JULY 2017 1

9:30 - Social Time 10:00 - Program

Community Christian Church 4601 Main; Kansas City MO Enter on south side of church, to lower level Centennial Room.

Park free in multi-level garage south of church.

August Meeting: Saturday, August 19, 2017, 9:30/10:00

Community Christian Church

LWV/KC/J/C/P – P. O. Box 10416, KCMO 64174-0416 – www.lwvkc.org – 816.464.1800 – lwvkcjcp@gmail.com

Environmental Concerns Community Perspectives

July 15, 2017

Amanda Graor, Air Quality Program Manager at Mid-America Regional Council, will present MARC’s current work on environmental issues to make Kansa s City’s air cleaner and safer.

Drew Robinson, Sustainability Products Manager at Kansas City Power & Light, will speak on behalf of KCP&L and how its operations and products keep moving toward a cleaner environment.

The League of Women Voters of Kansas City/Jackson/Clay/Platte Counties

THE VOTER

JULY 2017 2

Directory

1 July Meeting 4 Airport Listening Event, Tax District Ballots Due, Vote411.org Is Live 2 Presidents’ Message 5 Voter Photo ID Progress, Election Judges Needed, 3 National LWV Council, International Visitors 6 Scheduled Registration Events, Voting Machine s Evaluated 7 Women’s Equality Week, New Members, National/State News

LWV/KC/J/C/P

BOARD

2017-2018

OFFICERS

Co-Presidents

Donna Hoch

Evelyn Maddox

Vice President

Linda Smith

Secretary

Anitra Steele

Treasurer

Caroline Arnold

DIRECTORS

Cheryl Barnes

Dixie Brown

Pat Goodwin

Paula Zaiss

Pauli Kendrick

Pauline Testerman

PRESIDENTS’ MESSAGE

League members have “hit the road running” since our program year began on May 20. So far we have conducted speaker training for Photo ID presentations, a forum about streetcar expansion, voter registrar training, voter registration events, and participated in evaluating new voting machines for the Kansas City Election Board. Members have completed work on preparing Vote411.org, which is now operative for the August 8 election. Others are at work planning for our Women’s Equality Week event on August 21. In addition, your Co-Presidents participated in a meeting with six international visitors traveling the U.S. under the auspices of the U. S. Department of State’s International Leadership Program. It was an honor for LWV/KCJCP to be invited to participate as an example of how women’s organizations in the U.S. can shape public discourse. More information about this meeting is included in this issue of The Voter. Thank you to those members who have already remitted their dues for their membership year July 1 through June 30. Others whose membership year differs will receive notice of dues at their unique renewal date. Our Membership Committee has worked diligently to support our activities through accurate and timely recordkeeping. We appreciate all the members who have shared their time and efforts; however, we need continue to need “all hands on deck”. Please let us know if you are willing to work on activities concerning voter protection, climate/environment, education, legislative tracking, Voter Guides, forums, health care, membership and fund-raising. We need your assistance and commitment to our efforts to educate voters and advocate for free and fair elections. You can leave a message on the League’s email lwvkcjcp@gmail.com about how you would like to participate. Or, contact us or any of our Board Members who are listed on this page and whose contact information is on the members’ roster you have received. Donna Hoch Evelyn Maddox

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National LWV Role in This Critical Time

“As the League approaches our first centennial, we want to become the most powerful organization we can be, said LWVUS president Chris Carson at the National Council for the League of Women Voters. “It is a critical time in our democracy, and an amazing time of opportunity for the League as we expand and attract new members.” LWV US CEO Wylecia Wiggs Harris added, “We know there are going to be challenges, but we are going to get there together because we are a stronger League when we speak with one voice. We all want to see this organization be as influential as it can be because our democracy needs us.” There were 110 leaders from 48 states the District of Columbia who attended the bi-annual national Council. The focus was on the important role and impact of the League, as well as how the group can evolve to be the most effective organization on voting rights and election services. Kathleen Boswell, President of LWV Missouri represented Missouri at the Council.

International Visitors Learn about LWV Influence

At the invitation of the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, on June 12 Co-Presidents, Donna Lauffer and Sandi Sanchez of LWV/Johnson County and Co-Presidents, Evelyn Maddox and Donna Hoch of LWVKC/JCP, met with international visitors Jana Smiggels KavKova, Czech Republic; Jue Ren, People’s Republic of China; Ximena Suarez Corzo, Mexico; Chandani Hememala Kirinde, Sri Lanka;, and Derya Baykal, Turkey. The purpose of the meeting was to inform the visitors about LWV’s work to influence public discourse about women’s rights. The visitors had traveled the U.S. for six weeks learning about women’s participation in U.S. politics and government.

During their time in Kansas City, the group also met with individuals from the Kansas Democratic Party, Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, Mother and Child Health Coalition,UMKC’s Women’s and Gender Studies Department, City of Lenexa, Kansas City Star, Young Republicans, and Senator Barbara Bollier of Kansas.

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Airport Listening Event

Thursday, July 20, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church4501 Walnut St., KCMO

This event will be a presentation of conclusions reached in the recent studies outlining the needs for a new terminal and related improvements. Justin Meyer, KCMO Deputy Director of Aviation, Marketing & Air Service Development, and, Pat Klein, KCMO Director of Aviation will speak. A Q&A will follow.

In addition to explaining the proposed scope of the improvements, the City’s Aviation Department representatives will discuss the Request for Qualifications / Proposal process which will include options for either public or private financing. Competitive proposals have been sought for consideration.

Church parking and street parking are available. Sponsor: LWV/KDJDP

Streetcar Taxing District Ballots Due August 1, 2017 Voters who received a ballot in the mail have until August 1, 2017 at 5 pm to have ballots delivered, faxed, or received in the mail to 16th Circuit Court of Jackson County, 415 E. 12th KC, MO 64106 Fax #-816-881-1461 Ballots must be notarized. Results will be announced August 11, 2017.

Vote411.org Is Live for August 8 Election On Friday, June 1, vote411.org went live with ballot information for issues that will appear in the August 8 Special Election. All members of the Kansas City League are asked to let family, friends, and members of the community know that vote411.org is available. Next on the Voters Guide Committee’s agenda is fundraising for the printed guide planned for the November, 2018, election. Expenses for the 2016 General Election guide were approximately $2500, and getting started now will position the League to produce a quality guide next year. If you know of a business or individual who would be interested in contributing to this important voter education effort, please forward their names with contact information to patgoodwin6@gmail.com. Any request for donations will come from League leadership, and you will not be identified as having provided the recipient’s name The Voters Guide Committee welcomes new members. If you have an interest or skills in communications, computer applications, or very importantly, fundraising, or if you are simply interested in working on this project, please contact Pat Goodwin at patgoodwin6@gmail.com. Pat Goodwin

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Voter Photo ID Progress Although the LWV/NAACP Temporary Restraining Order on implementation of Voter Photo ID was not successful to date, our League and continues to reach out to voters to educate them on the Voter Photo ID requirements which became effective June 1. We thank you for the feedback which you provided on the Power Point slides following our June meeting. We have continued to improve the presentation based on your feedback, the creative talents of Diana Stuart, and our continued contact with the Secretary of State’s office and our area election boards. We have trained new presenters, Margie Richcreek, Elizabeth Darr, Linda McCurry and Susan Moon who will be speaking upon invitation from libraries, professional and civic organizations, social service agencies, neighborhood associations, and virtually any organization whose constituents are or could be voters. We plan to offer an evening session for training presenters, so please contact us if you are interested. We have already completed a presentation to a senior living facility which serves low income seniors and to the Greater Kansas City Justice Coalition. We have Photo ID events scheduled on July 12 at the Bufford Library and on July 18 at the Plaza Library. Both will be at 6:30 PM and both will offer voter registration on site. We encourage all members to attend who want to be more knowledgeable about Photo ID or are considering becoming a presenter. We also thank Sue Scholl and Karen Brown for distributing information on the Photo Voter ID law at public events.

Rosemary Durkin

Election Judges Still Needed

The Kansas City Election Board, Eastern Jackson County Election Board, and Clay County Election Board are still soliciting online applications for election judges, for August 8.

Members who have already volunteered to work the polls as Election Judges are Margie Richcreek, Elizabeth Darr, Beth Schaffer, and Jami Parkinson. It is no easy task to work 5:00 A.M. until after the polls close at 7:00 P.M. and all closing procedures are completed. We appreciate all the poll workers who are there to make democracy work through free and fair elections! The 2017 Council of the League of Women Voters US met in Leesburg, VA, June 22 – June 25, with two representatives from each state invited to participate. Marilyn McLeod, current LWV MO President, was among 110 participants from 48 states and the District of Columbia.

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Scheduled Voter Registration Events For the fourth year, we will conduct voter registration for the residency/enrollment clinics held by Center School District and Hickman Mills Schools District prior to the 2017-18 school year. LWV volunteers who will work the five day schedule for seven schools are Cheryl Barnes, Delores Blaser, Jan Cohen, Carol Chatten, Rosemary Durkin, Sandy Eeds, Joyce Fulps, Pat Goodwin, Mary Lindsay, Deb Keating, Ann Johnson, Evelyn Maddox Linda McCurry, MJ McCall, Symie Menitove, Susan Moon, Peg Prendergast, Margie Richcreek, Sue Scholl, Diana Stuart, Polly Swafford, Becky Yockey, and Pauline Wasserman.

Delores Blaser

Evaluation of Voting Machines A big thank you to the LWV members who responded to the invitation to evaluate voting machines proposed by Missouri certified vendors for purchase by the Kansas City Election Board. We saw six vendors’ products. The Kansas City Board of Election did not know when new machines would be purchased or installed, but its July meeting will deal with evaluation of prospective machines. LWV members who participated agreed it was good learning experience about the processing of ballots. Those participating were Elizabeth Darr, Carol Jacobson, Peg Prendergast, Shannon Hennessy, Jean Ann Kouns, Evelyn Maddox, Margie Richcreek, Delores Blaser, Donna Hoch, Ann Johnson, Bertie Daw, and I.

Sue Scholl

Sue Scholl and What U Can Do volunteers at registration event.

Sue S

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Save the Date: August 21, 2017

Working Together for Social Justice Women’s Equality Week

We will partner again with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Mu Omega and Beta Omega Chapters, Women in the NAACP (WIN) Kansas City Branch, Kansas City Missouri Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and A.Philip Randolph Institute to sponsor an event in Women’s Equality Week (August 20 – August 26). Panelists will discuss how women can work together across racial and cultural divides with input from the audience on how to move forward. We will go deeper and wider from our conversations at February’s “Bridging the Gap” to meet the challenges to equality and justice we face today. Our event at Community Christian Church, in the Centennial Room, is only one of many planned for the week. Jane McClain

Welcome New Members

Cheryl Downs Sheryl Eufinger

Calendar for National and State Events October 28, 2017 Missouri LWV Fall Conference, Sedalia May 5, 2018 Missouri LWV Spring Conference, Kansas City June 28, 2018 U. S. League of Women Voters Convention, Chicago For the latest action alerts on national health care legislation, attempts to collect individual voting data, and legislation to defund Planned Parenthood, go to lwv.org. For the latest updates on LWV’s Temporary Restraining Order on implementation of Missouri’s Voter Photo ID law, go to lwvmissouri.org