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It's Summertime!
Summertime and the livin' is easy, Fish are jumpin', And the cotton is high,
Oh, your daddy's rich; And your ma' is good lookin',
So hush, Little baby, Don't you cry.
Can you hear it? Playing in your head? Written by the Gershwins and performed by many over the years, it sets a great tone for this time of the year.
High school and college graduations are mostly behind us. People are heading out on vacations and for many, this will be the first they've dared to take in a few years. But most of all....most of all.....the 2023 legislative session is over! I find it a sad state of affairs to simply hope that the session concludes and the legislators leave Topeka before inflicting any more damage on the state than what we've seen they are capable of. Needless to say, there was much hate legislated this session and we most definitely have our work cut out for us.
But this is the time to rest and regroup. This is the time to replenish our strength so that we are geared up and ready for the August primary and November general elections. After all, they'll be here before you know it! I've already committed to being a Supervising Judge for both and I hope that you too will consider being an election worker. As League members, if we're able, we should set the example we ask others to follow in empowering voters and defending democracy.
So here's to some slower days, socializing, relaxing and catching our breath as we prepare to do what we do best......make democracy work for all!
____________________________________________________________________________________ | Local League Highlights
By Cathy Hedge, LWVK Communications Team, LWV of Manhattan-Riley Co
Here that low buzzing in the air? That’s the sign candidates are filling in filing forms, gathering committees, and sending us into a new election season. And we will be ready!
LWV Leavenworth County presented the LWVLC scholarship to Jessica Lange, Lansing High School senior. They also announced the Legislative Update Forum upcoming on June 10. The Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce has invited Kansas legislators representing Leavenworth County's districts to report on the 2023 session.
LWV Manhattan-Riley County had the joy of meeting LWV Topeka-Shawnee County members, Micaela Snook and Kelm Lear. They spontaneously joined us to march in Manhattan’s Pride Parade. Both are students at Kansas State and are excited to be part of League and our social action. The LWVMRC will be tabling at the annual Juneteenth Festival, June 15-17.
LWV of Salina is planning their annual picnic for the end of Jue. Meanwhile, they are back writing postcards to legislators. They join every Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at a local coffee shop, Ad Astra books & Coffee, 135 N. Santa Fe. From their website: "Come let your elected officials know what's important to you. Let your voice be heard!"
As you fly around gathering information for Vote 411.org and your communities, you are making available essential knowledge our communities need to make informed choices. Thank you for your efforts!
____________________________________________________________________________________ | Get Inspired! So Many Ways to Encourage Voting!
By Susan Quinn, LWVK Voter Services Chair
Local Voter Services teams across Kansas have been busy encouraging their communities to vote in this year's local elections. Inspired by anything you see below? Join us! Everyone will benefit from helping others find their voice through exercising their right to vote.
+Educating voters with VOTE411.org. The VOTE411 team will be dusting off our candidate questions and reaching out to candidates. Encourage those who have filed for office to answer our survey when it comes out in a few weeks.
+Encouraging voters during community resource fairs, farmers markets, college new student orientations, social work classes, blood bank drives, Cinco de Mayo, Week of the Young Child, and Juneteenth celebrations. Everyone is doing something to be visible and reach out to voters.
+Gamification. Janice Walker of Great Bend told us about an idea to increase voter engagement through gamification by spinning a "wheel of knowledge" and handing out suffrage bookmarks and suckers to people who answered the questions correctly. Fun and educational, all at the same time.
+Scholarship Contest. Connie Forge of Leavenworth told us about how her league raised money for a scholarship contest. League members built team camaraderie by participating in a creek clean-up project which also earned them $500. They used that money to fund a scholarship contest with an essay question: "What's wrong with democracy and how can we fix it?" They had 20 entries in the contest. The league was able to celebrate the scholarship winner and get some positive publicity about voting.
+Educating voters with candidate forums. Several leagues will be hosting candidate forums so that voters can get to know the candidates running for local school boards, city councils, and mayoral offices.
+Targeted voter mailings. Marie Hernandez and Debbie Kitchin are happy to help your League pull a list from Smart VAN of voters in your county who are registered, or were new voters in 2022, along with their recent voting history. Please reach out to voterinformation@lwvjoco.org to get a list for your county.
+Encouraging voters to contact their elected officials. Several Leagues are now using the postcard idea that Ann Zimmerman of Salina shared to encourage voters to use their voices outside of voting day. By contacting their elected official in writing, the message will mean more and get noticed. Our elected officials need to hear from us. Write a few postcards yourself while you encourage others.
+Reinstating voting rights after serving a felony sentence is an important part of encouraging people to rejoin your community. The ACLU of Kansas has a great reference card that people can use to help understand the process.
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Racism as a Public Health Crisis
By Susan Quinn, LWVK Voter Services Chair
This week, I was reading more about US House Resolution 185 entitled "Declaring racism as a public health crisis". I couldn't help but think about the presentation that Danielle Twemlow gave our LWVTSC in January. After the presentation, one of our members suggested at our LWVTSC board meeting that we incorporate the advice that Danielle had to help us address this crisis in our community, starting with our league. It dawned on me. Everything is local. Change starts with us.
Each one of you are leaders in your local league. Your league members look to you for inspiration and direction. How inclusive is your team now? Is there room for more inclusivity? Last year during LWV Convention, we voted to begin the process of moving our leagues forward toward a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable team. Refresh yourself on this transformation plan with a lens of what you can do to move your league forward. Listen to Danielle's presentation, especially at 2:50, to hear 5 basic questions to help you get started. Together we can do anything.
____________________________________________________________________________________ | Fluker Award Nominations Due July 15
By Carol Williamson, LWV Lawrence/Douglas Co
Since 1999, the League of Women Voters of Lawrence-Douglas County has honored a fellow citizen with the Helen Fluker Open and Accessible Government Award. The award is given in honor of the late Helen Fluker, who was a long-time League member serving on its board and twice as its president.
Nominations for the 2023 Fluker Award will be accepted until July 15, 2023. Please find information about the award on the Lawrence-Douglas County League website where the nomination form is posted. All Kansas League members are invited to submit nominations of worthy Kansans.
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| Kansas Suffragist Memorial
The Suffragist Memorial Committee, with the assistance of the Capitol Preservation Committee, reviewed the submissions of 21 artists and selected 6 finalists who will be given a stipend to develop their idea for the Suffragist Memorial to honor and commemorate the courageous women of Kansas who had statewide and/or nationwide impact in the suffrage movement.
Please check our website, kssuffragist.org, or our Kansas Suffragist Memorial Facebook page for information and to print out a form to send in your donation to help fund this memorial. All donations are held by the Treasurer's office, are tax-deductible, and restricted to the direct payment for the project.
____________________________________________________________________________________ | LWVK Board Briefs
May 13, 2023
By Lana Balka, LWVK Secretary
*Voted to pursue a 700-square-foot shared office space at former Stout Elementary, Topeka, which would include use of conference space, and bring a possible agreement to the next LWVK board meeting.
*LWVK will interview a recent intern of Community Resources Council, who will be working at least part-time for CRC starting in mid-June at former Stout Elementary, to possibly fill LWVK’s office administrator position. Martha, Sarah, and Grace will do the interview with optional participation by Beverly and Vicki.
*Will invite the Emporia League to help other local Leagues replicate Emporia's voter tracking project.
*Martha Pint and Susan Quinn will be our delegates to LWVUS Council in Las Vegas, June 22-25.
*We will remove LWV Facebook pages for SE and SW Kansas for now.
*New board members need to sign a Conflict-of-Interest statement and send it Martha.
*Grace and Beverly, LWVK Communications Co-Chairs, suggested we do a press release about our updated Redistricting position.
*Voted to appoint Glenda Washington, Topeka, to the LWVK board as Diversion, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Co-Chair, with Marlene Merrill, 1st Vice-President/DEI Co-Chair.
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The League of Women Voters of Kansas is a grassroots, volunteer, political organization with members at large and nine local Leagues across the state. For nearly 100 years, LWVK has encouraged the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influenced public policy through education and advocacy. The League does not endorse candidates or political parties.
Support our ongoing work. Donate to LWVK today.
LWVK information is available on our website. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
Making Democracy Work®
League of Women Voters of Kansas President
Martha Pint
president@lwvk.org
“VOTER Notes” Editor
gracewilsoneditor@gmail.com
LWVK Office Administrator
Alicia Hay
office@lwvk.org
About the Newsletter
Does your League have a success story, innovative program, or commendable action you want to share with your sister Leagues across the state? Send it to the VOTER Notes so we can feature a League each month! Share your stories; they encourage other Leagues and help everyone know that we are all in this work together.
- LWVK sends the VOTER Notes monthly newsletter to local board presidents and communications teams to distribute to their local League members, generally the first week of every month. If you are finding it online and not in your inbox, please tell us. At-Large Members receive the newsletter directly via email. Newsletters are also posted for public viewing on lwvk.org.
- During the legislative session, LWVK sends a weekly email containing Paul Johnson’s “Policy Watch.
- Submit photos or stories of your LWV activities. Deadline for the July 2023 VOTER Notes is Tuesday, June 20.
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