It's Annual Meeting Time
We Need Your Warm Body (In Person or Online) For Quorum
With all the historic events these days, the League has its work cut out for it. Not only are we seeing the first trial of a former president, but Taylor Swift has proven she can dominate in today’s media markets. What a time to hold our Annual Meeting.
So, let’s all plan on bringing our coffee cups to the North East Branch of the Kansas City Public Library to review the successes we’ve enjoyed over the past year, and to renew our commitment to the voters for the upcoming election season.
And be prepared…we need members to step up into leadership roles. Two of our most critical committees, the Observer Corps and Voter Guide/Vote411 Committees, need members to volunteer to serve as chairs. So don’t be surprised if someone taps you on the shoulder and asks you to help serve our voters.
Take care and stay safe.
Jim Calvert
Editor
| Membership Meetings
Chair Needed
After putting together some really great member meetings the last 18 months, Lisa Albright has decided to step away from her role as chair of the Membership Meetings committee to concentrate on her work leading the team putting on the Peace Love Vote fundraiser.
We are looking for someone willing to commit approximately 5 hours/month to step in and continue her great work. Lisa will train the next chair, and we will provide any support the new chair needs.
Is that next chair you?
Do you have some great ideas for speakers?
Do you have some great contacts in the civic world you could leverage?
Do you have a few hours a month?
If you are interested, please contact Anne Calvert here!
| Observer Corps
Chair Needed
Step up for the League by Chairing the Observer Corps Committee. This is one of the most critical services the League performs, holding our local elected officials accountable. This is your chance to make a difference for our democracy. This committee, under the leadership of Donna Hoch (who must step down due to upcoming back surgery) has well-trained volunteers who know how to provide information for consolidated reports.
The Chair of this committee will spend 8 - 10 hours each month providing leadership for the volunteers who report on the various governmental bodies around the Metro. Training for Google Documents, Club Express, and Zoom, as well as mentorship, will be provided. A computer is required.
| Voter Guide/Vote411
Chair Needed
The Voter Guide/Vote411 Committee is looking for new leadership beginning in 2025.
The Voter Guide/Vote411 Committee publishes an online voter guide for every election in Cass, Clay, Jackson, and Platte counties, and a printed voter guide for the general election every other November. During the several weeks prior to an election, the chair will be busier than other times - perhaps working up to 10 hours per week. At other times, fewer hours are needed. Also less time is required in odd-numbered years when there is no general election in November. The voter guide is one of the League’s most visible and appreciated resources for voters in our communities.
See a full description of the Chair here!
| Annual Membership Meeting
Review and Renew
It is that time of year when our leadership team reviews the previous year's work, and renews our directions moving into this critical election season. Be sure to bring your own coffee cup.
When: April 27, 2024 9:30a.m. Social Time 10:00 a.m. Members Meeting
Where: Kansas City Public Library, North East Branch, 6000 Wilson Ave
Zoom link here!
Agenda may be found here!
Find all information in The Call here! | National Issue
John R Lewis National Voting Advancement Act
The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA) has been reintroduced in the 118th Congress! LWVUS is actively advocating in support of this critical piece of legislation, but we need your help to elevate your unique perspectives from your state and local levels of government.
Please write a letter to your members of Congress in support of the JLVRAA using the template found here!
As with all federal actions taken by state and local Leagues, communication is only permitted with the members of Congress who directly represent your jurisdiction. | State Issue
Rachel Farr Fitch Award Nominations
At the June 8, 2024 Spring Conference, LWVMO will again present the Rachel Farr Fitch award to a person or group that has done outstanding work in the field of health care. We encourage each local League to nominate a worthy candidate for this award.
The first Rachel Farr Fitch Health Care award was given in 2002 to Rachel for her steadfast work on the League’s behalf, especially in the case of Blue Cross Insurance going from a not-for-profit to a for-profit company.
As a nurse and League member, Rachel worked to achieve many changes in the healthcare system to improve access for vulnerable groups of people.
Her obituary provides a more in-depth history of her accomplishments, and may be found here!
The nominee does not have to be a member of the League of Women Voters, nor does the service or activity have to be a League project.
Please read the award form attached for more guidelines.
The deadline for submission is May 6, 2024.
Please direct questions and nomination materials here!
We will invite the recipient to an award presentation at the Ethical Society of St. Louis that Saturday afternoon.
Catherine Stenger and Donna Hoch
Awards Committee | Committee Report
April 2024
Did you know that committee chairs file a report every month?
Well…they do. And now, you can see what we all say to the leadership team here! | A (Brief) Call to Action
Keep It Simply Silly
League members tend to be more interested in our political system than the average American. Many join to help serve those who don’t pay as much attention through our voter education events where we provide information to prospective voters. Some of us even extend our passion for politics with those outside of the League and its customers. But in all cases, we need to avoid complex solutions to simple problems.
I discovered over lunch with one of our 40+ year old daughters that vote411.org is one of the best tools to get these voters engaged in the political process. So many feel they don’t know how to vote, so we must spread the word about the mechanics of voting. And nothing spreads it better than vote411.org.
So pass the word wherever you can. In fact, pick up the business cards the vote411 Committee produces to pass out, particularly to those who may want to engage, but just don’t know how.
Take care and stay safe.
| We Want Your Blood
A Poke and a Sting to Save a Life
Community Covid-19 Testing Sites
The CDC has updated its Covid-19 guidelines as they shift from pandemic response to endemic management. Though Kansas City still remains a high-risk area, we have decided to change our focus from Covid-19 vaccination to the tremendous need for blood donors. Two agencies collect blood in Kansas City, The American Red Cross and The Community Blood Centers. Please consider providing this gift of life as one of your community service projects. The websites are listed below.
The American Red Cross may be found here!
The Community Blood Centers may be found here!
| Suggestion Box
Ok...it's actually a form, but it is a form for suggestions with boxes to fill out
Do you have an idea for a future meeting topic or guest speaker? How about a great design for a “Get-out-the-vote” poster? Or maybe you’ve been wanting to present a Powerpoint on redistricting.
Now’s your chance!
Put a suggestion in our suggestion box and you just might have the next great idea that we will share with the state and national organizations. Then, you will be famous.
It all starts by filling out the form and submitting it to our suggestion box here! | To volunteer, join a committee, register for a special event, or view the Member Roster, please log in to your member account on our League website lwvkc.org:
- Click on "Member Login" in the upper right corner of the website lwvkc.org. The "Login" page will appear.
- Enter your User Name and Password. If you are on a device you own, check the box "Remember me on this computer" so it will remember your User Name and Password for next time. Click the "Login" button.
- Or, if you forgot your Username or Password, click the "Forgot my Username / Password" button on the "Login" page. The "Forgot Username/Password" box will appear.
- Enter your email address and first name and click the "OK" button.Your Username and a temporary Password will be emailed to you. Be sure to use the email address you provided to the League!
| Democracy looks like the League of Women Voters | |