the Allentown Metro Area in 2020.Marion has also been selected to the list of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for the last 15 years and has been consistently recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Pennsylvania by Super Lawyers Magazine. Among her other professional affiliations are the American Board of Trial Advocates and the International Society of Barristers. She was the 2016 recipient of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Lynette Norton Award in recognition of her legal achievements and her role as a mentor to the next generation of women in law.
PennDOT Extends Expiration Dates on Driver Licenses, ID Cards, and Learner’s Permits The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that expiration dates for driver licenses, identification cards, and learner’s permits, will be extended for Pennsylvania residents in response to statewide COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Effective July 23, expiration dates for driver licenses, photo ID cards and learner’s permits scheduled to expire from March 16, 2020 through August 31, 2020, have been extended until August 31, 2020. These extensions are in addition to those announced on June 25. A camera card is considered a driver’s license, so it is covered by the same terms and conditions extending other driver’s license products. Camera cards with expiration dates within this timeframe are also extended through August 31, 2020. Additionally, limited services are available at some Driver License and Photo License Centers. For a list of open driver license and photo license centers and the services provided, as well as their hours of operation, please visit www.dmv.pa.gov. Customers may continue to complete various transactions and access multiple resources online at www.dmv.pa.gov. Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; and schedule a driver’s exam. There are no additional fees for using online services. PennDOT will continue to evaluate these processes and will communicate any changes with the public. More COVID-19 information is available at www.health.pa.gov. For more information, visit www.dmv.pa.gov or www.PennDOT.gov.
Lackawanna College Assigns Key Leadership Roles Lackawanna College President Dr. Jill Murray announced the assignment of four current staff members to key leadership roles to help further the mission and vision of Lackawanna College. These strategic appointments are designed to support the continued growth of academic programs at Lackawanna College. Stephanie Decker has been named the Executive Director of Social and Economic Impact. She was previously the Program Director for the Lackawanna College Kiesendahl School of Hospitality. In this role, she assisted in the creation of new associate degree programs and the region’s only bachelor’s degree in restaurant and foodservice management. Under her leadership, her colleagues opened the student-run restaurant, 409 on Adams, which distinguished Lackawanna’s School of Hospitality as a school of choice for students to advance their careers in the hospitality industry. Decker has served in a leadership role on specialized teams dedicated to driving the formation of new and innovative programs at Lackawanna College, including the region’s first collegiate esports program and eCommerce initiatives. Additionally, she guided her leadership team in transitioning the College’s cafeteria from a retail-style foodservice program to a full-service, high-end cafeteria, which now serves students and the college community. She assisted in the development and execution of the College’s Food for Thought program, The Giving Room and the College’s fellowship program.Susan Gumble has been assigned the Program Director for the Lackawanna College School of Petroleum and Natural Gas (PNG), the manager of the College’s technology degree program and an instructor. She also serves as the safety trainer and owner of SG Safety LLC. In her role as the Program Director for the School of PNG, she manages staff and faculty, creates and maintains industry partnerships and oversees the budget and implementation of academic courses. With 20 years of experience in the manufacturing industry, Gumble has used her knowledge and expertise to contribute to the continued growth and development of the School of PNG. Her leadership has led to the creation of new academic programs and partnerships with key organizations in the industry, which help provide students with high-level job placement opportunities. Kristen McNally will serve as the Program Director for the Lackawanna College Kiesendahl School of Hospitality. In her previous role as the Program Coordinator for the School of Hospitality, McNally helped increase student enrollment for the School of Hospitality and established its reputation within the culinary and hospitality communities through the creation of degree programs, externship opportunities and her vision and leadership in launching Lackawanna’s student-run restaurant, 409 on Adams. She also aided in the development of a continuing education certificate in collaboration with the Center for Independent Living to provide job-sustaining kitchen skills for individuals with intellectual disabilities.Dr. Kelly Musti, PT, DPT, GCS, has been named the Dean of Health Sciences and Assessment for Lackawanna College. In her position at Lackawanna College, she is responsible for the implementation of all academic and clinical programs for the Division of Health Sciences, including strategic planning, quality assessment, student and faculty recruitment and resource development. Musti has assisted in several successful accreditation cycles for various Health Sciences programs. Her goals are to expand interprofessional education to provide students with experiential learning opportunities to aid them in the transition from the classroom to a clinical setting.
Marywood University’s Psychology Honor Society Wins International Award Marywood University recently received notification from Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, that its campus chapter of the organization won the 2019-2020 Psi Chi Model Chapter award. In recognition of time and effort that went into meeting the criteria for this award, Marywood University’s Psi Chi Chapter will receive a monetary award and a custom certificate. Psi Chi’s Board of Directors and Central Office staff chose only 23 chapters to achieve the Model Chapter status this year from nearly 1,200 chapters. As a recipient of the Model Chapter Award, Marywood University’s Psi Chi Chapter is eligible to apply for the Ruth Hubbard Cousins Chapter Award, named for Ruth Hubbard Cousins, who ran Psi Chi for 33 years and is responsible for the organization existing as it is today; and the Florence L. Denmark Faculty Advisor Award, that recognizes and awards one faculty advisor who exhibits enthusiasm for and commitment to students, psychology, and Psi Chi’s purpose. Cynthia Wilson, director of membership and development for the international Psi Chi honor society, said, “With more than 1,180 chapters, your [Marywood’s] chapter is one of the 23 to achieve the Model Chapter status this year. We hope this serves as an inspiration to your chapter membership in the coming year.” Marywood University’s Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society is open to graduate and undergraduate men and women who are making the study of psychology one of their major interests and who meet the minimum qualifications. Psi Chi is an affiliate of the American Psychological Association (APA) and a member of the Association of College Honor Societies. Additionally, Psi Chi works closely with its sister honor society Psi Beta, the national honor society in psychology for community and junior colleges. For additional information about Marywood University’s Psychology and Counseling Department, please visit marywood.edu/psychology-counseling, or call the Office of Admissions, at (570) 348-6234. For additional information about Marywood University’s Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society, please visit, marywood.edu/psychology/clubs/psi-chi.
Virgil Donati Endorses Slick Audio Slick Audio is proud to announce Virgil Donati is endorsing Slick Audio. Virgil was born in Melbourne, Australia, where he also launched his career. Since the mid-nineties, he has been a household name. Residing in Los Angeles, Virgil is traveling the world as an international drumming superstar, as well as a composer and an educator. He has performed and toured with the likes of Tommy Emmanuel, Steve Vai, and Allan Holdsworth, while maintaining a busy schedule as a bandleader and member of numerous recording and touring bands over the years, most notably Loose Change, Southern Sons, On The Virg, Soul Sirkus, Planet X and various incarnations of The Virgil Donati Band and The Virgil Donati Trio. Virgil is also an active member of the rock project IceFish, featuring guitarist Marco Sfogli, keyboardist Alex Argento, and bassist/vocalist Andrea Casali. For more information about Slick Audio and the high-performance audio recording PC’s that they make, please visit Slick Audio at www.slickaudio.com.
