Stay up to date on LWV happenings in Topeka and Shawnee County!
Calendar of Events
Tuesday | May 5 at 12pm | Marvin 101BC at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
Tuesday Topics: Marvin Burris, Interesting Facts about United States Presidents
Friday | May 8 at 11am | Anton Room, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
Book Club: We the People, by Jill Lepore. View more information.
Tuesday | June 2 at 12pm | Location TBD
Tuesday Topics: Summer Field Trip, Details TBD – check our website for updates!
Friday | June 12 at 11am | Anton Room, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
Book Club: In the Time of Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez. View more information.
Tuesday | July 7 at 12pm | Constitution Hall in Downtown Topeka
Tuesday Topics: Summer Field Trip Presentation & Renovation Tour of this Historic Site
Monday | July 13 5:30-7:30pm | Marvin 101 at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
Primary Candidate Meet & Greet. View more information.
For dates of upcoming Voter Education, Voter Registration, Board Meetings, and more, please view the events calendar on our website.
Position on the Supreme Court Constitutional Amendment
In August 2026, voters will decide on the Legislature’s effort to amend Article 3 of our Kansas Constitution. The proposed amendment would abolish the Kansas Supreme Court nominating commission. People seeking a position on the Supreme Court would run for election. As candidates, they could hold office in any political party, and they could campaign and directly or indirectly raise money for their own or anyone else’s election.
The League’s state board has taken a position against this proposed amendment. The League of Women Voters of Topeka and Shawnee County concurs in that position, which follows:
The League of Women Voters of Kansas Opposes the elimination of the Supreme Court Justices’ Merit-based Selection System. We recommend that voters vote NO on the Constitutional Amendment on the August 4th, 2026, primary election ballot. Kansas has a fair system that ensures our state Supreme Court justices are unbiased. Justices are nominated through a merit-based process that ensures voices across the state are heard, and Kansans already get to vote on whether justices should keep their jobs. It’s a system that balances independence with accountability and has served our state well for generations. The proposed amendment would dismantle Kansas’ fair system and replace it with partisan elections, turning our justices into politicians. Instead of weighing the law and the facts of each case, they would be forced to answer to political parties, special interests, and big donors.
Presidents Perspective
Greetings and Merry May!
This month’s Presidents Perspective includes several key highlights:
- We have posted our position statement on the constitutional amendment on our website so that the public knows our stance.
- There are several new ways for members to get involved!
- The legislature closed its session passing elections bills that countered democracy. Yet, we will not be deterred. Read more…
Local Observer Reports
Observer Reports have a new look! This month’s reports includes the County Commission’s adoption of solar regulations and our League members’ testimony and public support. Also of note: increase pay for election workers.
LWV observers keep you informed about what is happening in local government. The Local Observer Corps volunteers attend city, county and school board meetings and take notes.
Observer Reports will be posted on our website to help get our members this useful and actionable information in a more timely manner.
It’s Time to Double Check your League Membership
Due to the change in the annual membership system, many members may have accidentally missed their renewal date. Luckily, renewing has never been easier! Just follow this link to the Join/Renew section of our website. Everything you need to know is there.
Become a Member Today | LWVTSC
If you’re not sure its time for you to renew, send me an email and I’ll check for you: allanpqz@gmail.com
-Allan Foster, Membership Chair
Tuesday Topics is May 5
Join us at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library for our monthly civic education presentation. In May, Marvin Burris will present on the topic of “Interesting Histories of United States Presidents.” View all the event details here.
April Recap
Thank you to all our members who attended the 2026 Annual Meeting held on April 7 at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. There were 42 members and 4 visitors in attendance. 1 attendee joined on Zoom.
A few highlights from this year’s Annual Meeting include awarding the first annual Climate Award to Robert Riley and Justine Greve for their work at Full Circle Sustainability. Full Circle Sustainability is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in July 2023 with the mission of making low-waste living easier. We also recognized Grace Wilson, Lifetime Member, for her decades of service, leadership, and advocacy.
Current Board Leadership:
Officers
● President: Dr. Glenda Overstreet Vaughn
● Vice President: Paul Post
● Co-President-Elect: Kristin Hammer
● Co-President-Elect: Lissa Staley
● Secretary: Cindy Lash
● Treasurer: Mary Galligan
Elected Directors
● Membership Chair: Allan Foster
● Gretchen Gleue
● Observer Corps Coordinator: Meredith Williard
● Tuesday Topics Facilitator: Glennie Buckley
● Vicki Buening
● Kimberley Brown
Appointed Directors
● Danielle Twemlow
● Dennis Bosley
● Mary Lou Davis
Save the Date: Primary Candidate Mett & Greet
Our local league is continuing the tradition of hosting candidate “Meet & Greet” events before each primary and general election. Mark your calendars for the next one!
Date: Monday, July 13
Location: Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library (Marvin Auditorium)
Candidates Invited to Attend: Primary candidates for state offices representing Topeka/SNCO and for Shawnee County Commission District 1
All are welcome to attend this free, nonpartisan voter education event! More details to come.
Join the LWVTSC Book Club
The LWVTSC book club meets at 11 am on the second Friday of every month. We’re currently meeting in the Anton Room on the 2nd floor of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. Lunch in the Millennium Café following the discussion is optional. Anyone is welcome. Contact Carole Jordan for more information.
Upcoming titles:
May 8 – We the People, by Jill Lepore
June 12 – In the Time of Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez
July 10 – One Nation Under Guns, by Dominic Erdozain
Full list on our website.
A Note from the Treasurer
Are you a lifelong learner? We have an opportunity for you! Shadow the LWVTSC Treasurer role to learn more about it and consider whether you would want stand for office as Treasurer in the future! Anyone interested should contact Mary Galligan via contactus@lwvtsc.org.
The Treasurer primarily devotes their existence to tracking dues payments, donations, and expenditures and reporting same to the Board each month. But there is more! Among the activities that are most fulfilling are the following:
- Supply Procurement: The high-stakes role of helping Board members buy things, provided those things were in the budget and are strictly necessary.
- Aquatic Fundraising: Arranging for LWVTSC’s participation in the Great Topeka Duck Race, putting their professional skills to use in the field of competitive, yellow, plastic waterfowl. (Extensive coaching experience is challenged by those unruly ducks!)
- The Budgetary Gauntlet: Providing the raw data required to fuel the vivid imaginations of Budget Committee members Jim Edwards, Becky Dickinson, Meredith Williard, and Marc Galbraith for the upcoming fiscal year. The new budget is unleashed when adopted by the general membership at the Annual Meeting and confounds the Board regularly during the ensuing fiscal year.
- Oversight: Having survived budget formulation, the Budget Committee transforms into the Audit Committee—looking backward rather than forward. The Audit Committee’s real fun begins once the Treasurer provides them with the financial records for the most recently ended fiscal year.
Once the auditors are satisfied, the Treasurer pursues their recurring pastime of filing paperwork with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the IRS, and Candid ensuring that everyone, everywhere can verify that we are, in fact, a real organization in good standing.
LWV Board Updates
- Want to get more involved? We need members to:
- Shadow the Treasurer and Membership Chair
- Serve as Voter Services Chair
- Check POINT to learn about upcoming events that need volunteers
- Dennis Bosley Mary Lou Davis, and Danielle Twemlow were reappointed to the Board.
- Orientation for new members is being developed.
Unite and Rise 8.5: A LWVUS Initiative to Defend Democracy
Unite & Rise 8.5 aims to build a movement of 8.5 million individuals to unite and rise up against the anti-democratic actions of this administration. Launching in May 2025 and running until the 2026 midterm elections, this initiative is part of our Women Defend Democracy campaign.
Unite and Rise 8.5 will fight for our democracy on multiple fronts, from the courts to the streets. More actions will be outlined in the future, but there are several actions along with more information at https://www.lwv.org/uniteandrise.
State League Action Alerts & Newsletter
Stay informed of State League of Women Voters activity.
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