DOTRA TRIP INFORMATION

                     By Jay Johnston

Twenty DOTRA Family and friends had a great trip to Las Vegas on June 12-16, 2006. Everyone came home with their bank accounts still intact! The temperature was in the 90’s but it was a dry heat. (I’ll bet you heard that one before!)

There is still room for the Southern Caribbean Cruise on April 23^rd to May 4^th 2007. This is an 11 day cruise on the Norwegian Dawn, leaving from NYC harbor. The ship will sail to St.Thomas, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Dominica and Tortola. Cost is $1699 per person, double occupancy for an Ocean view stateroom with balcony.

Call Jay Johnston at 609-588-0930 for more details!

       TRAVELS BY DOTRA MEMBERS

The Jay Johnston’s just returned from a trip to Disney World with two granddaughters Victoria and Morgan. Angel and Jay’s son, Jay and daughter Maria joined them on the trip. “We take our granddaughters away on a vacation every year so we can spend some quality time with them. Now that our family is growing and as they grow older, our grandson Niko and granddaughter Melina will join us on our adventures. Life is good! “ says Jay.

Dot and Chet Andres celebrated a special occasion with a Family Cruise to the southern Caribbean with all eleven members of their family, gathered from Florida and Delaware. Sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Adventurer of the Sea from Puerto Rico, the cruise included stops in Aruba, Curacoa, St. Martin and St. Thomas. It was a great time and reunion - they all want a repeat next year!

Seth Barton’s Trip to South America

In early Spring of 2006, the Seth Bartons’ took a flight and cruise to places in South America where most of us have heard of only in an issue of National Geographic. An abbreviated version of Seth’s Travel Log follows:

“Starting with a 12 hour flight from the U.S. to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, we viewed the modern metropolis with wide white beaches, whose scenery is dominated by a monolith named Sugar Loaf and a Statue of Christ the Redeemer.

“On to the ship the same day to sail for Montvideo, Uraguay, the third smallest country in South America with a day tour of the countryside where many residents are descended from Spanish and Italian immigrants who migrated in the late 19^th century. Then, off to Buenos Aires, Argentina where lessons of the tango were practiced and gaucho exhibitions were given at an Argentinian ranch.

“Back to the ship for 2 more days amd finally arriving at Stanley in the Falkland Islands. Here there remains much evidence of the war between Argentina and the Falklands, and also WWII when the countryside was “planted” with land mines, some of which are occasionally detonated by the grazing livestock. A search by jeep safari to see the famous penguins of the Falklands was the destination. There were about 500 penguins of various species at the rookery all talking at the same time and raising a lot of noise.

“Another day at sea and we were around the tip of South America also known as Cape Horn via the Strait of La Maire. There were even a few brave souls who jumped into the COLD waters. Cape Horn is a cluster of small islands at the southern most points of Argentina and Chile in a region referred to as Pantagonia. This route was feared by sailors due to the violent storms and waves that are known to reach 65 feet in height. We were fortunate to miss that experience!

“Through the Straits of Magellan to the Province of Terra del Fuego, we visited Ushuaia to see Magellan penguins which burrow in the ground to nest and raise their young, plus saw sea lions and seals, rheas, emus and red fox.

“On the way to Puerto Montt, we saw some of the Chilean fjords with glaciers similar to those we had seen on our trip to Alaska. At our stop in Puerto Montt, we were hosted by a rancher and his family, The children demonstrated the native dances and put on a rodeo show for us.

“Our last day was a stop in Santiago, Chile where we saw a cabaret show before heading

to the airport for our 12 hour flight home.

“It was a trip we will always remember! “ 

                                Seth

HERE AND THERE

                                           By Dot Andres

Jay and Angel Johnston are proud to announce the arrival of their new grand-daughter, Melina Johnston. She was born in Korea in November and arrived in the US on June 20^th. The Johnston family is rejoicing her arrival.

Our MailBox had little mail during the past 3 months. Bruce Strickland (Management Systems) does check the PO Box weekly and reports there are always good coupons in there for Pizza Specials, which he is enjoying!

Frank Bara (Management Systems) retired in 1992, wrote a note to send a hello to former co-workers Bruce Strickland and Chet Andres. Anita White (Title Bureau/ROW) retired in 1988. She’d like to see some of our Luncheons closer to the Freehold, Monmouth County area. Do we have any volunteers or suggestions?

We think we have found Steffan Franklin (Structural Evaluations) after a number of DOTLINE’s were returned to us. A transposed number in his Zip Code! Whatever happened to mail persons who could read?

Our Annual Luncheon in June was held at the Mercer County Golf Course and CC. We had a guest speaker from the NJDOT speak on one of the newest programs being initiated at the NJDOT. Kathy Derringer, a familiar name to some of us who may have worked with her on Research projects, spoke on a program for transportation for senior citizens when independent driving is not a possibility. A test program is due to be initiated this Fall in the Mercer County area.

There were a number of DOTRA “regulars” at the Anniversary Luncheon. Thank you! - Where would we be without your support?

Our group was a bit smaller than usual because of early vacations and prior commitments. Nice to see Janis and Frank Stia (Support Services and Materials) there. Frank has now started another career in real estate. We saw George and Peg Wieger (Maintenance) and also among the attendees were Andy Cella (ROW) and wife Janet, Anne and Fergie Reeves (Procurement), Florence and Ted Fischer (Bridge Design) and Doris Jones (wife of Ed Jones).

Many thanks to Anna and Adrian Lincoln (ROW) for arranging the Annual Luncheon and entertainment.

“Plans for our DOTRA 2007 Florida Reunion is in a state of “flux, ” says Frank Wegel. We are trying to reach Floridians this year on the west coast of Florida in the Naples/ Fort Myers area to attend. DOTRA member Cliff Heckman (Materials), and Fergie Reeves (Procurement) have been in touch but no firm plans have been made. As soon as a Meeting place is confirmed, you will be advised. In the meantime, reserve the usual second Tuesday in February for the event. Call me or email if you have some ideas!

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 !!!