For Immediate Release
Contact: Jackie Herbstritt
814.781.3437
jackie@communityedcenter.com
 
Leadership Elk Cameron Program Experiences Local Government
On Wednesday February 14, 2018, the Leadership Elk and Cameron monthly session exploring local government was held at the Johnsonburg Municipal Authority, Johnsonburg, PA.  The Government Day facilitating committee included LeeAnn Covac, Richard R. Brown, Esq., and Jackie Herbstritt. CEC group members assembled at the Johnsonburg Municipal Authority for a morning presentation by City of St. Marys and Elk County Solicitor Thomas Wagner, Esq., introduced by Brittany Fingado.  His presentation drew from his 43 years as a solicitor, which started in 1975, when he began representing   Benzinger Township, which later merged with St. Marys Boro, now the City of St Marys.  Mr. Wagner emphasized that local government is “where the rubber meets the road” and how it influences our daily lives.
Lisa Sorg, Manager/Engineer with the Johnsonburg Municipal Authority, was introduced by Dan Vollmer and explained the responsibilities and challenges faced by local government.  The CEC group then experienced the challenges in governing, by participating in a mock Municipal Authority meeting facilitated by Eric Poage and Lisa Sorg of the Johnsonburg Municipal Authority and a mock school board meeting facilitated by Richard Brown Esq. and Dr. Brian Toth, Superintendent of the St. Marys Area School District. Both mock meetings demonstrated how local government works to address issues important to citizens. 
After a luncheon sponsored by Meyer, Wagner, Brown and Kraus Law and Gunners Restaurant of St. Marys, the group toured the Johnsonburg Sewage Treatment Plant and Water Authority and heard the authorities future improvement plans.  The CEC group traveled to the Elk County Court House in Ridgway, PA for presentations about the Electoral Process by Kimberly Frey, Director of Elections, Elk County, introduced by Morris Coudreit and Jury Duty by LeeAnn Covac, District Court Administrator, Elk and Cameron Counties. The monthly session wrapped up after an open discussion with the Hon. Richard A. Masson, President Judge, of Elk and Cameron Counties.
Almost 150 individuals have completed the Leadership Elk & Cameron program (LEC) since 2008. For more information about LEC, contact the Community Education Center at 781-3437 or cec@communityedcenter.com.
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The Community Education Center (CEC) will be holding several classes and workshops throughout the month of February. Beyond the Calls: Using an iPhone Effectively will be offered on February 15th. Microsoft Excel, level 2 will take place on February 6th. Pitt Bradford is also offering Violent Workplace Emergencies: Active Shooter on February 23rd. The Northwest Industrial Resource Center will hold a course on Statistical Process Control on February 27th. All classes are held at the CEC in St. Marys. For more information and to register, contact the CEC at 814-781-3437 or go to www.communityedcenter.com 
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Leadership Elk-Cameron County attended Health and Human Service Session January 10, 2017  
 
The participants of Leadership Elk & Cameron recently attended their Health and Human Services Day.  The day started in the morning at Penn Highlands Elk with refreshments compliments of Penn Highlands Elk.  George Bojalad, Director of Human Resources, started the morning with a presentation on Human Resources at Penn-Highlands Elk.  Jen Grotzinger, Registered Radiology Technologist and PACS/systems support provided a tour of the newly remodeled imaging center and CT scanner. The CT scanner and 3D Mammography machines have the best technology in the area available to date.
The group then visited the St. Mary’s Ambulance Center. Bob Gnan, of the St. Mary’s Ambulance service gave an educational and informative talk about the St. Mary’s Ambulance Center. He discussed the requirements to be an EMT and paramedic, the annual Ambulance Membership Drive. The presentation concluded with a look at the ambulances and the state of the art equipment in each vehicle.  The next stop of the morning was a tour of Pinecrest Manor with the Administrator, Megan Bolden. The facility has recently received a 5 star rating. The last stop of the morning was an interactive lunch at PHE, sponsored by Dickinson Center. Kelly Schreiber Straub presented to the group through nutrition and diabetes.  Kelly also discussed the many programs provided by Penn Highlands on Nutrition and Diabetes. 
The participants travelled to the St. Mary’s Police department where Todd Caltagrone, Sheriff started with a presentation of Drug Problems in Rural Communities. Shawn McMahon, District Attorney educated the group about drug violations.  Chief Nicklas, Sgt. Pistner, Sgt. Shaffer, and Detective McManus, gave an interesting and eye-opening discussion on the drug problems that they are facing in the area and what is being done to combat this issue. Sgt. Shaffer and Nando demonstrated the amazing drug searching skills of K-9 officer Nando. Sheriff Caltagrone ended the day with an inspirational presentation on Leadership and the skills needed to be a leader.

PHE and CEC Host Healthcare Professional Networking Mixer
 
On December 19th, Penn Highlands Elk partnered with the Community Education Center’s (CEC) DISCOVER Partnership to offer a “Healthcare Professional Networking Mixer” for local college and high school senior students pursuing degrees in the healthcare field.  The evening began with a panel of Penn Highlands Professionals who discussed their specialty, career path, and education advice for the attendees.  The panel included areas of Nursing, Physician, Physician Assistant, Anesthetist, Pharmacist, Therapist, Radiologist, and Administrator. Several Panel members spoke highly of their love for working in the rural setting.  Many of them grew up in the area and wanted to return to take care of the people they know and love.  They stressed that you won’t find this in the big hospitals and it is a pleasure not only working with people you know, but taking care of people you know.  Dr. Tim Vollmer, Anesthetist and Pain Management, stated “We could have gone anywhere, but an opportunity to take care of people from your hometown is special.”  Job shadowing was another area that many panelists recommended.  Megan Bolden, Nursing Home Administrator at Pinecrest, stated that “Books don’t teach you an experience. Job Shadows are important.”  Students were also encouraged to find opportunities to work throughout their education and to not be afraid to ask questions.  Students learned of the opportunities at Penn Highlands Elk that includes Loan Forgiveness programs, sign on bonuses and summer job opportunities.  Following the discussions, students were given time to network with the panel of professionals.  Brad Chapman, President of Penn Highlands Elk was pleased with the turnout for the event and remarked “Thank you to all who help make the Healthcare Professional Networking Mixer a tremendous success.  It was great to see the energy and enthusiasm of our local college and high school seniors for the healthcare profession.  They are the future.” Many of the students and parents that attended found the evening to be very beneficial to their future careers.  A parent commented “It was very informative and my daughter is so happy that she went, as well as I am.  Those who did not attend missed an excellent program that Penn Highlands provided”. For more information on this and similar programs offered by the DISCOVER Partnership, contact the CEC at (814) 781-3437 or visit communityedcenter.com. For more information on careers at Penn Highlands Elk, visit www.phhealthcare.org or contact Curtis Weisner, Human Resources, at (814) 788-8000 or CJWeisner@phhealthcare.org.
 
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Photo attached:
Various healthcare professionals discuss their careers at Penn Highlands Elk with local college students and high school seniors.

Participants of the Community Education Center’s Leadership Elk & Cameron program (LEC) completed installation of bird box mile-markers on the final 13 miles of the West Creek Rails Trails. This project was selected as one of LEC’s Community Projects for the 2017-2018 program year. The objective of the project is to provide LEC participants with an opportunity to learn how to make a direct and visible impact in their communities through service to an organization or agency. Three to five participants work as a team under the direction of the organization to complete the service projects through June 2018. The Rails Trails team included Kate Morgan, Maurice Coudreit, Ginette LeStrapes, and Mary Ann Lindgren. They worked on the project with the assistance of Tina Solak and Sheila Singer.
 
In addition to the Rails Trails project, this year’s agencies and their projects include: Elk County Footlighters – assistance with marketing and planning of events and performances; Penn State 4H – recruitment of adult volunteers to start and lead additional 4H clubs; LIFT – marketing, awareness and fundraising for Project Lifesaver, which is a GPS tracking bracelet for individuals who tend to wander with disabilities and conditions such as autism, Alzheimer’s, dementia; City of St. Marys – assistance with the development of the City’s proposed Central Park area on Depot Street.
 
The mission of Leadership Elk Cameron is to educate its participants in the strengths and opportunities of the region in order to develop informed, civic-oriented volunteers to help direct the future of Elk and Cameron Counties. More than 145 alumni have completed the program since 2007. For more information, go to www.leadershipelkcounty.com or contact the CEC at 814-781-3437.
 
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Photo attached:
LEC participants Ginette LaStrapes (left) and Maurice Coudreit (right) install a mile-marker bird house at Mile 7 on the West Creek Rails Trail.

The Community Education Center’s Leadership Elk & Cameron session on Communications was held on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 in Cameron County. Participants began the day at Memorial Hall in Emporium where members of the Elk County Toastmasters Club provided lessons and tips on effective communications. Participants completed a variety of speaking and listening activities, including a 4 minute “Ice-Breaker” speech.
Following a lunch at the Pizza Palace, which was sponsored by St. Marys Insurance, the class toured The River 98.9 station. Tina Solak, director of the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce and part-time announcer for The River, discussed changes in radio communications over the decades and participants recorded advertisements for the LEC program.
The session concluded at the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce with an overview of social media and public relations, also provided by Tina Solak.
The ten month Leadership program is aimed at educating its participants in the strengths and opportunities of Elk and Cameron Counties in order to develop more informed, civic oriented residents to help direct the future of the region.  More information about the LEC program can be found at www.leadershipelkcounty.com, or by contacting the CEC at (814) 781-3437.
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Leadership Elk & Cameron Announces Community Improvement Projects for 2017-2018
 
The Community Education Center’s Leadership Elk & Cameron program (LEC) has selected its Community Projects for the 2017-2018 program year. The objective of the project is to provide LEC participants with an opportunity to learn how to make a direct and visible impact in their communities through service to an organization or agency. “We consistently hear that nonprofits and public agencies need added capacity and help for certain short term projects,” said Kate Brock, executive director of the CEC and Leadership Elk & Cameron Advisory Committee.
 
This year’s agencies and their projects include: Elk County Footlighters – assistance with marketing and planning of events and performances; Penn State 4H – recruitment of adult volunteers to start and lead additional 4H clubs; LIFT – marketing, awareness and fundraising for Project Lifesaver, which is a GPS tracking bracelet for individuals who tend to wander with disabilities and conditions such as autism, Alzheimer’s, dementia; West Creek Rails Trails –installation of bird box mile markers on 13 miles of the trail which connects Elk and Cameron Counties; City of St. Marys – assistance with the development of the City’s proposed Central Park area on Depot Street.
 
Three to five participants will work as a team under the direction of the organization to complete the service projects through June 2018. Charitable organizations, nonprofit agencies, schools, and municipalities which serve Elk or Cameron County were invited to apply for a team of LEC participants to assist in making progress on real projects which benefit the community. Special consideration is given to applications which address the areas of need identified in the 2015 Stackpole-Hall Foundation Long Range Planning Report and Action Plan. More information and the application can be obtained by visiting www.leadershipelkcounty.com or by calling the CEC at 814-781-3437.
 
The mission of Leadership Elk County is to educate its participants in the strengths and weaknesses of the county in order to develop informed, civic-oriented volunteers to help direct the future of Elk and Cameron Counties. More than 145 alumni have completed the program since 2007.
 
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The Community Education Center’s Leadership Elk & Cameron Program welcomed its Eleventh Class of participants this month. An evening mixer, sponsored by Northwest Bank and Straub Brewery, was held on September 12th at the Bavarian Hills in St. Marys. The first monthly session followed on September 13th at the Pines Lodge and was sponsored in part by Advantage Metal Powders in Ridgway. The ten month program is aimed at educating its participants in the strengths and weaknesses of Elk and Cameron Counties in order to develop informed, civic oriented volunteers to help direct the future of the region. 
This month’s first session focused on assessing the individual participants’ personality styles; team building activities; and communication strategies for working with diverse personalities. Terry Hinton, Advising Coordinator for Penn State Dubois led the session. In addition, Jonathan Johnson, Senior Staff Analyst for the Center for Rural PA, provided a presentation on the demographic and economic trends of the region. Five nonprofit agencies also presented their community improvement projects to the participants: West Creek Rail Trails, City of St. Marys, LIFT, Penn State 4H, and Elk County Footlighters.
The 2017-2018 Leadership Elk & Cameron participants are sponsored by their employers which include: the Boys & Girls of St. Marys, Cameron County Conservation District, the City of St. Marys, Community Links, Dickinson Center, Elk County Council on the Arts, LEDVANCE, Liberty Pressed Metals, Northwest Bank, St. Marys Area School District, and Straub Brewery.
More information about the program can be found at www.leadershipelkcounty.com, or by contacting the CEC at (814) 781-3437.