Foundation Elects Three New Board Members

The Board of Directors of The Community Foundation of Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties welcomed three new members at its January 14 meeting. Sandra Boyle, Karl Kail IV and Robert McNamara were elected unanimously to a two-year term. Also, four current members were reelected to two-year terms as well.

Boyle, who practices law in Nicholson, lives in Tunkhannock and graduated from Elk Lake High School, attended Marywood University and graduated from Villanova Law School. She is a board member of the Countryside Conservancy and is the President of the Wyoming County United Way. She also served as solicitor for several agencies and local government departments.

"I have for sometime been interested in the endeavors of the Community Foundation. That it is doing so well is a testament to its founders. In addition to my family and my work as an attorney, I am interested in the welfare of children and the environment. I believe those interests to be in tune with the work of the foundation," Boyle explained.

"Our region is on the brink of tremendous growth and change. One of the areas that will experience this growth and change is charitable giving. I consider it a great privilege to be part of the Community Foundation at this time. I have attended two board meetings so far and the Foundation looks to be more than prepared for this exciting journey."

Kail grew up at Heart Lake and has recently returned home after many years on the West Coast. He obtained his BS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado and a MS and Engineering Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School. After retiring from Naval Aviation, Kail worked in the defense industry and founded CardioNet, and ambulatory cardiac monitoring company. Kail and his wife returned to the area having missed the sense of close-knit community and hoping to enjoy semi-retirement. Kail is now involved in local real estate development.

"I learned about the Foundation a few years ago and was impressed with its objectives. Our family feels strongly about helping the community we live in and when offered an opportunity to join, I felt it was a great way to contribute," Kail said.

McNamara is most widely known from his time as Principal at Susquehanna Community School District and Superintendent of the Blue Ridge School District. He is a graduate of Laurel Hill Academy of Susquehanna, Marywood University and Mansfield University. He also served in the Army, retiring in 2001 as a Lieutenant Colonel of the 154th Quatermaster Battalion. He is the President of NEPA Community Health Center, a member of the Susquehanna County Railroad Authority, and serves as a mentor for the Pennsylvania Leadership Initiative. He's a former Chairman of the Delahanna District, Baden-Powell Council, Boy Scouts of America.

"I am very pleased to have been invited to serve," McNamara said, "because I have seen the good work that the foundation has done and I hope to be able to continue to support that effort."

Current Board Members whose terms were renewed are Maggie Cartwright, Richard Lochen, Rep. Sandra Major, and Arthur Sherwood. Officers for 2010 are Earle Wootton, Chairman, William Lewis, Vice Chairman, Peter Quigg, President, Arthur Sherwood, Treasurer, and Maggie Cartwright, Secretary.