While personality conflicts aren't new, the current leadership dispute started this summer when the board voted to oust Renteria and vice president Richard Montano while Renteria was jailed on a violation of his probation for misdemeanor traffic violations.

Renteria has since been released and has said the board violated the bylaws by ousting him. He maintained the board members who moved into the president and vice president slots had forfeited their positions.

At another meeting several board members voted to move to impeach Renteria according to the bylaws. At that meeting, several people expressed frustration with Renteria's leadership style.

Tomas Perez was the only board member present who voted against moving toward impeachment, though he signed the letter sent to general membership. At the time Perez had said it would be better to let Renteria finish his term, which ends this fall.

While he's seen the organization struggle in the past, Perez and his wife Dolores say the current strife is personally troubling.

"It's been very hard for us," said Dolores Perez. "We've known John and his family for years. It's hard to see this happening."

The couple held their marriage reception at Centro Civico and are hoping to have their 50th anniversary party here next year.

Tomas Perez first became a member of Centro Civico in 1957, just a few years after he immigrated from Mexico. Dolores says her involvement started at weekly women's meetings shortly after the couple married. Dolores, originally from Colorado, was new to the state.

"It was so much fun," she says. "That's where I learned a lot about making Mexican paper flowers. ... That's where I learned to make tamales."

And there were dances held at bygone locations such as Carpenters Hall and the Terrace Ballroom.

"We'd get ready for weeks and weeks, get our hair done, get a baby-sitter," Sanchez said.

Robert Rendon, foundation president for the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, remembers playing in Centro's bygone Little League during the mid-1960s.

Now he's on a reorganization committee that's looking at moving Centro into the future. One thing he sees as key is expanding the reach beyond Mexicans to "make it a center for the entire Hispanic community." Rendon hopes the leadership dispute will pass quickly so efforts to revitalize the community center can move forward.

Renteria, who first served on the board while he was a student at the University of Utah, says he's been trying to recruit "new blood" to move the organization forward ever since.

While the mutual frustration remains, there is a sign that the organization is progressing. While the board had first considered whether the conflict would prevent the upcoming Mexican Independence Day celebration, all sides now appear to be working together to make it happen.

And like many longtime members, Beatrice Sanchez is determined to make the organization's future bright.

"We're going to get through this. ... It is still kind of the cornerstone of the community. People come here from Latin American countries, particularly Mexico. They come to find out what's available."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com