SMETHPORT — Board members of CASA of McKean County are inviting the public to their annual meeting on Jan. 29, when they will provide an update on the organization, nominate new members, and recognize volunteers and donors.

The event will begin with a complimentary breakfast buffet at 7:45 a.m. followed by the meeting at 8 a.m. at the Bradford Club. At the meeting, Suzy Meyer-Page, executive director of CASA of McKean County, will report on the year’s accomplishments for the program.

“Our board president, Bob Esch, will speak to the community about the mission and vision of CASA of McKean County with Jim Young, current volunteer talking about his experience as a CASA volunteer,” Meyer-Page said. The board includes Robert Esch, Matt Splain, Ginny Hauser, Chris Forbes, Patsy Arrowsmith, Gary Buchsen, Katy Pude, Brent Raabe, Christy Sullivan, Jim Wiseman, David London and Michelle Skaggs.

Also at the meeting, active CASA volunteers and those who served during 2018 will be recognized: Vickie Baker of Bradford, Rebecca Boorum of Port Allegany, Karen Cochran of Port Allegany, Mary Ann Roney of Bradford, Bill Reese of Lewis Run, Tate Miller of Bradford, Whitney Thomas of Smethport, Becki Ivancic of Lewis Run, Amber Davenport of Bradford, Karen Cassin of Bradford, Jennifer Tanner of Smethport, Amy Jordan of Rixford, Estelle Fuhrer of Wellsville, Ashley Hatch of Bradford, Julie Newman of Bradford, Lisa Leschner of Mount Jewett, Jim Young of Port Allegany, Barb Carney of Bradford, Bob Miller of Custer City, Carol Newman of Bradford, Darla Oaks of Bradford, Kimberly Pollock of Bradford, Carol Ryan of Bradford, Annie Wolfe of Mount Jewett, Joy Jeffrey of Bradford, Zoe Hatcher of Bradford, Jean Luciano of Bradford, and Jo Wolfe of Kane.

The Court Appointed Special Advocates program was established in McKean County in 2014 and connects trained volunteer community members with children who have been abused and neglected and need someone to advocate for their best interests in the court system. Since children in placement often have many human service and child welfare professionals involved in their lives, having a CASA volunteer who focuses only on them gives them much-needed consistency and advocacy.

Since 2014, 36 volunteers have served 61 children, 17 of which have been successfully placed in permanent homes.

Those planning to attend the annual meeting are asked to RSVP by Jan. 23 to Suzy Meyer-Page by phone at 568-2171, or email at casa@mckeancountypa.org.