Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey (CVCJ), the nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding the frail elderly of Ocean County, recently welcomed four new community members on their Board of Directors.  The new members are Rev. Douglas G. Chase, Pastor of Brick Presbyterian Church; Elizabeth “Liz” Dorick,  Outreach Coordinator at Barnabas Health Home Care – Ocean and Barnabas  Van Dyke Hospice and Palliative Care Center; Cantor Daniel Green, Cantor Emeritus of Congregation B’nai Israel, Toms River; and Shawn Michaels, Radio Host for 92.7 WOBM FM, Townsquare Media.

For the past 22 years, Rev Douglas G. Chase has served as Pastor of Brick Presbyterian Church located at 111 Drum Point Road, Brick.  During his tenure at Brick Presbyterian, Pastor Chase served on the Board of Coastal Caregivers (the forerunner of CVCJ in northern Ocean County) is an active leader in the Brick Clergy Association and shepherds the Church membership.  He has been a Commissioner to General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church and Synod of the Northeast, and on the Board of the Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel.  In 2011 the Church completed and dedicated a 1.8 million dollar expansion, and in 1996 Brick Presbyterian received the JC Penny Golden Rule Award.   Rev. Chase is a Princeton Fellow in Pastoral Leadership Development from Princeton Theological Seminary, and holds a Master in Divinity from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and a BA in Religion from Maryville College. Prior to coming to Brick Township, Rev. Chase served as a US Army Chaplain, Pastor at Henryville Community Presbyterian and Mt. Lebanon Presbyterian Churches in Indiana as well as Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Springville NY.  He and his wife, Rev. Linda Chase, are the proud parents of two adult daughters and one granddaughter.

Toms River resident Elizabeth “Liz” Dorick has been on staff of Community Medical Center (CMC) for 25 years.  She has held various positions giving motivational presentations throughout the Ocean County community promoting health and wellness encouraging adults to a healthy lifestyle so they may remain active and independent.  During her tenure at CMC, part of Barnabas Health, Ms Dorick has served as the Outreach Coordinator Senior Health Network, Patient Satisfaction Representative, and Human Resources Generalist.  Currently, Liz Dorick links and is a vital resource for individuals and families to the services and care available to them through Barnabas Health Home Care – Ocean and Barnabas Van Dyke Hospice and Palliative Care Center. 

Daniel Green is the Cantor Emeritus of Congregation B’nai Israel in Toms River, has long been active in the Clergy Association of Toms River, and participated in the initial discussions to form the coalition of congregations that became CVCJ twenty years ago.  Over the years, Cantor Green has held volunteer positions with the Jewish Federation of Ocean County, the Cantors Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.  Born and raised in New York City, Cantor Green studied Jewish prayer and music at the Hebrew Union School of Sacred Music, where he earned the diploma of Cantor and Bachelor of Sacred Music degree in 1965, and he is the recipient of two honorary Doctor of Music degrees.   Father of three adult children, Cantor Green resides in Jackson with his wife Ruth, who is Cantor of a synagogue in Manalapan.   A longtime advocate of public transportation, he is an appointed member of the Ocean County Transportation Advisory Board, has assisted the Central Jersey Rail Coalition, the NJ Association of Railroad Passengers and the Jackson Safe Roads Committee. Cantor Green is a leader of the Jackson Pathfinders, a trails advocacy and conservation group.  He continues to volunteer his time at Congregation B’nai Israel as well as at local assisted living facilities.

Growing up on the Jersey Shore, Shawn Michaels has developed not just a fondness but a deep love for “everything Ocean County” and the Jersey Shore: the environment, the businesses, the organizations, the sports, and most especially, the people. His community spirit shows in his actions, whether it’s hosting a fund-raiser for an organization, sharing an insight for a need in our community, or promoting an event on the radio.  Ocean County can count on Shawn Michaels and have been listening to him in good times and sad as he hosts the “Ocean County Breakfast Show” on 92.7 WOBM radio, a position he has held for the past 17 years.   A 1983 graduate of Southern Regional High School he also attended Salem College in Salem West Virginia.  In addition to countless volunteer activities, Shawn has emceed CVCJ’s Annual Harvest of Hope Award Dinner.