AAA North Penn Recognizes Employees AAA North Penn recently celebrated employee anniversary dates ranging from 5 to 40 years of service. Select employees were honored at the Annual Employee Recognition Luncheon for reaching their milestone years. “According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median number of years workers had been with their current employer was 4.1 years in January 2022, unchanged from the median in January 2020. We are very proud of our employees for reaching such milestones based on these statistics.” stated Nina Waskevich, Vice President Brand & Membership. AAA North Penn serves AAA members in the following area(s): Lackawanna, Monroe, Lycoming, Wayne, Bradford, Susquehanna, Pike, Tioga, Wyoming, Potter and Sullivan Counties First row: Ann Marie Esolen (25), Bonnie Gray (25), Linda Brown (25), Melissa Chilet (10). Second row: Tara Glynn (5), Cheryl Mach (15), Melissa Patton (5), Karen Forsburg (25), Karen Emery (5), Sandra Humen (15), Carol Pugh (30), Kimberly Fleming (15). Back row: Nina Waskevich (10), James Farrell (15), Patti Kane (5), Roxanne Garman (5), Randy Jones (10), Patricia King (10), Thomas King (5), Glenn Zumbach (40). Absent from the photo: Bruce Pearlstein (5), Reba Destefano (5), Keith Bloom (5), Sara Richards (15), Cathy Zielinski (25), Theresa Shupp-Rosso (35).
AAA North Penn Member Benefits AAA is expanding its capabilities and membership perks by creating innovative roadside solutions geared toward electric vehicle owners. But – AAA is not new to the electric vehicle space. Over a decade ago, as the electric vehicle market began to heat up, AAA launched a mobile charging pilot for electric vehicles in select markets. AAA also continues to invest in research related to electric vehicles to understand consumer opinion, vehicle functionality, and other areas of interest. As the popularity of electric vehicles continues to grow, as indicated by a recent AAA study, AAA is prepared to service any vehicle type, whether electric or gas. “If you’re a AAA member, you already know that we’re more than just roadside assistance service.” “In fact, we currently have an EV charging station at our Viewmont Drive office in Scranton. This has been a great addition for local charges and those driving through the state.” said Nina Waskevich, AAA North Penn Vice President Brand & Membership. Mobile Electric Vehicle Charging Now Available in Select Cities AAA is excited to announce a new phase of mobile electric charging solutions in 14 markets across the country. This is the second pilot of its kind that AAA has brought to the marketplace in the last decade. The purpose of the first pilot, launched in 2010, was to explore a few prototype technologies that could be used to charge electric vehicles at the roadside. After 10 years of service, all the original prototype vehicles (five total) were retired. AAA took learnings from that pilot to inform this next iteration. Range anxiety has been the number one barrier between consumers and wider EV adoption. AAA can help ease this anxiety with specialized trucks equipped with mobile electric vehicle chargers that provide enough range to get drivers home or to the nearest charging station. This program is currently being piloted in the following cities: Orlando, FL Nashville, TN Charlotte, NC Denver, CO Grand Rapids, MI Avon, MA Providence, RI Peabody, MA West Springfield, MA Bend, OR Portland, OR Indianapolis, IN San Francisco, CA Philadelphia, PA For AAA members, this service is provided at no additional charge. AAA will continue to assess the demand for mobile electric vehicle charging and will add locations as needed. As part of this evaluation, AAA will also explore various mobile charging methods to deliver the best experience to its members. Subscribe to the AAA Newsroom to receive the latest updates surrounding the mobile electric vehicle charging pilot. AAA Roadside Service Information: Training and Education for Technicians AAA is continuously developing resources that inform roadside assistance teams or those in the industry of the newest updates in electric vehicle technology and systems. AAA’s Roadside Service Information (RSI) system demonstrates techniques to provide safe roadside service to electric vehicles through tutorials and videos. This resource can be used at the roadside via mobile devices, is shared with others in the towing industry, and is available to public subscribers. To learn more, please visit RSI.aaa.biz. Road Trip Planning with AAA AAA has publicly-available digital tools to help with planning road trips – for gas-powered or electric vehicles. They can be used to locate charging stations, save favorite or frequent trips for future travel, and discover extensive destination information including points of interest. • TripTik: The AAA TripTik Travel Planner is a free point-to-point directions tool that travelers can use to map their routes, specifically plotting the location of electric vehicle charging (or gas) stations. Charging stations are currently displayed under fuel and identifiable with unique iconography . Travelers see the level of charging available and can zero in on station details. AAA is regularly adding new features and soon users will have the ability to create curated road trips with electric charging stations and content. • Tour Book Guides: Since 1926, AAA members have trusted the travel information in AAA’s free TourBook guides to help them plan their most memorable vacations. Now in digital form, travelers can plan stops at electric charging stations that are currently displayed in individual listings like hotels. • Trip Canvas: A brand new digital planning tool, Trip Canvas provides new ways for travelers to dream, plan, and share future road trips by selecting where and when they want to go. This tool will soon have many integrated features designed with electric vehicle drivers in mind. AAA Trusted and Tested, Research that Charges Forward Electric vehicles are energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and reduce dependence on imported oil because they use domestically produced energy. If you’ve never ridden in an electric vehicle, you may find them intimidating or unapproachable. But electric vehicles are not that different from their gas-powered counterparts and understanding what makes them “go” may be easier than most people think. To help educate the public, AAA conducts research surrounding electric vehicles including consumer sentiment surveys, testing to determine factors impacting electric vehicle range, the true cost of electric vehicle ownership, and a survey on consumers’ experience with going electric. To see the full body of research, visit AAA Newsroom. AAA Car Guide AAA also provides consumer education pieces like the AAA Car Guide, produced by the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center. The Guide aims to help car buyers understand the latest automotive technology so they can purchase vehicles that best suit their needs. This work began over a decade ago with the first edition of what was then known as the AAA Green Car Guide, intended to help consumers navigate the electric vehicle marketplace. While the parameters of the Guide have evolved to include things like driver assistance features, interestingly many of the top-rated vehicles are also electric. Public Charging Access at AAA Branch Office Locations Even though 75% of charging is done at home, a concern that is often expressed by those unsure of electric vehicles is that there are not enough public charging stations. This means that while charging at home may be a good option, charging outside the home seems to be another mystery all its own. To address this issue, many AAA clubs, including AAA North Penn, are installing charging stations at select branch office locations to offer members another easy and convenient charging option. Cash-Back Rewards for EV Charging AAA is proud to offer extraordinary credit cards designed to reward consumers for everyday living. This includes cash-back rewards for electric vehicle charging. What AAA Thinks Electric vehicles are the future of transportation. As the advancements of models and range continue to improve, they become an even more viable option for many people. Consumers interested in electric vehicles, but still unsure, should research and learn as much as possible about these types of cars. AAA also recommends drivers visit a dealership, test drive an electric vehicle and ask as many questions as possible of the dealer and other electric vehicle owners. It is also important to understand charging options available at home to ensure consumers can take full advantage of electric vehicle technology with maximum convenience.
AAA North Penn Presents Four Diamond Rating AAA North Penn recently presented The French Manor with the impressive Four Diamond Award. For the past 18 years, The French Manor has maintained their Four Diamond ranking for two categories, Lodging and Dining. For more than 80 years, the AAA team of professional inspectors have conducted unannounced, independent, in-person property inspections across 26,000 hotel properties in North America. Hotels at this level are committed to providing every guest with a high degree of hospitality, with attentive service in upscale surroundings, according to AAA. They typically offer an extensive array of amenities and guest services. AAA’s 62 million members book more than 31% of all paid room nights in North America, and they rely on the assurance that every Diamond-designated property has met the AAA standards for guest quality, cleanliness and condition. A Four Diamond restaurant is characterized with distinctive fine dining, well-serviced amid upscale ambience. Restaurants must pass an on-site evaluation with 13 minimum requirements to be approved as a Diamond property. There are 57 elements included in the score that determines a property’s Diamond level. The French Manor inn is fashioned after a stone chateau in the south of France. Built in the 1930s as a hunting lodge by teams of European craftsmen, the property was taken over by the current owners at the beginning of the present century. In the rear of the hotel there is an electric car charging station that can accommodate a Tesla, among others. An herb garden is on a hill behind the hotel along with a graciously appointed spa. There are wine tastings on some weekends. The in-house restaurant is a real gem, and personalized service make this property a top pick.
Mount Airy Casino Resort Receives AAA’s Four Diamond Rating AAA North Penn was honored to once again present Mount Airy Casino Resort with this prestigious rating, maintained consecutively since 2010. AAA’s 62 million members book more than 31% of all paid room nights in North America, and they rely on the assurance that every Diamond-designated property has met the AAA standards for guest quality, cleanliness and condition. For more than 80 years, the AAA team of professional inspectors have conducted unannounced, independent, in-person property inspections across 26,000 hotel properties in North America. Hotels at this level are committed to providing every guest with a high degree of hospitality, with attentive service in upscale surroundings, according to AAA. They typically offer an extensive array of amenities and guest services. Mount Airy is part of a select group of establishments within North America. Currently, just 1,676 hotels hold the AAA Four Diamond Rating. Book your room at Mount Airy Casino Resort and enjoy all that our Pocono Boutique hotel has to offer. With a full-service spa, close proximity to nature, 18-hole golf course, a variety of dining options and seasonal entertainment, your stay at Mount Airy Casino Resort will be extraordinAIRY.
