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Help us position our organization to be as effective as possible in 2021 and beyond. Plan to attend our idea generation and planning meeting to help guide LWVJoCo's direction.
Everything is open for discussion. We'll start with an ask-the-board-anything session and then move to some small-group brainstorming on important initiatives.
We need your input to make LWVJoCo even stronger!
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Our Whole is Greater Than the Sum of Our Parts
Even though 2020 probably was among the strangest year of all of our lifetimes, it doesn't change an inalterable truth: Organizations don't effect change — people do.
It was your ideas, your hard work and your dedication that allowed our organization to play a part in the record level of voter turnout in 2020. It is your passion that fuels our advocacy to protect voting rights. It is your commitment to making our organization more diverse, inclusive and equitable that pushes us to do the hard work necessary to address our internal and external biases and prejudices.
That’s why on Saturday, Jan. 9, we need all of our members to come together to set the course for the coming year. Your ideas and perspectives are vital to shaping our organization’s priorities and strategies to accomplish our goals.
The pandemic prevents us from meeting in person. But even though a virtual session may be only the next best thing, we still can accomplish a lot. We can still have productive small-group discussions on important questions, provide opportunities for members to ask questions of board directors, suggest topics for future programs and field ideas for local studies. We can also give away a few prizes just to up the fun factor.
So please make time to join us for our annual planning session. Each of you is essential to our whole.
Register here.
See you Saturday, Jan. 9!
Amber Stenger and Ellen Miller, Co-Presidents
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Holiday Party Hits Home Run!
At the first-ever Zoom Holiday Party, new Leaguers and veterans recharged. Whether in jammies or jewels, 44 members broke into two small groups for 10 minutes each. They discussed their favorite holiday traditions and what they hope 2021 will bring (other than a dependable vaccine).
Folks also matched wits on how many cities are in Johnson County (the answer, which stumped almost everyone, is 20.) They crossed their fingers as five prizes — Rainy Day bookstore certificates, Andre’s candies, official Susan B. Anthony dolls — were announced.
The night was topped off with the Kansas City Women’s Chorus’ video of “Rise Up!” Many thanks to executive producer Marsha Ratzel and her team for weaving together all the pieces!
Participants gave the event high ratings. Comments included:
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“It was very well organized!!! I love that you had a plan for the breakout rooms. That was a fun way to actually talk to people without the Zoom craziness.”
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“It was nice to ‘see’ old friends and meet new members.”
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“Looking forward to the upcoming programs and initiatives.”
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“This was wonderful and I felt very welcome as a new member.”
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“The breakout sessions may have ended a little too quickly. Both groups I was in were still chatting when the timer hit 0 and we were moved back to the main meeting.”
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“It was refreshingly short, energizing, appropriate, interesting.”
2021 will bring more Zoom social events. We look forward to seeing YOU there!
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⚖️ Weigh In on LWVK’s Updated Criminal Justice Position ⚖️
Join us Tuesday, Jan. 5, to review proposed changes to LWV of Kansas’ Criminal Justice position. Official League positions can get outdated. Modernizing them doesn’t require starting over with original research, writing new documents, and getting member input — known as “consensus.”
Instead, we can piggyback on other Leagues’ research – known as “concurrence.” That’s how LWVK proposes updating its 1976 Criminal Justice position. Although that position addresses both “Adult Corrections” and “Juvenile Corrections and Services,” the proposed changes only address adult corrections, including public safety practices, pretrial procedure, sentencing and the death penalty.
LWVK’s proposed revised position focuses on integrating adult offenders back into the community. It draws on California, Minnesota and other state League positions. Key points include:
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A “Bill of Rights” for offenders, ranging from personal security to legal counsel
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Developing alternatives to incarceration, including the elimination of systemic bias, that leads to the disproportionate arrest and incarceration of marginalized communities
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Collaboration between citizens and community-based social and mental health agencies
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Improving public safety practices, such as de-escalation protocols
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Providing adequate resources, such as funding and skilled personnel
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Abolition of the death penalty in Kansas
Don’t miss out! On Jan. 5, Tuesday at 7 p.m., join the LWVK concurrence our criminal justice position. Get details here. | Shawnee Mission School District Patrons - Don't Forget!
🗳️ Your ballot for the bond issue must be received by the Johnson County Election Office by noon on Tuesday, Jan 26.
🗳️ Ballots — mail-only — will arrive in early January.
| How do we ensure equal voting rights for all voters? Eliminating gerrymandering is crucial. It undermines our democracy by allowing officials to select their voters, rather than voters electing their officials. Join us for a discussion about fair districting efforts in the Kansas legislature as well as LWV's efforts nationwide.
Moderator: Member Cathy Matlack
Panelists:
- Sheryl Spalding, former Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives
- Brett Parker, Democratic member of the Kansas House of Representatives
- Demetrius Fisher, campaign manager, People Powered Fair Maps, League of Women Voters
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Advocacy Training for 2021: How To Be Effective
Thursday, Jan. 21, 6 to 7 p.m.
Ready for the 2021 legislative session? Whether you are new to advocacy or have your legislator saved to your contacts, get tips and suggestions about how to get your message across effectively.
During the workshop, Carrie Lancaster, LWV of Kansas Advocacy Chair, will give us practical strategies, and Kansas Rep. Susan Ruiz will share what works and what doesn't in her experience in the legislature.
| New Year - New Member
Know someone who has resolved to become more active in democracy?
Recently, a wise grandmother had a brilliant idea — the gift of a League membership, for her granddaughter halfway across the country.
"Thank you for helping me enroll my granddaughter into one of the most important organizations women should belong to! Congratulations on 100 years of Women Voters!"
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Wanted: Women's Equality Coalition Representative for Johnson County
WEC Is:
⛋ Interesting and well connected, a great networking opportunity
⛋ A bi-state, multi-county effort
⛋ Established to advance issues and events concerning women in the Greater Kansas City area
Time Commitment:
⛋ Monthly meetings one hour, plus intermittent projects
⛋ Having co-representatives is an option
⛋ WEC events occur throughout the year
⛋ 2021 planning session will be in January
| Member Spotlight: Tinna Hung
This avid reader and communicator found the League a match for her interests. Learn more about Tinna.
| Observer Corps Reports
Catch up on the actions, decisions and proposals of our local public officials.
Highlights:
🔎 2020 Census return percentage in JOCO — how high?
🔎 First Black chief of police in Johnson County — which city?
🔎 JOCO Board of Commissioners 2021 legislative platform — what’s on it?
Read the latest summaries by League members who attend several public meetings in our area.
| Board and Committee Briefs
 Phase II of our DEI initiative began in December. Several members volunteered to help build a strategy to move our League forward on its efforts to become more representative of all communities: Barbara Delcore, Esther Grentz, Jeannine Linnane, Kay Heley, Marie Hernandez, Rebecca James, Amanda Vega-Mavec, Amber Pugh, Cindy Neighbor, Marcia Manter and Mary Grant. Our DEI chairs — Mary Lou Jamarillo and Dr. Elizabeth Ann Sander — and our co-presidents — Ellen Miller and Amber Stenger — are heading up these efforts.
🌈 New Pronoun and Gender Guidance: This guide discusses using people's correct pronouns and fostering a more inclusive space at the League. Everyone in the League should engage in learning, educating and advocating for the inclusive use of pronouns for all. We encourage you to read the guide and discuss this information with other League members.
🗳️️ LWV’s successes: More voters than ever before participated in our elections in 2020, thanks in part to the work of the League across the country. LWV highlighted just a few of our 2020 successes in this blog.
 LWV of Kansas news: Read about how Leaguers worked to GOTV throughout the state and other important efforts in the latest issue of LWVK’s VOTER Notes newsletter.
| Stay Connected
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Check our Events page.
Keep current on developments through our Facebook page.
Find out more about what the Kansas League is doing.
We welcome your feedback! Please contact the newsletter editor.
View past issues of our newsletter.
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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