Volume 75, Number 11 | February 2025 | _________________________________
|  | February Meeting
Date and Time
Saturday, February 1, 2025, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Location
Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church
9400 Pflumm Rd.
Lenexa, KS 66215
USA
Our speaker will be Phyllis Pease, the artist of the Kansas Suffrage Mural in the Kansas Statehouse.
This mural came about because of a partnership of LWV, AAUW of Kansas and the Capitol Preservation Committee. The 8' by 15' mural called, "Rebel Women", features 13 Kansas Women who fought for the voting rights of women. We are so excited to have Phyllis Pease discuss this wonderful artwork that is being dedicated on January 29, 2025!
Following the Kansas Suffrage Mural presentation, we will proceed with the planning activity scheduled for the January 11 meeting. Leaders of many of the teams (committees) in our league will be available to share information regarding the plans and needs of each committee for the upcoming year. At this time, members will have an opportunity to vote on topics for programs for 2025-26, too.
The SMUUCh FUUD Pantry always appreciates our donations of non-perishable food. Thank you!
The event will be live streamed and recorded here.
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We hope everyone survived the recent storm in good shape. While we regret having to cancel
the January planning meeting out of safety concerns, we want to assure you that we will include
the activities planned for that meeting in the February and March meetings. These activities will
provide opportunities for you to contribute your voice and your talents to further realization of
the mission, goals, and strategic priorities of the LWVJoCo.
In addition to hearing from artist Phyllis Pease about her creation of the Suffragist Memorial at
the state Capitol, our meeting on February 1 will include the opportunity for you to speak with
representatives from the LWVJoCo’s various committees about their work. Talking with these
individuals will help you decide how you can contribute your knowledge and skills to the vital
work of these committees. Our members’ participation on the committees are what make our
League outstanding.
The 2025 Annual Meeting on March 1 will provide multiple venues for you to lend your voice to
the LWVJoCo’s operations and activities in 2025-2026 fiscal and beyond. As usual, the Annual
Meeting will include conducting League business, such as electing the officers who will
comprise the next Board of Directors, approving the budget, and voting on changes to by-laws
and standing rules. The Annual Meeting Packet will be emailed to you by February 8. Please
review the packet prior to the meeting to prepare for the meeting. You may access the packet on
your phone or tablet during the meeting. Following the business meeting, we will convene for
small group discussions, during which you will develop strategies to move the LWVJoCo
forward in realizing the strategies and goals outlined in the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan.
The Board of Directors looks forward to seeing you at the February and March meetings and to
hearing from you about the future direction of our organization. Your voice is vital in the
continued success of the LWVJoCo!
Warmly,
Ruth, Mary, and Harry | _________________________________
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2025 Program Topics
LWVJoCo members…please look over this list of possible program topics for next year’s programs. If you have any ideas for other programs that might be of interest to the members of the League, please send an email to: vicepresident@lwvjoco.org. Topics will be voted on at the March meeting.
If you know of any potential guest speakers that we could contact regarding a presentation, please email that information as well. Thank you for your ideas and comments!
1. Electoral College–history and information. Should/Can it be changed and how?
2. Advocacy. How to use your voice for change: contacting legislators, local officials, how to lobby effectively, how to write a letter to the editor…and more
3. a. Thriving Through the Years…a discussion of strategies for living longer and better for all ages and stages of life. (info re: nutrition, mental health, exercise, resources available to all)
3.b. Current Issues in Health Care. High Cost, Availability, Insurance. This discussion would NOT focus on expanding Medicaid, but more on an overview of health care in general.
4. Understanding what the Johnson County Commissioners do. What are the long and short term plans/goals for Johnson County. What is the thinking of the JoCo Commission on some Current topics? Where is the County heading?
5. Potential Privatization of Government Agencies. What is the current state of budgets/plans for current government agencies? IF privatization of the agencies is implemented, how might that impact citizens?
6. What is Up with the Post Office? Why are services becoming such a challenge?
7. Mis/Disinformation-Part II. Focus on Media Literacy…how to determine facts from fallacies How to listen and talk with others with a differing viewpoint/news sources/point of view.
8. Political Parties and Independents. What is the history of political parties, how have they evolved over the years? What might we expect in the way of future political parties?
9. Campaign Finance. How did we get to where we are right now? Are there reforms to the current system in the future? Are there any legislative plans for change?
10. Climate Change.
11. Infrastructure and Public Transportation in Johnson County/KC Area.
12. Public Education. Looking at educational policies/plans from the Federal and State Departments of Education all the way to Local School Boards.
13. Affordable Housing in Johnson County. Can it be done??
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| | Observer Corps Report
The Observer Corps has open spots for the Board of County Commissioners, JCCC Board of Trustees, Olathe School Board, JOCO Parks & Rec Board, Olathe city council, Lenexa City Council. Email observercorps@lwvjoco.org if you can help!
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Observer Corps
Are you passionate about civic engagement and transparency in government? Join the LWVJoCo Observer Corps and make a difference in your community! As a member of the Observer Corps, you'll attend public meetings of elected bodies, ensuring that citizens are informed and engaged in local governance. Your role will involve observing these meetings and writing a concise report for our chapter newsletter, helping to keep our community informed and empowered. By participating, you'll not only reinforce the message that the public is attentive and invested in the actions of its leaders, but you'll also educate yourself and others on the pivotal decisions shaping our community. Become a watchdog for democracy and contribute to meaningful change—volunteer with the LWVJoCo Observer Corps today!
Speaker's Bureau
Make a difference in your community by educating others on important civic issues. Join the League of Women Voters of Johnson County (LWVJoCo) Speaker's Bureau as a volunteer! We are seeking enthusiastic individuals to help us provide community groups with objective, nonpartisan information about voting and other pressing topics. As a trained representative, you'll have the opportunity to speak at schools, churches, companies, neighborhood associations, and various other groups. Our presentations are engaging and adaptable, ranging from brief 20-minute overviews to comprehensive discussions tailored to your audience's needs. By volunteering with LWVJoCo, you'll play a vital role in empowering citizens with knowledge and encouraging active participation in our democracy. If you're ready to inspire and inform, we invite you to join our team today! | _________________________________
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From Our Board: LWVUS Update
The final steps in the transition to the new system for processing new and renewal memberships in the League of Women Voters is in progress. The LWVUS office will assume responsibility for enrolling members and collecting the membership fees through a new portal, ChapterSpot.
You will receive an email from ChapterSpot asking you to log in to the portal for the first time.
- You are not being asked to renew or pay dues at this time.
- Your membership will continue to renew during the month you initially joined the LWVJoCo.
- Simply log in as instructed in the email and complete your member information.
- It is important that you log in to the portal and complete the form to ensure that we have the most up-to-date information about your membership.
- The information you provide will also help the League more broadly to understand who we are as an organization.
If you have not received an invitation to log in to ChapterSpot by February 7, please check your spam folder or contact the national office at membership@lwv.org.
Thank you for your assistance in completing this transition.
Respectfully,
The Board of the LWVJoCo
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| Membership Team
Transformation to the new dues payment platform ChapterSpot
All active members will receive an email from ChapterSpot on behalf of LWVUS the week of Feb. 3- Feb 7, 2025. The purpose of the email is to open and create an account in ChapterSpot. All all membership dues transactions will occur via this platform. Our local League (LWVJoCo) will no longer handle dues payments.
After Feb 3, 2025 all dues will be renewed via ChapterSpot. Please create an account when you get the email, it is not spam. If you do not receive the email, please check your spam folder. Your computer may think it is smarter than you!!
Any questions? Send them to Membership@lwv.org or Membership@lwvjoco.org
Membership Team News
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Fourth quarter 2024 donations totaled $1,155.00. Thank you, Donors!
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The March 2025 League meeting is an election meeting. A quorum is required. Please plan on attending.
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Ride sharing: Email membership@lwvjoco.org if you need, or can provide, rides to League events. Membership will match members by zip code.
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Give 'Em A Buzz. Help up help League members with membership renewals. Make up to three phone calls per month, and complete a form. Email membership@lwvjoco.org if you can help.
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The next New Member Orientation will be Sunday March 2, 2025, 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Johnson County Central resource Library, Room 13. All new members are welcome. All experienced members are welcome, too. Tenured members' stories are the umami of this event. Details are on the Event Calendar
| Great Decisions
Great Decisions takes you beyond the headlines by providing a look at eight of the most significant and far-reaching challenges facing the world. The discussion group meets bi-monthly on Mondays from February 3, 2025 through May 12, 2025 via Zoom. The discussion begins at 6:30 p.m. See our events calendar.
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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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