Posts
August: The Once Great Group (see Magazine for Proclamation)
September: Fly Girls (essay on Wonder Women)
Fly Girls
In Reinventing Womanhood, Carolyn Heilbrun (1979) said:
“…When I was a little girl, my father told me the story of the bumble bee. According to the science of aeronautics, so the story went, it was impossible for a creature of the size and weight and construction of the bumble bee to fly. But the bumble bee, not having been told this, flies anyway.” This advice would seem to free women from any negative notion that would tell them they can not fly; okay ladies, time to fly! In fact, you have been flying. So far August and September has put us in the context of history and “herstory.” After my installation August 5, 2008 in Modesto, Ca. the first order of business was to visit with LUSO – their President Ms. Liz Rodrigues; after that, Selma to visit with I.S.M.M. Grand President Ms. Dora Hernandez; The most recent trip to Fremont had me shoulder to shoulder with the regal ladies of the U.P.P.E.C.; a group so remarkable in history, “herstory,” and tradition that eager new members should be lined outside their doors.
The morning of U.P.P.E.C.’s Visitor’s hour, I had the surprise gift of seeing Ms. Marie Xavier, U.P.P.E.C. Past Supreme President, 1983. As she was resting I couldn’t help but focus my attention on the classic black and white photo just above her bed – all youthful glamour and faithful confidence. How liberated we are as a people thanks to these women – women of strength and courage. Think of the many different ways in which the women in your life have encouraged you to follow your dreams – to promote your culture and keep your healthy and happy traditions alive. The perspective, the photos, the obstacles overcome, the paths forged by the women who came before us – the women of previous generations illustrate the power that we have as a people, as a culture, to solve problems with enthusiasm and creativity; to validate the purpose of EVERY MEMBER of EVERY SOCIETY.
The women of our beginning as Supreme Societies would not allow the women of now to lose the CONNECTEDNESS that they established for us to have in the present generation and to give to those who will come after us. They worked too hard for us to let it slip through our fingers. In a way, the history and “herstory” of the societies I visited thus far were not celebrated collectively as they should be. It was like watching an Award-worthy movie that no one else in the world new existed or what is worse, that not even every Portuguese person or every society member knew about. Collectively, not individually, we are like treasure chests overflowing with gold and jewels soon to be thrown to the bottom of the ocean and forgotten. It is embarrassing and sad that in this day and age with all the technologies and ability to reach across any great divide, that still we rush through our time together – it is apparent when we travel and visit with others how much we know and don’t know about our friends, our members, our groups, our selves; that we don’t do more joint service projects; that we don’t all get to see those classic black and white photos of those who gave us life – who gave us relationships – who gave us purpose; those who connected us; those who made us fly.
The Portuguese Societies have been going through a revolution of sorts, and we would be remiss to not recognize and lift up every member of every society every day. We owe it to our forefathers and mothers to know and adopt the core values of Unity, Charity and Protection in our daily activities with all people. We are all in this together. I would like to thank all of my Wonder Women for what you do for me every day (you know who you are), and I am inviting all of you to bring a photo of your Wonder Women and Fly Girls – the inspiring and motivational heartbeats in your life to Palm Springs, Ca. to put on our Wonder Women Wall. You can bring it straight to convention, email it to lovesmilkshakes@yahoo.com or mail it to P.O. Box 1513, Yucaipa, Ca. 92399 all care of Natalie Batista, U.P.E.C. Supreme President 2008-2009.
