Library Farmers Market
By Vicki Buening, Chair
The idea that democracy is not a spectator sport is being demonstrated everyday through the actions of our very active membership, including voter services volunteers. We’ve connected with at least 300 people at such venues as the TSCPL Farmer’s Market, First Friday at NOTO, Heartland Military Days, the Juneteenths Family and Friends Celebration and the Naturalization Ceremony at Brown v Board.
We also had 15 members participate in our voter services training on June 17th. If you missed the training, let me know. We do have printed materials that are helpful and I’ll visit with you about other ways you could train.
If you are trained ready to volunteer, here’s the quickest and easiest way to get started:
Follow the link on our website to POINT. Click JOIN (orange button) and set up your account. POINT will send your request to Voter Services and we’ll approve your entry to the site. We try to do it as quickly as possible but it might not be the same day you apply. Remember, we’re volunteers, too
Here’s the link: https://www.lwvtsc.org/get-involved/volunteer/
When it’s hot out, tabling volunteers cool off by spreading the joy of voting!
Our next big registration event will be during the Topeka Fiesta from July 15-19, 5-8 each evening. We will work with Latina Votes to encourage registration and provide information on the upcoming local elections. This is a very lively cultural experience plus they have great food. Sign-up on POINT at the link above to join the fun!
I would like to send KUDOS to these members who became participants in our efforts to protect democracy by either helping educate voters or taking the training to educate voters.
Events Volunteers: Gretchen Gleue, Leslie Prentice, Cindy Lash, Carole Jordan, Marty Snyder, Catherine Walter, Georgia Sandlin, Robin Sweeney, Danielle Tremlow and Paul Post.
Training: Lydia Beasterfeld, Nancy Perry, Julie Wilson, Kami Cusick, Catherine Walter, Mary Torrence, Robin Sweeney, Marty Snyder, Gretchen Gleue, Barbara Hicker, Paul Post, Jane Hanni, Irene Francis, Kimberley Brown, Deborah Stern, Vicki Arnett, Glenda Overstreet-Vaughn.
Special shout-out to Mary Gallagan who gave up dinner and grasshopper mint dessert to serve as the Zoom manager and FAQ resource throughout the training. We are so lucky to have her special talents almost always behind the scenes. Thanks, Mary.
One last thing: We have purchased more “Your Vote Matters” yard signs. They will be available to pick-up at the next Farmer’s Market at the Library on July 7th or on July 8th after the group tour at Washburn KBI Education Center. If you live in a location that gets good visibility or know of a good place to display, please stop by and let’s get these up before the local election.
Let’s all remember on this July 4th that we can’t take our freedom for granted. Stay strong and remember that our League work here in Topeka can and will make a difference.
Thanks so much.
Vicki Buening
PS- Check out our activity calendar for all things League related at: https://www.lwvtsc.org/meetings-and-events/
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Greetings! I am very excited to serve as your President for the next two years and I thank you for the opportunity to do so. With that being said, I apologize in advance for the length of this initial letter. However, I want to share with you the wide array of advocacy, activism, and social aspects of the organization that you are a part of. Trust me, such a lengthy letter will be an anomaly.
On Thursday, April 24, our League of Women Voters of Topeka-Shawnee County Voter Services team welcomed new citizens after their naturalization ceremony at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park and offered voter registration and education.
