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Date: 3/29/2022
Subject: The VOTER Newsletter - April 2022
From: LWV of Johnson County




Topic: The Assault on Reproductive Freedom

Reproductive freedom is, once again, under attack in Kansas. Join us for a robust discussion about the importance of defeating the August 2022 ballot measure to amend the Kansas Constitution. Learn how you can protect the right to control personal decisions about reproductive health and abortion care. 

Free and open to the public. All are welcome. Advance registration required.

Register in Advance

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.


Spreading Empathy - Fighting the Mental Health Stigma
One in five U.S adults experience mental illness each year (NAMBI). Mental illness is a condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling, behavior or mood and impacts day-to-day living. The LWVJoCo has been working since the 1990s to support comprehensive mental health services in JoCo. This panel discussion, led by Tim DeWeese, Director of the JoCo Mental Health Center, will discuss mental health services now available to residents. 
 
Saturday | May 8 | 9-11 a.m.
Atonement Lutheran Church
9948 Metcalf, Overland Park

Attend in person or watch live on YouTube

 

 

Janet Milkovich

President

jocoleague@gmail.com

What Makes A Voter Girl?

I vividly remember marching into the school nurses’ office. I was in 6th grade and a little nervous. 

My mission? Host a girls’ only program focusing on what happens to girls’ bodies when we reach puberty. I was sick to death of the snickers of boys, and yes, the male teacher in my class when a girl “had an accident.” The nurse heartily welcomed the suggestion, and a new tradition began at my school. The main takeaways for me were that I had a voice, I could use it to speak up when I saw a need and change could happen. That was a heady lesson for a 12-year-old girl!

Girl Scouts had a similar effect on me. Leaders invested their time and expertise in young women. They cast a vision of the leaders we could become. We did more than sell cookies. We learned about taking care of the environment, working with other girls to accomplish things that were too big for one girl to accomplish. We built community.

In April, members of the LWVJoCo, KCMO, Topeka, and Lawrence Leagues, in collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri, are hosting Voter Girl! What could possibly be more important than teaching young women about the power of the vote while enabling them to earn citizenship badges? This is an opportunity for all involved to follow in the footsteps of other women who have been helped up the ladder and invest in those climbing the rungs behind us. Thank you, Marie Hernandez and Debbie Kitchin, Voter Information Champions, for mentoring future League members and community leaders and launching Voter Girl here!

All of those years ago, the school nurse could have blown me off and, perhaps, squelched my confidence to speak up for what I believe. But she didn’t and look at me now!  Mary Lou Jaramillo, I’m so grateful for the time you invested in me to prepare me to be nominated for president and for your leadership of an outstanding Nominating Committee that brought us an excellent slate of new leaders! I salute the members of the LWVJoCo Wisdom Circle who have fought the good fight and represented our League for 50+ years – don’t you think they deserve a medal? And Amber Stenger, you encouraged me to take a leap of faith. 

I call on each and every member to help this board build a membership that more closely reflects the demographics of Johnson and Wyandotte counties. I challenge every one of you to reach out to communities who encounter barriers to voting and offer to stand with them. Let this League be an inspiration to Girl Scouts, High School Students and Community Colleges as we work with them to register to vote and cast their ballot.

We are in for a remarkable year!

Thank you.

Janet


Get ready to…Spring into Action with your LWVJoCo!
 
Spring is a time of new beginnings. Dormant plants begin to grow again, seedlings sprout and many of us hit the park trails to enjoy the great outdoors. As the earth comes out of hibernation, League members are, too!

Antioch Park is the county’s oldest park, where the Vietnam Memorial, playground area and natural beauty add to its popularity. Please come and enjoy this informal, in-person social gathering. Children are welcome, and refreshments will be served.
 
No reservations needed.
  
Antioch Park Patio Shelter
6501 Antioch Road in Merriam 
Thursday | April 21 | 4:00 -7:00 p.m. 
 


 

Abortion Access Through a DEI Lens

Access to reproductive health services including abortion disproportionately impacts low- income women, including women of color. Women of color often have limited access to health care and health insurance which leads to limited access to birth control which leads to more unplanned or higher risk pregnancies.

Restrictive abortion laws require that women must travel further away for services. Such travel often further stresses limited financial resources and requires time off from work. Many private insurance companies do not cover abortion services and federal money can only be used in certain cases, which means services may only be available if the patient pays out-of-pocket. Because of systemic racism and gender discrimination, women of color often do not have the same financial resources as white women.

Included below are some resources as well as a link to a Kansas organization that helps women with financial assistance. The individual clinics in Kansas also have information on financial assistance. 


https://kansasabortionfund.org/

https://reproductiverights.org/supreme-court-case-mississippi-abortion-ban-disproportionate-harm/

https://www.nationalpartnership.org/our-impact/blog/general/abortion-restrictions-hurt-women-of-color.html

https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2022/public-health-paradox-states-abortion-laws-maternal-child-health-outcomes


Submitted by the DEI Committee


KC Regional Climate Action Summit 

The KC Regional Climate Action Summit is April 9. Climate Action KC, a LWVJoCo partner, is a nonprofit regional collaborative bringing elected officials and community leaders together to reduce emissions, invigorate the economy, promote public health and improve the quality of life across the Kansas City region.


This year’s event, focused on the theme “What Connects Us,” is presented in partnership with the European Union and the International Urban and Regional Cooperation program, and will offer presentations and conversations with members of Congress, mayors, scientists and other critical voices in climate adaptation and resilience. Participants from 19 regions throughout Europe and North America are expected to attend.


Going Above & Beyond 


Two members who have provided exceptional service over the past few years were honored with the Above & Beyond Award at our annual meeting in March. Their tireless efforts have made our organization more effective in reaching, educating and informing voters. 

 
 
Diana Carney
 
 
Diana Carney is being recognized for her steadfast service to our League. She is a longtime member of our communications committee and has served as our newsletter editor month after month for the past three years. 

In each of the 36 issues that she’s produced, she strives to make sure members get the information they need, and she always finds engaging ways to do it. A lot goes into each issue–coordinating with committee leaders and writers to produce content, creating content herself, designing the newsletter and then scheduling it to send out. Most months, more than 60% of our members open the newsletter and more than 40% of nonmembers–compared to the industry standard of 20%. Much of that is a credit to her dedication and creativity.


Diana, I’m thrilled to be able to recognize your steadfast service to the League with this award.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Connie Taylor
 
A little more than a year ago, Ellen Miller and I asked Connie Taylor to serve as our redistricting champion. We had no idea how fully she would live up to the title. 

Connie was part of our statewide People Powered Fair Maps team and enthusiastically led our local efforts. Some of the many accomplishments of Connie and her team include: 

  • Developed a redistricting resource page for our website and continually updated it with ways people could learn about redistricting and take action.

  • Encouraged 32 League members to testify in the redistricting hearings and testified herself. 

  • Learned how to use redistricting software and helped create the maps the state League presented to the legislature.

  • Provided continual support to members and partner organizations in their efforts to create maps, educate voters and advocate for fair maps.

  • Served as our subject matter expert on several programs and segments about redistricting.

Congratulations to Diana and Connie. Thank you for your incredible contributions to our League.

Amber Stenger

Victoria Campbell Osborne

Megan Casey

Amanda Glass

Kristy  Howell

Farrell Jenab

Kathy Kappes-Sum

Jae Moyer

Lareesa Nelson

Lisa Pinkster
Karin Sorensen

Susan Tiffany

Celine Wetz

Amelia Wiederaenders


Member Spotlight: Ann Schuster
 
This teacher/librarian observes school board meetings and sees a role for the League in strengthening civic education in the classroom. Learn more about Ann.

Inspire Voter Engagement With LWVJoCo Merchandise

  • Yard Sign - $10
  • T-shirt - $15
  • VOTE pin - $20
  • Car Magnet - $5

 Contact Ann Norbury to make arrangements to pick up your purchases. (She's willing to meet at any JoCo library parking lot.)


Observer Corps Reports

 Catch up on the actions, decisions and proposals of our local public officials. 

  • How much are appraisals up in Johnson County?
  • Time for public comments has been expanded at the Olathe School Board meetings.
  • What will be on the roof of the new proposed Antioch Library?
Read the latest summaries  by League members who attend several public meetings in our area.

FAQs from Kansans For Constitutional Freedom about the amendment on the 2022 primary ballot.

Board and Committee Briefs

🙏 A huge thanks to the nearly 90 members who attend LWVJoCo’s annual meeting, and congratulations to our new board officers. Read about the newly elected leaders in the annual report. A special thanks to our fabulous keynote speaker, Irene Caudillo of El Centro. If you missed it, treat yourself and watch her presentation.

🌎 Climate conference: Take part in the 2022 Regional Climate Action Summit on Saturday, April 9 at Johnson County Community College. Climate Action KC welcomes you back to take a look at the goals we have achieved together since our inaugural summit in 2019. This year’s event, focused on the theme “What Connects Us,” is presented in partnership with the European Union and the International Urban and Regional Cooperation program, and will offer presentations and conversations with members of Congress, mayors, scientists and other critical voices in climate adaptation and resilience. Participants from 19 regions throughout Europe and North America are expected to attend. Register and find out more here.

☀️ 2022 LWVK Council: All members are invited to join in the meeting. Register here by April 20, 2022 and visit our website for information on Council here!

🗳️ Reproductive rights: During the August 2022 primary, Kansans will vote on an amendment that would remove our constitutional right to have an abortion. Visit Kansans for Constitutional Freedom to learn about the bipartisan coalition the League has joined committed to defeating the amendment, and sign up here for updates and volunteer opportunities. You can also visit our updated Reproductive Rights page to learn more about the amendment and actions you can take.

⏩ Sponsored memberships: In an effort to be more inclusive of people of all economic backgrounds, LWVJoCo offers four complimentary memberships. Students can now join for free as well. If you are interested in learning more about sponsored memberships, please email our Membership co-chairs Eileen Manza or Victoria Smith

💡 LWVUS 55th Annual Convention: LWV’s next national convention will be a hybrid event in Denver, Colo. from June 23-26, 2022. Several LWVJoCo members typically serve as delegates, and our League helps pay for delegates’ expenses. Start thinking about whether this is something you’d like to attend and watch for information here

📰 Stay current: Read about latest work of Leagues throughout the state in the latest issue of LWVK’s VOTER Notes newsletter.


 

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