DOTRA'S ... DotLine ...

DOTRA President Guy LoBue has asked me to assume his presidential functions while he recuperates from illness. He is improving slowly and hopes to return to normal activitiy in the near future. Anyone wishing to drop Guy a line and wish him well should send good wishes to 19 Mount Avenue, Trenton NJ 08620. I know all DOTRA members wish him a full recovery as I do.

Your Board of Directors has continued to plan activities for the rest of 2003, including our Annual picnic, interesting bus trips and the Holiday luncheon in December. See the articles in this DOTLINE for dates and location. It is through your support of these functions that makes DOTRA the strong organization it has been.

Guy and I wish you all a healthy and active summer. We hope to see you at our annual picnic!

NEW ACTING DIRECTORS APPOINTED FOR 2003/2004

To assist in the ongoing operations of DOTRA, we are pleased to report that five members have volunteered to become Acting Directors. This will bring our Board of Directors to full strength and hopefully provide fresh new ideas for future activities. The new members of the Board are:

Paul Bertuccini, Jay Johnston, Mike Lemmo, Lou Papp Phil Vecere.

It is intended that these Acting Directors will be appointed to permanent status at the next Annual meeting in June 2004, in accordance with DOTRA by- laws.

We welcome them and encourage the rest of members to come forth and assist with the organization.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Come to the Annual DOTRA Picnic on Wednesday September 10th at Belle Mountain.

Join the group for a Fall Foliage Trip to Hyde Park and the world famous Culinary Institute on Thursday, September 25 th.

Save Wednesday December 3rd for the Holiday Party at Diamond's Riverside.

Winter Holiday Bus Trip to "The Tides at Brownstone" in late November. Details to follow in November issue.

DOTRA BOARD MEETINGS AND MONTHLY BRUNCH

JOIN US FOR LUNCH! DOTRA BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD MONTHLY ON THE FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH. DOTRA will hold its next regular Monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 5th, 2003.

First Tuesday of the Month
EDDIE'S Eatery
628 Arena Drive, Hamilton Twp.
609-888-1414

Dutch treat lunch starts at 11:30 - 12:30 ... the meeting starts promptly at 12:30 ! All members of DOTRA are welcome !!!

Future Meetings:

Tuesday, September 2, 2003
Tuesday, October 7, 2003
Tuesday, November 4, 2003
Tuesday, December 2, 2003

NEW MEMBERS' CORNER

We welcome the following retirees who have recently joined the DOTRA organization:

Albert Brogel     Hamilton NJ - Retired 1991     MVS/NJDOT - 42 years
Charles Goessel     Marlton NJ - Retired 2003      NJDOT/Proj Mgt
Evelyn Medley      Princeton NJ - Retired 2002      C&M- 34 years
Wayne Thomas     Yardville NJ - Retired ??     NJDOT/Road Design
William Wood Jr.     Ewing NJ -Retired 2002      NJDOT- Maintenance- 34 years

LIFE MEMBERS REPORT

Since May 2003, the following DOTRA members have renewed or joined as Life Members:

Charles Goessel     Marlton NJ - Design
Nick Nicu      Daytona Beach,FL - Soils
Frank Palise     Lawrenceville,NJ - C&M
Robert Suess     Hamilton,NJ - Design/Specs
William Whalen     Farmingdale,NJ - C&M

We thank all of you - old and new- for your support !

DOTRA MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS FOR 2003 ARE NOW PAST DUE !! CHECK YOUR MAILING LABEL FOR YOUR RENEWAL DATE!!

CHAPLAIN'S REPORT
BY Guy LoBue

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 Guy LoBue at 609-585-4979 or write to 19 Mount Avenue, Hamilton, NJ 08620.

Recent Obituaries:

J.R. "Jim" Schuyler     (83)   DOT Ret.1987
Tina Alessi     (90)    MVS
Patricia V.Cunady     (68)   DOT
Irene E. Cammisa     (84)   MVS
Thelma L. Davidson     (81)   DOT
Gloria DiPierro      (79)   DOT
Helen E. Douglas     (76)   MVS
Farrel Harmon     (89)   DOT
Maria A. Ossmann     (63)   MVS
Camille Mellana Persichelli     (88)   DOT Ret.1977
Andrew Zalescik      (82)   DOT
W. Lester Johnson     (86)DOT-Right Of Way
Arthur Panella     (79)   MVS
Doris Harbourt Darnell     (76)   MVS Ret 1990

DOTRA EXECUTIVE BOARD OFFICERS:

President:   Guy LoBue   609-585-4979
1st Vice President:   Chet Andres   609-896-1470
2nd Vice President:   Adrian Lincoln   609-921-3036
Treasurer:   Frank Herrera   609-392-0633
Assistant Treasurer:   Dick Hobson   609-737-3227
Recording Secretary:   Hazel Rockhill   609-581-3560
Corresponding Secretary:   Dee Wisneski   609-771-1489

DIRECTORS / TERM OF OFFICE:

Chet Andres     (2005)     Kristina Erin Kaye     (2005)
Dot Andres     (05)     Adrian Lincoln     (04)
Joe Bodnar     (05)     Guy LoBue     (05)
Walt Gable     (04)     Dolores Murphy     (05)
Frank Herrera     (05)     Hazel Rockhill     (05)
Richard Hobson     (04)     Jim Sprindstead      (05)
Don Hutchinson     (04)     Margaret Wieger     (05)
Dolores Wisneski     (05)

NEW APPOINTEES

Paul Bertucinni (A),Lou Papp (A), Jay Johnston (A), Phil Vecere (A) and Mike Lemmo (A)

COMMITTEES:

CHAPLAIN     Guy LoBue     609-585-4979
MEMBERSHIP     Dot Andres     609-896-1470
BY-LAWS     Chet Andres     609-896-1470
HISTORIAN     Wilma Gruzlovic     609-259-2349
ACTIVITIES     Jim Springstead     609-392-0848
DOTLINE     Dot Andres & Dee Wisneski     609-771-1489
WEBSITE     Kristina Erin Kaye     609-918-0603

HISTORIAN'S CORNER      by Wilma Gruzlovic

Aviation Takes Flight in New Jersey

(Excerpted from "The Development of Transportation in New Jersey," published in 1975 by NJDOT- Office of Information Services)

Surprisingly, aviation in New Jersey began before rail or bus transportation systems were in use. In 1793, Jean-Pierre Blanchard, a French adventurer-balloonist, completed the country's first man-carrying interstate balloon flight at Woodbury,NJ The trip, which began in in Philadelphia, lasted 46 minutes.

The first manned parachute descent in the United States was made by Louis Charles Guille in 1819 in Jersey City.

Charles Ferson Durant of Jersey City was the first professional balloonist in the US. Durant, who received his flight training in France, piloted a hydrogen-filled Balloon from Castle Garden, NY to South Amboy in 1830.

The use of balloons increased during the 1800's and by the time of the Civil War, balloon flights were used for military observations.

Balloons evolved into lighter than air ships, or dirigibles, and by 1919 Lakehurst Naval Air Station became known as the "Lighter-Than-Air Capitol of the World." It served as the home base for every Naval dirigible and the German trans-Atlantic airships Graf Zeppelin and Hindenburg. The latter ended a trans-Atlantic flight in disaster in 1937 when it burst into flames while approaching a mooring mast at Lakehurst.

(To be continued next issue …)

A PIECE OF NJDOT HISTORY PASSES ON

A recent note was received from Betty Schuyler, wife of DOTRA member and former State Highway Engineer Jim Schuyler, telling us that Jim passed away in Riverside California on June 2nd. Jim should be remembered as a familiar figure to all current DOTRA members as he was a large piece of our NJDOT history from the New Jersey Highway Department's growth years in the 1940's through his retirement in 1987. His career traced that time of New Jersey's roadway growth building roads and bridges to completion of the Interstate system and closing out his long career in the Rail/Mass Transportation area . Jim's "Can Do" attitude from the WW2 SeaBees was ever prevalent and he always felt he was at his best during snow operations when his State car could be expected to be lurking at the next snow covered ramp, any where in the State. Jim instilled his own sense of pride in the accomplishments of the NJDOT - very much like many DOTRA members share. Peace to you Jim and thanks for a great job!

DOTRA's Social Calendar for Remainder of 2003:

September 2nd Tuesday:
at 11:30 AM      Monthly Business Meeting and Brunch at Eddie's Eatery in Hamilton, NJ

September 10th Wednesday:
Annual DOTRA picnic at Belle Mountain      

September 25th Thursday:
Trip to Culinary Institute with lunch and visit FDR's Hyde Park home. Cost $60

October 7th Tuesday 11:30AM: Monthly Business meeting and Brunch at Eddie's Eatery in Hamilton, NJ

November 4th Tuesday at 11:30AM:
Monthly Business meeting and Brunch at Eddie's Eatery in Hamilton NJ

November ??:     Being Planned by Jay Johnston
Bus Trip to The Tides at Brownstone - Christmas Show. Details in November issue.

December 2nd Tuesday at 11:30 AM:
Monthly Business meeting and Brunch at Eddie's Eatery in Hamilton NJ

December 3rd Wednesday:
Annual Holiday and Christmas Party At Diamonds -River Road ,West Trenton

BUS TRIP TO CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA AND F.D. ROOSEVELT'S HYDE PARK

See the attached Flyer for the Thursday September 25th trip for a wonderful early morning autumn bus ride to New York State. The world-renowned Culinary Institute of America is DOTRA's destination for a morning tour of the Institute and a gourmet's choice lunch in one of their special dining rooms. Following the lunch, the bus will continue to tour the magnificent grounds and estate of Franklin D. Roosevelt on the Hudson River.

Dolores Murphy is leading the DOTRA group and full details are in the Flyer of this issue of DOTLINE. Ticket cost is $60 for transportation, a gourmet prepared lunch at the Culinary Institute of America and all tours. If you want additional information, call Dolores at 609-466-3341.

BUS TRIP TO LONGWOOD GARDENS AND FRANKLIN MINT ON JUNE 24TH

Cancelled for lack of Interest!

What a shame after all the hard work put in by Jim Springstead arranging this trip. Your DOTRA Board of Directors attempts to meet members' requests for excursions and bus trips so it is most unfortunate when the turnout is so scarce. We have more than 400 members in DOTRA - plus spouses and friends who are always welcome. So, it is difficult to accept the fact that an organization of our size could not come up with more than 26 people. The Board does not want to accept the alternative that we drop our bus trips from the DOTRA Social Activities Calendar. We need 40 to 44 people for any bus excursions, which always are priced at cost - DOTRA makes no profit on our trips. So, please think about this when you pick up the next DOTRA events flyer - and make an effort to get out into the world, see what's going on and leave the driving to us !!!

HERE AND THERE ... by Dot Andres

Nice note received from Francis "Bob" Fitzpatrick - ROW who sends summer greetings to his NJ DOT friends. He and wife Mary spent three days in Washington DC enjoying the sights earlier this Spring. A phone call was received from our friend Nick Nicu - Design/Soils- who lives in Port Orange Florida. Sadly his wife Lube passed away in June. Many of our Florida Reunion attendees have fond memories of Lube who regularly attended the annual event with Nick. Nice note from Maury Guadagno - Construction - down in Daytona Beach, FL.  Maury writes that he and Katherine are doing well in the summer heat. Maury reminds Florida DOTRA members that the New Jersey Plus Health Care is now available to Florida members. Need info, call Pensions!! New member Albert Brogel writes he's joining DOTRA now- even though retiring from MVS way back in 1991- while working he was Assistant Chief of Security. Welcome to our group! Nice to meet some of our new members who attended the June Luncheon- Evelyn Medley (C&M) was there with friends. Many thanks to Director Adrian Lincoln (ROW) for arranging a fine Luncheon at Good Time Charley's. Nice to see Ken Hey and Pete Hollis (Eqt) and almost centurion Tom Pierce.

A new group of retirees is leaving NJDOT and hopefully will be joining us at DOTRA. If you meet any, encourage them to join DOTRA and become active in our Association!

It's not too early to put February 10th 2004 on your calendar for the Annual Florida Reunion in Rockledge,FL