MINUTES OF THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM Sixty-eighth Session March 15, 1995 The Committee on Economic Development and Tourism was called to order at 5:30 p.m., on Wednesday, March 15, 1995, Chairman Dianne Steel presiding in Room 321 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Michael A. (Mike) Schneider, Chairman Mrs. Dianne Steel, Chairman Mrs. Maureen E. Brower, Vice Chairman Mr. Mark Manendo, Vice Chairman Mr. Thomas Batten Mr. Jack D. Close Mr. David Goldwater Mrs. Gene Wines Segerblom GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT: None STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Donald O. Williams, Chief Principal Research Analyst OTHERS PRESENT: Mr. Robert Hoover, Legacy Folk Dance of the States Ms. Debbie Reichenbach, Southern Nevada Dance Association SENATE BILL 81 - Designates square dance as official folk dance of Nevada. (BDR 19-1069) Mr. Robert Hoover of Reno, Nevada, representing Legacy Folk Dance of the States, thanked the committee for allowing him to present his position. He distributed a document entitled American Folk Dance of the States (Exhibit C) to all committee members. He explained Legacy Folk Dance is a national organization whose intent is to preserve the heritage of square dance. He stated the purpose of S.B. 81 was to make square dancing the state folk dance. Mr. Hoover gave a brief history of square dancing in Nevada. He said it belonged to the state's heritage and was just as significant as the state bird and flag. Referring to the last page of the exhibit, Mr. Hoover pointed out the dates state folk dance legislation was passed in the states surrounding Nevada. He added twenty-two states have passed such legislation and within the western states, only Nevada, Wyoming and New Mexico have no such designation. Ms. Debbie Reichenbach of Las Vegas, testifying on behalf of S.B. 81, stated she represented the Southern Nevada Square Dance Association. Ms. Reichenbach explained the family values that square dancing bases itself upon. In regard to the square dance population in southern Nevada, she reported there were 12 groups with a total membership of 600 and 1,200 people who danced on a regular basis but were not affiliated with particular organizations. Ms. Reichenbach listed various dance events within her area and the number of dancers that attend. Assemblyman Brower asked Mr. Hoover to describe the facilities in which dances were held. He replied it depended on the attendance; in the majority of cases various public buildings were utilized. According to Mr. Hoover, the California Building was used in Reno; the entire Reno/Sparks Convention Center for the Silver State Festival; and southern Nevadans extensively used the school districts. Mrs. Brower asked why hotel facilities were not used. Mr. Hoover stated they encourage young people to join in activities and, therefore, were reticent to use the hotels. An exception was the Silver State Festival where 850 rooms were blocked off in Reno. Assemblyman Close commended those testifying and their organizations on the activities they provided relating to square dancing. His concern had to do with whether the dance was as unique to Nevada as was the state bird, tree and flower. He asked why Nevada should select a dance that had already been chosen by twenty-two other states. Mr. Hoover responded this was a very good question and the only reason he could provide was its uniqueness to Nevada. He reiterated that it was brought to Nevada by pioneering settlers and was in place before everything else including the flag. Mr. Close asked how passage of legislation would affect their organization. Mr. Hoover said it would improve the pride of individual square dancers. He displayed a copy of their national directory, explained how it was used, and pointed out how every state that had passed legislation was acknowledged. Assemblyman Segerblom stated she supported American folk dance, however, did not feel it was a state of Nevada dance. Citing her Nevada lineage dating from the 1880s, she maintained square dancing was not part of her pioneer family heritage and felt a dance should be chosen that was more symbolic to the state. Mrs. Segerblom acknowledged she would be in favor of a resolution recognizing square dancing. Assemblyman Schneider noted the states referred to in the exhibit had passed resolutions, not bills, designating square dancing as their state dance. He commented he did not know whether it applied to California, not knowing what S.J.B. stood for and asked for comments from those testifying. Mr. Hoover said they would be happy with any consideration. He remarked he did not know the difference between a bill and a resolution. Mr. Schneider agreed with Mrs. Segerblom, concluding a resolution may be more appropriate. Assemblyman Batten requested permission for his secretary, Sylvia Mays, an avid square dancer, to testify. Permission was granted by Chairman Steel. Ms. Sylvia Mays stated she started square dancing while employed by the United States Embassy in Manila in 1962. Ms. Mays traced her square dancing career from the time she arrived in Las Vegas in 1965 to her present day activities traveling around the United States. Ms. Mays testified square dancing enabled her to make many friends and allowed her to assimilate easily into American society. Chairman Steel requested Mrs. Segerblom to act as a one-person subcommittee and research whether there were dances specific to Nevada. Ms. Segerblom accepted and also agreed to examine neighboring states' square dancing resolutions. Mr. Hoover predicted Mrs. Segerblom's research would reveal ethnic dances such as Basque and American Indian to be specific to Nevada. He felt ethnic dances did not fall into the same category as American folk dances. Mrs. Segerblom commented dances could be classified regionally as well as ethnically. There being no further business before the committee, the meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: Janine Sprout, Committee Secretary APPROVED BY: Assemblyman Michael A. Schneider, Chairman Assemblyman Dianne Steel, Chairman Assembly Committee on Economic Development and Tourism March 15, 1995 Page