DOTRA'S ... DotLine ...
ISSUE NO. 50 February, 2005
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Early in this New Year, it seems we are in a season of natural disasters. We in DOTRA should think about how we can contribute to our own well-being and happiness by helping others. A recent television commentary and news article suggests that as we all grow older, we begin to look for ways to gain happiness and satisfaction with our lives. One of the most rewarding experiences shown was to help others in some way, such as volunteering for neighborhood projects, donating time to local organizations, visiting friends or relatives in care centers or transporting or shopping for those who are home-bound. While money contributions are always welcome and needed, devoting one's precious time tends to increase our sense of self-worth and may even prolong life. Happy people tend to live longer.
An example of volunteerism directly related to DOTRA would be for some of our members to join our Board of Directors where we have several vacancies. Being a Director only takes about two hours a month and your thoughts and ideas for new programs and social activities are needed. Interested? Come to one of our Monthly business/ luncheon meetings or even do it from a distance. With today's communications- email, cell phones, etc. talk has become very cheap! Our Rosters are maintained and updated by Internet communication as is our DOTLINE. There are many ways to help- call me, or email me at DANDCON@CS.COM or contact one of our Officers listed in this issue of DOTLINE.
IF YOU CAN'T HELP DOTRA- HELP SOMEONE!
THE PROBLEM WITH DOING NOTHING IS THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN YOU ARE FINSHED !
UPCOMING EVENTS
The annual Spring Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, March 9, 2005 at the Country House, Route 530, Pemberton, NJ 08066.
COMMISSIONER JACK LETTIERE PRAISES OUR GENERATION !!!
At the Annual Holiday Party on December 1st, DOTRA was fortunate to have current NJDOT Commissioner Jack Lettiere appear as its guest speaker. Jack Lettiere looked about the room and remembered and acknowledged many of the people present as his former co-workers and mentors. Speaking sincerely and emotionally, he gave credit to the DOTRA members and NJDOT retirees of our generation with "mentoring him" and influencing the current NJDOT staff . By setting and demonstrating good work habits and showing a pride in work accomplishments, "you thereby set the stage for my success and that of many others who still remain with the NJDOT."
Jack was pleased to see that a surprise attendee at the Luncheon was his Dad, "Red" Lettiere with his aunt Marie Hagen (NJDOT-Nurse) . Accompanying Jack were Deputy Commissioner Jim Snyder and Assistant Commissioner Dennis Keck.
DOTRA BOARD MONTHLY MEETINGS
DOTRA holds its regular Monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of each month.
Schedule for Future Meetings:
LIFE MEMBERS REPORT
The following DOTRA members have renewed as a Life Member: We thank all of you - old and new- for your support!
NEW MEMBERS REPORT This Quarter we have the following New Members to introduce as DOTRA members;
CHAPLAIN'S REPORT
We hear that a number of our members have been ill and are recovering from various illnesses and injuries. Dick Hobson, our former DOTRA President and Director would be happy to hear from his DOTRA friends. He can be reached at 16 Flower Hill Terrace, Pennington NJ 08534.
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, e-mail - JayRJohnston@aol.com - or write to me at 3 Golden Crest Court, Hamilton Square NJ 08691.
Recent Obituaries:
*John E. Obermeier (75) DOT
Charles Cramer Sr. (82) DOT
By Chet Andres
A Happy and Healthy New Year to you all!
Tuesday, February 1, 2005
At 11:30 ROMAN HALL
Whittaker Street,Trenton
Dutch treat lunch starts at 11:30-12:30 ... Meeting starts promptly at 12:30 PM. All members of DOTRA are welcome !!!
Tuesday - February 1, 2005
Tuesday - March 1, 2005
Tuesday - April 5,2005
Seth Barton- Local Aid Columbus, NJ
Ken Crosley- Construction Robbinsville, NJ
Sal Noto- Materials Lawrenceville, NJ
JoAnne Pannone- Admin. Robbinsville, NJ
Ron Jones -LIFE Member - Design Titusville, NJ
Betty Roy - Associate Member- wife of our former member Frank Roy -Data Resources ... Stuart, FL and Fairless Hills,PA
By Jay Johnston
*Frank Roy (76) DOT
*Jeanne Smith (68) DOT
*John F. Summers (87) DOT *Denotes Dotra Members
Matthew Edrdie (43) DOT
Ernest J. Jannotti Jr. (72) MVS
Richard McTighe (21) DOT
Joseph F. Messina (71) DOT
Joseph J. Odas (83) DOT
Anna F. Orpen (93) MVS
John M. Piunno (75) DOT
Antoinette Romano (84) DOT
Dorothy N. Willert (92) MVS
DOTRA EXECUTIVE BOARD AND OFFICERS:
President: Chet Andres 609-818-1921
1st Vice President: Adrian Lincoln 609-921-3036
2nd Vice President: Jay Johnston 609-588-0930
Treasurer: Lou Papp 609-585-7697
Assistant Treasurer: Frank Herrera 609-392-0633
Recording Secretary: Hazel Rockhill 609-581-3560
Correspondance Secretary: Dee Wisneski 609-771-1489
DIRECTORS/ TERM OF OFFICE
Chet Andres (06) Adrian Lincoln (07)
Dot Andres (06) Dolores Murphy (05)
Paul Bertucinni (07) Lou Papp (07)
Joe Bodnar (05) Hazel Rockhill (06)
Walt Gable (07) Jim Springstead(05)
Frank Herrera (05) Bruce Strickland (07)
Don Hutchinson (07)) Phil Vecere (07)
Jay Johnston (07) Dolores Wisneski (06)
Kristina Erin Kaye (05) Vacant (3)
COMMITTEES:
Chaplin: Jay Johnston 609-588-0930
Membership: Dot Andres 609-818-1921
By-Laws: Chet Andres 609-818-1921
Historian: VACANT
Activities: Jim Springstead 609-392-0848
DotLine: Dot Andres & 609-818-1921 & Dee Wisneski 609-771-1489
Website: Kristina Erin Kaye 609-918-0603
CHRISTMAS BUS TRIP REPORT
The Christmas Bus Trip to Radio City Music Hall on December 14th was a SOLD OUT success. There is nothing like the Radio City Christmas Show and a view of Rockefeller Center with the huge decorated Christmas tree and ice skaters below to put you into the Holdiay spirit. After several years hiatus, this trip was a welcome renewal! Most of the folks were adventurous and walked over to Fifth Avenue to view the creatively decorated windows at Saks, did some shopping, had lunch at the Rock Center café while watching the skaters, or visited St. Patrick's Cathedral.
An easy bus ride home viewing the old favorite movie "White Christmas" left the group in high holiday spirits.
Thanks Jay Johnston and wife Angel for the wonderfully planned trip!
MAKE YOUR TRAVEL PLANS HERE !!!!!
DOTRA MEMBERS PLAN TO TRAVEL TO BERMUDA
BY Jay Johnston
The Norwegian Crown is sailing on July 17th to July 24th, 2005 to sunny, warm and friendly Bermuda. Ten cabins have been booked. Penthouse suites, oceanview, and Inside Suites are still available. See flyer in our November 1st DOTLINE or call Jay Johnston at 609-588-0930.
Join family and friends on our Bermuda Cruise! We hope to see everyone in Bermuda in 2005."
ADVANCE NOTICE - 10 DAY CARIBBEAN CRUISE
A 10 night Caribbean Cruise - April 2 thru April 12, 2006 - from New York City aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line "Spirit" to the islands of Barbadoes, St. Maarten, and Tortola. We are holding 25 staterooms mostly with balcony. Per person costs will be approximately: Ocean View w/balcony- $1749; Ocean View- $1569; Inside- $1329. At this time you can hold space for this sure to be sold out cruise for a refundable deposit of $25.00/ per person. Flyer with more details will be forthcoming. Please contact Jay Johnston @ 609- 588-0930 NOW!
Log onto DOTRA's web site at: click here To see the 2004 Picnic Photos!!!!!
HERE AND THERE
By Dot Andres
Once again, the New Year starts in Florida for this column! We have had 14 days straight of wonderful weather in the high 70's with sun every day.
With that I say no more, but wish all members a Happy New Year wherever you are! The Holiday season rarely brings much news to our DOTRA mailbox but notes were received from a few of our "renewers." Ms. Norma Spleid (Electrical) dropped a short note to her former co-workers from Sun City, California. Francis "Bob" Fitpatrick (ROW) wants to wish all DOTRA members and families a Happy and Healthy New Year. Richard Frank (Electrical) is spending this winter in Palm Springs FL. Elaine Green ((Administration) is doing well down in Pemberton, NJ.
The DOTRA Holiday Party was another great success. Roman Hall was really colorfully decorated for the festivities and DOTRA members and guests were treated well with a luncheon complete with pencil points and Italian rum cake. It was nice to see new faces among the group. Donna Troiano (Traffic/Research) looked great, fully recovered from an auto accident she was in shortly after she retired. Marie Hagen and Eleanor Diehl (Health Services) were visited by many DOTRA members who remembered them from the Nurse's Office.
Alumni of the old Materials Bureau were represented by Frank and Janis Stia, Bob Leahey, Sal and Judy Noto, Orville and Vivien Abbott, Callie Olexy, and Toni and Wayne Smith.
Nice to see the former Bridge Design gurus - Bob Pege and Warren Sunderland - with their heads together at one of the Design tables.
The Plant Engineering/ Support Services group was represented by Bob Britton, Phil Vecere, Ralph Hartman and Bill Amerine.
Tom Pierce (C&M) - 100 years young and looking wonderful was there enjoying the festivities with Edie and Ken Hey (Eqt.)
Another table of young looking celebrants were Florence and Ted Fischer- Design), Francine and Mike Kjetsaa (C&M), Seth Barton and Ed Baker (Local Aid), and Norm Deitch (Traffic Engrg).
Fergie Reeves (Procurement) and wife Anne make this an annual event and reunion with Marie and Adolph Stepowany (Civil Rights/ ROW). All the Frank Herrera (Traffic Safety) family were there- always loyal supporters of DOTRA.
Nellie Hoffman (MVS), Dee Murphy (Central Serv.) Helen Rose (Supp. Serv.), Peg Wieger (C&M), Jim Springstead (Graphics) were among the "regulars" who are at most DOTRA functions.
You can always count on Joe Bodnar (Traffic Engrg) and Carl Breccia (C&M) to be there to sell the 50:50 tickets. Thanks for your hard work, giving up your "hot" dinners" and sometimes dessert in order to sell more tickets for DOTRA funding.
During one part of the Luncheon, President Chet Andres asked the attendees to stand up as he identified each of the working units in the Department - as we remember them from the "old days." Every Unit was represented! What a wonderful tribute to the "old Highway Department" and to the life long friends and memories taken from there. There were many others I am afraid I may have missed among the more than 130 people there and to whom I apologize - all are welcome faces and wonderful to see again.
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 !!!
Put Tuesday February 8th 2005 on your calendar for the Annual Florida Reunion in Rockledge,FL . The Event is again scheduled to be held at the Rockledge CC on Fiske Boulevard . Reunion Time and Dutch Treat Bar start at 11:30 AM. Time for pictures and chatting follows the Buffet Lunch planned for the DOTRA Group by Shirley Birkhead Pierce. Contact Frank Wegel at 772-388-3991 for additional information and directions, if needed.
ATLANTIC CITY TRIP(S)
Interested in bus trips to Atlantic City? If you are, call Jim Springstead at 609-392-0848 with any suggestions you might have regarding the type of trip - shows etc. - that are of most interest to you. Jim is trying to plan trips that interest most members. Let's help him!
