The night was not quite wintry, but dark and very wet.  Rain splashed off our windshield for the two hours it took us to get to the NJ JCI Senate Holiday gathering at the Friedlander's warm & inviting abode. 

With the graying of our organization (meaning some have passed and others are ill and many have other priorities such as new spouses with extended families) and with very few new members due to the demise of the parent Jaycee organization we are sadly getting used to small groups at our events being just the way it is. 

As you have read previously we had a grand time in September with 8 of us showing up for a wonderful day at Monmouth Race Track.  For the Holiday Party I knew of 11 positive RSVP's and I thought, "Great, three more than Monmouth!"

Frank Mennuto (thank goodness he was driving) and I arrived at the Friedlander's right at 6PM and if you have been there you know it is not a brightly illuminated street :)  There was a car cruising very slowly coming toward us and we knew it had to be one of our party scoping out which driveway to turn into.....sure enough as we pulled up next to them it was George Muniz & Alisa asking if this was the right place; we said yes, just turn into the driveway on your right.....long story short, George didn't but it all worked out later :)

Frank turned his car around and we entered the driveway and President Bob came out and carried the Senate bar in from the back seat, since he respects his elders and really doesn't want them tripping and dropping the liquor :)

Once inside Bob told us that Terry Seeley was sick and could not make it and Marcia Sheppard had a bad back and had to stay home and since those ladies were his ride, a PA Senator who had been planning on attending - was not. So quickly our count became the magic 8 again.  George and Alisa came through the door so 6 of the 8 were present.

We all asked one another if John & Sue Reiner were still coming with the weather being so lousy and them having the longest journey to get to Galloway Twp ?  Suddenly the door swung open and.....Holy Cow !  It was Joan Thomas and her neighbor from Little Egg Harbor, Barbara "Bunny" Sangsten.  What a pleasant surprise; although it turned out Joan had RSVP'd, I just did not get the word.  Joan told us that she had gotten there 15 minutes earlier but there were no cars parked so she thought she might have the wrong date and they almost turned around and went home; but they drove back by one more time and she saw cars & activity and they came in :)

Bob & Helen helped serve drinks and Bunny abandoned her search for a sweet white wine when she spied the Cherry Vodka amidst the bottles in the Senate bar.  John & Sue arrived a half hour later and easily earned the prestigious "Man Mile Award", for those with faulty memories that is a ceremonial A-ward for the one traveling the farthest to attend a function.

The ten of us talked and laughed and shared stories and had a fine feast provided by our hosts.  Joan told us of weddings and children and two months in Australia and looming weeks in Florida.  Bunny (it turned out she is very good friends with a couple in Little Egg Harbor and the wife has been a BFF with Helen for 40 years !!! - that small world deal strikes again)  Also Bunny shared with us that she had worked in a Sex Crimes Unit for 15 years - one never knows!!!

The Reiner's told us that they had recently closed on land in Tennessee, south of Knoxville heading toward Chatanooga and after their home is built on the land they would be retiring there; ya'll come :)  The Freidlander's said their son, Nicholas, was doing well in college and all is grand on their home front.  Frank told us that his commercial insurance business in Staten Island was keeping him busier than ever and Shelby explained that Frank was his date again like at Monmouth since Debbie is busy working on a paper for one of her course for her Master's degree.

As the party wound down it was announced that Len & Janice Brzozowski had volunteered to host the Super Bowl party (Feb 1st for non football fans).  Details will follow - and if you are not football fans, maybe you should plan to attend for a few hours anyway to see  olds friend before they are no longer in the area, for whatever the reason !

     A heartfelt "Thank You" goes out to all of you who thought so much of me and my many years of Jaycee-ette work and accomplishments to award me with Senatorship #73044. 

     Believe me you really "pulled it off" as I have never been more surprised in my life !!  It is truly an honor to be so recognized by my peers.

     A special "Thank You" to Shelby and the late Dick Thomas who started the process, to Dexter who gave a great presentation with never a clue until he said "Tuohy", to Jim Rose who read off all my much forgotten, but fondly brought back to mind, accomplishments.  Jim also rented a suite, when he didn't need to, just to have a place to host that very special N.J. Senate tradition of a "pouring."

     Believe me my friends, I treasure all of you and the many fun years we have shared together !

Sincerely,

Carol Tuohy
Senator # 73044
Keywoman # 9
Amerada Fellowship #23
Senate Friendship # 20

Those attending along with Bob were Terry Seeley, Marcia Sheppard, Jim & "Mom" Miller, Dexter & Nance Graef, Bob & Jean (Grammie) Neumann, Jim & Jan Rose, Mike & Norma Arons, Shelby, Marty & our newest NJ JCI Senator, Carol Tuohy # 73044 !!!

There were quite a few highlights for New Jersey beyond the obvious delights of sight seeing at next door Niagara Falls.  One of the stand out scenes was the splendid presentation of Carol Tuohy's Senatorship by Dexter Graef who disguised the identity of the recipient by wrapping his talk around the classic "The Man In The Glass" (reminding us that we MUST be true to ourselves above all).  Carol was absolutely stunned and stood smiling & trembling in the front of the room as husband Marty affixed the Senate pins in the appropriate places.  During that touching process, long time friend Jim Rose recited to the assembled crowd a list of her accomplishments during her decades long Jaycee affiliated activities.  At the banquet end we New Jerseyans went up to a suite procured by Jim & Jan Rose to conduct the time honored "pouring" of champagne by our newest Senator - a Grand Island time was had by all :) 

Dexter also made an additional two ladies from NJ exceedingly happy by bestowing the coveted Jersey She Devil title (and pins to be worn proudly) on Terry Seeley and Jean (Grammie) Neumann.  So naming them She Devils (Terry for her 15 years of service chairing the MAI fund raising auction and Jean for becoming an integral fixture in our NJ JCI Senate fabric in an amazingly short time)  The two ladies thus joined a group of 18 other special ladies that Dexter along with Trading Pin Master Jesse Lee & Pompous Bob Neumann have chosen to honor from 1980 to today !.  For you long time Jaycee pin traders we know you are shaking your heads and wondering just how to get your hands on the first newly minted Jersey Devil pins in many a year !  Hint, hint: any one for a road trip to Pigeon Forge, TN next February ? 

Special NOTE: while attending the MAI,  Nance and Dexter were notified that their grandson, Dexter Dinsmore, passed the Eagle Scout Board of Review.  He has earned his Eagle award which will be formally presented at a Court of Honor to be held at a later date.  His Boy Scout involvement started with Cub Scouts and has led to his achievement of this high award!

Our own Terry Seeley & Marcia Sheppard were very classily recognized by Region II NVP Jackie Grim for their 15 years of service to MAI (US JCI Regions II & III) for Terry being the "Chair" & Marcia her "right hand" partner in various good deeds and a few nefarious activities over the fifteen years on very successfully conducting the fund raising auction; their leadership efforts raised in excess of $30,000 over the years !  Those two ladies have left mighty large shoes to fill as they step down to allow others to follow.

There was another presentation at the Saturday night banquet that brought a lump in our collective NJ throats; the very first presentation of the Dick Thomas Memorial Award to the Region II Outstanding State Treasurer for 2013/14.  The award was given to Dick Howell of the Delaware JCI Senate jointly by NVP Jackie Grim & NJ President Bob Friedlander.

An ominous event took place Saturday morning when NY JCI Senator Chris Nunn suddenly had a serious health episode.  I will share our NVP Jackie Grim's rendition of the event:  "I just wanted to say "THANK YOU" to New Jersey Senate President, Bob Friedlander; New York Senate President, Michele Wallen; Pennsylvania Senate President Beth Newill and Pennsylvania's very special mentor and political advisor, Joe Sabella!  These four people are special heroes and good people without a doubt

Saturday morning during the business meeting New York member and Region II political advisor, Chris Nunn was taken ill and needed immediate medical help.  Without hesitation these four people went to Chris' aid performing the necessary first aid he needed and keeping him calm until help arrived.  It was a difficult situation but these four worked to help someone/a friend in need!"

In closing, to any whom I have forgotten or not spelled your name correctly or related the events a bit skewed one way or the other, it is entirely my fault as I reconstruct the events utilizing the notes written on the back and borders of program booklets, torn paper napkins and what actual memory I have left:)  Kudos go out to Bob & Jean Neumann for driving me up to MAI and to Mike & Norma Arons for bringing me back home; highly appreciated !

Yours in the JCI Spirit, Shelby