Alliance of Pan American Round Tables  Alliance of Pan American Round Tables (also known as the "Alizanza de Mesas Redondas Panamericanas", 1916-) is a women's organization which was founded to create networks among the people of the western hemisphere and represent each republic within the Americas. Initially a local organization, founded in Texas, it spread to statewide chapters with a parenting body in 1921. In 1944, with expanded international ties the Alliance was formed to unite the outreach of the various chapters. The non-partisan, non-sectarian NGO provides educational and cultural outreach programs. The Pan American Round Table (PART) was founded by Florence Terry Griswold in San Antonio, Texas on October 16, 1916. The impetus to found the organization was Griswold's concern for women and children refugees of the Mexican Revolution and the need to help them and better understand their lives. She believed that an apolitical and nonsectarian, with no commercial purpose nor alignment with any national government could help build bridges between nations that businessmen and politicians were unable to foster due to their motivations. If women could develop an understanding and cooperation among themselves, on the concept of the Round Table equality, she thought that they could influence men to do the same. Calling the inaugural meeting at the Menger Hotel, the charter members, besides Griswold were Mary Burleson Bee (Mrs. Carlos); Ella Dancy Dibrell (Mrs. Joseph Burton Dibrell); Anna Hertzberg (Mrs. Eli Hertzberg); Olivia Nolte (Mrs. Walter Nolte); Mary Pancoast (Mrs. Aaron C. Pancoast); among others. Griswold served as the first director and in 1921, the second chapter opened in Laredo and later that same year, Eugenia Schuster opened the branch in El Paso. In 1922, the chapter in Austin, as well as the state organization were founded. Griswold founded the state organization and became the first State Director to coordinate the activities of the various branches. Round Tables in other countries followed with the first branch established in Mexico City in 1928. In 1936, Ángela Acuña de Chacon founded the first branch in Costa Rica at San Jose and the following year, the Dallas chapter was founded by Katherine S. Robinson (Mrs. Stone J. Robinson). In the early 1940s, Emma Gutiérrez Suárez joined the Mexican branch. She would later become the chapter's National Director.