Schools Need Us
Be Prepared to Vote
Public schools, which are under fire across the country, draw their funding from three primary sources: federal programs such as Title IX and Special Education, state coffers that provide operating expenses such as busses, teacher salaries, and building maintenance, and bond issues that allow for construction and furnishing new facilities.
This month’s members meeting will provide a close look at the third of these funding streams in anticipation of the April 8 Kansas City Public School bond election. We must all support our public schools against the well-funded attacks coming from politicians and organizations looking to starve our public schools out of existence. Details for the meeting will be found below.
Take care and stay safe.
Jim Calvert
Editor
| Word from Above
Be Prepared to Vote
On March 4, during the first presidential address of the new administration, the League of Women Voters will host nationwide action for democracy: Light for Our Democracy.
Along with Black Voters Matter, the Workers Circle, the American Association of People with Disabilities, National Organization for Women, American Federation of Teachers, Southern Poverty Law Center, Common Cause, the National Council of Jewish Women, APIA Vote, Center for Common Good, Declaration for American Democracy, and Public Citizen, the League will stage community gatherings at state capitols, city halls, town halls, and public gathering spaces across the country, bringing people together in reflection, action, and solidarity during the President's address.
These events will offer a peaceful and unified space to come together for the health of our democracy, the future of our nation, and the well-being of all people.
A list of events being held, including one in Ashland just south of Columbia, as well as online offerings, may be found here!
|  | Upcoming Events
Monthly Membership Meeting
Come learn about how public schools get new facilities. Bond issues can be misunderstood by the voting public, and we have an opportunity to learn just how to educate our friends, family, and colleagues.
The meeting will be hybrid, so you are responsible for your own coffee cup whether you join in person (where coffee will be provided), or online (where it will not).
When: Mar. 8, 2025 Social time 9:30 a.m. Meeting time 10:00 a.m.
Where: Trails West Library, 11401 E 23rd St South, Independence
Zoom: here!
See last month's meeting on YouTube here!
| Committee Meetings
Voter Guide/Vote411 Committee Meeting
When: Mar. 5, 2025 12:30 p.m.
Where: Zoom here! Meeting ID 896 8053 6499
Technology Committee Meeting
When: Mar. 27, 2025 12:00 p.m.
Where: Zoom here! Meeting ID 889 5371 2786
Over 150 members have been trained to interact with the public so get out there and volunteer. New opportunities are posted every day here!
LWVKC Calendar
| Registration Deadline!
Mar. 12, 2025 Deadline for Apr. 8, 2025 General Municipal Election
| Forums
School Board Members and Aldermen
The Forums Committee has scheduled six forums for the April 8 election. If you would like to get involved, we need help with moderators, timers, and tech hosts. Just email here!
Please plan on getting to know your candidates by watching one of the League's forums here!
YouTube (available the following day) here! (from YouTube, type in lwvkc and it will pop up).
Forums don’t work without good questions for each of the candidates. Please submit questions for candidates here!
The following forums will be held:
North Kansas City School Board Wednesday, Mar. 19, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Hickman Mills School Board Thursday, Mar. 20, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Raytown Alderman Wednesday, Mar. 26, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Lee's Summit School Board Thursday, Mar. 27, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Kansas City School Board Tuesday, Apr. 1, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Raytown School Board Wednesday, Apr. 2, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
| Help Wanted
Change is the Only Constant
The League continues to grow, and so does its plan for the future. Periodically committees take a look at their scope and current needs. A recent review has led to the realization that our Technology Committee is now serving two disparate purposes, managing our website and providing support for our remaining technology needs. Since the Technology Committee was originally formed to develop our website, several of the Technology Committee members will continue to work as a team to keep our website up to date and relevant, as a sub-committee led by Dave Mountjoy.
We will then need to add more members to the Technology Committee to handle our growing technology needs. We are asking for volunteers to help with Zoom, to run hybrid meetings, to evaluate and install software, and to help with all our other technology needs. Since our esteemed Technology Committee Chair Dave will be leading the website team, we are looking for someone to step up and lead our soon-to-be-buffed-up Technology Committee.
If interested, please contact Anne Calvert here!
|
Diggin' Data
Calling All Volunteers: Help Shape the Future of Data Management for LWVKC! Are you passionate about data and making a difference?
LWVKC is forming a Data Management Needs Assessment Team, and we need dedicated volunteers to help us create a stronger foundation for our mission!
Why This Matters - Data helps us tell our story, support our programs, and reach more people in need. However, as our nonprofit grows, so does the complexity of managing our data.
This committee will play a vital role in evaluating our current systems and identifying ways to better organize, protect, and use our data to make an even greater impact.
What You’ll Do As a Team Member - Collaborate with fellow volunteers to review how we collect, store, and use data. Identify challenges and opportunities to improve data management processes. Contribute to solutions that will strengthen the foundation of our nonprofit’s work. Shape strategies and policies that help us fulfill our mission more effectively.
Who Should Join - We’re looking for volunteers who are excited about making a difference and improving how we work; have experience with, or interest in data, technology, or nonprofit operations; are detail-oriented, organized, and willing to share their insights.
What’s the Time Commitment - The team will meet bi-weekly for the next three to four months, beginning in April. Meetings will be virtual, and any additional tasks will be flexible to fit your schedule.
How to Get Involved - This is a unique opportunity to help LWVKC grow and thrive. Together, we can ensure that data becomes a powerful tool to drive our mission forward. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Janelle Sjue here!
| A Call to Action
Change Through Active Engagement
We are watching as our democracy faces its biggest challenge in generations. With the administration now ignoring a federal court order, our Constitutional crisis is upon us. So what can the League, as a non-partisan actor, do to help preserve our democracy?
Want to read more? Click here!
We can move politicians away from their defiant positions if they receive enough data to convince them that their position is at risk. The more voters who call in and tell them (again, politely) that they are putting their next election at risk, the more likely they are to take a softer position on the issues.
In other words, the more likely they are to represent US.
| We Want Your Blood
A Poke and a Sting to Save a Life
Calling for All Selfies
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 American Red Cross may be found here!
The Community Blood Centers may be found here!
When you finish your donation, please take a selfie and share it with us. | Suggestion Box
(It's Actually Working...Just Ask Anne)
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 | |