And such a month it was! The fabulous ladies of the NEW JERSEY CAMEO CLUB, along with Dr. Debra Canale, MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA 2019, were busy performing in a variety of age related venues, leaving behind special messages of love to their constituents.
All photos, courtesy Mark Meade and Tom Mechan
The weather was perfect on Saturday afternoon, September 7th, when 11 ladies performed for the Berkeley Township Community Pride Day in Bayville at Veteran's Park. They rocked the park with their stellar individual performances. Afterwards, Denise and Tom Mechan invited everyone to their beautiful home located on the water for food, fun and libations.
Meanwhile, on the same day, another event was taking place. Dr. Debra Canale, MSNJSA 2019 was featured in an Atlantic City Parade.
Becky Orsatti, MSNJSA 2010, was QUEEN Debra's chaperone at the parade that day. In the background, is the float she rode in, which was laden with flowers, flags and the patriotic colors of red, white and blue.
Parade participants must have felt safe that day, since AC's finest "men in blue" were there to protect while they marched, too!
Friday the 13th, turned out to be an especially lucky day, at the NJCC Showcase at the Monmouth County Public Library, in Manalapan. Bernadette Dudek, MSNJSA 2009, who had moved to South Carolina a few years ago, was visiting in New Jersey for a few days. She was invited to sing in that Showcase. Her rendition of "I Could Have Danced All Night" was as wonderful as ever!
Every year, the NEW JERSEY CAMEO CLUB entertains on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. And this year, the Tuesday, September 17th Showcase was yet another special one. MSNJSA STATE PAGEANT ADMINISTRATOR, Johanne Santori, who had been away for a while due to medical illness came back and performed. The "Sisters" welcomed her return with a bouquet of roses.
On Thursday, September 19th, there was the annual Showcase at the Canoe Club in Hammonton, and that was followed by a Sunday performance at the Atrium in Red Bank, which overlooks the beautiful Navasink Harbor. Dr. Al Mott, founder of the MS SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT, attended to enjoy the show along with the residents.
The NEW JERSEY CAMEO CLUB is the service wing of the MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT Organization. Besides performing in age related venues, the Club constantly seeks ladies 60 and over to become contestants in annual MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR PAGEANTS. The CLUB had a great opportunity to do that on television. On Tuesday, September 24th, they taped a NJCC SHOWCASE on CTF-TV, a community television station in Mays Landing. The show, "World Focus", hosted by Dr. Thelma Witherspoon aired the following Friday evening.
The focus of Dr. Witherspoon's show is to "share relevant topics that will help, change, and bring awareness to all who watch". Denise Mechan, NJCC SHOWCASE COORDINATOR, co-hosted the show with Thelma. She also encouraged those in the viewing area to contact her if they wish to schedule a SHOWCASE for their group.
The show opened with an ensemble number, "With Love, From Motown", a salute to Diana Ross and The Supremes.
During the interviews much was learned about the MSNJSA PAGEANT Organization and the NEW JERSEY CAMEO CLUB. Johanne Santori, MSNJSA STATE PAGEANT ADMINISTRATOR, spoke about the philosophy, history, purpose and goals of MSNJSA PAGEANT.
Terry Meade, MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA EXECUTIVE STATE PAGEANT DIRECTOR, spoke about the requirements needed for women 60 and over to be come a contestant. She also encouraged ladies to call her ASAP, because recruitment for the 2020 PAGEANT has already begun.
Dr. Debra Canale, MSNJSA 2019, spoke about how life changed for her after reaching 60, and she needed to refocus and to make the rest of her days more meaningful and productive. She found that the MSNJSA PAGEANT helped her to realize some of her goals.
The ladies gave stellar individual performances, and the SHOWCASE concluded with the patriotic medley, "This is My Country, God Bless America".
Meanwhile, other NEW JERSEY CAMEO CLUB "Sisters" were out doing community service of their own. On September 26th, Roxanne Terramagra, organized a sunset cruise along beautiful Atlantic City Bay, for the scholarship program, which benefits the performing arts students who attend Stockton University in Atlantic City. She invited NEW JERSEY CAMEO CLUB "Sisters" to perform, who were: Dr. Debra Canale/MSNJSA'19; Becky Orsatti/MSNJSA'10; Suzie Neustatder/MSNJSA'18, Millie Tate/NJCC member, and herself.
Five local newspapers in the Red Bank area covered Denise Larson Ely's platform of organ donation, and her achievement as 1st runner up in the MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT 2019.
It was certainly a "rockin' September", and, as always, the purpose of every performance was to dedicated to 2 things: making people happy, and encouraging ladies 60+ to become contestants in next year's PAGEANT. Terry's phone and/or email is now open!
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