The Pan American Round Tables of the Upper Rio Grande Valley Celebrate Observance Day, April, 2010

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1 The Pan American Round Tables of the Upper Rio Grande Valley Celebrate Observance Day, April, 2010 L-R: Lily Torrez Area C Director, Baudelia Crane State Treasurer, Estela Villegas ASJP Director, Lydia Chavana Edinburg Director, Charlene Hertz McAllen Director, Josie Cappadona State Corresponding Secretary, Margot Arevalo State Publications Harmonizing the Americas was the overall theme of the annual Pan American Observance Day recently celebrated by the four Upper Valley Pan American Round Tables of Texas, Area C, at the McAllen Country Club. A formal salute to the U.S. Flag by the ROTC of Alamo/San Juan/Pharr kicked off the festivities, followed by an impressive presentation of flags of the Alliance by members of the same Table, in white apparel. Piano accompaniment was by Edinburg member Josephine Williams. Edinburg served as host Table for the occasion with Director Lydia Chavana serving as Mistress of Ceremonies. She recognized all State Officers and Valley Table Directors that were present and welcomed guests from Brownville, San Benito/Harlingen and Reynosa. Rio Grande City and Roma were in charge of invitations, reservations and raffle, while McAllen provided the program and entertainment following a delicious luncheon. History Professor Juanita Garza, from The University of Texas-Pan American, mesmerized the large gathering with her engaging talk, Spain & Mexico: Where the Old Becomes New, as she presented numerous little known historical facts concerning the Christianization of Mexico. Following her interesting talk the ladies were royally entertained with Norteño, toe-tapping dances provided by an ensemble of students from UTPA Folklorico.

2 The Pan American Round Tables of the Upper Rio Grande Valley Celebrate Observance Day, 2010 Table Directors and Hostesses: Nydia Benitez - Rio Grande City/Roma, Lydia Chavana - Edinburg, Charlene Hertz - McAllen, Lily Torrez - Area C Director - McAllen, and Estela Villegas - Alamo/San Juan/Pharr. Mandy Pena - McAllen 2nd Associate Director, UTPA Prof. Juanita Garza - Speaker, Baudelia Crane - State Treasurer, McAllen and Lily Torrez - Area C Director, McAllen The Pan American Round Table is an international organization; an alliance of the United States with Mexico, and Central and South America. Its main objective is to promote knowledge, understanding and friendship among the peoples of the Western Hemisphere, and provides scholarships, on an annual basis, to students seeking advanced education.

3 The Pan American Round Tables of the Upper Rio Grande Valley Celebrate Observance Day, 2010 Socialife Coverage of the Observance Day Celebration, June, 2010

4 Pan American Round Table of McAllen 2010 Scholarship Presentations May Meeting At the May meeting of the Pan American Round Table of McAllen, Mary Lou Trevino, Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, assisted by member Amy Seitz, presented scholarships in the amount of $2000 each, to deserving students from each of the three high schools of McAllen. Scholarships are awarded annually by the McAllen table to students who chose to attend the University of Texas-Pan American, attained a high-level academic grade-point average, and are active in their schools and in their community. The 2010 recipients were: Erika Lopez of Memorial High School, who aspires to be an OB/GYN, Kimberley Hernandez of McAllen High School, who plans to be a nurse practitioner, and Lizeth Gomez of Nikki Rowe High School, who plans to study engineering and music. Our congratulations to these very deserving students! 2010 McAllen Scholarship Recipients Erika Lopez, Kimberley Hernandez and Lizeth Gomez

5 Scholarship Committee members: Mary Lou Trevino and Amy Seitz; Scholarship recipients: Erika Lopez, Kimberley Hernandez and Lizeth Gomez; and Table Director Charlene Hertz Front row: Mary Lou Trevino, Amy Seitz, Erika Lopez, Kimberley Hernandez, Lizeth Gomez, Charlene Hertz, Mandy Pena; Back row: Alma de la Garza, Lily Torrez

6 Pan American Round Tables of the Valley Celebrate Pan American Observance Day at UTPA April 11, 2011 Left to right: Lily Torrez, Dr. Farzaneh Razzaghi-Library Director, Charlene Hertz Outgoing McAllen Table Director and Alma De La Garza Incoming Table Director The International Programs Department of the University of Texas-Pan American and the Pan American Round Tables of the Valley joined forces to celebrate the University s traditional Pan American Days, and the organization s annual Pan American Observance Day, with a luncheon at the University Ballroom on April 11 th. The festivities were organized on behalf of the Upper Valley Tables by McAllen Table member Dr. Yvonne Quintanilla, Director of UTPA s International Programs Department. Several students and faculty members were present, along with members of the seven Valley Tables of Alamo-San Juan- Pharr, Brownsville I & 2, Edinburg, McAllen, San Benito and Rio Grande City-Roma. A visual presentation of past Pan American Days and photographs from the McAllen Table s archives were digitally displayed, while a delicious luncheon was served on elegantly decorated tables with silky, orange tablecloths and appropriately patriotic centerpieces. Mistress of Ceremonies Lily Torrez, immediate past Area C Director of the McAllen Table, introduced Dr. Havidán Rodriguez, newly appointed UTPA Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, who warmly welcomed everyone to the University. Dr. Servando Hinojosa, Associate Professor of Anthropology, served as guest speaker. His topic: Latin America: An Inner Look provided very insightful and interesting information regarding medical practices and healing in Latin America. At the conclusion of the luncheon Mrs. Torrez made a special book presentation to UTPA Library Director Dr. Farzaneh Razzaghi, consisting of archived newspaper clippings and photographs of special events held throughout the years, which she compiled in honor of the McAllen Table s 75 th Jubilee. The book will be housed in the Library s Archives and will be available for the public to use for research purposes, or just to take a look at the photographs of the members since the Table s inception in 1934.

7 Pan American Round Table of McAllen, Texas Installation of Officers & Awarding of Scholarships May 3, 2011 The incoming McAllen Table officers were installed at their regular May meeting at the McAllen Country Club by Installing Officer and outgoing Area C Director Lily Torrez. Choosing colorful butterflies as an installation theme, Lily explained that butterflies had been an integral and beautiful symbol of their recent and very successful state convention, and felt that it would be a fitting tribute. She also explained that, as new officers, they will start by facing new challenges in a very low key, much like caterpillars, but with the test of time they will be transformed into beautiful soaring creatures, like butterflies. Left to Right: Lily Torrez-Installing Officer, Deanna Longoria Ramirez Recording Secretary Mandy Pena 1 st Associate Director, Alma De La Garza Director, Carmen Guerra (standing in for Becky Strong 2 nd Associate Director), Yolanda McCarty Treasurer, Charlene Hertz Parliamentarian

8 Outgoing officers from left: Mandy Pena, 2 nd Associate Director, Charlene Hertz Director Lily Torrez Parliamentarian Alma De La Garza 1st Associate Director Minnie Lanham Recording Secretary Marlon Levine, Treasurer Three scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each, were awarded at the regular May meeting of the McAllen Table to Eduardo A. Rodriguez, graduate of McAllen High School, Gabriela Castillo from Nikki Rowe High School and Gabriel Jorge Torres from Memorial High School. Of the three, Eduardo Rodriguez was the only recipient who was able to be present to receive the award. With his mother present at the luncheon, Eduardo delivered a very moving and heartfelt note of appreciation to the members, informing them of his goals for the future and how PART will play such a big role in his pursuit of a successful future. Gabriela Castillo and Gabriel Jorge Torres were not able to attend the awards ceremony due to previously scheduled school exams. However, Gabriel Jorge was represented by his mother, Saida Delgado, who delivered a personal letter of appreciation. The letter was read to the members by Scholarship Chairman Mary Lou Trevino. Charlene Hertz Outgoing Table Director, Eduardo Rodriguez and his Mother Return to McAllen Homepage.