I love my AVAS, TIAS, SUPREME SISTA'S and all the Wonder Women in my life!!

With my Ava Parriera (in pink), my Tia Madeline (on my mom's side) Vera Faria, and St. Anthony's Supreme President Rosie all hanging out in Modesto at the Brohtherhood of St. Anthony Convention.

Then there is me and my Ava Batita; always flawless and fabulous in Chino, Ca.!

Supreme President’s Reports:
Aug. – The Once Great Group
Sept. – Fly Girls
Oct. – U.P.E.C. Cares

U.P.E.C. Cares
I found time for quiet reflection on a myriad of topics (the U.P.E.C. always being top on the list) here in the relatively sleepy food court at a mall in Newark, Ca. It’s 9:00 am and I am sharing my gingerbread latte and vanilla scone moment with the early morning senior walkers, janitors and a few retail employees who are caffeinating themselves for the workday ahead.
It is Friday, November 14th, 2008 and my Papa has entered the sacred conference room at the Newark-Fremont Hilton for Supreme President Richard J. Castro’s SES Convention, so I took this time to meditate. The protective coverings that drape the carts of specialty vendors are starting to be taken down by their operators; recent high school graduates are pounding lemons into lemonade at the Hot Dog on a Stick, and a handful of “others” are wondering around; the homeless-looking man, the troop of terminally happy handi-capable volunteers and the luminous chair massage guy ($12 for 15 minutes or $42 for 60 minutes; an hour of ancient oriental acupressure right in the middle of the food court; as the recent elections have shown, America is truly an exciting country).
I really just wanted to walk off the extreme tummy ache that I gave myself due to a poor choice in my creative cooking endeavors last night. I ate a whole bunch of things that I knew would not agree with me, but determined to ignore the fact that I can’t eat whatever I want anymore without consequences, I continued to consume food that I knew was not going to work for me, and I’m sure I had many reasons for doing so, but none of them good enough to make my tummy ache seem worth it. I work very hard to live a happy and healthy life, so why would I be so rough on my body? Well, the same is true in business and life; every once in awhile we give up caring; just for a little bit because we think that it won’t matter or we can put off our good intentions and healthy life habits until tomorrow, or the New Year and we can just suffer through the ramifications or let someone else worry about them.
It is amazing how many things we can control and don’t; a lack of discipline or will power perhaps. Why would we continue to do certain things if we know they are not working or that they are unhealthy? Why would we give up even the briefest opportunity to do our very BEST; especially since we have so much to be thankful for?


So what if I have an ache or two? I don’t have brain cancer like my friend Deziree who is 8 years old. So what I chose to make a mess of my dinner? At least I can choose what I eat, unlike starving children or my cousin Megan Silva of Chino who has Crohn’s disease, must stick to a strict diet and often be confined to a bed with a painful catheter while in her early 20’s. So what we might miss a lot of sleep due to our work? I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be able to work with my family – a family that loves me and taught me to love my Portuguese heritage. Though our lack of sleep may frustrate us at times, I think of my late cousin Melissa Diel and her momma, my Madrinha Madeline; what would they give to have one more day together? What would one more sleepless night mean before Melissa’s untimely and tragic hit and run accident at the age of 22?
Almost like magic I feel tremendously well; my tummy no longer aches and I am no longer tired. It’s 10:00 am and the vendor carts are twinkling and chiming with charms and whistles; the security gates have been raised, the shops are open, music is playing and more walkers have joined the parade in the New Park Mall aisles. Still, one can sit back and notice the lost; there they are, the outcasts, and the lonely, sitting and starring off in a corner of the court, like they’ve been there forever just waiting for a friend to show up.
Will you show up? Will you continue to serve humanity for another 100 plus years? Will you preserve the traditions of the past and have the courage to create a sense of newness for the future (“newness”, it evens sounds Portuguese)?!
Hughson, Los Banos, Dos Palos, Pleasanton, Tulare and Visalia did not forget to show up – they did not leave me sad or alone, but in fact, brought back all the reasons why I love being a lifelong member of this U.P.E.C. family. I was fed. I was loved. I asked only for suggestions and support and was greeted with a truck bed full of shoes and socks for our Join Hands Day Project, radiant Rosaries to bless our journey, personalized, hand-crafted scarves, thoughtful plagues, and generous donations for our charities, plus the coveted Past Supreme President’s license plate frame that was bestowed on me at the classic almond farm barn. Every word, every deed, every gift was presented with detail and CARE.
My family has been warmly received by our membership; my Ava Parriera, my Papa and little sister Mary your State Youth President. Thank you to all those who have opened their arms, their halls, and their homes for me thus far. Tonight I will be attending Council #1, San Leandro’s Thanksgiving Dinner here at the Home Office. Tomorrow I will be representing our beloved organization and our youth at the SES Visitor’s Reception, and next week I am headed to Turlock’s banquet and dance for the Portuguese Education Foundation of Central California and will present them our donation and the final visit for November will be Selma/Fresno.
So the only thing I can ask of my U.P.E.C. family and our administration is that when we are tempted to give into our minor hurts, our small frustrations, our weaknesses; when we come face to face with the “others”, the outcasts, the strangers; when we forget how many people look up to us and trust us to be there and serve with vigor, love, creativity and enthusiasm, I ask that we not forget to CARE; really CARE! Open your eyes, pinch your arm, realize you are alive and well enough to CARE and fortunate enough to have a say in WHAT happens to our family and HOW it happens.
In Earnest Thanksgiving for how much you have CARED for me, and in loving memory this day of Ms. Marie Xavier, Past Grand President of the U.P.P.E.C., wife of deceased Past Supreme President Mr. Tony Xavier, mother of U.P.E.C. Past Princess Ms. Sandy Braun and grandmother of Past State Youth President, Past member of U.P.E.C. Board of Directors and our current U.P.E.C. Supreme Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Eduard Anthony Braun – May the Lord Bless and Keep the beautiful soul of this 92 year old Angel who left this world today, Friday, November 14th, 2008; having lived a life of dedicated service – May she Rest in Peace.
I am, Fraternally Yours,



Natalie M. L. Batista
U.P.E.C. Supreme President 2008 – 2009

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT: REPORT

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.

CHARITY

U.P.E.C. Charity Donations / Tax Deductible
2008-2009



Supreme President’s – Memorial Scholarship

Natalie has selected the Long Beach City College Foundation in memory of Melissa Ann Diel, her first cousin who was killed in a hit and run accident in 2006. The scholarship is in her honor and will be awarded to a deserving nursing student on May 27th, 2009 at the annual awards banquet at LBCC.

Make checks payable to:

Long Beach City College Foundation
(Memo: Melissa Ann Diel)


State Youth President’s – Honorable Research Donation

Mary has chosen the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America in honor of her courageous first cousin, Megan Silva, who suffers from this thus far cureless disease while in her early 20’s. Our donations will help to end this painful afflicter of a surprising number of young people. It is our goal to participate in an upcoming marathon in 2009.

Make checks payable to:

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
(Memo: Megan Silva)

Obrigada!

Thank You!

TRI-SCHOOL SHIN-DIG! LOVE MY GIRLS!!

"My Sharona" flies C-17's....yeh, that's right....

These gals will never change!



First ones on the dance floor of course!

Like we've never been apart!





Say CHEESE!!

Loud and Proud Pacers....wait, there's a Spartan!

The DIVAS; rockstar supermodels por vida!!

Relationships.....Jobs.....A decade....OH MY!

POMONA CATHOLIC GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL, DAMIEN HIGH SCHOOL AND ST. LUCY'S PRIORY:

CLASS OF 1998

At PCHS we were the DREAMERS, c/0 1998

The Theatre masks of comedy and tragedy were our symbols; green, blue and silver our colors;

"If you can imagine it you can dream it, if you can dream it you can achieve it," our motto.

98 young women in our Senior Class; academia, artists, athletes, scientists, pilots, police officers, teachers, mothers, coaches, business owners, wives, aunts, friends, daughters, SISTA'S!

I am so proud to be a PACER;

Lighting and Leading the way for the world and the world's women.....

September 3rd, 1998 my little brother Christopher was born! He just turned 10 years old!!

Today I found an old journal from Sophomore year, 1995, Ethics, Period 4, Ms. Mitchell

First entry, September 3rd (cool huh?)

'A New Year' (4:00pm; homework)

I started the morning with a doughnut and a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Every morning my Papa drives my sister Vanessa (Freshman) and I to school. So, each day we have a good half an hour of special time together. Not to mention the chocolate which is quite tasty. We come from a large family and we're all very close. We talk about politics, sports, music, homework....I mean, EVERYTHING under the sun, even boyfriends (which we're not allowed to have, not like we have time anyway, but it's fun all the same to talk about). Today I thought about my cousin Karen. I prayed for her too. She graduated from PC this year and on Thursday will attend St. Thomas Aquinas College. I make my confirmation this year and Karen is my Godmother. This year already seems strange with her gone. Last year there were seven 'Batistas' here, at least one in every grade. Tonight I've named 'Karen Night'; movies, etc. Karen is two years older than me and she was Valedictorian. I am SO PROUD. She's like a torch-bearer leading the way. I know I can make it and I guess it helps me breathe a little easier. I want to go to college. I want to get a sports scholarship. Valedictorian, Salutatorian....uh, hey, it could happen...(stop laughing). Overall, I feel today is and will be relatively successful - I've had better days, sure, but that chocolate sure was GOOD! It's also enjoyable to be greeted by teachers like Mr. Pinger on selected mornings - they're so happy and well, jolly. Who knows, maybe he had chocolate too.....everyone should have chocolate.....CHOCOLATE FOR EVERYONE!! Very truly yours,

Natalie Batista

More journal entries to come.......NAT'S~B.A.T.S. softball practice tonight 18U; 5 - 7pm

NOBLE CREEK COMMUNITY PARK

FIELD 2

PICK SECRET SISTA'S FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK/WEEKEND

PLUS REUNION COUNTDOWN AND SENIOR PORTRAIT REFLECTION:

Where's the big cheesy smile Nat?

All the World's a Stage

Pageant of the Masters' 75th anniversary of living pictures in Laguna Beach, California! For those of you who have yet to view this visually vibrant festival feast - the art literally comes to life!! "Living pictures" are presented to you via a theme and a troupe of incredibly talented volunteers. This year's anniversary theme (and how perfect for my sister Vanessa and I) "All the World's a Stage," a tribute to Shakespeare, Moliere, Greek Mythology, Commedia Dell 'Arte, and more!!! Painting so memorable and poignant; Olympic Spirit by Edward Eyth, Le Cafe Concert by Edgar Degas, At the Moulin Rouge: The Dance by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and of course, the tradition of having The Last Supper emotionally stir you at the Pageants' finale. Talk about a team! The show was so smoothly run, expertly executed, and the hot chocolate from the cafe must have been especially created by Vianne (Chocolate; Juliette Binoche from the Academy Award winning motion picture), because it had me anticipating the arrival of Roux (Johnny Depp) to blow in with the ocean breeze. Though Johnny Depp did not appear to share the moment with me, my sister and soon-to-be sister-in-law Britani, agreed that the electrifying evening at the Irvine Bowl was magically inspired!! "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players..." William Shakespeare, As You Like It, Act 2, scene