Dear MCANJ member:

As the year and my term wind down, I wanted to give you a final update on a couple of things that have happened in the last few weeks.    As you know I had been trying to contact Senator Loretta Weinberg to discuss Senator Norcross’ bill.   She has indicated that since being designated as the Majority Leader for next year she has been out of her office constantly the last two weeks.   Since the bill has slowed down, she has agreed to meet with representatives of the Executive Board in early January to discuss this bill and any outstanding OPMA and OPRA issues.     Although my term as President will be finished, Incoming President Pavlica has asked me to attend with him the meeting with Senator Norcross and Senator Weinberg as we continue our valiant efforts  on these issues.  

I had another conference call with Representatives of Department of Health and Senior Services Cathleen Bennet and Colette Lamothe-Galette; Lori Buckelew, League of Municipalities and Lynn Minetti, President of the Registrars Association of NJ to continue the discussion on the Registrars.   The majority of the session was spent talking about the debacle the Registrar’s session at the League of Municipalities Conference was.   Lynn and I shared with Cathleen the feedback we had received including that the speaker was 45 minutes late, she didn’t follow the agenda and no questions were answered.  Ms. Bennet committed to appear at the spring meeting which will be on April 12, 2012 in Monroe Township.  Lynn will send her the questions that had been submitted for the November session to Ms. Bennet so that they can be answered.   Ms. Bennet is also going to get another speaker for that session.  

In conclusion, I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year.   I wish you all the best in 2012!

Joanne Kwasniewski

2011 MCANJ President