Narrative History of The Round Rock El Amistad Club
by David L. Carlin, A Founding Member
As one reviews the history of the Round Rock El Amistad Club, two distinct phases are very evident. The first phase starts with the beginning of the club and ends when the club filed its application to obtain its Articles of Incorporation to become a 501 C-3. This application took place in 1987. The second phase starts when the club was designated by the State of Texas as a 501 C-3 and this phase continues today.
Phase One
1968 Through 1987
Reviewing the first phase will be much more meaningful if one places the beginnings of the club in prospective with the environment that existed in the Round Rock community in the midsixties. The mid-sixties found the Hispanic Community on the sidelines of community affairs. Representation at any level was nonexistent.
The Hispanic Community was fortunate to have a native born young man who had served in the United States Air Force for four years return to Round Rock in 1965. This young man was Jesse R. Molina (J.R. Molina). Molina was an excellent leader. He was smart, well read, an excellent writer, and at 24 years of age was not shy, timid, or intimidated when talking to community leaders who were two or three times his age. Molina was able to recognize that the environment that existed in Round Rock in the mid- sixties had to change. He was able to convince many of the young Hispanics in Round Rock that things could and should be different.
Molina was instrumental in gaining a greater political voice for Hispanics in 1968. In addition, Molina and others had convinced Lorenzo Rubio, a native of McNeil/Round Rock, to run for the Round Rock City Council. Lorenzo was a businessman who was well known and well liked. He was elected in the spring of 1968.
This successful event became the impetus for Molina and other local Hispanics to start thinking about what it would take to permanently increase the standing of Hispanics in business and community affairs in central Texas. They decided it would be helpful to establish an organization that would foster community solidarity and encourage Hispanics in the Round Rock community to pursue higher education, develop leadership qualities, and enhance community awareness of the positives of the Hispanic Culture. Shortly, Molina and others reached a conclusion that the organization would be named El Amistad Club (The Round Rock El Amistad Club was the name given to the club when the Articles of Incorporation application required a search that determined the name El Amistad Club was already taken).
It was on the second Sunday in November 1968 when Molina called for a charter meeting of El Amistad Club. The charter meeting of El Amistad Club was held in the back yard of Molina’s parent’s home in Round Rock. The following members are founders of El Amistad Club: Isaac
Lopez Jr., Ben Salazar, Chris Perez, Lupe Madrigal, Joe Carlin, David Carlin, Raymond DeLeon, and Delfino Bryan.
It was also determined fairly soon after the charter meeting that a fundraiser should be organized; and that the fundraiser would be an annual event, and it would be named the 1st Annual Fiesta Amistad. This annual event would be held on Memorial Day weekend in 1969 on the banks of Brushy Creek in Round Rock, Texas.
As the club studied what would affect the quality of life in Round Rock the most, it was determined that enhancement of education and leadership skills of the club membership were two things that were absolutely essential. Furthermore, the club wanted to become a vehicle to foster pride and a deeper understanding of the Hispanic culture. To nurture these objectives the club decided to encourage a young man by the name of Issac Lopez Jr to become a candidate for the Round Rock ISD school board of trustees. Issac won by a mere 9 votes and went on to serve admirably for 12 years. The election and service of Issac was a true source of pride for the entire Round Rock Community.
As education became a priority for the club, awarding scholarships to graduating students became the vehicle to reach the education priority. In 1970 Steve Gonzalez became the first scholarship recipient of $200.00. Even though the scholarship was very modest, it served as a symbol that showed everyone where the club’s priority really was.
The second priority was the development of leadership of the club members and other Hispanics. Club members were encouraged to chair committees, volunteer to become members of boards, task forces, and input groups throughout the Round Rock community, and as time went on the enhancement of leadership of the membership became a reality.
The club made sure that the club membership and the community recognized the positives of the Hispanic culture through excellent role models and the sponsorship of sound cultural programs.
The Seventies
It was during the early 1970s that Jesse Molina, the founder of El Amistad, graduated from Law School at the University of Texas and moved to Dallas. What is significant about the exit of Molina from the Round Rock community is the club had experienced several successes that motivated its members to recognize the importance of the club in the lives of Hispanics in Round Rock, and this formed the motivation to assure that the club’s existence continued.
The club went to the Round Rock Post Office, and called attention to the fact that no minorities were part of its work force. As a result the Post Office hired a native of Round Rock-Luis Beltran. Vic Valadez, club member, led the successful effort, and the club was elated that its effort had been positive.
1974 found the club focusing on the club’s motto, colors, logos, member vests, member caps, and stationary, “El Amistad es mas que Oro” (Friendship is more than gold) became the club’s motto, yellow and gold becoming the club’s colors, and the two extended hands highlighted with distinct colors on the club logo symbolized diversity of peoples and thinking. It was at this juncture in the history of the club that the membership recognized the club would be part of the Round Rock community for good!
The late seventies found the club discussing the possibility of purchasing land so a clubhouse could be built to serve as a meeting place for its members and to better anchor the club. 1979 saw the club celebrating the 10th Annual Fiesta Amistad, which by then was held in honor of the only Vietnam veteran who lost his life in service to our country. He was a Hispanic native son of Round Rock—-Robert P. Hernandez. The club also found itself expanding its scholarship program and pushing to have more Hispanic teachers to be sound role models in Round Rock ISD.
The Eighties
The eighties found the club continuing to search for a parcel of land. A parcel of land was finally found and purchased in 1985. The club paid $7,500 for an 8-acre tract that was located approximately 6 miles East of Round Rock just off of Highway 79. Hopes ran high among the
members that this tract would benefit the club in the long run.
One of the great sources of pride for the club came when Round Rock Chamber of Commerce as part of its annual banquet selected three Hispanics to receive its top distinguished award on three distinct years. The Most Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award was awarded to Isaac Lopez Jr, Tino Hernandez Jr., and Oscar Perez. The selection of each of these club members in three distinct years made the club recognize that the impact the club was making was community wide.
It was in the eighties that the club started thinking about reaching out for grants, and sponsorships to help the club meet its goals of enhancing education and further cultivating the leadership qualities of its members. The more the club researched information about grants and sponsorships, the more the club recognized the need to Incorporate as a nonprofit 501 C-3.
It was at this juncture in the club’s history that the club realized that incorporating as a 501 C-3 meant the club would need to change its manner of doing business. No longer would the club be able to endorse political candidates or run candidates for political office. The club had never
utilized club funds for member benefit so this was not a concern or factor in the ultimate decision to incorporate. After much discussion the membership agreed that a fundamental change was needed to take place so the club could continue to grow and tap into the vast resources that were available. The club incorporated as a nonprofit 501C-3 in 1987.
Phase Two
The Nineties
The Nineties saw the club operate as a nonprofit and found itself expanding its scholarship program, club sponsors, encouraging members to improve their leadership skills, and through solid role modeling bringing positive light on the Hispanic culture.
Fiesta Amistad was moved to down town Round Rock in 1992 and the move proved to be a huge success. More important, the move was successful because of the help extended by City officials and the heads of city departments. The move helped the club highlight the Hispanic culture to a much greater extent.
In 1993 the club started discussing the possibility of selling its land it had purchased in 1985 because the membership felt the land was too far from Round Rock, and the club recognized that a property that was much closer to Round Rock would benefit the club and the Round Rock community much more.
The club sold the property in 1993 for $35,000 with a small down payment and carried the remainder in installments. The club was fortunate to find a 5.7-acre tract in 1993 within the city limits of Round Rock for $75,000. The property had an excellent location.
In 1995 Homer Sanchez, a club member, was able to bring a fund raising idea that transformed our scholarship program. He ushered in the club’s sponsorship of Bingo as a fundraiser. He arranged for the club to sponsor three sessions of Bingo per week. Even though the sponsorship of Bingo was slow at first, shortly it proved to be a windfall. Our scholarship program went from $25,000 to $65,000 in scholarships per year. All funds derived from Bingo went into our scholarship funds.
Club sponsorships also increased in the nineties. Businesses were reaching out to the club with donations. Donations from businesses reached totals of $30,000 to $40,000 per year. These funds were utilized to fund the club’s educational programs that the club implemented in the schools to improve the quality of education. The club had initiated tutorial programs, bilingual programs in the elementary schools and the Round Rock Police Department. Literacy Council sponsorships, and grants for students attending leadership Conferences were just a few of the programs the club was sponsoring during the late nineties.
The year 2000 to the present
The early part of the turn of the century found the club in much discussion as to what to do with the land it had purchased in 1993. Some members wanted to sell the land and establish an endowment to further enhance our scholarship program. Other members wanted to build a building that would be a civic center to be used by the entire Round Rock community for academics endeavors. The building would house computers and classrooms and honor students from the high schools would be hired to tutor students in need during weekday evenings. Community groups could use the center to conduct seminars to address group needs during the day.
The club approached Opus 3, a local architectural firm, to design a building that would meet the above needs, and the firm said yes! A building was designed and the club approved of the building as designed. Furthermore, the club hired a grant writer to solicit grants for the construction of the building and equip and furnish it. Furthermore, the Williamson County Appraisal District reviewed the club plans for the civic center and exempted the club from taxes on the property for three years in anticipation of the proposed civic center.
Unfortunately, the early part of the 2000s saw the economy take a downturn, and grants were very difficult to come by and the club had to abandon plans for the civic center.
2006 and 2007 found the club very busy discussing a third move to hold Fiesta Amistad. The down town site for Fiesta Amistad had proved very beneficial, but because of the many merchants that had to close their businesses during Fiesta Amistad, and hardships placed on them, a move was in order. Again, city officials were very helpful and instrumental in the successful move to the newly developed city properties that had been purchased for city offices like the McConico Building and surrounding grounds. The city was so supportive that funds were provided to enhance the proposed site for the fiesta that made the move much easier for our club to relocate the Fiesta. It was unbelievable how supportive city officials were in helping the club move the Fiesta site for the third time in its forty-year history.
The 2007 found the club in much discussion about the property it purchased in 1993. At the heart of the discussion was the increase in value of the property that the club purchased for $75,000 in 1993, and now the value was estimated to be $1.2 million dollars. The real estate taxes were going up and now the property was too valuable not to sell, and many members wanted to establish a financing vehicle to enhance the club’s ever-growing scholarship program.
The club reached a decision to put the property on the market in November 2007, and to utilize the proceeds from the sale of the land to help the club meet its constitutional objectives. In 2009 the club found a buyer that purchased the property for $1,157,000 cash! What a windfall!
Summation
Recognizing the environment that existed in Round Rock in the mid-1960s, one can quickly see that Round Rock El Amistad Club has been very instrumental in improving the lives of the Hispanic community specifically and the entire Round Rock community in general. In addition, all the concerns that the membership had about changing the manner in which the club did business to comply with the dictates of the 501 C-3, did not materialize. The club has been more effective in Phase two as it had been in Phase one. All club funds have been geared toward enhancing our scholarship program and programs that positively affect the quality of education, membership leadership development, and Hispanic culture awareness.
There is no doubt that Hispanics are much more a part of the decision making process in Round Rock because of the Round Rock El Amistad Club. As the club’s membership is assessed one can quickly see sound leaders who are making a difference in the lives of people in the entire Round Rock community, and that the Hispanic culture is much more appreciated because of the efforts of Round Rock El Amistad Club. The future of the club looks bright!
The El Amistad Club History – In review
As one reviews the 44 year history of the Round Rock El Amistad Club, it is impressive to see how successful this organization truly is. The club was started in 1968 for the following five reasons: First, the organization wanted to emphasize the importance of education in peoples lives. From the start this was, and continues to be, the most important priority of this organization. Shortly, after it was organized, this organization started awarding scholarships to graduating seniors to encourage them to pursue their higher education. The first scholarship awarded was for a meager $200 in 1970; and in April 2012 it awarded 144 scholarships for a total of $180,000.
Second, while the scholarship program is the most recognized focus of the club, the club has also promoted after school tutorials for students, sponsored bi-lingual classes in one of the district’s elementary schools, awarded grants to students to attend the Lorenzo De Zavala Youth Leadership summer programs that are comparable to the Boys and Girls state Programs, helped fund the Round Rock Park built for children with special needs, participates in the Round Rock Christmas Family Night, and we conducted Basic Spanish classes for members of the Round Rock Police Department. As you can see, the emphasis is on education and the difference it makes in peoples lives.
Third, the club wanted to cultivate the Hispanic Culture in the Round Rock Community. To promote the Hispanic Culture, the club sponsors the annual El Amistad Fiesta that incorporates the music, food and dances of the Hispanic Culture. The fiesta emphasizes programs that reach out to the entire family. It is held on Memorial Day weekend and it recognizes veterans for their service. This year we celebrated the club’s 50th annual Amistad Fiesta that typically brings 4,000 fiesta goers to the two days of the fiesta.
Fourth, the club sponsors the annual El Amistad Golf Tournament. Typically, this golf tournament has between 85 and 100 golfers that participate, and they recognize they are helping to promote the noble goals of the club. The club also sponsors two evenings of bingo and all the proceeds raised by bingo go toward scholarships.
Fifth, the club provides leadership opportunities for its members. Members of the club are encouraged to volunteer and become active role models for our young people as they serve in service organizations throughout our community, and help promote advancement of the Hispanics in the Round Rock area.
The main sponsors of the club are the Austin White Lime Co., First Texas Bank, Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union, Beck Funeral Home, Oscar Perez’s Paul Mitchell Academy, Smokey Mo’s and Golden Chick of Round Rock.
What does the club need to push it to the next level in fully reaching its primary goal of making sure that high school students in our community fully recognize the importance of education?
The club needs more sponsors that share the goals of the club. The club’s philosophy with regard to sponsors is: the club seeks to give back as much as it receives! The club hopes you will join it in helping to make a difference in the quality education our students receive!