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Date: 11/27/2023
Subject: The VOTER Newsletter - December 2023
From: LWV of Johnson County



Volume 74, Number 9 | December 2023

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In this season of gratitude, LWVJoCo has much to be thankful for! We’re thankful for members who support our work (financially and through volunteering) to empower voters through our voter engagement and information events. We’re thankful for an Election Commissioner who is trustworthy and committed to making voting accessible for everyone.  And we’re thankful for the strength and courage of all League members as we continue to defend Democracy. 

LWVJoCo is 71 years young and going strong! 2024 will be an eventful year!

Gratefully,

Janet and Connie

Announcements:

Winter Coat and Apparel Drive for Refugees being resettled in Kansas. 

As you declutter during the holidays, we encourage you to think about refugees that are being resettled in the KC area. This year, Jewish Vocational Services has resettled 420 refugees, many who come with only the clothes on their backs. New or gently used winter coats, sweaters, and clothes for infants through adults are desperately needed. We will have a collection bin at the January meeting.

January Annual Member Planning Meeting Help Us Chart Our Course for 2024-25

Saturday, January 13 from 9:00-10:45 at SMUUCH

Join us at 9:00 for coffee and treats followed by an interactive program. Members will select next year’s LWVJoCo priorities using Ranked Choice Voting. Here’s your chance to share your opinion, learn more about ranked choice voting, get your bingo cards stamped when you visit JoCo information tables to learn more about our work, and qualify for bingo prizes.

 Registration Is Encouraged

Food Collection for SMUUCH FUUD Pantry

A note from SMUUCH: (At the November meeting) Your members gave 108 pounds of food and a great variety. We really love to be able to offer different brands and types of items to our shoppers - it makes the pantry seem more like a grocery, less institutional, and a more welcoming place to shop.

We will be collecting nonperishable fruits, vegetables, canned meat (other than tuna), rice, beans, and pasta.

LWVJoCo Leadership 

“Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader…they set out to make a difference. It’s never about the role – always about the goal.” 

  • The Nominating Committee is looking for members desiring to make a difference and interested in learning how to be effective leaders. Training is provided for all board members and leaders through Nonprofit Connect.  Do you have experience in bookkeeping or finance? Here’s your chance to make a difference. Do you have “connections” in the community or experience in planning events? The Program team is a dynamic group responsible for providing our top-notch, professional monthly programs. Are you passionate about caring for our members and growing the League? The Membership team is the place for you. And if you have publication, writing, or social media experience, the Communications team is looking for high-energy people. Contact Janet Milkovich, Marie Hernandez, Lisa Kuhnke, Anne Stroud or Patty Dykman. Nominatingcommittee@lwvjoco.org

Year End Donations

Did you know that $52 of your $70 annual dues goes to LWVUS and LWVK? We’re given just $18 for every member which means LWVJoCo operates on a shoestring budget. Here are some of our fixed costs:

  • Annual Meeting Venue  Fee – $1,100 at SMUUCh

  • Events - $2,000 per year

  • Zoom - $800 per year

  • Insurance - $325 per year

  • Sponsorships - $700 per year

  • Membership Management (Club Express) - $900 per year

  • Video Recording - $1,500 per year

  • Hosting a voter engagement/information table at events - $350 per event

  • Printing costs - $2000 per year. 

Donations of any size are extremely helpful. LWVJoCo is a 501(c)(3), so all donations are tax deductible. Are you able to give? Have any questions? Please contact Mary Lou Jaramillo: treasurerLWVjoco.org

Has your LWVJoCo membership expired? It’s not too late to rejoin online at www.lwvjoco.org. Or contact Nancy Allen: membership@lwvjoco.org

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GLAD TIDINGS
📯 Johnson County voters set a record for turnout in a local general election: 26.74%! Thank you to the Voter Registration and Voter Information teams, as well as every League member who took action to Get Out The Vote in our community.
 
📯 Thanks to providing candidates the opportunity to record short videos for our YouTube channel, our number of views has increased 10 times over this time last year!
 
📯 Received from Jewish Vocational Services. We'd asked League members to contact their elected officials in DC to support this Motion To Instruct.

"We just received an update on the Afghan Adjustment Act from our advocacy partners at Church of the Resurrection.
The Senate passed the continuing resolution (CR) last night. With it, they passed a series of motions to instruct (MTI) by consensus, including the motion regarding Afghan adjustment! This essentially incorporates the intent of the AAA into the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act and makes it a Conference item. Hopefully, the House will accept it.  Even more reason to make more calls to your House members to support it. Thank you to the bipartisan group of Senators: Senators Klobuchar, Coons, Blumenthal, Graham, Moran, Murkowski, Reed, Wicker, and Cotton who worked hard to ensure this was incorporated into the MTI." 

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Lesa Patterson-Kinsey

Marion Paulette

 Darren Shafer

Melea Siebert

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OBSERVER CORPS REPORTS
 
 
The Observer Corps is a valuable service provided by the League. In addition to keeping citizens informed, we are another presence shining the light on local governing bodies.
Check out our team's reports each month to keep up with local happenings.
 
 

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If one hasn’t been around many people with disabilities, you may not know they often live in group settings. Those citizens may have difficulty getting to a voting booth, yet still want to be involved in the voting process. Often it is easier for these citizens to vote in advance, either by mail or vote remotely in their home setting. In the past, an employee of the home often delivered the completed ballots.

Did you know that in 2021, the Kansas legislature made it illegal for one person to deliver more than 10 advance ballots on behalf of these disabled voters? Not only that, the bill also declared it a misdemeanor for a person, who is not an election official, to even handle another’s completed ballot (the only exemption is for immediate family). Now imagine you are blind and/or wheel chair bound with no immediate family in the area. How hard it is going to be to vote in the next election?

ℹ️ For more information about the League’s opposition to Kansas House Bills 2183 and 2332. https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/kansas-civic-groups-file-lawsuit-against-newly-enacted-voter-suppression 

ℹ️ Did you know there is a Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns? https://kcdcinfo.ks.gov/

ℹ️ Did you know that Kansas voters with physical challenges to voting in person can request an application for a Permanent Advanced Ballot (mailed each election without having to request one)?  In Johnson County, please call the JoCo Election Office at 913-715-6800


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BOARD AND COMMITTEE BRIEFS
 
Help Desk! Are you struggling with LWVJoCo's website? Can't figure out how to volunteer, register for events, or find contact information for fellow Leaguers? In response to this need, a Help Desk will be available prior to Saturday morning League meetings from 9-9:30 a.m. The Help Desk will be behind the food donation table. Come by for some LWVJoCo website help. 
 
Legislative Coffees: Coming soon! Look for them to be scheduled January through March of 2024.
 

New Member Orientation:

Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024 | 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Johnson County Library - Central Resource Library
9875 W 87th Street, Overland Park, KS  66212
If you are unable to attend, please contact Nancy Allen, Membership Chair so an alternative can be arranged. 
 

From LWVK's Voter Notes

SAVE THE DATE: League Day at the Capitol Feb. 14

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.


 

KANSAS LEGISLATURE NEWS
LWV Kansas is a supporter of Kansas Rural Center's 
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