Honor Dominican Sports Center

Senate Resolution No. 1115 BY: Senator ALCANTARA COMMEMORATING the 51st Anniversary of the Dominican Cultural and Sports Center of New York, Inc. on March 22, 2017 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 51st Anniversary of the Dominican Cultural and Sports Center of New York, Inc. to be celebrated on Wednesday, March 22, 2017; 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, 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 51st 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.