Mrs. Griswold's Speech
Mrs. Griswold's speech, given in Beaumont in 1939:
"Try to remember that a Pan American Round Table is not a club in the ordinary
sense of the word. Your purpose will not be to have a grand big time among yourselves,
but to work for understanding among the women of the Americas, North, South
and Central.First, there is the necessity for overcoming ignorances especially
your own. Study, think, discuss, learn. Don't wait for somebody to come and
tell you. Find out for yourselves. Never neglect the Round Table concept, which
is a coming together to discuss, to share the things you have learned, to ask
questions. Never. let your Round Table come to depend on speakers who may only
entertain you. If you study and watch and learn about all the countries of our
Americas, you will become authorities yourselves, Think what it means to know,
and understand the geography, history and culture of a Hemisphere. Be careful
what you do with your money. Use it only for stated purposes of the Pan American
Round Tables. Never, never NEVER let your Round Table become just a tail to
some other kite. If you don't stick to one purpose, you will lose your way.
Don't try to be too big. Be busy. Check yourselves to see if you are accomplishing
what the Round Tables are intended to do. Try to think about the other Americas
as they were as precious as your own country. If you will work on this you will
find that Argentina, Peru and Mexico will seem as important to you as Louisiana
and Arkansas neighbors, parts of a whole. Now one thing more, a little delicate,
if you find yourselves with a member who is forgetful of the purposes of the
Round Tables and seeks and struggles for her own glory -make her the custodian
of the flags. There is enough glory in these American flags for anybody."