January 5, 2016: Luncheon/Program Haiti

Program Chairmen Irma Zavaleta and Marcia Ingram with Guest Speakers: Rex & Donna Leach (center)

February 2, 2016: Business/Program Honduras

Mariella Gorena, Rosario Grajales, Alma Rosa Revesz, Hortensia Pacheco, Guest Speaker: Ana Jessy Bulnes, Consul-Honduras, Ana Maria Moon and Alice Tavarez

March, 2016: Business/Program Meeting Current Events

Bertha Martinez, Mariella Gorena and Linda Garza

Carola Chapa with Violette Metz, who presented the current events on Guatemala

Guest with Berry Fritz, Elizabeth Perkins, Graciela Cobo and Yolanda Barrera

Pan American Observance Day April, 2016

All Valley Flag Bearers

Dr. Art Cavazos, Superintendent of Harlingen School District, Guest Speaker

Table Directors: Virginia Hale-Brownsville Table II, Criseyda Rios-Zone I Director, Eva Munoz de Manzarraga – Alliance Director General, Bersabe Salazar-Roma-RGC, Lupita Sarabia-Miguel Aleman. Standing L-R: Angie Gonzlez-San Benito, Sylvia Alanis-McAllen, Gloria Cantu-ASJP, Herminia Martinez-Edinburg

Scholarships Presentation May 3, 2016

Three very deserving students from the three McAllen High Schools were honored at the May luncheon of the Pan American Round Table of McAllen. Shown from left to right are: Deanna L. Ramirez, P.A.R.T. Scholarship Committee Chair, Josh Rainha from Nikki Rowe High, Alejandra L. Muñoz from McAllen High, Gracie Cobo, Scholarship Committee, and Maria Hernandez, Scholarship Committee. Not shown is Brooke Baus of Memorial High School.

New Members Presented

New members Alexandra Vela and Norma Garza with Table Director, Sylvia Alanis

In Memoriam Berta G. Guerra

August 18, 1923 - February 17, 2016

-Director 1987 - 1989

-First Associate Director

-Treasurer

Recognition: more than 40 years of service as a PART member

McAllen Meeting September 6, 2016

Shown in the photo are: Seated (l-r) Myrna Rodriguez, Noellia Pena, Alejandra Vela and Norma Garza. Members of the committee, standing Aida Torres, Violette Metz and Carmen Guerra. Mary Lou Trevino was not present for the picture.

Immediately following the first meeting of 2016-2017 on September 6th, the most recent new members were given an orientation by members of the Orientation Committee.

Founder’s Day Celebration October, 4, 2016

Members of the McAllen Table enjoyed a special program on October 4th, at the McAllen Country Club, in celebration of Founder’s Day and in commemoration of Founder Florence Terry Griswold.

Table member Carmen Guerra, Alliance Director General for 1988-2000, as nominee for the honor of Alliance Woman of the Year, was the special guest for the occasion. In her address, to the members, Carmen mentioned some of the highlights of her years as a member of the organization, and especially as Director General.

In commemoration of Founder Florence Terry Griswold, Violette Metz and Lily Torrez presented their poems written for the purpose of participating in the Alliance Convention poetry contest.

Violette Metz’s poem, Homage for Florence and Lily Torrez’ A Saga of the Pan American Round Table & Tribute to Founder Florence Terry Griswold, were read by the authors. The poems will be judged by a special committee and winners of the contest will be announced at the convention.

Pictures of past Table Directors and a group picture were taken to update the group picture on the web page.

Table Director Sylvia Alanis and Mariella Gorena, center, presented a bouquet of yellow roses to Carmen Guerra.

Violette Metz and Lily Torrez read their poems to the members.

Past Table Directors: standing l-r: Yolanda Barrera, Lily Torrez and Baudelia Crane. Seated (l-r): Mandy Pena, Alma De La Garza, Mary Lou Trevino, Alice Tavarez, Carmen Guerra and Kay Moffett.

McAllen Table Group Picture

Pan American Round Table of McAllen Alliance Convention - October, 2016

October, 2016 proved to be an exciting month for PART of McAllen, especially in anticipation and preparation for the 100th anniversary of the Pan American Movement, in conjunction with the Alliance Convention. Eleven table members traveled to San Antonio, where five of the members participated in the parade of flags for the opening ceremony of the convention. Each member represented a member country, wearing the country’s native costume and bearing its respective flag.

Members Violette Metz and Lily Torrez accepted the challenge by the Alliance Special Commission of Cultural Diffusion to participate in the poetry contest “Cien Años De Amor Y Paz” established in homage to the Centennial of the Foundation of the First Table of the Pan American Movement.

Mrs. Metz received a certificate of participation and a CD containing all the poems submitted in Spanish and in English, for her submission of Homage for Florence. Lily Torrez won First Place in the English category for her submission entitled A Saga of the Pan American Round Table Movement & Tribute to Founder Florence Terry Griswold. In addition to a CD and a “Diploma De Honor,” Lily was also awarded a 100th anniversary pin and a gift of coasters from the Chilean Table.

Lily Torrez – Trinidad-Tobago, Graciela Cobo – Honduras, Sylvia Alanis – Ecuador, Hortencia Pacheco – Belize and Linda Garza – Bolivia

Second Convention Night in Native Costume

Standing (L-R) Ana Maria Moon, Linda Garza, Hortencia Pacheco, Raquel Oliva

Seated: Graciela Cobo, Mandy Pena, Sylvia Alanis, Sandra Brown and Rosario Pop

Poetry Participants

Lily Torrez accepting First Place Award in the English category from Alliance Director General

Eva Muṅoz de Manzárraga Dolley Flores, Sandra Brown, Sylvia Alanis, Raquel Oliva

Gala Night

Lily Torrez, Sylvia Alanis, Raquel Oliva and Ana Maria Moon

On the left is Carmen Guerra with painted portrait of Florence Terry Griswold, and on the right with her grandsons presenting her with yellow roses at the Gala

Rosario Pope, Mary Bard, Carmen Guerra, Sylvia Alaniz, Ana Maria Moon, Mandy Pena, Seated is Lily Torrez

PART of McAllen Meeting November, 2016

Having just returned from attending the Alliance Convention in San Antonio, Table Director Sylvia Alanis presided over the PART meeting on Tuesday, the 1st of November.

Bertha Martinez served as hostess for the occasion, representing Mexico. Her table decorations consisted of fold-out catrinas in colorful formal attire; female skeletons that represent death, in keeping with the celebration of the “Day of the Dead” in Mexico.

John Kreidler, Director of Kreidler Funeral Home, who has been very interested in the culture of Mexico and how death is portrayed, presented a very interesting talk on the celebration of the Day of the Dead in that country.

Lily Torrez, first place winner of the Alliance poetry contest and Violette Metz, also a participant, were recognized for their work and five new members were installed and awarded with the Table’s pins.

Bertha Martinez presents John Kreidler as guest speaker

Lily Torrez and Violette Metz New members, Myrna Rodriguez, Alexandra Vela,

Norma Garza, Noelia Pena and Noelia Ramirez

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McAllen Meeting of January 3, 2017

Dressed in colorful native costumes, members Tina Guerra and Norma Garza served as hostesses for the first meeting of the New Year, presenting an entertaining and informative program on the country of Nicaragua. Tina imparted very interesting and varied information about its places, people and government, while Norma presented a video of the country, with emphasis on its culture, music and traditions. The colorful centerpieces displayed orange-colored Birds of Paradise intermingled with red flowers and green foliage.

Norma Garza and Tina Guerra

Panama is the Featured Country for February, 2017

February hostesses Emma Salinas, seen here on the left and Patti Myers on the right, pictured next to Dr. Bonnie Lucero, delighted members of the McAllen Table by dressing in colorful and typical dresses for the presentation of their assigned country of Panama. Patti shared interesting information about her off-shoulder dress, stating that it is called a “Pollera Montuña”, which literally translates to “a woman who raises chickens in the mountains”, while Emma introduced their outstanding speaker, Dr. Bonnie A. Lucero. Dr. Lucero, who has served

as Assistant Professor of History at UTRGV since 2013, entertained those present with a historical rendition of the construction of the Panama Canal, interspersed with interesting and little known human facts that occurred during the construction period. Artifacts were also displayed on a separate table.

McAllen Table Celebrates Paraguay

Ana Maria Mood and Moelia Pena served as hostesses for the

regular meeting of March 7th, representing the country ofParaguay. Special guests were Guatemala Consul Cristy Andrino and Vice Consul Silvia Yojhana Samines Ixcol, who modeled the typical skirt and blouse costume of Guatemala; her every day dress. The luncheon consisted of a typical Paraguayan meal of breaded chicken with rice, vegetables and cornbread, topped off with a delicious dessert of guayaba, papaya and cheese. In addition to interesting facts about the country, the hostesses presented a comprehensive video of Paraguay, accompanied with marimba music.

Standing next to the Paraguayan flag are Noleia Peña, Crity Andrino, Silvia Ixcol and Ana Maria Moon (front)

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Reading of the PARTT Resolution at the Texas State Capitol

Past Director General Carmen Guerra and Lily Tórrez, Chairman of the State Electronic Communications Committee and both members of the McAllen Table, attended the special event of the reading of a resolution by Senator Eddie Lucio on April 18, 2017. The resolution, which was read in the Senate Chamber at the State Capitol in Austin, Texas was in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Pan American Round Table movement. Also attending were members from other Texas Tables and new Director General Nhury Gutierrez Vilches from Peru.

L-R: Sylvia Williams, Alicia Cantu, Ana Flores, Dee Moore, Kathy Clardy, Peggy Clark,Senator Eddie Lucio, Nhury Gutierrez Vilches, Isabel Vezzeti, Lily Torrez, Lana Harper, Carmen Guerra

Jesse & Lily Torrez, Carmen Guerra, Rep. Bobby Guerra, Isabel Vezzeti, Nhury Gutierrez Vilches and Grandson Guerra

Nhury Gutierrez Vilches, Carmen Guerra, Lily Torrez, Isabel Vezzeti

McAllen Representatives Carmen Guerra & Lily Torrez

PARTT entourage with Senator Eddie Lucio and Rep. Juan Hinojosa

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PARTT Convention

Westin Oaks Hotel – Houston, Texas

April 21-23, 2017

Eagle Pass members Lucy Mancha, Guiche and Mr. Becker, Bryan Harper, Lily and Jesse Torrez at opening dinner “Texas Chic”

Isabel Vezzeti(Brnsvle I), Alicia Cantu (Laredo), Carmen Guerra (McAllen), Nhury G. Vilches (Peru)

Carmen Guerra (Austin) and Mariella Gorena (McAllen) at the Hour of Memory

Carmen Guerra, Raquel Oliva, Lily Torrez and Mariella Gorena at Saturday Night Gala

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McAllen Table Installs 2017-2019 Officers & Awards Scholarships at May 2017 Meeting

The Scholarship Committee of the McAllen Table was proud to award three scholarships of $2,000 each at their May luncheon to three very deserving students from our three main McAllen High Schools.

Hilary Martinez of McAllen High School plans to major in Math and Speech at UTRGV in the fall. Matthew Treu, the recipient from Memorial High, plans to major in Chemistry at UTRGV and Adela Fleming, the recipient from Nikki Rowe High School also has great aspirations.

All three students gave brief but informative outlines of their backgrounds and hopes for the future as well as grateful thanks to the McAllen Table for their support.

Scholarship Recipients Shown at the PART May Luncheon are, standing, Scholarship Committee members Graciela Cobo, Maria Hernandez, and Chair Deanna L. Ramirez. Seated are the three recipients, Hillary Martinez of McAllen High, Matthew Treu of Memorial High, and Adela Fleming of Nikki Rowe High.

Following the scholarship presentation, member Alma De La Garza cleverly chose the crab and other crustaceans as the theme to install the new officers for 2017-2019. The theme signifies resilience and adaptability to perform multiple tasks and to thrive in their environment.

New Officers L-R: Sylvia Alanis, Immediate Past Director and Parliamentarian; Cecilia Martinez, 2nd Associate Director; Raquel Oliva, 1st Associate Director; Mariella Gorena, Table Director; Graciela Cobo, Recording Secretary; and Emma Salinas, Treasurer

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Pan American Round Table Celebrates Founder’s Day

October, 2017

The McAllen Table paid tribute to Founder, Florence Terry Griswold at their regular meeting this month with a review, by member Lily Tórrez, of the two books that have been published about her life’s work. In addition to Mrs. Griswold’s life and times, 1st Associate Director Raquel Oliva shared a power point presentation of the founding of the McAllen Table in 1934.

Lily Torrez McAllen Member

L-R: Director Mariella Gorena, Parliamentarian Sylvia Alanis, program presenter Lily Torrez, Past Alliance Director Carmen Guerra, Treasurer Emma Salinas and Secretary Graciela Cobo

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PART of McAllen Celebrates December Events

More than 100 members and guests from the Rio Grande Valley and elsewhere were welcomed by McAllen Director Mariella Gorena to the annual Mother/Daughter Luncheon held on December 4th. “The Legend of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of Mexico and of the Indian People and Patron Saint of the Americas”, was the title appropriately chosen for the occasion and presented to a captive audience by member Alma De La Garza.

A life-sized statue of Our Lady, bathed in roses from head to toe, graced the front of the ballroom, enhancing the presentation. The beautiful work of art, created in the shape of a Christmas tree by Artist Ino Alaniz, was on loan to the McAllen Table by the International Museum of Arts and Sciences of McAllen. Mrs. De La Garza also displayed several portraits of the Virgin as She appeared to Saint Juan Diego in 1531, including an antique painting that had belonged to Alma’s grandfather.

Dan Cárdenas provided musical entertainment at the piano, while Merari Nava from UTRGV Ballet Folklorico, attired in typical Mexican costume and Charro hat, rounded out the Mexico theme by performing several Mexican dances.

The festive event concluded with a raffle of lovely items, followed by the singing of Christmas carols.

Ten McAllen Table members also accepted the Edinburg Table’s invitation to their Christmas celebration at the Echo Hotel on December 20th. The theme chosen for the occasion was “Diamonds and Denim”, where numerous members from the seven Valley tables, who were present, dressed appropriately in western or festive holiday attire. Members and guests also participated in line dancing and enjoyed winning wonderful raffle items.

Past and present Table directors: (l-r) Maria Cavazos, Pee Wee Guerra, Sylvia Alanis, Josie Cappadona, Mariella Gorena, Mandy Pena, Dolly Flores, Lily Torrez, Yolanda Barrera. Seated: Carmen Guerra, Aida Torres, Elsie Perez, Mary Lou Trevino, Isabel Vezzetti

From left to right: Bertha Martinez, Linda Garza, Yolanda Barrera, Mandy Pena, Mariella Gorena, Lily Torrez, Hortensia Pacheco, Sandra Brown, Elizabeth Cardenas. Seated: Carmen Guerra and Elsie Perez

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