It’s been a crazy time ending my first year in my journey to Luso President in 2015. I have gotten so overwhelmed that I have lost track of my blogging and haven’t finished the last 5 visits I attended along with my last fundraiser and of course convention. So while my summary may be short it doesn’t mean that each visit wasn’t special.
April 15th, 2011, TAX DAY was our own official visit for Council #3L, YC #1 and Region #2. What can I say about this group of people, is that I am so very proud of all that they do. We are small, but strong and determined to honor our Presidents and members in the best possible way. We started off the visit with a little Beatles music in the back ground to honor President John Perdigao as we know how much he loves the Beatles and I KNOW how that is being that everyone knows how much I have traveled around to see Duran Duran! We also decided that just handing them their gifts this year with a little speech wasn’t good enough. So with the help of our 20-30’s Region President Brienne Peixoto we sent them on a small scavenger hunt to find their gifts which ended up under their chairs. It was a moment of laughter and it was great watching them wander around the room trying to figure out the hints. YC# 1 also performed this year. They performed their 2nd place performance from 2010 from the region of Madeira and once again did it just as they did at the performance at convention with the one exception of having an additional dancer, our very own Youth President Matthew Teixeira. It was great to watch him dance with the youth and become an honorary member if even for one day! I was very happy that day to. I had set a goal of 20 new members for myself when I became a Luso Sales Agent again and was thrilled that I hit my goal and some. We brought in bunch of new members and I couldn’t be happier. Now it’s time to work on the New Year! Once again I’m extremely proud of the Fremont/Union City councils. You have all been the back bone of our area and I’m so happy to be a part of it and love that it’s what has kept me so active in Luso.
My next visit was in Tracy (and unfortunately I do not have the date of that visit.:( ). As usual my partner in crime Brienne came along with me and my parents as we headed our way to the valley to spend an evening with old friends. It was wonderful to see such old Luso friends. We had a nice turn out there with many coming from the bay area to join Frank Silva and his council. It was small but intimate and nice to see that everyone is still working hard to hold on to fraternalism. They are small but strong and I can’t wait to see what else comes out of Tracy.
With a short break, we moved into May and headed out to the valley again for the Gustine Visit on May 14th. I shared the road trip with Brienne and Anthony and we headed out. One thing missing from this trip, STARBUCKS IN GUSTINE!!! WTH!!!! Between texting Monica Xavier looking for coffee, ending up at McD’s and all the laughter the night started off great! We spent the evening with Monica, Paul Teixeira, Anna Bettencourt and everyone else that was supposed to be there! I think it was the first visit all year that I think we actually got into trouble for too much talking and laughing. Go figure!!! It was blast thought. I laughed so much I think I hurt myself. I will say that the food was delicious, and omg the bread was to die for. Sra Pires makes the best bread!!! I might have taken some home if we hadn’t all eaten it during and after dinner! It had been a long time since I had been to the Gustine Visit but I’m glad I came out this time. They are strong and determined and they should be proud of themselves. I see many things happening here and can’t wait to see where it leads them!
The drive home is usually uneventful, but wow this one was pretty eventful, Who Knew!!!
The next day we headed to Mt. View/Santa Clara where they did their visit at park. While normally it’s all good but omg it was raining and chilly. I loved the fact that they didn’t change locations, people made do, put on jackets and had a great time either way. I got there and everyone was already eating the tri tip. The rain came and went but it never took the fun times and the memories of that afternoon. We hung out with Judy Teixeira, Judy Allen, Monica Xavier and Anna Bettencourt. I must say that this last year has been surrounded by these ladies and they have made this last year very memorable and filled with many many laughs. I’m not sure how it happened but at some point there was balloon sword fighting at our table along with candy eating and what not. Great visit by such a strong council. With many Luso Youth Presidents, 20-30’s Presidents and Adult presidents under the belt, they have the knowhow and the pride that we all love to see at our visits.
With no visits until the testimonials for John, Anthony and Matthew, I squeezed in one more fundraiser before the 2011 Convention in San Diego. I was fortunate that Region #2 of the Bay Area allowed us the opportunity to work with them on their successful Comedy Night with Out of the Gutter Comedy from Fall River. With a Steak and Oyster dinner and Portuguese Comedy we had a great dinner and show. The guys from Fall River are funny, take you back to being a Portuguese Kid growing up with parents that just came here from the Azores and just make you laugh until you can’t laugh anymore. My committee of course worked tirelessly in the kitchen, barbecuing the steaks, the oysters, serving and clean up. I could not have done this without their help or their dedication to the committee and my journey to president. It’s because of them that I can continue to do this and I am so appreciative of all they do. A big thank you to the SDES for allowing us the use of the hall, To the Guys of Out of the Gutter Comedy for coming back out to the West Coast and giving us laughs and continuing the friendships we built last year. I look forward to working with you again the near future. To everyone that sponsored, attended and helped, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done for us.
In between all this I managed to talk my parents into letting myself, Brienne and a new friend Frank Dias and his daughter borrow our motor home to head out to Casa da Fruta for the annual Luso Picnic. I’m not sure how I managed to talk my parents into letting us take the motor home but with careful driving (thanks Frank) and with all of us being diligent in taking care of the MH we made it to Casa de Fruta without incident. It was a lot of fun participating this year in the picnic. It had been several years since I had been there and I was glad to know that the mosquitoes were fairly gone and I wasn’t going to be eaten alive by the mosquito population of CDF. With music, games, and hanging with my Luso family we had a wonderful weekend filled with laughs, memories and some really good food. I had a blast this year and I hope that I can come again the in future, although I’m thinking the parentals will be taking their motor home next time! Thank you Frank, Sara and Brienne for making this weekend so memorable.
Testimonial visits!!!! It’s come to an end for our Presidents and it’s been quite an honor to go on this journey with them this year. July 9th San Pablo #5C, Region #10 and YC 16 took us to Hawaii for their annual Luau. The dinner as usual was fabulously delicious and began with (Little) Lino’s annual ALLLOOHHHHAAA greeting as we began the visit. I traveled with my best friend this year as he went through this journey as 20-30s President and I’m so proud of the way he represented the 20-30s as well as the society in general. We laughed, we drove, we laughed some more, we even disagreed on many Luso things but one thing for sure is that this year would not have been the same had it not been for him being president and my getting the chance to share it with him. Thank you Anthony for taking me along on your many road trips and letting me be a part of your memories. I’m proud of you and I can’t wait to see where you go from here in Luso. You are a true treasurer for this organization and I hope you never lose sight of that! To John Perdigao and his wife Eduardina and daughter Stephanie, it was an honor to get to spend time with you this year and to get to know you. While I have grown up around John, we didn’t really know each other and I’m glad I had the opportunity to spend time and be a part of the same journey he was on. It was great to be on your board. Great job this year and I hope you have amazing memories of this year!
Sunday, July 10th was Matthews’s testimonial in Sacramento. Can I tell you this has got to be one of the strongest areas as far as Youth that I know. They are strong, passionate and truly seem to love the society and all it offers. I think once again we managed to get into trouble for making too much noise but this time I’m going to blame Danny Sequiera! :p Kidding. We had a blast not just with the adults at our table but with the Youth who sat behind us. What an amazing group of kids we have growing up in this organization who want to move up the lines and do what we have done through the years. I’m excited to see how they all become our next youth presidents, 20-30s presidents, adult presidents and I see a LALIS President in that mix at some point too. Thank you Sacramento for a delicious meal and a wonderful afternoon to honor Matthew. Matthew is the 2nd Youth President from his family in the last 4 or 5 years and he did an amazing job representing our youth this year. I’m proud to have gotten to know him and his parents. We have shared some amazing laughs, memories and have become fast friends in the last year and I know beyond a doubt that your journey in Luso Matthew is now over yet. You have so much more to do for this society and I can’t wait to see all that you accomplish. Good luck in College and don’t forget about us Luso People! :p
It’s been a very busy year as I got through my year as Outside Guard and now convention has come and gone and I’m starting my new adventure…but before I get there…I’ll be blogging about the 2011 Convention in San Diego. Can’t believe how behind I really am! Once again thank you to everyone who made 2010-2011 so memorable!!!
