LWVLA History 1948-1975

Regular annual LWV events such as voter registration drives, most candidates' forums, and legislature previews and wrap-ups are not shown, nor are the national and state study and action items which were concurrent with these local issues.

Charter Study.

1947 - 48	Roma Walters, President, Provisional League
	Registered voters for the 1st Town Council election.
1948 - 49	Marian Ager, First President of the League of Women Voters of Los Alamos
	After the State Supreme Court disenfranchised 3,000 Los Alamos voters, declaring them not to be legal residents of the state, The League and others began a successful campaign to have the federal government cede jurisdiction to the state.
	Pros and Cons of proposed legislation to make Los Alamos a county were discussed at a luncheon on Mar. 15.
	(first LWV/LA Newsletter in files is v.2, no.9, Feb. 1949)
1949 - 50	Marian Ager, President
1950 - 51	Marian Ager, President
	Supported an elected School Board and appointed Superintendent.
1951 - 52	Emma Busey, President
1952 - 53	Emma Busey, President
1952 - 57	Worked for representation in the state Legislature for Los Alamos County, comparable with other counties in N.M.
1953 - 54	Carol Roberts (later Kinney), President
	Studied the financial structure of the townsite, including costs of operation and sources of revenue.
1954 - 55	Mally Ribe, President
	Studied housing policies and possibilities for home ownership. (All housing was owned by the federal gov't, and rented according to a system based on family size, salary and years of service.)
	The Candidates County Fair included the High School Band, folk and square dance exhibitions, a barber shop trio, a clarinet quartet, and many organizations selling food, gifts, cards, kitchen gadgets and toys! 57 candidates came to give 5-minute talks! Candidates arrived between 2:30 and 7:45, and were given tours of the town, and dinner at the Lodge (for $2.25, including tip!)
	There was a Legislative Workshop at the Men's Residence Hall (now DOE Hqtrs.)
1955 - 56	Phyl Wallis, President
	A Town Meeting was held on 6 proposed amendments to the NM Constitution. Among the speakers was our state senator, Harold Agnew.
	Studied the tax structure of the County, and distributed copies to LWV non- member contributors.
	Held a public dinner meeting on the national "Freedom Agenda"
1956 - 57	Phyl Wallis, President
	Studied structure of county government.
	Sponsored a lecture by Sigmund Spaeth on 'Music for Everyone" as a fund-raiser.
	Studied the role of political parties in the county.
	The Pueblo School auditorium was the site of another County Candidates Fair extravaganza, with music, booths, etc.
1957 - 58	Marianne Post, President, first half of year; moved to Albuquerque
	Lore Watt, President, rest of the year
	Studied recreational facilities in the county, including school recreation programs and facilities.
	The Annual Meeting was a celebration of our League's 10th anniversary.
1958 - 59	Lore Watt, President
	The League had a booth at the KRSN Home Show, for the first time.
	Undertook a many-part study of the structure of local governments.
	Had LWV observers at all County Commission meetings.
1959 - 60	Jane Lewis, President
	Supported at-large election of our 3 County Commissioners.
1960 - 61	Jane Lewis, President
	Had observers at all AEC Planning Committee and Task Group meetings looking into all aspects of local administration.
1961 - 62	Joyce Jarmie, President

	Supported a land use study to be followed by zoning.
	Supported city-county form of govt.
	Election at-large of County Commisssion achieved.
1962 - 63	Jean VanDilla, President
	Worked for County ownership of gas and electric utilities.
1963 - 64	Adele Hopkins, President for May-June; went to England
	Dana Douglass (later Rohr), President for rest of the year.
	Utilities election won.
	Evaluated government needs to assume the duties imposed by transfer from AEC to local control. Researched the issues and published "Transfer Topics."
1964 - 65	Marj Cromer, President thru November; went to Puerto Rico.
	Pat Pimbley, President for rest of year.
	Worked for an incorporated county form of government.
	Worked for Amendment 4 of the state constitution, giving L.A. home rule. We won.
1965 - 66	Lore Watt, President
	Evaluated, then supported the proposed Charter. The election, alas, failed.
	Disseminated information about the charter and transfer issues.
	Evaluated policies and programs in the county related to equal opportunity for education and employment.
1966 - 67	Phyl Wallis, President
	Fall Membership meeting had a short "Rogers and Hammelstein" production.
	Held one simple auditorium-seated type Candidates' meetings for first time, for local candidates only, on Oct. 13. 130 people attended. KRSN broadcast it. Bill Wood was emcee.
	13 LWV/LA members joined 13 others from around the state for a "Go See" tour of the Molybdenum mine near Questa, whose effluent had been polluting the Red River which flows into the Rio Grande.
	Held a panel discussion on possible rezoning of the "Green Area" in the Community Center. Bob Porton was moderator.
1967 - 68	Marj Cromer, President
	Worked in support of NM Constitutional Amendment #7 providing for absentee voting. It passed.
	Many League observers spent hours at Charter Commission meetings.
	A festive celebration was held for member Fern Lyon, who was LWV/NM President.
	Local "Go See" tour of County facilities, by bus, starting at 8:30am.
1968 - 69	Martha Wells, President
	All local study and action was devoted to evaluation, then support of a second proposed Charter. It passed.
	The great Blood-Letting (100 League members and friends gave blood, for $500, for a lead pollution study.) The money earned became known as Blood Money. "Not one sample showed cause for concern."
1969 - 70	Mada Jones, President
	The fall meeting topic was Environmental Quality of Los Alamos County: How it is being Maintained. Folksingers Marge Agnew and George Shepherd sang songs of pollution.
	Studied the County's Master Plan, and planning and zoning changes.
	Jessie Rudnick presented to the County Council a proposal for a Farmers' Market, as an outlet for the produce of neighboring farmers. The proposal was accepted. It started in 1970, and is still going and growing.
1970 - 71	Adele Hopkins, President
	With cooperation from the county, and work of the Northern Rio Grande RC&D Council, established the Farmers' Market, Thurs. mornings, at the corner of 20th and Trinity. This is the first in the state. Jessie Rudnick, Louise White, and other volunteers act as monitors, to assure compliance with health regulations and that growers and producers are New Mexico residents.
	Supported proposed amendments 1, 2, 3, and 5 to the NM Constitution. They provide for municipal home rule, and 4-year terms for elected officials.
	Studied County finance and the "AEC A$$i$TANCE FORMULA"
1971 - 72	Helen Gram, President
	Compiled a League Handbook for new members.
	V.S. Chair Linda Ostrye and Mada Jones acted as Deputy Registrars at LA High School, on "Youth Voter Day." (18-20 year olds vote this year for the first time). LWV deputy registrars also worked with the political parties to register voters in White Rock. The County Clerk's office had done all voter registration until this year.
	Began a study which resulted in the 1973 publication, "Know Los Alamos County."
1972 - 73	Allene Lindstrom, President
	Evaluated the suggested AEC assistance formula.
	Studied county finance.
	Completed work on first edition of "Know Los Alamos County" publication.
1973 - 74	Betty Leffler,President
	Fall meeting had Ann Bingaman as speaker on equal rights for women, discussing the effect of the federal law and recent NM Equal Rights Amendment.
	Pres. Leffler wrote a series of 5 articles related to ERA for the Monitor, provid ing general info, on community property laws iii NM.
	5 foreign students at LA High School were given copies of "The Government of the United States of America", provided by our League.
	The Lab purchased 100 copies of "Know Los Alamos County", to give to new employees
1974 - 75	Lois Godfrey, President
	Studied the proposed bond issues for Los Alamos' first bond referendum, and disseminated our consensus on them.
	Studied school funding, land use issues, and transportation.

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THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
OF LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO