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Showing posts from 2021

THE NEW JERSEY CAMEO CLUB: THEY'RE BACK ... OR ARE THEY?

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  Denise Mechan, NJCC Showcase Co-ordinator and MSNJSA, INC., Corresponding Secretary, announced at the July meeting, that Cameo Showcases were to resume. When she passed out the schedule of venues for the rest of 2021, everyone was thrilled and excited about getting back to performing again.   Photo, courtesy Tom Mechan The CLUB got off to a great start, as can be seen in the above photo.  It was a powerful lineup of eager performers at Crestwood Village on July 19th, and the ladies were at the top of their game. Then, when August came, all of the Showcases had to be cancelled due to COVID-19 flareups at the venues they were scheduled for.  For the most part, they were notified ahead of time about the cancellations.  But, on one scarry occasion, they were already in-house and about to begin the show, when the activities director rushed into the auditorium and said one covid case had just been reported.  As a result, she told them to leave the premises immediately.  They left, each lad

A TRIBUTE TO MARK (AND TERRY) MEADE

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MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA, INC., and the NEW JERSEY CAMEO CLUB is saddened by the passing of Mark Meade on August 2nd.  Many friends and CLUB "sisters" visited Terry's home in observance of the Jewish rite of Shiva during the days following his burial, to offer her comfort and condolences.  He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.                                                                                 All photos, courtesy Terry Meade During his lifetime, Mark was a loving husband, father, grandfather, successful business entrepreneur, traveller, volunteer, and lover of the arts.  Mark's story began when he met Terry Brightman, the love of his life.  They were high school sweethearts, and their love affair lasted 56 years! Fast forwarding many years, Mark and Terry had 2 children, Cindy and Scot.  This was a family photo taken in 2015 at Christmas time, and includes their spouses and the grandchildren. Life has its "ups and downs," and sadly,

SENSE OF NORMALCY RETURNS TO MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA, INC.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused havoc with many non-profit groups since early 2020, which has resulted in shut downs or long hiatuses.  Fortunately, for MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA, INC., it has only been the latter.  Operations have slowed down a bit, especially for its service wing, the NEW JERSEY CAMEO CLUB, but it too, has reestablished a sense of normalcy which began in the Spring of 2021.                                                                                 Photo, courtesy Sherri McGhie To begin, the CLUB assisted Terry Meade, Director of Pageants, by holding a "Meet & Greet Luncheon" for the  contestants in May at the Manahawkin Elks Lodge.  Standing behind the contestants are the members of the board of MSNJSA, INC. Terry Meade produced a wonderful and glamorous MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT 2021 on June 3rd. The venue was moved up north to Ocean County, and was held in the Clarion Hotel in Toms River.  There were 8 contestants, and Dorothy John

MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA 2021 PARTICIPATED IN AN HISTORICAL EVENT

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       Photo, Courtesy Sherri McGhie, MSNJSA'15 The Juneteenth Celebration, a popular African-American holiday, was observed across the United States over the past weekend.  Dorothy Johnson, MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA 2021, participated in the Cherry Hill Parade on Saturday.  Juneteenth has been celebrated since 1866, but despite its popularity, it never received national recognition.  That all changed, however, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, on June 15, 2021, and that the date of its observance will remain as June 19th.  The first celebration of Juneteenth dates back to 1866, and originated in Galveston, Texas.  Although President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which ended institutional slavery, the law took time to enforce in all States.  Such was the case in Texas, where due to a low presence of Union troops, enforcement there was slow, and was delayed until 1865.  A year later, church grou

MEMORIES OF THE MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT 2021

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After a year's hiatus due to the corona virus pandemic of 2020, Johanne Santori, CHAIRMAN, and Members of the Board of MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA, INC., decided to hold the MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT 2021. During the past year, restrictions prohibiting large group gatherings were lifted, and this enabled the Board's decision to continue the tradition of a live PAGEANT.  The event was held at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Toms River on June 3rd. There was an air of relief and joy, as people filled the Grand Ballroom to capacity for the afternoon event, because for the first time, they had a choice of whether or not to wear a mask.                                                            Photos, courtesy Sherri McGhie, MSNJSA'15                                At the center of the stage, a golden crown was pinned to to a black velvet curtain.  The lecturn for the speakers was located at stage right, and the trophy table on stage left. The opening num

MEET THE CLASS OF 2021

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The highly anticipated MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT 2021, is  only two weeks away.  This year, the PAGEANT will be held at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Toms River, on Thursday, June 3rd in the Grand Ballroom at 1:00 PM.   Eight elegant ladies who will participate in the time-honored PAGEANT met each other yesterday at the Manahawkin Elks Lodge, for a "Meet and Greet" luncheon, hosted by the Board of MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA, INC., and the NEW JERSEY CAMEO CLUB.    All photos, courtesy Sherri McGhie/MSNJSA'15 From left to right are: Dorothy Johnson/Mt. Laurel, Dale Browndorf/Margate, Amini Sababu/Trenton, Geri Rizzo/Atlantic City, Donna King/Egg Harbor Township, Pat Gensinger/Brick, Mary Neafie/Barnegat, and Donna Kofman/Union Beach.   The agenda for the afternoon meeting included: welcome speeches by members of the Board and Dr. Debra Canale/MSNJSA 2019, overview of the history, purpose and goals of  MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA, INC., the PAGEA

POSTER

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MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT 2021 Clarion Hotel & Conference Center 815 Route 37 West Toms River Tickets:   $15.00  All Seats For Information Call: 908-216-8534 Email: tbm5201@aol.com www.newjerseysenioramerica.org www.msnewjerseysenioramerica.blogspot.com Facebook & You Tube  

MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT 2021!

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The waiting is over and plans for the MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT 2021 are underway.  Due to the COVID-19 virus, other State Pageant Directors have been struggling with how to hold their PAGEANTS this year.  Some have been virtual, while others have appointed their Queen.  But not so in New Jersey.  Administrator Johanne Santori/MSNJSA'06, and Director of Pageants/Terry Meade, decided that the PAGEANT will be held live, and is scheduled for Thursday, June 3rd, 1:00 PM at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, in the Ballroom, 815 Route 37 West, in Toms River.  For the first time in its history, the 2020 MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT had to be canceled, due to the COVID-19 virus.  Rather than lament over the "lost year",  the next few photos are reminiscent of happier times in 2019 and early 2020.  This photo was taken at the 2019 MSNJSA PAGEANT, when Debra Canale won that year's title.  She is joined by other STATE & NATIONAL QUEENS who were in a

PLANS & VISIONS FOR MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR SENIOR AMERICA, INC BECOME REALITY IN 2021

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As the dreaded COVID-19 virus continues its second year gripping the world, organizations have had to find new ways to survive, and to keep their members safe and involved.  Since 2019, MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA has been confronted with its share of problems; however, this stalwart group of "ladies of elegance" changed these challenges into opportunities.   During this time the PAGEANT organization became a 501c3 non-profit organization, hence its new name, MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA, INC., and the Board was established with: Johanne Santori/MSNJSA'06, Chairman; Jo Ann Gordon/MSNJSA'08, Vice Chairman; Denise Mechan, Director of Communications; Carolyn Slade Harden/MSNJSA'17 & MSSA '17, Director of Finance; and Terry Meade, Director of Pageants. The Board worked together to implement visions and plans for the future of the PAGEANT and the NEW JERSEY CAMEO CLUB. Sadly, the MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT 2020 had to be canceled, but plans for  2021