Volume 75, Number 2 | May 2024 | _________________________________
|  | Election Security: Protecting Kansas Election Systems
How are the State of Kansas and our local election offices preparing for the upcoming general election in November? Join us to find out and learn more.
Our May 4 meeting title has been changed to "Election Security: Protecting Kansas Election Systems"
We are pleased to announce our expert panelists:
- Connie Schmidt; former Election Commissioner of Johnson County
- Heidi Burhans: current Election Security Advisor for CISA Region 7 (Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri). CISA is the "Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency", a federal government agency that is a part of the Department of Homeland Security.
The program will be live streamed and recorded. View on our YouTube channel.
Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church (SMUUCh)
9400 Pflumm Rd. | Lenexa, KS 66215
Socializing begins at 9 a.m. The program starts at 9:30.Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church (SMUUCh)
9400 Pflumm Rd. | Lenexa, KS 66215
Socializing begins at 9 a.m. The program starts at 9:30.
☕ The Hospitality Team invites you to bring a baked treat or healthier option (fruit, cheese, etc.) to share at this meeting! Sign Up Here if you can help. Thank you!
🥫 As always, the SMUUCh Fuud Pantry appreciates our donations of non-perishable food items. Currently, the pantry especially needs canned fruit, pasta, tomatoes and toiletries.
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“Houston, we have a problem,” is a profound line from one of my favorite movies, Apollo 13. Immediately, crew and support personnel sprang into action.
Leaguers, we have a problem. At our April Board meeting we discussed the conclusion of the 2023-2024 fiscal year that ended March 31, 2024. Our expenditures exceeded our income by nearly $5,000. Now, we must spring into action.
To increase our income, we need:
The 2023-2024 budget was ambitious. However, we took a conservative approach to our budget in 2024-2025. As for expenses going forward, we may need to make tough choices and prioritize our activities.
How can you help? Ask, invite, volunteer, donate.
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ASK. Take the membership challenge by asking neighbors, friends, and co-workers to join our League. Asking goes a long way.
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INVITE. Invite friends, neighbors, and co-workers to our monthly Saturday morning programs.
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VOLUNTEER. Volunteer for our fundraising team – email me at president@lwvjoco.org
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DONATE. Choose one of the following:
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$100 provides rent at SMUUCh for one month.
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$250 provides table rental at one community voting registration event.
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$300 provides room rental for one candidate Meet & Greet.
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$1020 provides stamps for Get Out the Vote postcards.
Connie Taylor
President
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| Programs and Legislative Coffees are available to watch here. | _________________________________
|  | DEI Moment
May is a fitting month for remembrance and celebration, and for honoring our fallen fellow Kansans. According to the Military Women’s Memorial, three million women have served our country since the American Revolution. My challenge this month to you is to take a road trip to one of the several spots listed below. You will learn more about the impact local Kansans, and women in general, have had on our country through their service.
- The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion Monument | 290 Stimson Ave. Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027
- Military Women’s Memorial | Memorial Ave Schley Drive Arlington, VA 22202
- Korean War Veterans Memorial | Lowell Ave, Overland Park, KS 66213
- National WWI Museum and Memorial | 2 Memorial Dr, Kansas City, MO 64108
In this road trip, there are many local, state and national stops. The 6888th Monument in Leavenworth is a new discovery to me, and on my list for this year. This unit was composed of black women who served our troops by providing consistent mail service during and after WWII. You can read more at womenofthe6888th.org.
If you find yourself making a trip to our nation’s capital, I recommend a stop at the Military Women’s Memorial, adjacent to Arlington Cemetery. Here, you can learn more about the impact of women’s service, and honor their sacrifices.
Locally, we have the Korean War Veterans Memorial, outside of Tomahawk Ridge Community Center, and the National WWI Museum and Memorial. Both are places for reflection and gratitude.
To anyone in our League who served, or supported a member of your family or our community during their tour of duty, I say, “Thank you for your service.”
Submitted by Maggie Roby
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Be sure to mark your calendar for Saturday, June 1 at 9:30 a.m. for the upcoming meeting: "Combatting Mis/Dis-information in the Political Arena and Government!"
Are you interested in finding out how to evaluate information sources and content regarding current events, politicians, candidates, issues, and news? Our panelists will provide us with much needed information. Watch our website and the next issue of The VOTER for more details.
Hope to see you there!
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Debra Johnson
Rene Jensen
Rick Jensen
Sarah Lawlor
Meredith Donaldson
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| Meet Our New Co-Vice Presidents!
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| In-person Book Club
July 16 | 1:00 p.m
Central Resource Library, room 12
Book: Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson
Virtual Book Club
June 24, 2024 | 07:00 p.m.
The Zoom link is on the Events Calendar, please log in and register!
Book: Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson
Copies of Democracy Awakening at JoCo Library:
- Six large print
- 10 audiobooks
- Seven ebooks
- 18 hard copies
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Help us cover Johnson County!
In this issue:
- Possible further statutory limits on helping people cast ballots -- see BOCC report
- "Free people read freely" -- see Library Board report
- Which local utility has a 95% customer satisfaction rating?
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| BOARD AND COMMITTEE BRIEFS
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Voter Registration: Did you know that 86% of registered voters between the ages of 18 and 24 voted in the 2020 Presidential Elections? But only 30% of 18 year olds are registered to vote so we’ve got work to do! Please consider joining the Voter Registration team as a volunteer.
Click here to get started. And don't hesitate to contact us at Voterregistration@lwvjoco.org if you have questions.
Communications Team: Do you enjoy writing and/or editing? Would you like to learn to create graphics or social media posts? The Communications Team needs you! This is a volunteer from home opportunity. Contact communications@lwvjoco.org if interested.
Not receiving The VOTER via email? Subscribe to our mailing list.
The 2024 Membership Challenge is for each member to ASK one person to join the LWV JoCo. Did you know that in 2022 our League had 71 new members, while last year we had 28 new members? Quite a decrease! Our goal for 2024 is 75 new members. At the end of the first quarter, we are at 28% of meeting this goal. Keep asking!
Small group Interest Survey: The survey was analyzed via ranked choice methodology. Leaguers who Lunch/Brunch came up as the winner. The Membership Committee is working on how to operationalize this program. We plan on having a plan in place in the Fall of 2024.
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| LWV Kansas is a supporter of Kansas Rural Center's Policy Watch.
Our partners at Mainstream and Loud Light publish newsletters with their observations on legislative action.
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Our monthly newsletter, The VOTER, provides information on League programs and events. Get it delivered to your inbox. Subscribe for free!
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