1. November/December 2009
Governor’s Bulletin Volume 1
Issue 6
Southwestern District
Dream - Believe - Achieve
2009-2010 DAC
GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE
Constance Czarnecki
The Gift
Governor
10538 East Posada Avenue Yesterday is History
Mesa, Arizona 85212
480-220-6124 {cell} Tomorrow is Mystery
480-380-8272 {home}
And today is a Gift
480-472-0660 {work}
ccnparadiz@gmail.com That is why it is called
Patricia Gregor “PRESENT”
Governor-Elect
In Pilot Love,
314 Gorman
Governor Constance.
Belen, New Mexico 87002
505-307-9957 {cell}
pgpink@comcast.net
Ginger Mercer
Treasurer
832 Desi Loop
Belen, New Mexico 87002
505-401-9384 {cell}
Gingermercer59@hotmail.com
Sharon Starr-Atkinson
Secretary
1413 South Hall
Mesa, Arizona 85204
480-223-8620 {cell} "A Different Christmas Poem"
sistarra@gmail.com
(page 2)

2. Page 2 Nov/Dec 2009
"A Different Christmas Poem"
line, That separates you from the darkest of
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
times.
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, my No one had to ask, beg, or implore me, I'm proud
daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the to stand here like my fathers before me. My
snow fell, a blanket of white, transforming the Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
yard to a winter delight. Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram
always remembers." My dad stood his watch in
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
the jungles of ' Nam ', and now it is my turn and
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
so, here I am.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
perfect contentment, or so it would seem, so I But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her
slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. smile. Then he bent and he carefully pulled from
his bag, the red, white, and blue... an American
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
flag. I can live through the cold and the being
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
alone, Away from my family, my house and my
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
home.
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the
I can stand at my post through the rain and the
snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to
sleet; I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I
hear, and I crept to the door just to see who was
can carry the weight of killing another, or lay
near.
down my life with my sister and brother who
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, stand at the front against any and all, to ensure
a lone figure stood his face weary and tight. A for all time that this flag will not fall."
soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright.
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right." "But
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
isn't there something I can do, at the least, "Give
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my
you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast? It
child.
seems all too little for all that you've done, for
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear, being away from your wife and your son."
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
down your pack, brush the snow from your
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget. To
sleeve, you should be at home on a cold
fight for our rights back at home while we're
Christmas Eve!" For barely a moment I saw his
gone, To stand your own watch, no matter how
eyes shift, Away from the cold and the snow
long. For when we come home, either standing
blown in drifts.
or dead, to know you remember we fought and
To the window that danced with a warm fire's we bled. Is payment enough, and with that we
light then he sighed and he said, "It’s really all will trust, that we mattered to you as you
right, I’m out here by choice. I'm here every mattered to us."
night." "It's my duty to stand at the front of the

3. Nov/Dec 2009 Page 3
LEADERSHIP
Bob Edwards made a very valid observation
I’ve taken the cheaters way out this November….. when he said, “One can always tell when one is
I “borrowed” from an already existing letter getting old and serious by the way that holidays
from: November 29, 2009 by Miki Saxon. It seem to interfere with one’s work.” Based on
seems that Miki has clearly stated what I believe that I’m still not old, no matter what Social
about the Holidays when I choose to think about Security says, and I never will be—what about
them versus being swept along by them. I ask you?
you to read Miki’s article one time through, but Ben Franklin’s wisdom is accurate as ever, “How
then read it again….beginning at the second many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, his
paragraph, each time you read the word precepts! O! ‘tis easier to keep holidays than
“holiday”, substitute the word “leadership”. commandments.” You may not agree, but it
Think about it….. seems these days the more vocal the religion the
Miki Saxon writes: greater the intolerance and hate; I’d rather go
back to the days when faith was private and
Good grief, where did the time go? Thanksgiving
tolerance waxing.
is over, and that means the year is close to
ending, but first comes the holiday season. But it’s Pepper Schwartz who sums up the
Nothing but parties and get-togethers for the holidays perfectly, “Holidays in general breed
next 4.5 weeks. unrealistic expectations. The minute you start
wondering, “is it going to be wonderful enough?”
Frank Ogden said, “Holidays are the greatest
it never will be.” The trick, obviously, is not to
learning experience unknown to man.” I think he
wonder, just assume. Believe with all your heart;
has a real point, otherwise most of us wouldn’t
know that it will happen and it will.
keep repeating the same actions and activities
every year that don’t work for us—isn’t that Carolyn Darst
similar to Einstein’s definition of insanity?
A MESSAGE FROM PI PRESIDENT,
Sadly, Philip Andrew Adams hit the nail on the
head when he said, “To many people holidays are PAT JARVIS
not voyages of discovery, but a ritual of Happy Holiday! This is a
reassurance.” very festive time of year
Holidays are funny things, rarely does your as we, each in our own
version of what happened match those of the way, celebrate the
other people present. However, does that holidays. As you are
matter? Denis Norden said, “It’s like your celebrating this month,
children talking about holidays, you find they keep your dreams alive
have a quite different memory of it from you. for we know that every
Perhaps everything is not how it is, but how it’s dream is a vision of hope. I wish each of you a
remembered.” How very true, your reality is joyous holiday season and a great beginning of
based on your memories, not someone else’s 2010.
version of the same event. Seasons’ Greetings to all,
Pat

4. DISTRICT CONVENTION IN
MESA, ARIZONA
APRIL 30 –MAY 2, 2010 The Southwestern
District Governor’s
Bulletin is published
monthly.
Layout Editor is Rhoda
Amendola
Articles are due on the
20th of the month
preceding the
publication date.
YOUR BEST PILOT CONVENTION BET
Please e-mail articles to
LOUISVILLE, KY,
Governor Constance at
JULY 7-10, 2010 ccnparadiz@gmail.com.
PILOT INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
Every effort will be
made to publish news by
The Pilot of the Month is … clubs. Articles may be
edited to fit space.
East Valley Pilot Club has nominated Constance Czarnecki as Pilot
of the Month. Constance developed “Bookin’ for Books” where she Club Presidents: Please
will get people to sponsor her running in a marathon, and then pass on a copy of the
donate the proceeds to Bookin’ for Books. These funds then buy Governor’s Bulletin to
the coloring books that go along with the Brain Minder Buddy EACH member of your
Presentations. Besides holding two jobs (as a TBI educator and a club. If lack of money for
waitress), serving as our District Governor and running every day, photocopying is a
Constance started to do respite problem, bring a few
work to give parents with ailing or copies of the Governor’s
special needs children some Bulletin to your meeting
breathing time. When asked how and pass them around
much she charges, her answer is, for everyone to read.
“Just make out a check to East
Valley Pilot Club as a donation to Have each member
Bookin’ for Books.” initial it when he/she
has read it.
East Valley is proud to
acknowledge her dedication to
Pilot. We love you, Constance!