Suffolk Bar Provides Annual $1,000 Scholarship to High School Senior

 Each year, the Suffolk County Bar Association awards a $1,000 scholarship to a senior at a public or private Suffolk County high school who plans to attend a four-year college immediately after graduation. The award is designed to promote good citizenship and social awareness as well as to encourage students to think about larger social issues and see themselves as valuable members of their communities. Along with lists of their accomplishments and activities, applicants must submit an essay addressing a social issue that concerns them. The essay is heavily weighted in the scholarship committee’s decision.

The Suffolk County Bar Association was incorporated in 1908 with the purpose of promoting legal reform, encouraging a spirit of congeniality among its members, upholding high standards in the legal profession, and facilitating justice. It reaches out to the community by providing pro bono legal services and other initiatives, such as the scholarship program.

Legal professionals at Rosicki, Rosicki & Associates, P.C., are members of the Suffolk County Bar Association.

Genesee County Habitat for Humanity to Renovate Three Houses This Year

 Three families are potentially moving into homes in Batavia, New York, thanks to a partnership between the City of Batavia and Habitat for Humanity of Genesee County. Through this program, the city sells longtime vacant homes to nonprofit organizations with the goal of combating blight and providing affordable houses to people in need.

Habitat for Humanity of Genesee County recently made plans to renovate houses on Oak, Pearl, and State streets in Batavia, essentially stripping the structures to the studs and rebuilding them, according to the organization’s CEO Jessica Maguire-Tomidy. She said the nonprofit and the city believe that the current housing situation for many families is not acceptable and that the program improves neighborhoods and people’s lives. Work on the three houses will take about a year.

Qualifying families must demonstrate that they need adequate housing, can afford it, and are willing to help renovate the house. Children in families who live in decent housing are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college, and be active in their communities, Ms. Maguire-Tomidy said.

Carla Cole serves Rosicki, Rosicki & Associates, P.C., as the team lead in its Batavia office. She also sits on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of Genesee County.

Dual Degree Programs at Touro Law School

Many of the partners at Rosicki, Rosicki & Associates, P.C., choose to remain actively involved with their professional and local communities. Kelly Ann Poole, for example, serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council at Touro Law School in addition to mentoring the institution’s students. Touro Law School provides a range of opportunities, including dual degree programs, through which students can jumpstart their careers while still in school. Students may participate in dual degree programs for a variety of reasons, including preparing for a specific legal focus, increasing qualifications, and a obtaining a broader perspective on legal issues.

At present, students at Touro Law School can enroll in two dual degree programs. The joint program with the Touro Graduate School of Business allows students to earn a JD and an MBA simultaneously. This path prepares students for a career in corporate law and advances their skills in the general business of law. A second option combines the Touro JD with an MSW from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. This program addresses the intersection of the legal process and social service.

Camping Opportunities with Girl Scouts of Nassau County

Rosicki, Rosicki & Associates, P.C., encourages its employees to remain actively involved with the local community through a variety of organizations. Kelly Ann Poole, a partner at Rosicki, Rosicki & Associates, has served on the Board of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County since 2014. This organization provides young women with a number of empowering opportunities, including multiple summer camps. A camp experience can instill in young women a deep appreciation for nature while also offering them a strong sense of community and bolstering their self-confidence.

Girl Scouts in Nassau County can attend Camp Blue Bay Sleepaway Camp in East Hampton or Summer Fun Day Camp at Wantagh Park. The sleepaway camp offers young women the opportunity to sleep in a tent and explore nature through swimming, boating, and other camp activities. Campers participate in one- or two-week sessions. The day camp runs for eight sessions, and Girl Scouts can participate in as many sessions as they wish. The girls engage in differently themed activities each week in addition to the typical camp experiences.

For Girl Scouts who cannot participate in these two programs, several other camping options exist, including a unique parent/child overnight camp in East Hampton.

Steven Kroll Takes Over NYSARC after Longtime Director Retires

Steven Kroll has been named the new executive director of NYSARC, Inc., replacing Marc Brandt, who retired December 31 after serving in the position for 32 years. Brandt announced his retirement in early 2014, with plans to allow time for NYSARC to develop new leadership to continue carrying out its mission of serving and advocating for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Brandt was involved in the selection of his successor and the transition to new leadership.

Kroll previously spent 19 years as vice president of governmental affairs and external relations at the Healthcare Association of New York State. Brandt, who met with Kroll over the course of several months, noted that Kroll is an exceptional leader and has a strong sense of compassion and sensitivity for the people the organization serves and for NYSARC’s local chapters.

“I look forward to bringing my skills, experiences, and passion to NYSARC and to being a leader of this dynamic and wonderful organization,” Kroll said in a press statement.

Hallie Greene, a director at Rosicki, Rosicki & Associates, P.C., has served on the NYSARC Board of Governors since 2013.