Annual Meeting
Grandparents Conference Update
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Friends of Family Service
The Community Education Committee of FSAWV

“...developing ways and means of interpreting the work of the Agency to the community and the community to the Agency.”

Friends of Family Service is the community education committee of FSAWV composed of representatives of the Agency Board and volunteer leaders from the local community.  It is a supporting organization of Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley that develops and carries out an annual plan of volunteer activities to support the Agency service programs, keeping the community knowledgeable about FSAWV.

Established in 1977, Friends of Family Service works to raise awareness about important family issues and the Agency services.  It has been instrumental in providing many community programs on family crisis issues and securing legislative support for family concerns.

            Friends of Family Service is also responsible for fund development to help support Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley, a non-profit, non-sectarian organization working with children, individuals, families and communities to achieve their potential.

Friends of Family Service Committee Members
Wm. Amesbury, Esq.
Eve Centrelli
Pauly Friedman
Elly Miller
Beth O’Boyle
Susan Pons
Gladys Weisberger
Alice Baran
Sally Connor
Jean Gonchar
Manisha Nahar
Helen O’Brien
Ellen Smith
Grace Caprio-Zaremski
Terry Blaum
John Corcoran
Trina Moss
Juanita Namey
Sandra Orlando
John Thalenfeld
Joan Zelnick

 

 

 

You are invited!!!

 

                                 Monday, September 8th, Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley (FSAWV) will celebrate 113 years of service to the community.  Come celebrate with us at this year’s Annual Meeting which will take place at the East Mountain Inn, Rte. 115, in Wilkes Barre at noon.

                  

 

                                                           

                                               

                                                

                                               

 

 

            Friends of Family Service have announced John Corcoran, Luzerne County Coroner, has been selected as the 2008 Community Leader Honoree

            John P. Corcoran, Sr. is a graduate of Sacred Heart High School, Plains.  He attended Wilkes-Barre Business College, Kings College, Wilkes-Barre, and the Pennsylvania State University, Worthington Campus, and was a graduate of Simmons School of Mortuary Science, Syracuse, NY in  September 1973, where he served as class treasurer, and received his Funeral Director’s License in January of 1975.   He is a member and Past President of the Plains Lions Club, has served as District Zone Chairman, and is a Melvin Jones Fellow, the highest award in Lionism.

             He is a past member and Past President of the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board and Past President of the Wilkes-Barre Area Vo-Technical School.  He is Past President of the Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley, member and Past President of the Plains Business Men’s Association, Past Chairman of the Plains Blood Drive and Member and Past President of the Greater Luzerne County Crime Clinic.  John is a member of the Donegal Society of Wilkes-Barre, the Wilkes-Barre, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and a 3rd Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 302.  In November 2007, John was elected to the Office of Luzerne County Coroner.

             John Sr. is married to the former Marilyn Wolyniec of Plains, Twp. and they have 3 children, sons John Jr., Kevin, and a daughter Erin (Corcoran) Herman, and three grandchildren, Logan Herman,  Olivia Corcoran and Ava Corcoran.   John and Marilyn are members of Sacred Heart Church, Plains, where John is a lector and served as Past President of the Parish Council, Past President of the Holy Name Society, and Past Chairman of the School’s Grand Reunion.  They reside in Plains Twp.

             If you would like to receive an invitation to the Annual Meeting on Monday, September 8th or have any questions regarding the meeting, contact Ruth at FSAWV by emailing fsawv.ruthkemmerer@verizon.net or 570-823-5144.

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            2008 Conference Reaches Out to Heal & Help!

          Two Hundred and twenty two  people participated in the 2nd Annual Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference held on May 30th at Genetti’s Best Western Hotel and Conference Center.  Sponsored by Senator Ray Musto, The NEPA Intergenerational Coalition, Walmart, The Luzerne Foundation, Citizen’s Voice, WNEP TV, PA Family Support Alliance and Children Service Center, the conference was attended by grandparents and relative care givers, grandchildren and nieces and nephews, human service providers, and legislators including Senators Musto, Mello and Baker, Rep. Mike Carroll, Luzerne County Commissioner Mary Ann Petrilla, and Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll.

           As a result of the conference, legislation will be presented to the Pennsylvania Legislature to aid grandparents and relative care givers financially as they work to keep their families together.

            If you are interested in learning more about local support groups or issues pertaining to this subject you can access www.raisingourgrandchildren.org for more information.

            Please visit http://www.windsorparktheater.com/news_roomofheroes2.html for a wonderful article on the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference.

 

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