DOTRA’S…DotLine…

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

By Chet Andres

We are in the Fall season of 2007. Your Board of Directors are planning now for an expanded social season for 2008 to appeal to our new retirees and old. If you have suggestions for some things you would like DOTRA to do, don’t hesitate to call me at 609-818-1921. Do it as soon as possible so we can put it on our 2008 calendar.

Our Holiday luncheon will be at the beautiful Mountain View CC Banquet Hall. It is served by the same caterer we have had for the previous three years. See the attached Flyer for information.

During late 2006 and thru 2007, there have been well over 100 new retirements from the NJDOT. As a result, DOTRA has gained over 25 new Members during the past year. There was a major mailing campaign by our Membership Committee during July and August this year where we tried to reach new retirees via lists provided by NJDOT Personnel Services.

In a number of cases, addresses provided were no longer accurate. So, if you learn of a new retiree or even a long-term retiree who is not a DOTRA Member, put them in touch with us!

Several of our newest Members were at the Annual picnic in September where we had close to 140 retirees and guests. There was plenty of good food and drinks so that everyone had a good time meeting and chatting with former co-workers. I want to personally thank the members and spouses who did the cooking , planning and purchasing of all the items and working on that day to make it a successful picnic.

UPCOMING EVENTS

ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY

MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTRY CLUB

WEST TRENTON NJ

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 5^TH, 2007

DOTRA BOARD MONTHLY MEETINGS

DOTRA holds its regular Monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of each month.

Tuesday, NOVEMBER 6, 2007

At 11:30 LEONARDO’s

Route 1 –Lawrence Twp

Dutch treat lunch starts at 11:30–12:30

Meeting starts promptly at 12:30 PM

All members of DOTRA are welcome !!!

Schedule for Future Meetings:

Tuesday - December 4, 2007

Tuesday - January 8, 2008

Tuesday - February 5, 2008

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

TO ALL!

DOTRA

PO BOX 77160

WEST TRENTON, NJ 08628

CHAPLAIN’S REPORT

By Jay Johnston

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.

If you have any information to share about members or retirees, please call or send a note to Jay Johnston at :

609-588-0930 -

e-mail – JRJ0506@verizon.net

You may write to Jay at 3 Golden Crest Court, Hamilton Square NJ 08691.

Recent Obituaries:

*Georgia McGarrity NJDOT

*John Larkin NJDOT

John Margefka (92) NJDOT

Thomas Carr Jr (67) NJDOT

John J. Carr (59) NJDOT

Phyllis Los (76) NJDOT

Clarence Pell NJDOT

Julia Walker (41) MVS

Leontine Ferrara (93) MVS

William Chernosky (53) MVS

Virginia Kaluzny (65) MVS

Dorothy Ashmore (89) MVS

*DENOTES DOTRA MEMBERS

DOTRA’S ON THE INTERNET

Log onto DOTRA’s own Web Site at:

http:/www. dotra.org

Bruce Strickland is our WebSite Manager.

There are new photos of DOTRA events on the WebSite. Take a look and leave a note.

DOTRA EXECUTIVE BOARD

AND OFFICERS

PRESIDENT- Chet Andres 609-818-1921

1^st VP-Jay Johnston 609-588-0930

2^nd VP-Jim Dixon 609-298-3398

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 (09) Adrian Lincoln (10)

Jay Johnston (10) Jim Dixon (09)

Dot Andres (09) Dolores Murphy (08)

Lou Papp (10) Phil Vecere (10)

Joe Bodnar (08) Hazel Rockhill (09)

Walt Gable (Em) Jim Springstead (08)

Al Gallo (08) Bruce Strickland (10)

Frank Herrera (08) Richard Hobson (08)

Sal Noto (09) Don Hutchinson (10)

NEW DIRECTORS

Art Egan Janis Stia Peter Yull

VACANT 0

COMMITTEES

CHAPLAIN – Jay Johnston 609-588-0930

MEMBERSHIP – Dot Andres 609-818-1921

BY-LAWS – Art Egan 609-585-9145

HISTORIAN – VACANT

ACTIVITIES – Jim Springstead 609-392-0848

DOTLINE – Dot Andres & 609-818-1921

Bruce Strickland 609-538-8189

DATABASE - John Waldner

WEBSITE - Bruce Strickland 609-538-8189

ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS:

SUPPORT OUR ACTIVITIES- WRITE to DOTLINE

HELP KEEP OUR ORGANIZATION GOING !

ANY INTEREST IN BEING A REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE DOTLINE?? HOW ABOUT BEING A CONTRIBUTING EDITOR? WE ARE SEARCHING FOR SOME NEW APPROACHES. CALL or EMAIL DOT ANDRES AT 609-818-1921 or DANDCON50@aol.com .

ANNUAL RENEWALS ARE DUE SOON!

DOTRA TRIP INFORMATION

By Jay Johnston

RADIO CITY UPDATE

As of this writing, there is one ticket remaining for the NYC/Radio City Christmas Trip. If you are interested, call Jay Johnston at 609-588-0930.

Bus will leave Starr Bus Parking Lot, Suburban Plaza Mercerville NJ promptly at 9AM on Monday December 10,2007.

Time for lunch on your own upon arrival in NYC. Show begins at 2PM. Bus departs for home immediately after the Show.

HOLIDAY LUNCHEON DECEMBER 5th

PLAN TO ATTEND – A GREAT CHANCE TO MEET YOUR FORMER CO-WORKERS AND FRIENDS. WONDERFUL FOOD - GREAT MUSIC- A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION !!

LOTS OF NEW MEMBERS

We heard there was a recent flurry of new retirees leaving the NJDOT, so we (Chet and Dot Andres) got busy and sent invitations to join DOTRA to more than 100 recent retirees, who left the NJDOT since November 2006. Offering a free picnic to all new Members, we are happy to report that we have 20 new members in DOTRA- not all able to attend the picnic!

Many will be familiar names to our current DOTRA members who will probably say, ”they are too young to retire!” So here is our latest list with some brief info we received- provided by the new members. If any new members want to write and update their info, we will be happy to hear from you anytime. Just send it to our DOTRA P.O. BOX.

NEW LIFE MEMBERS

Theresa Butera – Trenton NJ Design Services

John Corso –Staten Island, NY C&M

Sandy Furness – Hamilton Twp. NJ Administration

John Gregory – Frenchtown NJ Environmental Serv

Robert Parsons – Lambertville NJ Electrical

John Powers – Ewing NJ Research/Intermodal

Charles Phy – Hammonton NJ Construction

Jerry Urbano – Hamilton Twp.NJ Electrical

William Weidlich – Flemington NJ C&M

NEW MEMBERS-Annual

William Bennett – Milford NJ Employee Support

William Bielak – West Trenton NJ C&M

Dennis Cox – Trenton NJ Program Support

Leona Dinatale – Trenton NJ Accounting

Shirley Guerieri – Trenton NJ Administration

George Jodeksnis – Groveland FL Construction

Daniel Pietras – Robbinsville NJ Materials

Richard Sawicki – Lanoka Harbor NJ Electrical Ops

Barbara Semler – Mercerville NJ Value Mgt

Alyce White – Yardville NJ Design Survey

John Woronowicz Jr.- South River NJ - ??

DOTRA PICNIC A HUGE SUCCESS

Once again, Phil Vecere and his hard working Picnic Crew pulled off another great DOTRA PICNIC. Almost 140 people were there, among them a number of our newest members and their guests.

The picnic was held at the Mercer County Park facility at Princeton Country Club in West Windsor. Our usual spot at Belle Mountain was under renovation and was not available. The sunny weather was exactly what we had ordered! The facility was good for our gathering after a few early modifications and problems with the placement our BBQ grills. Many apologies for the “lung damage” probably experienced by cooks John Troiani and Frank Scarpatti as the breezes kept changing and they were constantly inundated by smoke and hungry retirees seeking more sausage and hamburgers! Ed Skwara arrived with the clams and there was no shortage of picnic foods.

Many thanks to Janis Stia for reservations and shopping, Dee Murphy and Dick Hobson at the gate, and all the spouses and friends who helped with setting up tables, selling 50:50 tickets, donating desserts and salads, and making the party another traditional success.

A VISIT TO THE PAST

The “Old Lab Building”

Some of our “younger” contacts at the NJDOT recently forwarded a press release regarding the “old State Highway Department Laboratory” that stands at the NJDOT Headquarters complex in Ewing. Thought some of our retirees would have some interest .

“Although no longer in use, it is a link to the Department’s past- and to New Jersey’s transportation history. In fact, it may be this Nation’s only laboratory building of its type still standing.”

“The Lab is significant for its contribution to the development of the modern highway system in New jersey, and also for its contribution to the testing of materials used for roadway building. The idea of testing materials was an outgrowth of the late 19^th century quest for industrial standardization as a means of increasing efficiency. New Jersey’s location in the middle of the busiest corridor in the world meant, even decades ago, that more durable materials and methods would be required to withstand the demands being placed on roads as automobile usage increased. Staff in the Lab tested as many as 20,000 samples of materials each year.”

The head of the Laboratory at that time was Robert Gage, who began his employment with the State in 1905. He served on many national committees for materials testing up to 1941. Remarkably, in the 66 years since his retirement, there have been only five successive directors: Joe Reed, Chet Andres, Bob Wokoun, Henry Justus and Eileen Sheehy.”

“The Lab was designed by an architect named Hugh Ambrose Kelly, who was born in Jersey City in 1888. His design portfolio includes the State House Annex, Pershing Field in Jersey City, and many armories, libraries, and housing developments. He served in both World Wars and was also an aide to New Jersey Governor A. Harry Moore prior to World War II. “

“In 1998, the Lab was found eligible for inclusion in the National register of Historic Places. By facilitating the construction of durable, high capacity roadways and fostering the growth of New Jersey’s highway network, the Lab contributed to the creation of our modern transportation infrastructure.”

“The Lab is also notable for being a worthy example of an Art-Deco inspired public building, which is unusual because it was not designed as a facility for public view or visitation. The relatively ornate architecture bespeaks the importance of the Lab to the work of the Department’s forerunner, the State Highway Department.”

“Clearly, the Lab represents a link to our past and highlights the critical role transportation has played in the economic growth and quality of life for New Jersey.”

Released by the Office of Commissioner Kris Kolluri

HAVE A HEALTHY AND HAPPY WINTER!

HERE AND THERE

By Dot Andres

We are always anxious to see the contents of the DOTRA Mail Box.

Received a nice long note from Chuck Monahan (Landscape Architecture)._Chuck wrote that he “lives most of the year in a community called Eastman. See website www.eastmannh.org in the town of Grantham NH, not far from Hanover (Dartmouth) NH. When the winter gets to me I head for Tuscon Arizona. Love the desert. My wife Bev and I moved there when she retired in 2000 from the Ewing public schools. She died this spring- too soon for me, but that’s life. I keep in touch with the 6^th Floor managers gang from the mid-1990’s. The Takacs’, the Scymanskis’, the Bob Suess’, Donna Troiano, the Lemo’s and the Afferton’s. Some of them were up here last summer for a get together. And, I keep in touch with some of the survivors of the old Bureau of Landscape Architecture. I do enjoy reading the DotLine. I can’t believe some of these folks are old enough to retire and become one of us. Time flies when you’re having fun. Sincerely Chuck Monahan.”

Thanks Chuck. We enjoyed hearing from you and wish you a warm winter in Arizona this year. Keep in touch.

New Retiree Bill Weidlich of C&M Flemington wrote to fill us in on his activities. Unfortunately Bill had to retire in 2006 for medical reasons after hip surgery he had did not proceed well. “hard to do the normal things in life but I am trying to cope and get along the best I can.” Why not drop Bill a line at his home 10 Hemlock Ct Flemington NJ 08822-3031.

New Member Lee DiNatale (Accounting) wrote to tell us she would miss this years’ picnic but hoped to catch the next one. Same with Barbara Semler (Value Mgt.)

Janet Morris (Design Services) writes ”to the DOTRA Board and Committees - you are all doing a great job. Thanks! “`

Heard from Stefan Franklin via an address change- hard to keep up Stefan but always good to hear from you too.

Spoke with new retiree John Gregory (Environmental Services) and his wife at the DOTRA Picnic and learned that they plan to “camp their way through Florida via the great Florida State Park system this winter with their new camper. They hope to be in the vicinity make the DOTRA Reunion in February 2008 at the Clewiston Inn at Lake Okeechobee.

Please Members - whenever you change you address, be sure to notify us at DOTRA via our DOTRA PO BOX. This is particularly important for our Life members who do not have to renew their dues annually. Many times we learn of an address change or lose touch with a DOTRA Member totally after we receive a Quarterly DOTLINE” which says “Forwarding time expired.”

FLORIDA REUNION

It’s time to make your winter plans so include the DOTRA Florida Reunion in them. Last year we met in Bonita Springs on the west coast and this year we are located more in the south center of the state. Gradually we will get closer to the south Orlando area we hope!

It is not too early to contact Frank Wegel at 772-388-3991 now to see what plans you may consider if you have not been down in that area before.

The 2008 Florida Reunion will be held on Tuesday February 12^th at the historic Clewiston Inn in Clewiston Florida. Clewiston is on the southwest shore of Lake Okeechobee in south central Florida – reachable from I-95 on the east coast of Florida or I-75 from the west Coast.

So, save the date on that new calendar you have received from your most favorte charity (ies). They certainly are abundant this year!

Put Tuesday February 12, 2008 on your calendar for the Annual Florida Reunion in the Lake Okeechobee area.
Contact Frank Wegel at 772-388-3991 or write 8060 142^nd St. Sebastian FL32958. EMAIL- fwegel@bellsouth.com

ISSUE NO. 61 NOVEMBER 2007