Senate Resolution No. 4183

BY: Senator ALCANTARA

COMMEMORATING the 52nd Anniversary of the
Dominican Cultural and Sports Center of New York,
Inc. on March 22, 2018

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body, in keeping with
its time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those
organizations which foster ethnic pride and enhance the profile of
cultural diversity which strengthens the fabric of the communities of
New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 52nd Anniversary of the Dominican Cultural and Sports
Center of New York, Inc. to be celebrated on Thursday, March 22, 2018;
and

WHEREAS, For over five decades, the Dominican Cultural and Sports
Center of New York has fostered a spirit of unity, sportsmanship, and
cultural pride for Dominicans living in the Washington Heights
neighborhood of Manhattan and beyond; and

WHEREAS, With a long history of immigration to the United States
dating back to the arrival of Juan Rodriguez in New Amsterdam in 1613,
successive generations of Dominicans have come to America in search of
prosperity and to begin new lives; and

WHEREAS, However, after the fall of the regime of Rafael Leonidas
Trujillo Molina in the 1960s, many Dominicans emigrated to the United
States in order to escape the widespread political persecution and
social instability happening at the time in the Dominican Republic; and

WHEREAS, Forced away from their loved ones to settle in the New York
City boroughs of the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan, many
Dominicans faced the challenges of an unfamiliar language, cultural
customs, food, and climate, as well as a longing for what they had left
behind; and

WHEREAS, As a large number of Dominican immigrants began to settle
in Washington Heights, one group of friends and domino game lovers began
to create an organization for maintaining their cultural roots which
converged on weekends at different apartments; and

WHEREAS, At a meeting in the summer of 1964, a firm decision was
made to form a social club to play dominoes and other games emulating
models established at that time in the Dominican Republic; the first
interim board consisted of President Guaroa Well, Vice-President Eduardo
Payero, Treasurer Ramon de La Hoz, Victor Gil, Luis Cepeda, Conrad
Guzman, Rafael Diaz and Rafael Innocent; and

WHEREAS, On March 23, 1966, this new institution was incorporated in
the New York State Capital in Albany, New York, as the Dominican Sports
Club; a permanent club location was selected at 2186 Amsterdam Avenue,

and its members also established statutes and rules to govern the
handling of its operation under its first President Guaroa Bueno; and

WHEREAS, As its membership continued to grow, the Dominican Sports
Club began to encourage its members to assess and understand their
homeland from a new social perspective; the organization also welcomed
its first partners: Geraldo Espinal, Ramon Garcia, Mario Jose Nunez,
Francisco Perez, Octavio Jimenez, Jose Rodriguez, Miguel Payano,
Salvador Garcia and Rafael Vargas; and

WHEREAS, Over the years, The Dominican Sports Club, now the
Dominican Cultural and Sports Center of New York, Inc., has remained
steadfast in its commitment to helping its countrymen express themselves
and channel their energies in a spirit of friendship and cultural pride,
while also striving to make a difference in the Dominican immigrant
community; and

WHEREAS, Today, the Dominican Cultural and Sports Center of New
York, Inc., is not only respected for its achievements in traditional
sports activities like dominoes, but is also known for fostering great
athletes in such disciplines as softball, bowling, billiards, ping pong
and karate; and

WHEREAS, The success of the Dominican Cultural and Sports Center of
New York, Inc., is in direct correlation to the efforts of its members
and staff, whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by
an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising
standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of this institution
and the community it serves; and

WHEREAS, The newly elected President of the Dominican Cultural and
Sports Center of New York, Inc. shall be Luis Mejia; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when cultural
organization of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 52nd Anniversary of the Dominican Cultural and Sports
Center of New York, Inc., noting the significance of its unremitting
efforts, and wishing the organization continued success for many years
to come; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Dominican Cultural and Sports Center of New York,
Inc.