In the meantime, board members Saturday discussed the best way to move forward. Gallegos suggested as an alternative to removing Renteria, the board allow Renteria to finish his term, which ends in November, if Renteria would accept the board's membership as it stood before his incarceration, including Rodriguez returning to secretary.

However, most of those present expressed frustration at Renteria's leadership style, saying he doesn't work with the board, or live up to his responsibilities as president. Those frustrations are expressed in a draft letter to organization members, which says in part that Renteria has created an "atmosphere of hostility and intimidation."

"It's really sad to cancel Sept. 16," said board member Bertha Hurtado Shinzato. "I like (Renteria), but he doesn't follow the law like everybody else."

Centro Civico was founded in 1939 by immigrants from Mexico. In addition to cultural celebrations, it houses services such as alternative high school, computer lab and English as a second language programs at its facilities, located at 155 S. 600 West.

"I hope we can get through this," said former board member Bea Sanchez. "This is a good organization with a lot of good people behind it."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com