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PRESIDENT’S REPORT
   By Chet Andres
A good time was had by all! I am referring to the DOTRA Picnic held on Wednesday, September 7th at the Valley Road Picnic Grounds at Belle Mountain. About 150 people came to the picnic grounds where the weather was sunny and pleasant - to eat, drink and socialize with former co-workers and friends. The hard working crew of cooks, headed by Phil Vecere included John Mainzer, Joe Notaro, Frank Scarpati, Ed Skwara and John Troiani. They kept the barbeque lively with their wall of chatter as the members lined up to heap their platters with tasty burgers, sausages, hot dogs, salads, clams and watermelon. Not to be forgotten are the dessert makers and “maintenance crew” of Mr. and Mrs. Dick Hobson, Dolores Murphy, Helen Rose, Hazel Rockhill, Nellie Hoffman and Dot Andres. And many thanks to all the other folks who pitched in unrecruited to make this Picnic a big success. Hopefully, in September 2006 a repeat performance will be scheduled.

Please note the early return date of Friday November 25th for DOTRA’s Holiday Luncheon. The Luncheon will be held at Mercer Oaks CC. A bountiful menu has been selected and the ambiance of the dining room should be appreciated by all attending. I look forward to meeting you at this festive and joyous time.

LIFE MEMBERS REPORT
The following DOTRA members have renewed their membership as Life Members:
Mary Ellen Callahan- Materials- Whiting NJ
Cliff Ellis- Design – Ewing NJ
Steve Kovacs – Traffic – Hamilton, NJ
Louise McBride – Human Resources – Trenton, NJ
NEW MEMBERS REPORT
As reported in the last issue of DOTLINE, we have re-connected with the NJDOT Personnel Office and have been getting lists of recent retirees. Sending out over 50 letters, we continue to receive responses. Our latest group includes familiar names and we are pleased to introduce the following New Members to DOTRA:
Richard Baker- Maintenance /South-Buena NJ
Joseph Coult- LIFE- Information Technology -Ewing NJ
Charles Eichele LIFE - Manahawkin NJ
Ted Matthews LIFE -Transportation Services -Levittown PA
Toby Levy LIFE –Construction &Maintenance - PineBrook NJ
Phil Whiting -Construction & Maintenance -Watchung NJ
Russell Brown – Local Aid – Montclair NJ

Welcome to all of you. We hope to meet all of you again at the DOTRA Holiday Luncheon!

CHAPLAIN’S REPORT By Jay Johnston
We hear that a number of our members have been ill and are recovering from various illnesses and injuries. Our Corresponding Secretary and DOTRA Director “Dee” Wisneski (C&M) passed away on September 8th and leaves a great void in our organization. Dee’s husband, Chet, wants to thank all those in DOTRA who sent her many, many cards and notes. These were greatly appreciated and gave her comfort that so many people cared.

We would like to keep informed of any retiree who is ill, anyone confined to their home, or any retiree who needs help in one form or another. Please call or send a note to Jay Johnston at 609-588-0930, or e-mail – JayRJohnston@aol.com - or write to me at 3 Golden Crest Court, Hamilton Square NJ 08691.

Recent Obituaries: *Dolores “Dee” Wisneski (70) DOT
Charles M. Jones (93) DOT
Marian Lyons (87) DOT
Joseph Pownall (82) DOT
Ralph Bowker DOT
Leigh Smith (60) DOT
Anthony Natriello (83) DOT
Steven Clark (52) DOT
*Herbert Forrest, Jr. (81) DOT

Brunetta W Mims (53) DOT
John R Dennis (72) DOT
David Crisp (57) DOT
James Kondas (84) DOT
Conrad Rickett (82) DOT
Kathy Stanwick DOT
Mary DeMatteo (85) MVS
*DENOTES DOTRA MEMBERS

DOTRA EXECUTIVE BOARD AND OFFICERS
PRESIDENT- Chet Andres 609-818-1921
1st VP- Adrian Lincoln 609-921-3036
2nd VP- Jay Johnston 609-588-0930
TREASURER- Lou Papp 609-585-7697
ASST.TREAS– Frank Herrera 609-392-0633
REC.SEC- Hazel Rockhill 609-581-3560
CORRES. SEC-Dolores Murphy 609-466-3341
DIRECTORS/ TERM OF OFFICE
Chet Andres (06)            Adrian Lincoln (07)
Jay Johnston (07)           Dot Andres (06)
Dolores Murphy (08)       Paul Bertucinni (07)
Lou Papp (07)                  Joe Bodnar (08)
Hazel Rockhill (06)         Walt Gable (07)
Jim Springstead(08)        Al Gallo (08)
Bruce Strickland (07)      Frank Herrera (08)
VACANT (5)

COMMITTEES
CHAPLAIN – Jay Johnston 609-588-0930
MEMBERSHIP – Dot Andres 609-818-1921
BY-LAWS – VACANT
HISTORIAN – VACANT
ACTIVITIES – Jim Springstead 609-392-0848
DOTLINE – Dot Andres 609-818-1921 &
                   Bruce Strickland 609-538-8189
Website - Bruce Strickland 609-538-8189

GETTING THE TRANSPORTER FROM NJDOT ????
When you retired or if you moved since, it was not automatic that you would continue to receive the NJDOT Transporter. Unfortunately you may have been lost in the transition. If you want to receive the NJDOT Transporter which is published quarterly by the NJDOT- Communications Bureau, call or write Edyth Hetman at 1035 Parkway Ave, PO Box 600 Trenton NJ 08625. PHONE 609-530-5427.

DOTRA TRIP INFORMATION
By Jay Johnston

DOTRA Family and friends are invited to a trip to Las Vegas on June 12-16, 2006. Price is $678 per person double occupancy, and includes 4 nights at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, round trip airfare from Newark,NJ. Round trip transfers to the airport and hotel in Las Vegas, hotel taxes, hotel gratuities and baggage handling are included. A $100 per person deposit is required by December 30, 2005. Final payment is due April 1, 2006. Call Jay Johnston at 609-588-0930 for more details!

TRAVELS BY DOTRA MEMBERS
A DREAM VACATION !
   By Seth Barton

Travels to New Zealand and Australia

In May 2005, Marlene and Seth Barton flew to Auckland, New Zealand to begin a month-long travel through two countries in the southern hemisphere.
We started our tour with a visit to the Waitangi Meeting House, site of where England returned property rights to the Te Ma ori people and were introduced to the culture of these Polynesian descendants. We then did an Antarctic encounter where we saw seals, sea lions, penguins and other aquatic creatures. Later we cruised the Bay of Islands, visited a site where we saw a Kauri tree which takes 500 years to mature. While on the north island we also visited the Waitomo glow worms caves, were entertained by Ma ori dancers in Eotorua, saw geysers, mud pools etc. and observed Ma ori intricate figures.

We then flew to the south island, landing in Queensland. Here we were met by a couple who took us to their house for dinner. As it turned out, he is a member of the Queensland Lions Club so it made for an interesting meeting. In the following days we cruised Milford Sound, went to Franz Joseph where we saw a glacier meet the tropics, and then went by rail to Christchurch.

Soon we were airborne again to Australia, stopping in Sydney and then off to Melbourne. In Melbourne we visited the Shrine of Remembrance which honors those who gave their lives during WWI. While we were there we also visited the site where Captain James Cook, who claimed Australia in the name of the Queen of England, resided. Off again we flew to Alice Springs where we were treated to a cookout, given a demonstration on throwing a boomerang, and two lectures,one on the heavens in the southern hemisphere and the other on the Aboriginal people.

We then went to Ayres Rock aka Uluru which is a large monolith, saw camels in the wild, and even rode one.

We flew to the Great Barrier Reef. This is the second natural wonder of the world we have seen--the first being Yellowstone National Park. The coral is something you can’t describe and, of course there are tropical fish. Soon we were on our way to Cairns and then to Sydney taking in the sites of the Opera House, Sydney Harbor Bridge, Taronga Zoo, Sydney Harbor and Mrs. Macuarie’s Chair.

We ended our trip with a three day stay in Hawaii where we visited the site of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor. There we began adjusting to the gaining of a day and the changing time zones.

On to Alaska in August- the same trip the Papps and Andres took earlier in the year.

SETH

Admin NOTE: DOTRA readers are waiting to get the report on Alaska!!

HOLIDAY PARTY AT MERCER OAKS
Members, be sure to make your reservations now for the Annual Holiday Party on December 7th. This year we are making a change and it will be held at Mercer Oak CC in Mercerville, just 1 mile off of Quaker Bridge Road, near US Route 1. It’s a beautiful location, lots of parking, and a great menu has been arranged.

Entertainment will be provided by Dick Braytenbagh, who has promised to bring along some CD’s of his easy listening music.

Get your Returns in Early !!!

HERE AND THERE
   By Dot Andres
Joe Maresca (Construction) called to let us know he couldn’t attend the picnic. He and his wife Sue celebrated their 50th Anniversary this year. Spent time in the Baja at Cabu San Lukas West--"watching the whales jumping.” Joe and Sue share living between New Jersey and Florida.

Mary Ellen Callahan (Materials) is living in Whiting NJ and “is still traveling as much and as far. Hello to all! And I hope to get to one of the functions.”

Tom Ryan (Design) writes from Cookstown. “Wife Donna is retiring in September so we’re looking to move out of NJ. We currently have a 10 acre horse farm and would like to bring along with us our horses, dogs, cats and geese.” And to think the rest of us only worried about emptying the closets, basement and garage! Good luck Tom!

Some renewal checks and short notes from Louise McBride (Human Resources) Bill Wood Jr. (C&M), Ed Morris (C&M/South) , Carl Rebbeck and Ted Fischer from (Design), Moray Epstein (Comm. Office) living in Hemet, California, Frank Barrosa (Design) is living in Mahwah – nice talking to him by phone! Richard Tilton (C&M) writes from Lakehurst that he enjoys reading the Newsletter.

A few address changes received this summer.
Short note from Mary Mangine (Library ) now living in Columbia, NJ.
Jake Goldberg (Traffic Engineering) is now living in Port Richey Florida.
Richie Svetz (C&M) is now settled in his new home in Cape Coral Florida. Still unpacking but really enjoying Florida. The winter is great and “ it’s been hotter in NJ than Florida this summer.”
Reconnected with Russ Brown from Local Aid, still living in Montclair.
New LIFE Member Toby Levy and Phil Whiting–(C&M) joined DOTRA at our Annual Picnic. Toby wrote to tell us what a great time he had at the picnic. “Great seeing old friends and looking forward to the Holiday Party.”

Our Annual Picnic turned into a wonderful reunion for so many that attended - some for the first time at a DOTRA event. It was free to paid members and a guest but yielded great benefits to our organization - dedicated to keeping the “old Highway Department” together.

We’d like to meet and hear about some of those good things you are doing! Participate in the fun and share your lives with the rest of us !!!

IT’S TIME TO MAKE PLANS FOR FLORIDA

Put Tuesday February 14th 2006 on your calendar for the Annual Florida Reunion in Rockledge, FL. Contact Frank Wegel at 772-388-3991 or write him at - 8060 142nd St. Sebastian FL 32958.
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