Regional NAACP group to gather as LV chapter tackles problems

The NAACP will hold its Tri-State Conference Convention at Bally's hotel-casino over the weekend, which could be an important step putting the scandal-plagued Las Vegas chapter back on firm footing with the national organization.

The Las Vegas branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People weathered a phony fund-raising scandal and an eviction, but failure to file a 1996 year-end financial report in August proved to be the last chance for the branch's officers and executive committee who were suspended by the group's national headquarters.

Among those suspended was the Rev. James Rogers, the branch president. Rogers has since presented copies of the report and a stamped document to prove the local branch did send the reports to the national office.

"The branch is still focused on doing what it needs to do, and this disruption will soon blow over," said Pastor S.S. Rogers, the suspended president's brother. "It was just a mix-up in the national office, and it will soon be squared away."

The Las Vegas chapter is now under the temporary directorship of Edward Lewis, president of the Tri-State Conference, which includes all branches in Nevada, Utah and Idaho.

Louis Overstreet, a school district panel member, is one of three candidates that have emerged to run for the branch's presidency for next year, with James Rogers saying he won't seek re-election to another two-year term.

"There have been a lot of unfortunate activities in the NAACP over the last year, and that blame can be laid at several people's doorsteps," Overstreet said. "The demand is there from people who want to participate in the organization, but we have to get the branch cleaned up first."

The other candidates are, former Assemblyman Eugene Collins and former local branch president, the Rev. Jesse Scott.

The election was planned for November, but with the suspension it is likely that the elections will not be held until December, said NAACP national field secretary Mark Clack.

Moving the election is a bad move, said Ron Current, the director of public relations for the Clark County Civil Political Rights League and the former chairman of the local chapter of the Black Panther Party.

"They needed to get (James) Rogers and his people out of there, and now they need to get some new blood in there," said Current, who is also a member of the NAACP. "It makes no sense to move the elections to December when they need someone in there as soon as possible."

S.S. Rogers disagrees with Current, saying that the moving of the election is not an issue.

"No matter when the national organization decides to have the election the new president won't take office until January, so whether it's in November or December is not an issue," S.S. Rogers said.

Lewis will hold a town hall meeting at 3 p.m. Friday at Bally's to discuss the suspension of the branch and its future.

The time and place of that meeting also has sparked some controversy.

"Why would they hold it at Bally's?" Current asked. "It should be held in the neighborhood where the people they are talking about are. And how many people other than executives can get off work to attend a 3 p.m. meeting?"

Lewis could not be reached for comment.

Along with the town hall meeting, the weekend will feature seminars and speakers with information on topics ranging from economic development to religious affairs.

Featured speakers include Tony Gladney, executive director of community affairs for the MGM Grand hotel-casino, and Joseph Madison, a talk show host and NAACP national board member.

Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, will be presented with the NAACP's second annual Medger Evers Civil Rights Award. The award is given to an individual that has proven their work in the community and broken new ground as an African-American.

The three-day event will also feature a bone marrow donor drive and voter registration.

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