BY Susan Schrack Wood, Director of Communications, The League
Rick Schuettler – Schuettler Center
for Municipal Development
Serving the League since 2001
A Memorable and Challenging Evening…
Travel was a necessary component of League employment and at times presented some unique challenges. I recall myself and two other staff were conducting newly elected official training in Cranberry Township on a Saturday. We were aware of an impending snowstorm and sure enough as we concluded the session, at 4 p.m., the snow started. We thought the turnpike is typically well maintained so let’s give it a try. Unfortunately, we never drove on a non-snow-covered road. It seemed like a scene out of Wiley Coyote where the storm clouds were above our car the entire time. We crawled across the state taking double the time of a normal trip. I dropped my colleagues off in Harrisburg and embarked to Pottsville. I encountered a tractor trailer across Rte. 81 near Hershey but was barely able to go around on the shoulder. Finally made the turn up the hill to my home feeling relief when I got stuck. I had to back down a treacherous hill go a few more blocks out of my way but finally made it. I could not believe after traveling across the state I would get stuck with my house in sight.
John Brenner- League Executive Director
Serving the League since 2010
An Inspiring Experience…
2007 National League of Cities conference in New Orleans. NLC was the first national convention back after Katrina. They coordinated a special project with conference attendees to help build a new playground that had been completely destroyed in the flood. Mary Costik and I volunteered, and we dug holes and planted trees all day. Every tree in the park had been destroyed by the storm. It was a fantastic project organized and managed by the National non-profit group KABOOM! It was this project and similar ones in San Antonio and Orlando that led our League to partner with KABOOM! to help build new playgrounds all over our Commonwealth since 2010.
Never forget the mentorship of Jack Garner and Rick Schuettler. Both leaders helped guide us with a steady hand by supporting our staff, respecting local officials and growing League programs, membership and services.
Amy Sturges – League Executive
Director of Advocacy
Serving The League since March of 1997
An Extraordinary Career…
Working for The League has given me the opportunity to meet, work with, and learn from many local officials who are so proud of their communities and work tirelessly to make them better. I have also worked with many very dedicated League staff and colleagues in the other local government associations.
Some memories from my 28 years:
1997 – My first convention was in State College. The staff dress was strictly professional and there were few options then for comfortable dress shoes. My feet would never be the same!
1998 – My second convention was in Erie. At that time, the staff drove a truck to and from the conference location with all of our supplies. I was so ready to go home on departure day and was in the vehicle following the truck out of Erie. While turning at a stop sign, the truck hit a curb and got a flat tire. I wanted to cry. My boss, Chris Moonis, made the best of the situation – he ordered pizza, and we had a picnic in the median while we waited for the tire to be repaired.
1997 – When I started working at The League, I was the Member Relations Representative. One of my first membership recruits was Indiana Borough. The fact that IUP is my alma mater made our new member extra special for me.
1998 – During the spring district meeting circuit, we were in western PA on a Friday morning during Lent. Not being Catholic or from western PA, I did not understand the importance of fish sandwiches. Jack Garner and Chris Moonis were set on getting these sandwiches. So, at 10 a.m., we stopped at DeLallo’s Market in Jeannette for fish sandwiches. The fillets were at least twice the size of the rolls!
2000 – I recall months of speculation and anxiety about what would happen with the world’s computers when the calendar turned to the year 2000 – thankfully nothing.
Over the years, League staff has celebrated many milestones – birthdays, weddings, retirements, and babies. In 2001, Mary Costik and I were expecting at the same time. The League staff had a surprise double baby shower for us.
2003 – Attending Governor Rendell’s Inaugural Ball was memorable as he had been The League president just a couple years before being elected Governor. The temperature that day was brutally cold and we welcomed local officials attending the festivities into the office to get warm.
2004 – The stars aligned, and passage of the $52 Local Services Tax took place after many months of active lobbying.
Other Legislative Issues and Initiatives:
- Updates to the Third Class City Code and the First Class Township Code
- Local Use of Radar – attempt after attempt after attempt…
- 2010 Core Communities in Crisis Task Force and the resulting report
- 2012 Sustainable Communities – effort with local chambers to control municipal personnel mandates
- 2014 – Fix the Numbers.com – campaign for public safety pension reform
Consumer Fireworks Law updates
Jack Garner opened his home in Harrisburg to League staff many times over the years for holiday gatherings and staff picnics. He was a gracious host, and it was always a lovely time.
For many years The League and PSATC held separate conferences in late June, often back to back or overlapping. At the same time, the state budget was being debated in Harrisburg. I was glad when we moved our conference to October and then combined with PSATC in 2020.
Yvonne Garner- Wife of Executive Director Emeritus Jack Garner
Active with The League since 1989
Wonderful Memories with Dear Friends…
My first introduction to The League was when my eldest daughter was an intern for the Mayor of York while in high school in the late 80s, early 90s. The League held their annual conference in York during this time. Her first job after college was with The League. We learned a lot about The League listening to her sharing all the exciting experiences she encountered at The League.
Years later, my daughter introduced me to Jack Garner, the Executive Director of The League and I began to attend various events with Jack, as his date, fiancée and then his wife.
The first event I attended was a Board of Directors Dinner at the Hershey Hotel. I met Mayors and Councilmen and their spouses from across the commonwealth, along with Legal Council and other vendors who supported The League in various roles. I remember how very kind, warm and welcoming everyone was to me.
I met the entire League staff a month later at their annual Christmas Dinner. Again, I immediately felt welcomed. It was impressive, over the years, to see how many of the staff made The League a lifetime career.
Throughout the ensuing months, I met members and their spouses of the U•Comp Board and PennPRIME Board, both of which provide important support to members of The League. I also met the members and their spouses of the Township Commissioners Association.
My first League conference was in Wilkes-Barre. It was there that I got to meet so many members of The League and their spouses from across the commonwealth. Every year we traveled to a different city or municipality for the conference. The Host City or municipality worked tirelessly to showcase their beloved town. I loved touring each one and especially loved listening to the Mayors and their counterparts sharing ideas that worked for their city or town with their peers and seeing the wheels turning as their peers tucked ideas away to take back home to their own city or town.
Because Jack was the Executive Director, we also traveled across the United States to meet up with his 48 counterparts, as part of the National League of Cities. Again, I enjoyed watching the directors of state leagues sharing what worked for their state or commonwealth with their peers.
It has been almost 25 years since I met many of these folks and I am humbled to say that all these years later a number of these folks remain some of my closest, dearest friends. There are even more with whom I still hear from on occasion, across the miles, and across the country. My life has been so enriched by meeting those who were members, vendors and staff of The League.
Jack always said, “We love all of our cities.” And yes, I look back now and see a host of people who love our cities and work tirelessly to continue to breathe new life and hope into them.
Mary Costik- League Meeting Manager
Serving The League since October of 1983
Meeting Incredibly Inspiring People…
I had the privilege of being introduced to some of the most remarkable women in municipal government.
I fondly remember sitting with Mayor Diane Stuempfle of Lock Haven at Board of Directors meetings, listening intently as she spoke about the local issues and construction of the levees along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. There was Mayor Joyce Savocchio, the first woman elected to Erie City Council and, to date, the only woman who served as the Mayor of Erie. She showed her pride for her city by always wearing an “Erie” pin on her lapel…way before it was fashionable.
Mayor Karen Miller of Reading went on to break new ground at the state level when she was appointed Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs—a significant achievement and a testament to her capability and vision.
And, of course, Mayor Sophie Masloff, the first woman elected Mayor of Pittsburgh and, to this day, the only woman to have held that office. She led the city through two impactful terms with her unique blend of wisdom, wit, and unwavering commitment.
To all the incredible and influential women who have followed in the footsteps of these trailblazers and served as local leaders — congratulations and thank you for continuing their legacy of leadership!
When asked to reflect on a memorable moment in my career at The League, which was the original assignment, two events stand out:
The first was the election of Councilmember Brian O’Neill of Philadelphia as the 72nd President of the National League of Cities in 1997. From the early stages of his campaign to the President’s Reception in Kansas City, Missouri, the following year, it was one of the most valuable learning experiences of my career.
Undoubtedly, the most personally meaningful moment will always be the day I was hired by then-Executive Director Jack Garner. I will always remember Jack’s love of every community in Pennsylvania, but he held a special place in his heart for his hometown—the Borough of State College.
Congratulations to The League on the 125th anniversary! This remarkable milestone is a testament to the organization’s enduring commitment to strengthening Pennsylvania’s municipalities and supporting local government leaders across the commonwealth. Here’s to 125 years of service, advocacy, and impact—and to many more to come!
Article from the October 2025 Municipal Reporter | 125th Anniversary Edition
