LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS LAS VEGAS VALLEY

The League of Women Voters gave Jean the structure she needed to become thoroughly involved in bettering her community. From 1965 to 1972, Jean served first as president of the Las Vegas chapter and then as vice-president and president of the State League. In the League Jean learned about the structure and process of government and about the role that citizens could play. At national conferences she was able to observe other women from across the country that had concerns and aspirations similar to hers. Jean led the League in its involvement in major issues of the time - planning and zoning, parks, and school integration.

In 1968 the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) filed suit against the Clark County School District to force school integration. The League had done studies of the need for integration and, under Jean's leadership; the League filed an amicus brief and became a party to the legal action. During the time of race riots across the country, Jean and the League sponsored a series of workshops in Las Vegas to create a dialogue between blacks and whites and produced a newsletter about school integration. In the federal court decision, the school district was forced to adopt a busing plan to achieve racial integration. Although this particular solution was not one that the League favored, it did achieve the goal of school integration.

Following the 1971 state legislative session, the League produced "A Look at the Record", which examined the major issues of the session, showing how each legislator voted, examined committee activities, and reported the attendance records of legislators.

By 1972 the local League had over 200 members and was extremely active in the community. In addition to involvement in school integration and other local issues, the chapter produced a booklet "Know Your County", which was an in depth study of county departments and operations. Also at this time the county adopted a master plan and League members appeared at commission meetings to ensure that it was followed.

The league also produced a study dealing with juvenile delinquency, "Children in Trouble: A Look at Problems of Delinquency in Nevada", and lobbied for more funds for state parks.

In 1970 the League received a grant of federal funds under the Air Quality Act. Jean and the Las Vegas League staged a conference that incorporated key players from government and industry throughout the state. From that conference legislation was drafted for enactment by the next session of the state legislature.