CHAPTER NEWSLETTER GARDEN STATE COPS

Fall 2007 Page 7
GARDEN STATE C.O.P.S.
CHAPTER NEWSLETTER
Legislative Update: There are currently two pieces of legislation concerning changes to Workman’s Compensation. The
first bill is S1005/A2245, which will bring surviving spouses’ workman’s compensation up to speed with today’s current
rate, as well as allow for future cost of living increases. This bill has passed out of the Senate Labor Committee and is
waiting to be posted to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. S1005 is sponsored by Sen. Stephen Sweeney,
Sen. Walter Kavcnaugh, and cosponsored by Sen. Joseph Coniglio. A2245 needs to be posted to the Assembly Labor
Committee and is sponsored by Assemblymen John Burzichelli and Gordon Johnson, and Assemblywoman Joan Quigley.
The second bill, S2351/A3556, would allow widows to remarry and continue to collect their workman’s compensation
benefit. This bill has passed out of both the Senate and Assembly Labor Committees and is waiting to get posted to both
Senate and Assembly Appropriations. There is a strong chance this bill will get passed into law this December or January.
If doesn’t, then we have to start over and reintroduce the bill. Please write, email or fax your local legislators asking them
to support this bill. Sponsors for this in the Assembly bill are: Jeff Van Drew, Joan Quigley, Frederick Scalera, Nelson
Albano, Neil Cohen, and Charles Epps. Sponsors for this in the Senate bill are: Fred Madden, Stephen Sweeney, and Lames
McCullough.
Annual Camping Trip
This year’s camping trip was by the far the best yet! Due in large part to the efforts of
Michael Parmenter and a generous donation by the South Jersey Chapter of the Police
Unity Tour. Mike arranged for several law enforcement agencies to take part in our
weekend. The Department of Corrections put on a K-9 demonstration, the New Jersey
State Police stopped by with the helicopter, the New Jersey State Park Police brought
fishing poles for all the kids and helped them to fish – they even helped us cook
breakfast! We also had a wildlife rescue specialist come with several animals for the
kids to learn about and pet. He brought a python, a tarantula, a snapping turtle, a
chinchilla, and an alligator. Of course some animals we didn’t pet! We also had
a wonderful woman come and do face painting for the kids. And we had
someone come in to show us how the Indians used to start fires and
make jewelry out of leaves! We affectionately called him “Nature Boy”.
All this was in addition to our regular events! We fished, kayaked, we did tie
die shirts, we made garden stepping stones, and we painted picture frames. We
even made smores’ at the campfire. We are looking forward to next year’s
camping trip already! The same cabin has been booked for Friday, June 22
through Monday, June 25, 2008. We had so much fun we have added and extra
day! Mark your calendars! The cabin only holds 30 people.
Upcoming Events:
Date to be Determined – Bus trip to Washington, DC
11/02/07 – Neptune PBA Dinner to benefit Garden State C.O.P.S.. Madeline Neumann
will be the guest of honor.
11/08/07 – Newark Blue Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Newark, NJ at 10:00 am.
12/09/07 – Holiday Party and Peer Support Meeting at the Youth Temple, Ocean Grove at
12:00 pm.
01/12/08 – Executive Board Meeting at 11:00 am. Peer Support Meeting at 1:30 pm,
tentatively scheduled to be held at Delvetto’s Restaurant in Neptune.
03/08/08 – Executive Board Meeting at 11:00 am. Peer Support Meeting at 1:30. Police
Week Meeting, tentatively scheduled to be held at Delvetto’s Restaurant in
Neptune.
06/07/08 – Annual Meeting at 12:00 Noon, tentatively scheduled to be held at Delvetto’s
Restaurant in Neptune.