Vickie Hull, marriage and family therapist at Lawrence Therapy Services and Baldwin Therapy Services, made a presentation about “Risk Communications and the Media” in October at the Kansas All Hazards Behavioral Health Symposium in Salina. Hull also attended the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy’s annual conference in October.

¢ Melissa Hoffman, community education specialist at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, recently completed a three-day workshop on clinical breast-feeding assistance. Hoffman received certification as a breast-feeding educator after passing an examination and completing problem-solving practices. The certification is an added credential that recognizes increased clinical competence in breast-feeding assistance. Hoffman will be helping new mothers learn how to breast-feed their newborns while also educating the mothers on benefits of breast-feeding.

Hoffman also received designation as a certified childbirth educator (ICCE) through the International Childbirth Education Assn., a professional organization with more than 4,000 members from throughout the United States and 42 countries. ICCE professionals facilitate parents’ mental and physical preparation for pregnancy, labor and parenthood.

¢ Matthew Hoy, a partner with Stevens & Brand LLP, was keynote speaker at the fall meeting of the Western Kansas Council on Estate Planning and Giving. Hoy’s presentation covered topics including powers of attorney and recent case law updates. Hoy focuses his practice in the estate planning and administration, business planning, real estate and tax areas.

¢ Jason Novotny has been promoted to retail banking officer at Intrust Bank’s branch office at 544 Columbia Drive.

¢ Teresa Ohlemeier, a sales associate with Coldwell Banker McGrew Real Estate, has received the Certified Residential Specialist designation from the Council of Residential Specialists, an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors. Realtors who receive the CRS designation have completed advanced courses and have demonstrated professional expertise in the field of residential real estate.

¢ Measurable Management, a program that focuses on savings for businesses, recently became available to businesses and other organizations in the Lawrence area.

The program consists of 10 facilitated sessions designed to be delivered during a six-month period to managers, team leaders and supervisors. It is offered by TMG Performance Solutions, a business performance improvement company located in Overland Park.

The program’s target is small- to medium-sized businesses in the manufacturing and service sectors, but also is available for the nonprofit sector including governmental, church or school organizations. To receive a video CD and other information about the program call (913) 327-1900, e-mail dgreen@themayergroup.com or click on www.themayergroup.com.

¢ The Kansas Farm Service Agency reminds producers that Dec. 1 is the application closing date for certain crops under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. Crops eligible for NAP benefits are limited to those not insurable in the county and are produced for food or fiber.

The administrative service fee is $100 per crop per administrative county not to exceed $300 per producer per administrative county and a $900 maximum fee for multi-county producers. Interested producers must pay the fee and file form CCC-471, Application for Coverage, by Dec. 1.

The coverage entitles eligible producers to a payment of 55 percent of an average market price for the commodity if a natural disaster caused a 50 percent production loss or greater for an eligible crop.

Producers are limited to $100,000 in benefits per person per crop year. They also must certify crop acres by applicable deadlines, maintain production evidence for three years, not exceed $2 million gross revenue provisions, and must comply with conservation compliance provisions in order to be eligible.

Interested producers should contact the Farm Service Agency at 843-4260.

Honors and awards

Terry Kramer, a registered nurse at Lawrence Orthopaedic Surgery, received an award from the National Association of Orthopedic Nurses at its summer convention. Kramer earned the top score in the nation in the Orthopedic Nurse Certification Examination. There were 400 nurses from across the nation who took the examination.

Coming events

Stevens & Brand LLP and CornerBank’s Trust Department will co-host a free seminar “Who Can You Trust When You’re Not There? Estate Planning for You and Your Special Needs Child.”

The seminar will be from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at CornerBank, 4621 W. Sixth St.

Molly Wood and Emily Donaldson, of Stevens & Brand, will share their elder law and estate planning knowledge. Barbara Braa will give an introduction to the program.

To make reservations or for more information, contact Barbara Braa at 838-9400 or by e-mail at barbarab@cornerbanks .com. The deadline to make reservations is Nov. 11.

Wood, a partner with Stevens & Brand, also will discuss special needs trusts Nov. 18 at the Kansas Bar Assn.’s Estate Planning Seminar in Wichita. Wood focuses her practice in the areas of Medicaid, elder law, guardianship and conservatorship, and estate planning.