THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Supreme President & State Youth President
January 17, 2009


Friday, January 9th, 2009, members of Council #43, Chino arrived in Bakersfield, Ca.
We (the girls) stayed overnight at the Holiday Inn Express (our momma and Ava Lucy Parriera, and of course sister Vanessa). The men parked their R.V. at the Dias Ranch behind a hay truck; our Papa said he fell asleep dreaming of his childhood on the dairy.

Our Papa (State Youth Advisor, Zach Batista) stayed overnight Friday and Saturday with Past State Youth President Zachary Batista Jr. and our youngest brother Christopher. It was their first R.V. camping experience together! Papa starting early with Gary and the crew (Caron and company were working days before chopping onions) and the work, excitement and fun continued through Sunday.

Thanks to Gary, Caron and their family for inviting everyone and offering their ranch (their lemons and grapefruit are amazing). I’m thinking we can turn the Matanca into an educational television series with Joe I. Silva and Igidio Almeida as instructors and Joe Pimentel as the commentator/comedian.

It was a pleasure and honor to have a few of our uncles and of course our Tia attend; our Tio Gerard Batista from Chino and a member of Luso-America Board of Directors; our Tio Anton Batista and Tia Cecilia of the I.D.E.S. Council in Chino; they enjoyed it so much they have signed on to help with upcoming fundraisers (watch your mail for invitations).

Deep and heartfelt thanks to all of the women who worked and prepared to make it such a special event; the food was delicious, and Iria Pimentel was showcasing how to be a Portuguese card shark!

It was wonderful to see Amanda Silva, Past State Youth President and her fiancée.

Our Queen Contest also kicked off with Britney Aceves in attendance from Lemoore/Hanford (and her family)!

Thank you, thank you to Connie Corvelo for all of her support and dedicated enthusiasm to the future of our beloved society.

Today, instead of being bicep deep in morcella, we have split our respective duties between the Cabrillo Convention in Fresno, Ca. and our brother Zachary’s Going-Away-to-Boot-Camp-Party-Weekend at our Ava Parriera’s in Chino; an all day open house on Sunday, as you all know, requires a lot of kitchen preparation on Saturday –
Everyone is most cordially invited!

We both would like to wish our entire U.P.E.C. family a very Happy New Year!
God Bless You and the U.P.E.C.!

Mary Batista – State Youth President
Natalie Batista – Supreme President