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Date: 5/31/2022
Subject: The VOTER Newsletter - June 2022
From: LWV of Johnson County




Kansas Legislative Session: The Highs and Lows. What do we know?

Moderated by Clay Firestone, Kansas Reflector Opinion Editor, Kansas legislators will help us make sense of the 2022 session. Our discussion will center on legislation affecting redistricting, voting rights, public education and LGBTQ rights.

Free and open to the public. The event is presented by the League of Women Voters of Johnson County, Mainstream Coalition, and the Voter Rights Network of Wyandotte County.

Saturday June 11 | 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Johnson Country Central Resource Library, Carmack Room
9875 W 87th St, Overland Park, KS 66212


Super PACs and the Courts: The Impact of Citizens United

Thursday, June 16 |12-1 p.m.

Tomahawk Ridge Community Center, 11902 Lowell Avenue, in Overland Park.

Join us for a lively and engaging discussion about the landmark Supreme Court case, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

We'll analyze the Justices' opinions and their impact on campaign finance trends. Our event is led by Meg Shadid and Kim Wahaus, AP high school government teachers with the Olathe Public School District, who participated in the Harvard Civic Course.

Free and open to the public. Registration required. Bring your lunch and non-alcoholic beverage.

Kansas Legislative Session, Spotlight on Wyandotte. The Whys and Lows.

What do we know? Moderated by Mike Taylor, legislators and activities will help us make sense of the 2022 session. Presented by Voter Rights Network of Wyandotte County, Mainstream Coalition, and the League of Women Voters of Johnson County.

Saturday, June 25 | 9:30-11:00 a.m. | Memorial Hall, 600 N. 7th Street, Kansas City, KS 66101
Free and open to the public. Registration required.

Sounds Like a Plan

President Harry Truman said, “Make no little plans.” Because of the dedication and commitment of our 300+ members, the LWVJoCo has BIG plans for the month of June, and we are asking each member to help in one or two of the following ways:

  •  Make a tax-deductible donation to LWVJoCo. As we expand our outreach to encourage people to get to the polls in both August and November of this year, we need to invest in voter education and information materials, tablecloths and runners for the exhibits, and displays. We need to raise $5,000. Any size gift is appreciated. Visit www.lwvjoco.orgUse the red donate button. 
  •  Help staff a table at one of the following events. Training will be provided. Collectively, we could reach more than 20,000 Kansas residents in the month of June. Think of the impact WE can make! Sign up at LWVJoco.org/Get Involved/Volunteer.
    1. June 4 Mainstream Walk the Vote at Thompson Park in Overland Park from 8:30-11:00. The League is an event sponsor and will be staffing a table.

    2. Sign Up for the League’s Voter to Voter team.

    3. Talk to friends, family, neighbors and colleagues. Ask three people to join you in Voting No on the Kansas Constitutional Amendment. Don’t let 13.7% of JoCo residents determine the outcome of this August 2 primary election.

    4. June 18/19 and June 25/26: Sign up to staff one of 32 tables for the Church of the Resurrection (COR) Civic Engagement Initiative. We’ll be doing voter information and engagement and inviting people to join the League. 

  • Attend our June programs: Saturday, June 11 at 9:00 a.m. and Thursday, June 16 at noon. Both events are free and open to the public - bring a friend.

To paraphrase another President, Ronald Reagan said, “freedom must be fought for, protected and handed on to the next generation.”  Thank you, League members, for doing just that!

Janet Milkovich

jocoleague@gmail.com


DEI Moment - PRIDE Month

June is Pride month around the world. It celebrates the lives and contributions of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people with a series of events that educate and commemorate their impact of the communities where they live.

Pride Month was originally celebrated as “Gay Pride Day” on the last Sunday in June to remember the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, NY. The uprising occurred as a consequence of police raiding the Stonewall Inn, the most popular gay bar in the city at a time when homosexuality was still considered a criminal offense. It awakened activism among the gay community, who protested for days on the streets of Manhattan against the public harassment that had become usual practice. With time, Pride Day became Pride Month, and its celebration spread to other cities around the United States and the world.

But even though there has been progress since the repressive laws that prompted the Stonewall Uprising, much is left to do. For example, in Kansas, there is still no law that expressly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. According to a report by UCLA’s School of Law in 2019, 38% of transgender people living in Kansas experience workplace harassment due to their gender identity or expression and have no legal recourse.

In Kansas City, the KC Pride Fest held every year in June provides an opportunity not just to celebrate but to learn about what ails the local LGBTQ community and advocate for a more inclusive environment. 

In 2022, KC Pride Fest will be held June 10-12, with the parade scheduled for June 11. 

Learn More:

Kansas City Parade and Festival information: https://kcpridealliance.org/pride-2022/

Discrimination Against LGBT People in Kansas - A report by the UCLA School of Law: https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/lgbt-discrimination-ks/

Kansas City Center for Inclusion on how to help end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Local LGBT Resources Kansas City.

Equality Kansas on legislative actions that affect the lives of LGBTQ people in our state.



Sue E Breeding
Aldrich Jones
Karin Jones Treadwell Jones
Jennifer Marien
Lydia Marien


Member Spotlight: Diane Pickett
 
A desire to be a part of the solution led our newest treasurer to LWVJoCo.
Learn more about Diane.

Inspire Voter Engagement With LWVJoCo Merchandise

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

 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.  


1.  County courthouse time capsule opened after 71 years
2.  Lenexa relocates one precinct
3.  Aid to Ukraine from local government
 
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
 
🗺️ Redistricting: We are very disappointed that the Kansas Supreme Court let gerrymandered maps stand. In the words of our Redistricting Champion Connie Taylor, "We are proud of the work our local League accomplished with the Voter Rights Network in Wyandotte County. They showed up for testimony talking about their communities. In addition, the state League working group put a lot of effort into redistricting. It was not in vain. We have much to celebrate: testifying at all the redistricting town halls, submitting a Congressional and State Senate map, submitting a written statement to the KS Supreme Court, our press coverage throughout the state, as well as our Letters to the Editor locally. We aren’t giving up. In fact, we’re already starting the review of the State’s position statement on redistricting." 
 
⌚ In response to requests from League members for more flexible times and dates with programming, we’ve put together an exciting roster of events. We’ve planned a lunch and learn program called Super PACS and the Court for Thursday June 16. Registration is required. The annual Legislative Recap, held in partnership with Mainstream Coalition, will take place on Saturday, June 11 at 9:00 a.m. Go to lwkjoco.org for more information.

✅ Vote in the August 2, 2022, Primary Election – Unlike a traditional primary election where voters are required to choose between political parties, any Kansas voter can participate, regardless of party affiliation. For more information, visit Kansans for Constitutional Freedom https://kansansforfreedom.com/ and the Reproductive Rights page on our website. To volunteer as a poll worker, contact the JoCo Election office at https://www.jocoelection.org/

💡 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 

🌳 June 18 | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Juneteenth Event at Thompson Park. Gather at OP City Hall at 10 a.m. and walk to nearby Thompson Park for an afternoon of music, speakers and dance. Bring a lawn chair.

🚗 Souls to the Polls! Mark your calendars! Saturdays July 9 and October 15. Gather at KCK Community College to caravan through neighborhoods with recent low voter turnouts to encourage people to vote in the primary and general elections. Informational leaflets will be distributed to these neighborhoods ahead of the car caravans. Watch for more info!

📰 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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