Stay up-to-date on LWV happenings in Topeka and Shawnee County!
Calendar of Events
Tuesday | Aug 5 | 7 am – 7 pm | at your polling place
Topeka Primary Election: The two races in Shawnee County with primary elections are Mayor and City Council District #1.
Tuesday | Aug 5 | Noon | Marvin 101BC at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
Tuesday Topics Speaker: Johnathan Sublet, Founder and Executive Director of SENT, Inc.
Johnathan Sublet will highlight SENT’s holistic model for grassroots community development – a model that is deeply person-centered, rigorously data-driven, and powered by dynamic programming with a short feedback loop. This approach allows SENT to respond to community needs in real time, ensuring that strategies remain both adaptive and impactful. Attend in person or attend by Zoom.
Friday | Aug 8 | 11 am – Noon | Anton Room at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
LWV Book Club discusses “Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here” – all members welcome to join, please contact Carole Jordan.
Tuesday | Sept 2 | Noon | Marvin 101BC at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
Tuesday Topics Speaker: Dr. Bob Beatty, Washburn University Political Science Chair
Tuesday | Sept 16 | 11:30 am – 1 pm | Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
Climate Committee Meeting – all members welcome to join, please contact Vicki Arnett.
Monday | Sept 29 | 5:30-7:30 pm | Marvin 101 at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
Local Topeka Election Candidate Meet and Greet – Chat with candidates on your ballot! Meet the candidates for Topeka Mayor and City Council districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. Volunteers will be available to help find your district and answer questions about the Nov 4 general election.
Tuesday | Oct 7 | Noon | Marvin 101BC at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
Tuesday Topics Speaker: Marge Ahrens shares information on Central Topeka Grocery Oasis.
For dates of upcoming Voter Education, Voter Registration, Board Meetings, and more, please view the events calendar on our website.
Explore the *New* LWV Membership Portal
To log into the LWV Membership Portal, go to portal.lwv.org.
- Tip #1 – You don’t have to remember a password!
Enter the email address you used when you joined or last renewed then, click “Continue with email.” You will receive an email at the address you entered. The email includes a button you click to log into the Membership Portal. - Tip #2 – First time users get to complete a survey!
The first time you log in, you will be prompted to review and update your profile information and complete a member survey. This will include questions from LWVUS and questions from LWVTSC. - Tip #3 – Our local league information is there — click LWV of Topeka-Shawnee County!
Explore your membership details, OR click in the top right of the screen on the name of our League to access areas relating specifically to LWVTSC.
Download these step by step illustrated instructions written by Mary Galligan. Print copies will also be available at Tuesday Topics. You’re already a member – it’s time to explore the portal!
Tuesday Topics is August 5th
President’s Perspective
The past few weeks have been exciting and yet concerning. There have been regular rallies across the nation as well as locally in support of Democracy. Although local and state governments are eliminating DEI initiatives for the sake of federal dollars, I am super appreciative and supportive of the fact that the League of Women Voters is resilient in maintaining and strengthening its DEI policies and practices…
Local Observer Corps
Each month, LWV volunteers attend city, council, and school board meetings. Their observer reports help keep us informed.
Thank you to observers Elvera Johnson, Vicki Arnett, and Patti Bishop for attending 8 meetings since June! Topics covered include the downtown Business Improvement District, a proposed truck stop at 6th and Fairlawn, and renewed county contracts with various social service and nonprofit organizations.
Interested in joining the observer corps? Send us an email today.
Feedback from July’s “Field Trip” to KBI Forensic Science Laboratory
I was very surprised by the number of things they cannot do at KBI. Two examples of things that I didn’t realize they are unable to do are paint tracing and many drug tests. They are only able to test for meth and pot.
This was a great field trip! I would love to be able to do something similar with KDHE labs. Thank you for setting this up.
–Julie W.
And a big THANK YOU to Glennie Buckley and Gretchen Gleue for arranging our summer “Field Trips” while we were not meeting at the library for Tuesday Topics.
Please share your ideas for potential Tuesday Topics speakers and your ideas for more “field trips” for next summer!
Spotted: Voter Services
Pictured: Leslie Prentice, Amy Bermudez with Elias Garcia In July, Topeka Fiesta ‘25 provided a colorful and lively setting for our league to connect with over 200 potential voters and their families at this annual community festival. In spite of the heat, our volunteers enjoyed engaging the friendly fiesta attendees and certainly enjoyed working with our partner Elias Garcia with Latino Votes.
LWVTSC members, are you ready to help out? Volunteer to work at a Voter Services event, now! The League uses Point to let members select when and where they will work at Voter Services events.
Join the LWVTSC Book Club
The LWVTSC book club meets at 11 am on the second Friday of every month. We’re currently 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:
August 8 – Everyone Who is Gone is Here, Jonathon Blitzer
September 12 – An Unfinished Love Story, Doris Kearns Goodwin
October 10 – The Girl with the Louding Voice, Abi Dare
November 14 – James, Percival Everett
December 12 – Talk about books for 2026 and in general
LWV Board Updates
- The LWV Board did not meet in July.
- Our next LWVTSC Board Meeting meeting is Tuesday, August 12 at noon.
State League Action Alerts & Newsletter
Stay informed of State League of Women Voters activity.
