By the time you read this, we will have enjoyed our Unit meeting, session 5 in the Environmental Justice series we are co-sponsoring with the City of Wichita and the Environmental Finance Office at WSU, and will know a great deal more about water services and plans here in Wichita. Hope you were there! We missed you if you weren’t.

Due to the bustling nature of December and the fact that our regular Unit meeting falls on Christmas Day, the Board has decided to cancel the Unit meeting for this month. However, the Board will proceed with its scheduled meeting on December 16 at 9 AM, taking place at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, and you are warmly invited to attend.

 

If you're curious about the inner workings of our group and have an interest in joining the leadership team, Board meetings provide valuable insights into what goes on behind the scenes. There are upcoming openings on the Board, and elections will take place in May or June, making this an opportune time to start shadowing. For any inquiries or to express your interest in a specific office, please reach out to any Board members via their LWV email addresses or contact the Board collectively at Board@lwvwichita.org with questions or to express interest in a particular office.

After a breather in December, we will be starting again on facilitating voter registration and on educating voters. We will know on December 2 whether our state will be doing a presidential preference primary. This pre-primary will be held in March, unless both parties opt out. Kansas has only used this method twice before to choose primary candidates, so we’ll have our hands full trying to explain it. To get a jump start on your own education on this type of primary, the clearest explanation can be found at https://sos.ks.gov/elections/presidential-preference-primary.html

Best wishes to each of you and your families for whatever holiday you’re celebrating this season! (There are over 40 holidays from various traditions celebrated between Nov. 1 and Feb. 1).

Stay warm! We’ll see you again in January for our all membership planning meeting.

Nancy Brown and Jessica Maldonado, Co-Presidents
League of Women Voters, Wichita-Metro

CLICK HERE FOR WEBSITE EVENT CALENDAR

Certainly, the recent years have been notably hectic, particularly for the Voter Services team. We are delighted to announce that Carole Neal and Barbara Bell, co-chairs of the Voter Services team, are the deserving recipients of our inaugural Betty Ladwig Service Award.

Carole joined the League more than 20 years ago. She served as Treasurer for several years, Co-President of the Wichita League and Co-President of the Kansas League. She also served as a Member of the State Education Fund and on the State Foundation Board. Carole helped with scholarships and fundraising. It was during her tenure as State Co-President that she was involved with the lawsuits involving Secretary of State.

Carole was still working when she joined the Wichita League, but she jumped right in. She faithfully, attended the Unit Meetings even when they were still over the noon hour. She is married and has two children, one grandchild, and two great- grandchildren. As a proud Great-Grandmother and helper for her granddaughter, she often brought Trent to League meetings--her family came first--then League, which was also important.

For the past several years Carole has been the chair of the Voter Services committee. Voter Service is a very demanding and busy Chairmanship. In fact, next to being President, it is the most demanding Board position. Voter Services works with community partners to plan voter education events, attends naturalization ceremonies, and Carole has been instrumental in getting grants for the Wichita League, to help cover the cost of Voter Service activities.

CLICK HERE FOR WEBSITE EVENT CALENDAR

 

This is a hybrid presentation. RSVP to attend in person or to receive a zoom link by return email.

Hear from Legal Fellow D.C. Hiegert and Field Director Leslie Butsch from ACLU-KS about the most pressing civil liberties issues we expect to face during the 2024 legislative session. Progeny Program Manager Desmond Bryant from Destination Innovation will address how to prepare powerful testimony that moves lawmakers.

At this training, you’ll learn how bills move through the process, how you can find information about legislation, and how to get involved in the long-term organizing work that continues beyond the legislative session.

 

 

From League of Women Voters Kansas Voter Notes: 

 

We have had rousing approval from league members following our last two "League Day at the Capitol" events, so we will hold another on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. The format will be similar: a morning of pertinent presentations from Kansas leaders. Lunch. Then league members can meet with their legislators, attend hearings, or the Senate session that generally starts at 2:30pm. Please plan to join us.