The Editor Speaks

But the spirit of Christmas got the better of me.

I was going to lament the fact that more than 50 New Mexico JCI Senators who received the highest possible recognition for their dedication, commitment, and community interest while an active Jaycee, can’t seem to find $20.00 a year to support the NMJCI Senate and USJCI Senate organizations.

But the spirit of Christmas got the better of me.

I thought the insert last issue of Jerry Geists’ - NMJCI Senator #5013 - article from the US Jaycee “Action” magazine, published in August 1965, about why the New Mexico Jaycees marched #1 in the nation in 1964-65 would elicit a ‘gee-whiz that was cool’, or ‘great archive research’, or some other interested response. But I received nada, zip, zero, nothing.

The spirit of Christmas started to lose its hold. But I still held out thinking the spirit of Christmas might actually inspire other NMJCI members to remember the importance of friendship, faith, and service - the essence of those 64 words in the Jaycee creed we all recited for years. So in this season of family gatherings, company bonuses, and church socials, I let go of the Grinch in me.

In the true spirit of Christmas, I extend my best wishes to all, with my prayers for a safe, loving, and prosperous 1999.

Below is a partial list of those NMJCI Senate members dropped from the USJCI roles because of a simple non-payment of dues during the last 1-2 years. All it takes is the simple remittance of $20.00 to be reinstated.

Tom CLEAR, Jerry ELLIS, Frank LUCHINI, Gary POTVIN, Jack WHITE, Larry CHAVEZ, Tony VALERIO, Bill SIMMS, Jerry CALVANI, Paul BRADLEY, Terry BREWER, David CARR, George GANDY, Pat GRAHAM, Tommy HOWELL, Don KLUESNER, Debra JOHNSON, Mike LUCERO, Gary MUCKEL, Bob NUTTER, Suzanne ROMERO, Leonard SANCHEZ, Dennis SEGARS, Margaret SANCHEZ, Todd SCOTT, Dale SOTTOWAY, Bill TREMBLY.

Calling all pins, Calling All PINS!

To: All NMJCI fans and foes of the World Famous Dallas Cowboys
From: The "Pope"

Well, damned if the Cowboys didn’t make it after all!

The Pope predicted it would happen and low and behold, them thar ‘Boys took it out on the NFC East going 8-0 for the first time ever. Of course they only managed to go 2-6 against the real NFL teams. But I can hear the Pope shouting ‘wait till Deon gets back!’

Can they get it up for the Cardinals and that Plummer kid who is getting a jump-start on breaking Elways record for 4th quarter comeback wins? Will Deon overcome his poor little turf toe and gut it out for Chan and Jerry (not to be confused with Ben & Jerry)?

By the time you read this, the game may be over so hear is my prediction; Cowboys 24, Cardinals 23. And for the Super Bowl; Vikings 31, Broncos 21

August through November saw the Big Mac attack wind down as the misting business comes to its winter hibernation. However, the fall winners who were automatically entered into the year end A-wards are; BEST FOOD - MOST COMFORTABLE BED - MOST ENJOYABLE WAKE-UP CALL - A rare 3-peat to Debra and Jim “Bo” Rothweiler in Hannibal , MO for putting up with me ….. er I mean putting me up for 5 days during the Missouri Harley rally in early September. Separate room, TV, and first choice shower privileges!! Plus great home cooked meals. Thanks also for giving me first hand updates and private screenings of the breaking Starr Report!

And now for those year-end A-wards that everyone has been so feverishly awaiting . Drum roll please ……………

BEST FOOD - Broken down into specific meal categories since I was treated to such delicacies all year.

Breakfast - The Pope’s Palace - operated by Rosemary Davis in Sherman TX. Husband Leo acts as taste tester. Winning entry - Texas Country Breakfast.
Lunch - Schramski’s Bar & Grill - operated by the tag team duo of Mike & Stella Schramski in Albuquerque. Winning entry - All You Can Eat & More BBQ Buffet.
Dinner - The Moorings - operated by Gary & Janet Moore of Seattle, WA. Winning entry - Grilled Salmon with Land of Enchantment secret Herbs & Spices.

MOST COMFORTABLE BED - A close call between all contenders, some of whom forget that I am somewhat larger than their youngest offspring.
Winner - Larragoite’s Lair - Operated by Robert Larragoite and Lynn Metz. Reason - Queen size bed, private bath, in room exercise equipment.
Runners Up - The Hughes Hotel. Operated by Jim & Edie Hughes in Roswell, NM. Dave’s Do Drop Inn. Operated by Dave & Lisa Gilkeson in Katy, TX. Circus Circus Jr. Operated by Kevin & Marion Faherty in Fort Worth, TX

MOST ENJOYABLE WAKE-UP CALL - Winner - The House of Clocks. Operated by Park & Cassandra Shaw in Albuquerque. Reason - Park offered to turn off the assortment of 15 antique cuckoo and grandfather clocks in the guestroom. Of course the other 238 clocks in the house continued to chime very 15 minutes. Fortunately they bring welcome and soothing relief after an evening of conversation with Park!

Runner Up - The Pope’s Palace. Operated by Rosemary & Leo Davis in Sherman TX. Maintenance super Leo refrained from sending in the dogs for my early morning wake up call. But he forgot to send in guest chef Linda to perform the potential winning entry! Severe minus points for that error.

As anxious readers of this publication may recall, NMJCI Senate Presidential Bodyguard George Byrne #40801 was called to Washington, D.C. last August by Special Prosecutor Ken Starr. If you can dip back into your recent past, that was before the Starr report was published, and before President Clinton’s famous 4 hour videotaped docu-drama excuse for testimony. The investigative efforts of this reporter came up with only one possible explanation - Ken Starr was confused by Senator Byrnes’ moniker as Presidential Bodyguard. Well, the truth can now finally be told! And be it known to all that the Chili Pepper Press spared no expense in its ability to scoop the Enquirer on this one! Senator Byrne was indeed the fellow who had supplied President Clinton with a box of the finest imported (legality with JCI pin traders is never an issue!) cigars! A few well placed rare New Mexico Jaycee pins in the hands of some fellow Mexico Jaycees who had connections to Puerto Rico, who had connections to …. Well everyone understands the rules of trading. A deal is a deal and mums the word! And being a dedicated F.O.B., our own Senator Byrne just had to share the wealth with the other El Presidante! So there you have it. And remember - you saw it here first!

The return of Senator Byrne is still a mystery So George - if you are out there, send us a report!

Q; What’s with this craze about you and all your cutesy, fuzzy, furry little siblings?

        The American Sub-conscious.

Reply; Dear Sub-conscious

Is it any wonder that your real bodies wait in lines for hours, spending stupid amounts of money, and physically abuse one another to claim ownership over us? What’s left of courtesy in your world? Of common sense or old fashioned decency? Of saying please and thank you? The aging Boomer generation desperately wants to regress to its safe shell of the past. What better way to regain the simplicity of youth, than to gaze into that soft focus view of a better time, and spend some of that stock market inflated wealth before your arch enemy - the dreaded Y2K bug - causes reality to hit? Buy a new Volkswagen Beetle, with a Furby in the passenger seat. That’s our advice! Comfort yourself with a cuddly stuffed animal that is safe, unassuming, and doesn’t talk back. The fact that WE are the alien life form Mulder and Scully cannot locate should in no way deter you from the relentless pursuit of Furby’s. Just keep repeating to yourself Furby’s are good, Furby’s are safe, Furby’s are all knowing……..

* As Ms Reno has now lost her spotlight, this column will devote itself to the REAL issues as only a cute, all knowing, stuffed animal can be trusted to answer truthfully.

The following NMJCI members are due this March to the USJCI . If you have already paid, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. If not, please remit dues of $20.00 to our new treasurer Mr. Schramski, 9226 Admiral Lowell Place NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111

MIKE ABBOTT, THE ACTONS, LYLE BERT, WAYNE BOWLES, DEBBIE BROWN, JIMMY CALLOWAY, GLENN CARY, LEE CATHEY, LEONARD CHENEY, GARDNER FUGATE, JERRY GEIST, JOHN HOOPER, JERRY KING, ROBERT LARRAGOITE, ANDREW MACGRUER, DENNIS MATHIS, BRENDA MCNEAL, DONALD MOORE, GARY MOORE, RON MOSCHEL, STEVE NEVILLE, AL NUNEZ, DENNIS O’BRIEN, JERRY PARSONS, ED POND, JIM ROGERS, MIKE SCHRAMSKI, MIKE SMITH, RICHARD TRIBBEY, JOHNNY VOLPATO, MARK WATERS, THE WOOLLARDS, LINDA (ZIEBA) ROMERO ………. Phew!!!!!!!!

Thank heavens for Christmas cards in the form of annual letters, and our NMJCI e-mail link created by Gary Moore. Otherwise there would be another big fat blank in this space. THANK YOU to all that have taken the time and courtesy to write and show you care. JERRY KING offers up a shocker in that he is selling his portion of Hayduk-King Advertising, and after 27 years in Santa Fe is moving to warmer pastures in the Phoenix area. Good luck Jerry and thanks for your commitment to the NMJCI Senate! LINDA ROMERO (ZIEBA) married in September to Tim, and with son ‘Hurricane Adam’ have moved for the time being back to her townhouse in Santa Fe while looking for a new home to accommodate Furby’s, child, and puppies. Congratulations and good luck with the home shopping network! RAY & DIEDRA BETZEN have completed their first year back in Hobbs and are enjoying the return. Daughters Raeann at New Mexico State, Adrienne at UNM, and Kannon at home keep Ray busy fending off those heavy hormoned boys, while Diedra fine tunes her tennis skills. ANDY MACGRUER has now been in his new home in Bayfield, CO. for 14 months and has actually had senate visitors! He continues as President of the Durango Area Home-Based Business Association, and is active with the local Chamber of Commerce and USJCI Senate as Sergeant-At-Arms for 1998-99. ROBERT LARRAGOITE keeps girlfriend Lynn on her toes playing darts, and serves as President of Habitat for Humanity. Oh yes, he is also President of the NMJCI Senate in case you forgot! Keep up the good work Robert. DON & BOBBIE MOORE send everyone holiday good wishes via our e-mail link, as do RICK NUSS, JIM ROGERS, GARDNER FUGATE, BRENDA MCNEAL, STEVE NEVILLE, MIKE & STELLA SCHRAMSKI, GARY & JANET MOORE, and DAVE HOYT. See what fun you are missing by not participating in the NMJCI e-mail link? If you can handle the occasional gross out joke from Mr. Schramski, some politically incorrect funnies from Mr. Nuss, and the official blabber that your humble secretary and newsletter editor sends out, then get involved! We also have a website that posts the Chili Pepper Press newsletter and has current and historical listings of NMJCI officers, with links to other appropriate Jaycee sites. And some oldies but goodies in the Photo section - once Gary gets his big butt in gear!!! If you are computer literate and feel the spirit, check out the site at http:// www.can-inc.com/nmjcisenate . And to get on the e-mail link all you have to do is send an e-mail to the following address majordomo@can-inc.com with the words ‘info nmjci-senate’ as the entire body of the message (not the subject). Instructions and info will automatically come back within minutes!

Best wishes for a safe and prosperous New Year!