The Argentine Society of St. Louis, a Brief History
The Argentine Society of St. Louis is a non profit organization (section 501 (c) (3) based in the Heartland of America. Established on January 11, 1991 by a group of compatriots, our purpose is to share Argentine culture and customs with fellow Hispanic-Americans and with those inclined to learn more about the traditions of our beloved country. The Society does not align itself with any one political, racial or religious group. Rather, our mission is to help further the common good of all Argentines in St. Louis by fostering the fluent use of English, encouraging continued mastery of the Spanish language, and nurturing understanding between us and other citizens of our adopted homeland.
Since its founding, the Society’s members have formed special-interest groups which have become active in the St. Louis area. In the past, the folkloric group has represented Argentina at a number of festivals, before other cultural Societies, and at international programs sponsored by local universities. Under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Horacio and Georgina Altamirano, the group has enjoyed wide participation from its members.
Among the Society’s other popular groups was its book club, which met in the early days at the home of Dr. Navin Amin and his late wife, Dr. Aurora Amin. In the past the club hosted a series of talks by renowned authors Mr. Marco Aguinis and Mr. José Rivas.
More than cultural and educational initiatives, the Society is also dedicated to raising funds for various organizations in St. Louis and abroad. Our fund raising efforts have been made possible as a result of the hard work of our dedicated members. Through food sales at festivals, fashion shows, and evenings of tango we have helped sustain "Hogar San Roque," a home for disadvantaged children in Capitán Bermúdez, Argentina, for the past 16 years. We are also proud of the ongoing support we provide to Indigenous groups in Formosa and to needy families throughout the Santa Fe region during the floods of 2003.
The Society’s charitable contributions are aimed at helping its own members via a special fund reserved for those in need of emergency financial assistance. In addition, we present two annual student awards. One award is given to a student currently in his or her last year of high school with the highest score on the National Spanish Examinations; the other, a monetary award of $500, is presented to a student selected for the exchange program between the Languages Department at Webster University in St. Louis and "la Universidad Nacional de Cuyo" in Mendoza, Argentina.
Communication, as a means of furthering our objectives, is of utmost importance to us. Ecos del Sur, our quarterly newsletter, is mailed to members and subscribers and contains information and stories relevant to our community both state-side and in Argentina. Currently, it is edited and produced by Mrs. Cristina Santa Cruz.
Since its founding, the Society’s members have formed special-interest groups which have become active in the St. Louis area. In the past, the folkloric group has represented Argentina at a number of festivals, before other cultural Societies, and at international programs sponsored by local universities. Under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Horacio and Georgina Altamirano, the group has enjoyed wide participation from its members.
Among the Society’s other popular groups was its book club, which met in the early days at the home of Dr. Navin Amin and his late wife, Dr. Aurora Amin. In the past the club hosted a series of talks by renowned authors Mr. Marco Aguinis and Mr. José Rivas.
More than cultural and educational initiatives, the Society is also dedicated to raising funds for various organizations in St. Louis and abroad. Our fund raising efforts have been made possible as a result of the hard work of our dedicated members. Through food sales at festivals, fashion shows, and evenings of tango we have helped sustain "Hogar San Roque," a home for disadvantaged children in Capitán Bermúdez, Argentina, for the past 16 years. We are also proud of the ongoing support we provide to Indigenous groups in Formosa and to needy families throughout the Santa Fe region during the floods of 2003.
The Society’s charitable contributions are aimed at helping its own members via a special fund reserved for those in need of emergency financial assistance. In addition, we present two annual student awards. One award is given to a student currently in his or her last year of high school with the highest score on the National Spanish Examinations; the other, a monetary award of $500, is presented to a student selected for the exchange program between the Languages Department at Webster University in St. Louis and "la Universidad Nacional de Cuyo" in Mendoza, Argentina.
Communication, as a means of furthering our objectives, is of utmost importance to us. Ecos del Sur, our quarterly newsletter, is mailed to members and subscribers and contains information and stories relevant to our community both state-side and in Argentina. Currently, it is edited and produced by Mrs. Cristina Santa Cruz.
