Office Of Volunteer Services

One Center Street

Newark, NJ 07102

Upcoming Events

AUGUST – BERES HAMMON AND SPECIAL GUESTS

Saturday August 23 at 8:00pm,

SEPTEMBER – WANDA SYKES

Friday, September 19 at 8pm

OCTOBER – GOLDA’S BALCONY starring Tovah Feldshuh

Saturday, October 18 at 3pm & 8pm

Sunday, October 19 at 2pm & 7pm

Volunteer Voices is your newsletter and welcomes material and ideas for future issues.

Send material to the Office of Volunteer Services, NJPAC, One Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102.

Volunteer Voices Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival

From Thursday October 23 through Sunday, October 26, more than 70 leading poets from around the world will visit the Arts Center and its surrounding venues, as NJPAC hosts the internationally-renowned Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival for the third time since 2010. A celebration of the diverse poetry community, the Festival, anchored at NJPAC, will transform Newark's downtown Arts district into a “Poetry Village,” with many performances and readings at multiple venues within easy walking distance.

Letter from the Director Ginny Bowers Coleman

Sunday, March 16 was the NYC 1/2 marathon. 13.1 miles from Central Park to Battery Park and it was so exhilarating… I could have kept running!

I want to thank you all for supporting me in this! From the monetary donations to Angelwish, the emails and the heart-felt wishes, you are so thoughtful!

I can't begin to share the humanity of huddling together with a woman wearing a trash bag for warmth at 7am or the thrill of running though bustling Times Square & 42nd Street in 18 mph winds.

As I sprinted across the finish line, on tired legs, it was as if I was carried on wings. I hugged the volunteer giving me my medal!

Your generosity helped me raise over $1,700 for Angelwish, which will benefit in-need children with chronic illnesses and teach a philanthropy course to 3rd graders.

I ran 13.1 miles in 2 hours 8 minutes, with a smile on my face the entire time! Thank you all for the encouragement. Keep your laces tied!

Splendor on the Grass

THIS ISSUE

Broadway at Moorland P.1

Appreciation Dinner P.2

Summer Fun & Training P.3

Database P.4

2014-15 Season Schedule P.6

Spotlight on volunteers & staff P.7

S p r i n g / S u m m e r 2 0 1 4

By Linda Fowler

NJPAC Newsletter Staff

Anne Streater, Diane Dorste, Jeanette Marable, Adilah Quddus Sylvia Schuman greets with open arms

Continued page 4

Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner Renewal – Growth – Fresh

– Spring!

FAREWELL TO JOSH BALBER

By John Schreiber

After nearly a decade of telling NJPAC’s story, Josh Balber has left NJPAC to join The Jackie Robinson Foundation in New York as its new Communications Director.

As our Senior Director of Communications, Josh made sure the organization showed its best face, whether on television, radio, print or online. He cultivated invaluable rela-tionships with the media, Arts Center leadership, other organizations, and community leaders in Newark and statewide.

Josh tirelessly pitched NJPAC performances, spotlighted the Arts Center’s education programs, and strategically relayed our institutional communications within one of the top media markets in the country.

In the early days of social media, Josh realized the platform’s potential and created NJPAC’s presence on Facebook and twitter.

Please join me in wishing Josh every success in the next chapter of his career.

NJPAC Welcomes its New Staff Members

John Schreiber with Mary Lou Lunin, chair, and Dinner Committee members

Christopher Antoine

John Schreiber and Ben Donsky

KANDICE DICKINSON AWARD RECIPIENT

Anne Streater

“Volunteering at NJPAC has been a rewarding experience. We share activities with others in an interactive environment. The opportunity of sharing because we care is a winning combination.”

DENA F. LOWENBACH, VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENT

Jeanette Marable

“Volunteering is so reward-

ing, especially at NJPAC. I can identify with the quote by Mr. Robinson at the Volunteer Dinner, “You make a life by what you give. “NJPAC affords me many opportunities to participate in meaningful and fun activities while interacting with caring staff, fellow volunteers and the people we serve.”

By Mary Lou Lunin Josh Balber, Linda Fowler & Giinny

Josh Balber & Giinny, 2008 7

SPOTLIGHT ON OUR VOLUNTEERS:

Anne Streater and Jeanette Marable

By Mada Liebman

Continued on page 5

2

Charlene Roberts

“A standing ovation to you all and your incredible staff for making Broadway at Moorland THE event of the summer!

You now understand the scope of the event and the infrastructure that needs to be in place to make this event happen–not an easy thing to master in a short time. Your staff passed their trial-by-fire with flying colors–a testament to their professionalism and leadership skills. Our guests commented on their courteous, professional manner throughout the evening. We also had several people offer to assist us with promoting and devel-oping next year’s event–a rare occurrence, at least in this community! Please convey our gratitude and congratula-tions to everyone for a job well done! We look for-ward to working with you all in the future.”

– John, Guy, Ron, Patti, The Far Hills Race Meeting Association Team “I too wish to thank every-one for their willingness to take on new roles, your “can-do” team approach, and overall positive spirit ... so completely professional!”

-Ross Richards, VP Operations, NJPAC

WHAT’S NEW WITH YOU? Marlene Abitanto, Bettye Carson, Monica Dutton, Ruth Frazier, Franklin Hall, Barbara James, Mada Liebman, Susan Plog and Adilah Quddus were delegates for NJPAC during Media Day for the XLVII Super Bowl. They met at 5am to board buses and greeted members of the press. Go Team!

Bettye Carson went on a

golf trip to Puerto Rico in

February.

Susan Lippa travelled to

Hawaii in February.

Frances Kaufmann’s

daughter got married in

April in Tarrytown, NY.

Sirena Terr was a contestant on Jeopardy this past May.

Alice White grieved the loss of her husband, Gene, this spring.

Bakbakkar Yehuda had a street named posthumously in his honor on the corner of Meeker Avenue and Peshine Avenue in Newark.

continued on page 6

5

Volunteers and the Development staff getting in on the fun!

NJPAC Welcomes New Volunteers!

Gold level volunteers

Karen Brooks

Noreen Coleman

Sheila Conway

Rose Ann DeSteno

Judith Epps

Maya Fleitas

Natsha Harvell

Winifred McKinnon

Jacqueline Marc

Maritza Munoz

Stacy Raheem

Patricia Tate

Shirlene Wonzer

Stacia Wood

Anita Young

Volunteer Dinner

Splendor on the Grass

“I thought it was awesome!

Well planned and well attended.”

-Hazetta Bagby

Hazetta Bagby and Ginny

The New Database

By Barbara Nol l

4

What’s New Nancy Mullan spent two weeks visiting family in California this past winter. Theresa Brown’s niece got engaged over the Christmas holiday and her son is getting married next July. Mary Lou Lunin’s son got married in Philadelphia this spring. Vincent Wells was surprised by friends, some traveling from as far as Maine, this past April as he celebrated his 90th birthday!

Doris Nicholson attended the 34th annual Marion Thompson lecture series in February. Rochelle Starr cruised to the Western Caribbean this past January. Mada Liebman visited France in celebration of the 70th Anniversary of D-Day.

Lucy Wilkerson went to Maryland for conference of Association of Improvement of Minorities in the IRS and will attend the national

conference this August.

Bill Liess celebrated the birth of his grandson and is

sharing his love of base-ball.

July 10

July 17

July 24

July 31

August 7

August 14

August 21

August 28

FAMILY FUN DAY

Amy Tenzer and Vince Wells coordinated scores of volunteers who provided assistance to the craft-ers and Zumba dancers, supplied marketing and membership information and led three facility tours during the four-hour festival.

Craig Pearce, Program Manager for NJPAC, described the "lots of moving

pieces" that comprised this event and told our volunteers "we couldn't have done it without you!" Director of Volunteer Services Ginny Bowers Coleman noted the planning and over-sight by co-chairs Amy and Vince that underpinned the day's success: "Our volunteers," she said, "pulled off another great event!"

3

Horizon Foundation

SOUNDS OF THE CITY

July 10–August 28 • 5–9pm

MILITARY PARK GRAND OPENING

NJPAC Season Schedule

Susan Lippa and Sheila Kaufman, Membership in Prudential Lobby

Everett Brown, Marketing at Maplewood Pride Festival

Volunteers still using paper sign-in sheets (PM, Coat

Check, Membership, CIC) need to clearly PRINT their names so the time can be

accurately attributed.

Not everyone is printing his or her name as requested,

resulting in a time-consuming and not always successful

attempt to de-code.

Please print your name... You deserve to be

recognized!

—Bill Liess

Christian McBride

Brick City Jazz Orchestra

Bill Charlap

6

Yuja Wang

Marketing and Membership Trainings

Dance Theatre of Harlem

“It was my first Sounds of the City and I couldn't have done it without all of your help. You exceeded my expectations .”

- Charlene Roberts

By Mada Liebman

Lucy Wilkerson

Clarence Conner, Amy Tenzer, Jean Anderson, and Linda Crayton