Greetings! If you have been wondering what the latest news is on the Grocery Oasis of Central Topeka, the speaker at October’s Tuesday Topics did not disappoint. The wheels are definitely in motion and Topekans can’t wait to see the reality of a centrally located grocery again. Warm thanks extended to Nadia Arbelo, Executive Director, for joining us to share the progress on what the board is doing to meet its end goal.
For the month of November, Marie Pyko, Chief Executive Officer of the Topeka And Shawnee County Library, will be our guest speaker and will be sharing strategic updates. Be sure to join us on November 4 at Noon at the Topeka Library.
Thank you, Thank you, to our two volunteers who signed up after our Tuesday Topics to become members of our Health Equity Committee. We will be reaching out to you and appreciate your willingness to be active participants because we can’t do the work without our members.
We still have a couple of slots open for members interested in working with a new initiative – Young adult legislative advocacy. If this is a passion for you, we need you.
Speaking of members, don’t forget this month kicks off our active renewal and recruiting campaign effort. If you know anyone who would be a great fit for our organization, please forward them our contact information. In addition, we are sending invite letters to non-partisan organizations and individuals encouraging them to join us in defending and strengthening democracy, definitely a task where we need all hands on deck!
Our recent membership count is 219! We are growing!! You are our lifeblood. Thank you!
Welcome to our New members: Marcia, Joyce, and Sheri. We are glad you have joined us and we look forward to working with you!
Thank you to our renewing members: Allan, Mary S., Judy, Eva, Neysa, DiAnna, Mary G. We appreciate all you do!
Please feel free to connect with our voter services team! They are at Washburn University, in the high schools, at the Farmer’s market venues, the public library and all over the city! Join them on POINT application and get in on the experience! They are outreaching to the community providing education on registration and voting.
Update: The Topeka League will be the host of the LWVK Convention in 2027. Great Bend will be the host of the Council meeting in 2026. This is a change from an earlier communication provided in June. Updates will be forthcoming. All members are invited and encouraged to attend.
As we receive updates from our collaborators, we will share them in this format. Below are a few of the updates received.
Join us in welcoming our new board member, Dennis Bosley! He will be working with the Health Equity committee. Your board members are always available to answer questions and help you move the League’s mission forward. Feel free to reach out!
Board Members
Dennis Bosley
Kimberley Brown
Vicki Buening
Glennie Buckley
Mary Lou Davis
Allan Foster
Mary Galligan
Gretchen Gleue
Kristin Hammer
Lissa Staley
Danielle Twemlow
Meredith Williard
Cindy Lash
Paul Post
Teamwork makes the dream work.
Best regards,
Dr. Glenda Overstreet Vaughn, President
If you have a community group interested in learning about the recent proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution, which eliminates the merit selection of Supreme Court Justices, please reach out to the League and we will connect you with a resource to come make presentations to your group(s).
Teamwork makes the dream work.
Best regards,
Dr. Glenda Overstreet Vaughn
President
Legislative Session Resource
I encourage you to contact members of the Shawnee County legislative delegation, by phone or email, regarding proposed or passed legislation. Included below is their Statehouse contact information.
- Sen. Brenda Dietrich Room #223-E 785.296.7648Brenda.Dietrich@senate.ks.gov
- Sen. Rick Kloos Room # 418-E 785.296.7645Rick.Kloos@senate.ks.gov
- Sen. Patrick Schmidt Room #135-E 785.296-7372 Patrick.Schmidt@senate.ks.gov
- Sen. Kenny Titus Room #124-E 785.296.7656Kenny.Titus@senate.ks.gov
- Rep. John Alcala Room #173-W 785.296-7371 John.Alcala@house.ks.gov
- Rep. Jesse Borjon Room #512-N 785.296.7374Jesse.borjon@house.ks.gov
- Rep. Ken Corbett Room #187-N 785.296-7679 ken.corbet@house.ks.gov
- Rep. Kirk Haskins Room #43-S 785.296.7673Kirk.Haskins@house.ks.gov
- Rep. Kyle McNorton Room #561-W 785.296.7460Kyle.McNorton@house.ks.gov
- Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen 785.296.7669 Room #174-W Tobias.Schlingensiepen@house.ks.gov
- Rep. Alexis Simmons Room #43-S 785.296.7632Alexis.Simmons@house.ks.gov
- Rep. Virgil Weigel Room #451-S 785.296.7104virgil.weigel@house.ks.gov
Furthermore, you may access the Kansas Legislative website at http://kslegislature.gov to review bill status and content, house and senate calendars and committee schedules. Through this website you may listen to or via video streaming follow committee hearings and General Session proceedings.
An additional resource is the State Library. You may access their services in the following ways:
- Phone:800-432-3919 or 785-296-2149
- Legislative Hotline: 800-432-3924
- Email: infodesk@ks.gov
- Download the Ask a Librarian app to your mobile device.
