DOTRA'S ... DotLine ...

ISSUE NO. 51                                                                     May, 2005

PRESIDENT’S REPORT
By Chet Andres

Let’s face it! Our membership is greying !! Along with the fact that we are also losing a few members to Father Time. Fortunately, the Department has re-established communications with DOTRA so that we are now receiving notice of new retirees. The List just received includes 56 names ofthose who retired since April 2004.

We know that DOTRA has a positive image within the NJDOT and hope that many of the new retirees will join us when they receive their invitations to become a DOTRA member. If you know of any recent retirees , we urge you to give them an application for membership- a copy is attached to the last page of this edition of DOTLINE. At the same time, note that this is time for Annual Elections to the DOTRA Board. We have a number of Director vacancies and Officer positions just waiting for volunteers from among our membership. It’s a myth - you do not have to be a Central Jersey resident! Modern communications make it possible to volunteer from distances !. Help us out !!!

DIRECTOR VACANCIES

The DOTRA Board of Directors has several vacancies to fill this year. If you are interested, can help out in any way, please contact Chet Andres or any current Director before our June Luncheon. Our phone numbers are listed in this Issue. We are also looking for a DOTRA member to manage our WEBSITE. Kristina Kaye, our only Webmaster to date, is unable to continue in this activity due to her new job. She will help any future volunteer get started. This takes a minimal amount of time, requires a computer and Internet connection, and can reside anywhere in the US !! The joys of using “cyber-space” – we can keep in touch from anyplace.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

ANNUAL LUNCHEON – Wednesday , June 8th. Meet your former co workers. Cost - $17.00 Dinner and Music.

ANNUAL PICNIC - Wednesday, September 7th. Save the Date! Info to follow in August Issue of DOTLINE

DOTRA BOARD MONTHLY MEETINGS

DOTRA holds its regular Monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of each month. Tuesday, May 3rd 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 !!!

Schedule for Future Meetings:

Tuesday – June 1, 2005
Tuesday - August 3, 2005
Tuesday – September 6, 2005

LIFE MEMBERS REPORT

The following DOTRA member has renewed as a Life Member:

Carl Woodson- Maintenance- now lives in Prospect, Virginia. Membership Chairperson spoke to him in February and he is doing just fine! He doesn’t miss the NJ winters!

NEW MEMBERS REPORT

This Quarter we have the following New Members to introduce:

JOHN WALZ- a familiar name to many of our members from C&M Unit. John has “gotten around” to finally joining DOTRA. Retiring from the C&M –Central Region in 2001 , John is living in Toms River, NJ. He has joined as a LIFE member. Looking forward to seeing some of his former co-workers.

DORIS JONES - Associate Member- continues membership as wife of our former member ED JONES –DESIGN ,Pennington NJ.

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.

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:

Frank Daddato (94) DOT
* John (Jack) Dill (73) DOT
* Glen R. Gibbs (66) DOT
Irene Purks (82) MVS
Henrietta Quinlan (78) DOT

*DENOTES DOTRA MEMBERS

DOTRA
PO BOX 77160
WEST TRENTON, NJ 08628

DOTRA EXECUTIVE BOARD AND OFFICERS

PRESIDENT - Chet Andres, 609-818-1921
1st VICE PR4ESIDENT - 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
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY - Dee Wisneski, 609-771-1489

DIRECTORS/ TERM OF OFFICE

Chet Andres (2006) Adrian Lincoln (2007)
Dot Andres (2006) Dolores Murphy (2005)
Paul Bertucinni (2007) Lou Papp (2007)
Joe Bodnar (2005) Hazel Rockhill (2006)
Walt Gable (2007) Jim Springstead(2005)
Frank Herrera (2005) Bruce Strickland (2007)
Don Hutchinson (2007) Phil Vecere (2007)
Jay Johnston (2007) Dolores Wisneski (2006)
4 Vacant Positions

COMMITTEES

CHAPLAIN: 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 & Dee Wisneski, 609-771-1489
WEBSITE: VACANT

CHECK THIS DOTLINE MAILING LABEL FOR YOUR DUES STATUS !!!! 2005 Dues are considered OVERDUE on JUNE 1st.While many members have renewed their 2005 dues and even joined as LIFE Members, there are over 100 members who are delinquent in paying their 2005 dues.

There are a number of members who have not paid for several years, in fact. This may be due to loss of interest, moving on, etc. To avoid having your name dropped from the DOTRA Roster, please check your Mailing Label on this issue of the May DOTLINE. Forward your dues, or contact us as soon as possible. The Board of Directors will take action at the June meeting to remove those names of members whose dues are in arrears for 2 years or more.

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.

SPRING LUNCHEON REPORT
By Joe Bodnar

On Wednesday, March 9th amost 70 DOTRA Members and their guests attended the Spring Luncheon at the Country House in Pemberton. Members and their guests enjoyed the social hour and delicious food served by very gracious and pleasant waitresses.

Mother Nature tried to sabatoge the Luncheon by dumping snow and freezing rain on the area the day before. In spite of inclement weather, those who attended had an enjoyable time.

MAKE YOUR TRAVEL PLANS HERE !!!!!

DOTRA MEMBERS WILLTRAVEL TO BERMUDA
BY Jay Johnston

The Norwegian Crown is sailing on July 17th to July 24th, 2005 to sunny, warm and friendly Bermuda. We have 24 family, friends and DOTRA members sailing off on the Norwegian Crown. A few cabins are still available- act now !! Ten cabins have been booked. Call Jay Johnston at 609-588-0930 if you are interested. Join family and friends on our Bermuda Cruise!

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!

DOTRA NEEDS A WEBMASTER - SITE MANAGER to replace Kristina Kaye !!

American Cancer Society

“Relay for Life” Want to make a difference! DOTRA members have been invited to participate in the ACS Relay for Life at Mercer County Community College on June 10 and 11, 2005.

There is a hard-working enthusiastic group of current NJDOT employees , representing the NJDOT as “TEAM DOT- BARNA’s BELIEVERS” who have been major fund raisers for the American Cancer Society. Each June, they have participated in an all night Walk-a-Thon and overnight vigil at the ACS Relay for Life, now held at Mercer County Community College.

Team DOT usually has over 100 people on its team- joining hundreds of other participants from companies, corporations and individuals from all over New Jersey. Through the year they have held Bake Sales, sold donuts, Cookie and Pizza Dough sales, and even sponsored Music in the Cafeteria to collect donations for ACS. TEAM DOT has been honored by the American Cancer Society every year for its superb money raising efforts.

This year they have set as their goal- $26,000! Some retirees may remember Joe Barna (Equipment) who helped to form this group and gallantly participated every year before succumbing to cancer in 2004.

This year, DOTRA retirees are being asked to participate, either as a “retired” member of TEAM DOT or establishing our own “auxiliary” to TEAM DOT. All you need to do is, save a few hours Friday June 11 and Walk for Cancer. Get your friends and neighbors to “sponsor” you and send your contributions to the Relay.

For more information on participating in the Relay or making contributions to ACS through TEAM DOT, contact Dot Andres at 609-818-1921 or directly contact TEAM DOT co-captains:

PAT BOWKER – 609-530-3741
DOREEN PLUMMER - 609-530-2490

LET’S HELP THEM OUT!!

A more sparse group than previous years but still an enthusiastic group met in Florida at the Rockledge CC on February 8th, 2005. Many thanks to Shirkley Birkhead Pierce for again “sponsoring” this event for DOTRA and to Frank Wegel for arranging the annual registration and activities. Some of our photos from that day are located on the DOTRA Web Site! Take a peek!

Joining Frank Wegel and wife Kathy, were ... “snowbirds” Dot and Cliff Heckman (Materials), Al Alaimo ( C&M), Stan and Doris Friedman (C&M). The NJDOT Construction staff were once again well represented- Dave Quaid, Frank Scarpati, Ted Hamler, and Marie and Sante Falvo came in from Naples. Charlie Takacs (Design) and Frank Scarpatti, both wintering in Florida, extended the day with a round of golf at Rockledge CC. Florida residents Nick Nicu (Soils Design), Ernie and Ruth Zasoski (Accident Records) were there along with Joan and Rick Fugaro (MVS) who celebrated Rick’s birthday at the event.

HERE AND THERE
By Dot Andres

Final column of Winter 2005 from Florida. If you folks up there in New Jersey promise not to have anymore snow or below 40 degree weather, we will return with the rest of the “Snowbirds.” The DOTRA mailbox contained some delayed mail from our some of our members. Happy to hear from you all.

Charlotte Laird (Planning) writes from Ewing “Keep up the good work with the Bulletin. All of your names bring back such good memories. I am unable to participate in many functions as I care for my grand-daughter. Her Mom and Dad both work for the NJDOT. Also, my husband Ray, who is planning on getting his second pension in 5 more years. My best wishes go out to you all! ”

Eleanor Diehl, former Nurse with Human Resources wrote, “The Holiday Party was just great! I still keep in touch with Joe Mulholland (Nurse- Region2/Newark Office) He just turned 80 and is doing well. Also still hear from Mary Cerra – the Nurse who followed in Region 2/Newark.” Thanks for the update on some familiar names from the past.

Joanne Trageiser Holden (Human Resources) filled us in on her recent activities. “My husband Randy and I moved to a beautiful rural area of the Blue Ridge Mountains in southwest Virginia. We would love to hear from others in the area. Our new address is 2068 Pilot Mountain Road, Moneta VA 24121.”

John “Mike” Hanlon (Support Services) and wife Jan were in NJ this fall to attend daughter’s wedding. Had a nice dinner with Phil Vecere (Support Services), and still NJDOT employees Ron Gruzlovic, Pat Bowker, Bill Bielak, Dave Rizzuto, and Jeff Callahan. Happy for Jeff Callahan that he has been promoted to Assistant Commissioner! Say hello to all DOTRA members from Jan and me.”

Florida renewals included some from Ray Colanduoni (Support Services) wintering in Venice FL and also Dick Tompkins (FHWA). Speaking of the FHWA, ran into John Kessler this winter, who is still activee and playing tennis several times a week.

Don Clark (Electrical) finally contacted us this March from Punta Gorda Florida to let us know how he and wife Joanne survived Hurricane Charlie. “Just a note to let you know how things are going. Our roof has been replaced, the interior painting has just been finished, the soffit work is done, but the gutters and pool cage are set for sometime in August. We didn’t have as much damage as some of our neighbors. Our house was still livable so we were lucky in that respect. Our neighbors across the street just moved back in last week and their roof is only half completed. The tile still has to go on. Had a rough day today. Gave the pool a good scrub down, and the water was only up to 85 degrees, air temp was 83. Such is life in Florida! Hope to see you next year at the Rockledge reunion. “

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 14th 2006 on your calendar for the Annual Florida Reunion in Rockledge,FL . Contact Frank Wegel at 772-388-3991 for additional information.