What follows is an excerpt from The Pan American Round Table, Lois Terry Marchbanks, Avon Behren Press, 1983, (pp. 124-125).
On February 28, 1951 Mrs. Florence Johnson Scott invited a group of ladies to her home for the purpose of organizing a Pan American Round Table in Rio Grande City and surrounding area.
After working on the Constitution and By-Laws and they were approved, the Table was granted Charters by the Pan American Round Tables of Texas and the Alliance of Pan American Round Tables. Mrs. Clara Ely installed the officers with Mrs. Florence Johnson Scott as the first Director. There were 24 active, 6 associate, 12 auxiliary and 5 non-resident members.
In May of 1952 one of the Charter members passed away and on April 25, 1953 a Scholarship Fund was set up to honor her. It is known as the Nell Kain Guerra Scholarship Fund. Over the years with memorial donations it has grown so that at present we are able to award two $350.00 scholarships on the interest alone to two deserving high school students.
It is customary to invite two high school seniors to each of our program meetings.
In 1956 the Auxiliary and Non-residents were asked to become Active members. And in 1975 all members became Active.
In 1973 the name of the Table was changed to Rio Grande City-Roma.
During the years our Table has had many distinguished members serving on Texas and Alliance Committees. In 1976 we were honored by having one member, Mrs. R.R. (Maxine C.) Guerra elected Director of the Alliance of Pan American Round Tables. In 1980 she was named Pan American Woman 1980-82.
We are a very active Table with 61 active members carrying out our purpose of knowledge, understanding and friendship among the women of the Western Hemisphere until we are One for All and All for One.
Update 3/1/2001
Rio Grand Roma table meets September, October, November, January, February, and May on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 P.M. Place is not always at the same location s announced each month.
Our archives are passed on to each new Director for safe keeping.
The Table gives two scholarships each year for $400 each - one to a student from Rio Grande City and one from Roma. Sometimes we give other scholarships, but not on a yearly basis. The past two years we gave the following:
Roma Claudia
Alaniz $400 and Karla Garza $400
Rio Grande City Audry Gonzalez $400 and Veronica Solis $400
$500 Scholarship to Florence Terry Griswold Scholarship Fund in honor of Carmen Guerra, Past Director General of the Alliance of PART
We have sponsored the Rio Grande City High School Pan American Student Forum to attend convention contests in the amount of $500 for the past two years. The students are required to fill out application with a personal letter giving the following information: (1) That applicant has been a resident of Starr County for at least 3 years (2) Name of college that applicant expects to attend (3) Source of funds to supplement scholarship if won (4) list of high school activities (5) that the applicant understands the method of payment ($200 per semester with passing grades)
Funding for the scholarships comes from interest from a certificate of deposit, at the local bank derived from memorials accumulated over the years. We do not have any fundraisers.
We sponsor the Pan American Student Forum to the state convention in the amount of $250 per year.
We have four living Charter Members including Dora Perez, Miriam Vale, Raquel "Quela" Pope, and Frances Lagrange.