Associations Registration Fund

Associations Registration Fund The Register of Associations Fund is very valuable because of the retrospective information it contains in relation to the various institutions of this type that existed in the province since colonial times. In it it was possible to locate the existence of Canarian Associations, which since the end of the nineteenth century, were created in the Municipalities of Cárdenas and Matanzas and whose objective was to help the natives and natives of these islands, who for any circumstance were in need of it. The files of these associations contain articles of incorporation, regulations, balance sheets and other documents that allowed us to investigate the charitable activity carried out by these institutions in our province. This collection is highly requested by users who come to the Information Use Room. It is made up of 116 files, with a total of 2,243 files, where a variety of information can be found. Through the study of these originals it is possible to develop an investigation on Cuban society, as different groups of emigrants from different origins appeared, who met under common motivations, such as: religious, recreational, political, professional, and those whose purpose was to group Canarian immigrants with the aim of maintaining their culture and helping each other. This is the case of the associations that concern us and that are one more testimony of the great role that Canarian immigration played in the development and development of our Matanzas society. Our work focuses on the files belonging to the Canary Islands Associations of Charity and Mutual Aid, which existed in the municipalities of Cárdenas and Matanzas. They specify the dates of foundation, name changes, list of executives, and specific functions; as well as everything concerning his inner life. It was not possible to locate the addresses of their premises and everything seems to indicate that they did not settle in any house of their own, since all the meetings and activities took place in the homes of the executives. In file No. 13, there are the original files of the following associations: in Cárdenas, we can mention the "Association of Beneficence and Agricultural Protection of Natives and Natives of the Canary Islands"; the "Association of Natives and Natives of the Canary Islands"; the "Asociación de Beneficencia Mutua de Naturales y Oriundos de Canarias" and the "Asociación de Socorros Mutuos Las Canarias". In Matanzas, we can point out the existence of the "Association of Natives and Natives of the Canary Islands" and the "Association for the Protection of Canarian Immigration and Charity". After carefully analysing the regulations of these associations, we came to the conclusion that the contents of their articles coincided in the most fundamental aspects. Below we highlight the information that we consider most relevant for the internal development of these associations and the main duties and rights of their members. To enter these social institutions, it was a prerequisite to exercise an honorable occupation and to have a good record. Another requirement, in order to be admitted as a member, was that of not suffering from a chronic illness, nor being ill on the day of registration, for which purpose an examination was carried out by the doctor of the association. The dues that all members were obliged to pay were as follows: married family members paid $4.00 (in Banco Español currency) as an initial fee and $2.00 each month, in advance, also paying $0.50 for each individual in their family. Unmarried family members paid the same entrance fee as married members and as a monthly fee, $2.00 in advance and $0.50 for each member of their family, who lived under the same roof. Personal members paid $3.00 and $2.00 as an advance monthly fee. It was the obligation of all members to attend the General Meetings, ordinary and extraordinary, as well as the funerals of the members, unless they were prevented by a very justified cause, which had to be reported to the President or Secretary. There were different types of members: - Full members were all those from the Canary Islands or from the Canary Islands, who voluntarily registered, whether personal or family. Honorary members were those individuals, not belonging to the association, who reported benefits of such a nature that, by resolution of the General Meeting, they were conferred that honorary title. - Patron members, or benefactors, were those who contributed annually an amount of not less than $100.00. - The members of merit were the members of the association who distinguished themselves within it, in such a way that the other members, in a General Meeting, agreed to confer that honor. The funds of the association were distributed as follows: firstly, the expenses of the material of the Secretariat, the salary of the assistants of the Secretariat and the % indicated to the collector were paid. Of the resulting surplus, 10% was allocated to general funds and as reserve capital of the association and the remaining 90% to meet charitable expenses. These amounts destined for charitable expenses would be distributed by the President, always in agreement with the Board of Directors and reporting on it at the next meeting of the Board. In addition, the association was obliged to publish, on a monthly basis, in the local press, the status of its funds, for the knowledge of its members. Among the benefits of its members, it is worth noting that they had the right to the medical assistance of the association's doctor and to the medicines they needed. The Directive also provided for the burial, in a modest way, of those members whose relatives did not have financial resources. As a curious fact, we note that Article No. 32 reads: ... If any member is reduced to prison, the Board of Directors will meet and determine whether he should be helped, and if a conviction of an affronting nature (in the opinion of the Board) falls on him, he will be expelled from the Association without the right at any time to rejoin it. In this way, the concept of morality of the members of these associations is revealed, who ensured that their members were dignified and industrious people, virtues that characterize the Canarian people. It was strictly forbidden to discuss political, religious and other matters unrelated to the charitable nature of these associations within these associations, and any member who infringed the provisions of the regulations was expelled without any consideration. In the event of childbirth, the ladies of the members had the right to the assistance of the physician and other assistance deemed necessary by the Board of Directors. If a member was rendered useless for the work, the Board of Directors agreed at the Meeting, at the request of the interested party, whether he should be helped and, if so, the way in which it should be done was analyzed. So far, the most relevant issues of the internal life of these associations, which undoubtedly give us the measure that they played a role of great help and relief for the Canarians and their descendants, demonstrating the need to remain united and grouped in institutions that would ensure the stability of their members. Below we will detail information related to the creation of each of them, according to data found in their own files. In Matanzas, the "Association of Natives and Natives of the Canary Islands" was established through a meeting at the Esteban Theater (Sauto), on the first Sunday of September 1878, at 12:00. This exact information was specified by a document that appears in file No. 13, File No. 669; which contains a communication dated August 29, 1878, from the Provisional President of the Charity Board, Domingo R. Florido, requesting authorization to hold such a meeting at the Theater. The communication was addressed to the Civil Governor of Matanzas, who gave his authorization the following day. From this Association you have the information related to the celebration of a General Meeting at the house of the Interim President, Mr. Juan Hernández Salazar, located at Calle de Dos de Mayo No.11, where the following were present: Higinio Betancourt; Nazario Garcia; Guillermo Gutierrez; Domingo Lecuona and Madan; Francisco Melián; Adolfo Lecuona; Pedro Gonzalez; Gumersindo Moreno; all people of great prestige in our society and impeccable morals. During this Meeting, the movement of the Association's funds, which had $740.00, was carried out, specifying expenses for stationery, advertisements in La Aurora del Yumurí and lottery tickets paid by the society, among others. In addition, the donation of $325.40 appears, so the contribution of Mr. Juan Lecuona; Higinio Betancourt; Nazario Diepa and Sixto Lecuona, with a vote of thanks. The Board of Directors of this Canarian Association of Matanzas was composed of Nazario Diepa (President); Diego Lecuona and Madam (Vice-President); Higinio Betancourt Hernández (Treasurer); Gumersindo Moreno y Artiles (Secretary) and Juan Medina Espino (Vice-Secretary). 10 Members and 8 Alternates were elected. On September 13, 1885, it was agreed to make reforms to the Regulations, without changing the essential purposes for which the Association was created, so that its members could enjoy more current advantages. This information appears in another document in the file, but the new Regulations are not attached, nor have we been able to locate them in the Biblioteca Gener y del Monte. In the latter institution there is a Regulation of the "Sociedad Protectora de la Inmigración Canaria y de Beneficencia" of Matanzas, dated 1878. These Regulations were published by the "Aurora del Yumurí" Printing House and it mentions Mr. Domingo Rodríguez Florido as President; as Vice-President, Mr. Roque Betancourt and as Secretary, Mr. Gumersindo Moreno. Its articles include the same regulations that we have already described, in a general sense, for this type of association. In the city of Cárdenas, the "Association of Beneficence and Agricultural Protection" was created on April 1, 1887. At the General Meeting, held on March 11, 1888, the reform of the current Regulations was approved and a draft of the new Regulations was drafted, which was approved on May 20 of the same year. This association was later assimilated, with the transfer of its funds, by the "Asociación de Beneficencia Mutua de Naturales y Oriundos de Canarias", as stated in the latter's regulations, which were approved on July 28, 1888. This Regulation was authorized by the Fifth Administration Official and Acting Secretary of the Provincial Board of Charity of Matanzas, and the Association was registered on August 11, 1888, according to the original document.