Volume 77, Number 4 | July 2025 | NEXT MEETING: September 6th!
While our next League meeting is not until September 6th, members are not taking this summer off! Many participated in advocacy actions on June 14th, and there are many more opportunities to connect with elected officials and attend trainings this summer. Check out the info below for ways you can jump into help!
One of the easiest ways to do that is to share the League information with a friend! Share this email, our social media posts, or invite them to join you at an upcoming event. We can't wait to see how you take action this summer!
| CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
There are several tools out there to make contacting your representatives easier, but this one is a favorite! Not sure where to start but want to make your voice heard? Try using 5 Calls! They make it so easy to find contact information for your representatives, but what is really great is all the news and background information on the latest topics. You can easily search and review different topics, and each one has a script to help guide your calls. This resource is up to date with the latest news and legislative developments.
Click to access this handy website: 5 Calls
Check out the Kansas Legislature website. Click on Find Your Legislator to search for your legislator by address or name. Each legislator provides snail mail, email and phone contact information. You can see the committee assignments and sponsored bills, also. Learn the status of current bills, search for committee chairs and committee members. Listen to live and recorded of proceedings and committee hearings in House and Senate by clicking Audio/Video.
Visit the LWVJoco Elected Officials page for more info on ways to contact your specific representatives.
|  | EMPOWERING ALL VOTERS
Democracy in Your Hands Series | June – October 2025
This virtual training series from the national League of Women Voters will include five key topics, outlining how Leagues can activate and mobilize their communities in this rapidly changing political environment and make a lasting impact. Members are welcome to attend any of the following sessions, occurring through the summer and early fall. Find the upcoming agenda information on each session and register to attend using the button below.
Jun. 18, 11am ET | Understanding Media Literacy: How to Stay Informed, Engaged, and in the Know
Jul. 23, 11am ET | Championing Issues That Matter Most to You
Aug. 20, 12:30pm ET | Understand the Three Branches of Government
Sept. 17, 11am ET | Working With Local Election Officials to Anchor Change
Oct. 22, 3:30pm ET | Building Coalitions to Amplify Action
LWV US Launches Voter Mobilization Campaign
Starting May 1, the League launched the Unite and Rise 8.5 initiative, which aims to mobilize 8.5 million voters using the power of voter engagement as a cornerstone of our democracy. Unite and Rise 8.5 will showcase the many ways voters can drive change, including through advocacy, mobilization, civic education, and engagement. The initiative is part of LWV’s Women Defend Democracy campaign.
| VOLUNTEER WITH VOTER REGISTRATION
After the Naturalization ceremony at the federal courthouse in Wyandotte County on June 17th, the Voter Registration team helped 26 people register to vote for the first time! It was a great event with 37 countries of origin represented.
Help us register even more people this summer!
|  | Postcard Parties with Voter Information Coming Up in August!
Join Voter Information and bring your creative skills! We will work together to make creative and inspiring postcards for people who don't vote regularly encouraging them to get out and vote this fall. Please be sure to register so the Voter Information team knows how many people to expect!
- August 19th from 1:30 to 3:30 PM, Central Resource Library - Register Here
- August 26th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, Merriam Plaza Library - Register Here
Check the Events Calendar for all upcoming events!
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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, and Lenexa City Council. Email observercorps@lwvjoco.org if you can help!
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| PRESIDENTS UPDATE
Our June 7th meeting on Public Education was once again an abundance of information, particularly regarding the State Board of Education. I commend all those who braved the rain and attended it in-person or who have viewed it afterwards on YouTube. As I detailed in my update last month, to view this meeting (or prior monthly programs), log into our website (lwvjoco.org) with your username and password, put your cursor over “News” (located in the middle of a line of items, Home, Voting & Elections, etc.) and a drop-down list of options will appear, click on LWVJoCo YouTube, enjoy the photo of our members in action at the top of the YouTube window, then scroll down to MONTHLY MEETING to find all the recorded meetings for you to watch and increase your learning.
Please note that our monthly program meetings will be taking a “summer break” and they will resume on September 13, the second Saturday due to the Labor Day Holiday. Just because our member meetings are taking a “vacation”, I encourage each of you to stay active and informed, because there is very much going on in July and August.
Our League members continue to organize and participate in protecting our democracy. Members gathered in Olathe on May 19, then in Leawood on June 10, next in Overland Park on June 25 to successfully protest the tearing down of our freedoms and our rights and to show that LWVJoCo supports public health and many other critical issues important to people who are not millionaires or billionaires. Similar protests in July and August are being planned so contact ACT@lwvjoco.org to get involved.
As I said last month, it’s extremely important you continue to contact your U.S. House Representative and your U.S. Senators to express your views and concerns. They hear from people and corporations who are pushing for things which you may oppose, so they need to hear from you as well. Encourage others who share your views to make their voices heard.
Enjoy the summer and continue to be informed and active.
Harry Bognich
President@lwvjoco.org
| Reminder about New LWVUS Dues Payment
Here's a friendly reminder that your membership dues are now being managed by the LWVUS. Please note that dues have increased to $75 per year. You will receive a reminder from LWVUS 60 and 30 days prior to your expiration date, which has not changed. Please pay attention to your spam folder for this communication.
At any time, you can check the portal https://portal.lwv.org to access your account or to create one if you are not yet a member.
Please contact Membership@lwvjoco.org with questions about the new portal or your dues.
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