LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF SALINA, KANSAS INC.
VO T ER
January 2005 Vol. 47, Issue 3 President, Christi Peterson Editor, Ann Zimmerman
Website: www.lwvofsalinaks.com
BOARD OFFICERS
President: Christi Peterson
Vice President: Marge Mintun
Secretary: Ted Mintun
Treasurer: Max Griffin JANUARY 20
BOARD MEMBERS The January 20th tion.
Budget: meeting of the League of MARTINELLI’S Local Leagues
Max Griffin, chair Women Voters of Salina is RESTAURANT develop local program
Finance Drive/Socials: Meeting Room
Emma Doherty, chair for EVERYONE! All mem- policies. State Leagues
Legislative Action: bers are invited to join with 6pm, Thur., Jan. 20 develop state program
Mary Frances Hogg, chair the board at 6pm (following (New members: Great policies. League of
Membership: the regular board meeting chance to participate in Women Voters of
Mary Anne Powell, chair at 5pm) in the meeting setting our priorities!) United States develops
Observer: (Off-board)
Kaye Crawford, chair room at Martinelli’s Little national program poli-
Program / Lunch and Learn: Italy, 158 S. Santa Fe, for a meal and cies.
Marge Mintun, co-chair discussion. A Two-part Job for Local Leagues
Jan Mendell, co-chair What is Program Planning? The first part of the local program plan-
Public Relations:
Every year in January, local Leagues ning job is to determine which, if any,
William B. Powell, chair
Study: do “program planning” for the year. Pro- existing local League studies need up-
Sid Hays, chair gram planning is NOT a discussion of dating or whether new issues have
The Voter: who will entertain at the local board arisen locally that warrant new local
Ann Zimmerman, editor meetings—it is the beginning of the proc- studies. See the box on Page 3, bottom
Ted Mintun, co-chair
ess used to develop League positions on right, for a list of the Salina League’s cur-
Mary Anne Powell, co-chair
Voter Service: issues. League positions are formed by rent positions.
Marge Mintun, co-chair studies done at all levels of the organiza- (Continued on page 3)
Mary Kerstetter, co-chair
Web site: INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Ann Zimmerman, chair
Calendar, President’s Column, Website Report PAGE 2
The League of Women Voters is a Program Planning (cont.), State & Local Positions PAGE 3
non-partisan, nonprofit organization
of women and men of every age, Juvenile Justice State Study PAGE 4
race, background and political belief.
Through more than 1200 local Juvenile Justice Local Study PAGE 5
Leagues, state Leagues and the
State Convention, Women’s Suffrage in the Movies PAGE 6
national organization, League mem-
bers work to promote citizen action New Members, Lunch & Learn PAGE 7
on local, state, and national issues.
LWV History, Membership Form PAGE 8
Page 2
Happy New Year to you all! Many January 20: The Kansas Choice Alli- Powell is chairing the Convention Com-
activities of the state and local league are ance, of which the League is a mem- mittee and has all major sub-committees
coming right up. Please mark your calen- ber, is sponsoring the 32nd anniversary set up and well organized. If you would
dars and join with other League members celebration of Roe v. Wade on the first like to help with the state convention,
to unite our voices and make ourselves floor of the rotunda of the capital. please contact Mary Ann or myself and
heard. let us know your interest or talent. From
January 20: Program Planning Dinner decorations, to nametags, to set up and
January 10, 1:30 p.m.: Coalition for Jus- and Meeting at Martinelli’s at 6:00 p.m. registration, many hands will be needed
tice and Unity rally to tell elected officials after the board meets at 5pm. to make the convention run smoothly. I
that ONE religious voice does not speak hope you will all make plans to attend the
for ALL people and religions in this state. March 10: Day at the Capitol
convention and help volunteer if you can.
Meet on the south steps of the capital to April 23: League of Women Voters
hear Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, Presi- State Convention, KWU, Salina. Wishing you a new year filled with
dent of the Interfaith Alliance. peace and joy!
Congratulations to Ann Zimmer- —Christi Peterson
CALENDAR man for her contacts with a profes-
sional in Great Bend who has given our
web site an update. Be sure to check it
out at www.lwvosalinaks.com. Thank
you, Ann! (See article below)
The League of Women Voter’s
State Convention is right around the
JANUARY 2005 corner and will be held at Kansas
11 Lunch and Learn Wesleyan University in Salina on April
20 Board Meeting & Program 23, 2005. (See Page 6.) Mary Ann
Planning
tba Juvenile Justice study unit NEW & IMPROVED SALINA LWV WEBSITE
tba Juvenile Justice study unit 2
If you have not looked at the Salina • Lost your VOTER newsletter and want to
FEBRUARY 2005 League’s website lately— read it? Check the website (the NEWS-
8 Lunch and Learn www.lwvofsalinaks.com LETTER page).
17 Board Meeting • Want to look at the Salina Access Televi-
—you may be surprised at what you see.
19 Deadline: Juvenile Justice sion program schedule? Check the web-
The updated site is full of page after page
recommendations site (the LINKS page, under “more
of useful information.
For example: links”).
MARCH 2005
8 Lunch and Learn • Want to become a member? Check the Local member Maria Lopez did the
10 Day at the Capitol website (the MEMBERSHIP page). original work of obtaining our domain name
17 Board Meeting • Forgot the board meeting date or where and starting up the first website. When we
the January dinner meeting will happen? sadly bid Maria farewell as she returned to
APRIL 2005 Check the website (the CALENDAR her native Puerto Rico, the job of website
21 Board Meeting page). care fell to Ann Zimmerman. Ann’s ac-
23 State League Convention at • Want to explain to a friend what the quaintance with web designer Don Shorock
Kansas Wesleyan, Salina League is all about? Check the website of Great Bend led to the stellar look of the
(the INTRODUCTION page). revised site. TAKE A PEEK!
MAY 2005 • Looking for the Salina Journal article
tba Annual Meeting LWVS about Lunch & Learn? Check the web- Ann is looking for a co-chair to share
19 Board Meeting site (the IN THE NEWS page). the job of keeping the calendar and the site
• Need to know your housing rights? up-to-date. No web-design experience
Check the website (the ISSUES page). needed, and you can do the job wherever
VOLUME 47, IS SUE 3 Page 3
JANUARY 20 Continued.
(Continued from page 1) Why change program positions? both the state and local levels.
The other part of the Local A position may be out of date and not fit This being an odd year, our meeting
Leagues’ annual program planning the times. in January will consider Kansas pro-
job is to make recommendations re- A major change in law may make posi- gram positions.
garding what state or national pro- tions outdated. So for 2005, the Salina League will
gram policies need to be changed. In One aspect of a position may be so im- determine which of our own local pro-
even years, they make these recom- portant that it needs to be evaluated gram positions need to be changed or
mendations for national programs. In individually and recommendations will select a new issue to study; and we
made for changes.
odd years, they recommend state pro- will recommend changes for our State
A position may be incomplete and need
grams to be changed. See the box at to be more inclusive than was origi- League Studies.
lower left for a list of the Kansas nally thought Summaries of a few of the state pro-
League of Women Voters current po- A position may just not match the cur- gram positions are available at the
sitions. rent realities and need further study League of Women Voters of Kansas
In considering either state or na- and change. website—www.lwvk.org—under
tional programs, local Leagues only “Current Issues.”
recommend program policy changes; national or state Recently-joined members may be able to read the Salina
Leagues make the final decisions regarding whether to ac- League’s Program Position statements if they have their
cept the recommendations. In the case of National League member notebooks.
of Women Voters policies, recommendations come from New members: This is an excellent opportunity to par-
LEAGUE OF WOMEM VOTERS
OF KANSAS
Program Positions
→ County government
→ Criminal Justice (including adult corrections, juve- LEAGUE OF WOMEM VOTERS
nile corrections, court system and sentencing) OF SALINA
→ Education Governance Program Positions
→ Election Administration
→ Legislative Apportionment → City/County Government
→ State Finance → Library
→ Environmental Quality (including hazardous waste, → USD 305
solid waste, and water resources) → Human Sexuality and Aids Education in USD 305
→ Land Use → Child Care
→ Prairie Park → Child in Need of Care
→ Equality of Opportunity → Parks and Recreation
→ Health → Solid Waste
→ Medical Indigence → Land Use
→ Meeting Basic Human Needs – SRS → Mental Health
→ Children at Risk → Juvenile Services
→ Living Wage → Probation and Parole for Adults
→ Privatization of Child Welfare Services by SRS. → Housing.
Page 4
KANSAS LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS’ TWO-YEAR STUDY
OF THE
JUVENILE JUSTICE AUTHORITY
Each year, the Kansas League of their behavior, (3) and to improve the for these programs, including the
Women Voters examines its program posi- ability of youth to live productively and flexibility of utilizing JJA grant dollars
tions to decide which ones need updating. responsibly in their communities. between intervention and prevention,
In 2003, the League of Women Voters of as needed to meet local needs?”
Kansas found that their position on juvenile 1. The “gatekeeper” to accessing the
offenders was severely out of date—in fact, juvenile justice system is the Juvenile Local Preparation through 2004
it hadn’t been changed since 1973. Intake and Assessment Center (JIAC) In March, 2004, Marge and Ted Min-
So, juvenile justice became the topic via law enforcement. tun conducted a study of how the juvenile
of choice for a two-year study. The goal a. How well is JIAC operating at the justice system worked in Saline and Ot-
was to develop a position statement which local level? tawa counties. A brief summary of that
could be used in advocating for juvenile b. What indicators are in place to as- report is on the following page.
offenders. The Kansas League formed a sure that all children, regardless of In July, 2004, the LWV of Salina pub-
committee to study the Juvenile Justice background, ethnicity, etc., are be- lished a VOTER article about Community
Authority (JJA)—Marge and Ted Mintun ing processed in a fair and equita- Corrections, the county agency in both Sa-
serve as the Salina members—which will ble manner? line and Ottawa Counties that works with
make a report to the April 2005 state con- c. What programs are available at the juvenile offenders. Community Corrections’
vention in Salina. community level to assure that the work with juveniles is funded by and ac-
processing of juveniles leads to the countable to JJA. The VOTER article high-
Consensus Questions desired outcomes? lighted some of the agency’s assets and
The League has a custom of posing 2. Once juveniles are in the “system,” successes with young people but also
pertinent questions about issues with the that is, have been referred by JIAC to noted some problems of financing and
goal of full understanding and wise action the courts (DA, judges, court ser- staffing.
on that issue. The LWV of Kansas JJA vices, prevention program), do these On September 21, 2004, the League
committee has compiled the following Con- groups have the options and effective held a Lunch and Learn session titled,
sensus Questions regarding juvenile of- sentencing matrix to meet the mis- “How is the Juvenile Justice Authority
fenders, with an introduction: sion of JJA? working in our community?” With 39 peo-
3. It is imperative ple in attendance, panelists Annie Grevas,
“The League of Women Voters of that JJA com- director of Community Corrections, Mary
Kansas adopted a position on Juvenile municate Thrower, Assistant Saline County Attorney,
Corrections and Services in 1973. At for- mally and and Dexter Eggers, defense attorney for
that time, juvenile justice issues were elec- tronically juvenile offenders, all gave largely positive
under the purview of the Department of with all judicial reports on the local system. Their discus-
Social and Rehabilitation Services dis- tricts, and sion was summarized in the October 2004
(SRS). In 1997, through legislative ac- all ju- dicial dis- VOTER to give League members addi-
tion, the Juvenile Justice Authority tricts need to tional background information.
(JJA) was formed, and this agency as- have the means
sumed responsibility for all programs of communi- What Now?
and funding associated with juveniles cating among themselves. Are the Between now and February 19, 2005,
who, through their actions, come in appropriate hardware/software sys- local League study groups are to meet and
contact with law enforcement. The pur- tems in place state-wide to assure apply the consensus questions listed
pose of the 2003-04 LWVK study is to this communication? If not, what is above to the juvenile offender programs in
determine if JJA is meeting the needs of needed to assure that the Kansas JJA their counties. This means that by Febru-
juveniles, seven years after assuming system can track juveniles within its ary 19, we must send our feedback to the
responsibility for those juveniles. system? state study committee. The Kansas
As stated by the Commissioner of 4. Community based programs for both League’s JJA Committee will make recom-
the JJA, the mission of this agency is prevention and intervention are criti- mendations to the state board. State
(1) to promote public safety, (2) by hold- cal to the mission of JJA. Are ade- board members then decide upon the ex-
ing juvenile offenders accountable for quate funds available from JJA grants (Continued on page 6)
VOLUME 47, IS SUE 3 Page 5
Local Report: JUVENILE JUSTICE IN SALINA AREA
During 2004, Ted and Marge Mintun date is set within three or four weeks. If the court hearing, Community Corrections may
studied the local system for dealing with County Attorney decides not to prosecute, begin working with the youth prior to the
juvenile offenders in the 28th Judicial Dis- this is the end of the procedure. If the disposition hearing. Pre-trail supervision is
trict (covering Saline and Ottawa Counties). County Attorney does decide to prosecute, offered two times a week to avoid addi-
This is their report. the case goes to court. tional infractions of the law. By the time of
the disposition hearing it is often possible
The Judge: At the first court hearing, the to know whether the youth should remain
Law enforcement: When a report of a ju- judge read the charges and sets the date on probation or can be released.
venile crime comes in, law enforcement for a plea hearing. If the youth does not Each of three Community Corrections
personnel make the initial determination of already have an attorney, the judge ap- youth officers have forty or more youth with
how to classify the offense and whether or points one. After the plea hearing if the whom they are working, and the supervisor
not to arrest. If the youth is arrested, law case is not resolved, the case proceeds to has twenty-five youth plus the supervi-
enforcement contacts “Juvenile Intake and a trial before the judge. If the youth is con- sees—caseloads which make intensive
Assessment” and brings the youth to Juve- victed or pleads guilty without a trial, the treatment difficult.
nile Intake for processing. If the judge orders the youth to Com-
munity Corrections, the youth is offered
Juvenile Intake and Assessment: Six Supervised Probation, Level 1. The youth
staff members of St. Francis Academy pro- can graduate to higher levels because of
vide 24-hour coverage, 7 days a week. A good behavior. If the youth fulfills the re-
Juvenile Intake Officer gathers identifying quirements, release from supervision fol-
information about the youth and his or her lows.
family, with all districts around the state Youth who persist in violating proba-
using the same form – the “Juvenile Intake tion come under many sanctions: unan-
and Assessment Questionnaire.” If the nounced drug checks, in-patient or out-
youth is 12 or over, he or she is given the judge may order a pre-sentencing investi- patient drug treatment, increased surveil-
mental health screening test, MAYSI-2, gation. At that point, “Court Services” (a lance for curfew violators, orders to write a
which tests a youth for mental health/ local agency made up primarily of proba- letter of apology, life skills classes, behav-
suicide issues. Information from the two tion officers) makes an investigation and ioral restructuring groups, no travel, ex-
forms is submitted to JJA within 72 hours. recommendation. At the disposition hear- tended probation period, arrest and deten-
If the youth can be released to a parent, ing, the judge sets the punishment for the tion – all depending on the violation. If pro-
the Juvenile Intake Officer explains the youth, trying to assure that the punishment bation fails, the youth is placed in a state
situation, may make referral recommenda- fits the crime. The judge may assign the correctional institution. When a youth is
tions, and the parents are given information juvenile to probation with Court Services released from a correctional facility, he or
which explains the court process. For high (minor offense) or Community Corrections she is on conditional release and remains
risk youth, case management and follow-up (major offense). These entities carry out under supervision – if too many conditions
services are provided to assure that par- the sentence set by the judge. The judge of probation are violated, the youth may be
ents follow up on referrals. If the youth is might also sentence the youth to JJA insti- returned to the state correctional facility.
not deemed a juvenile offender but cannot tutions. A very few youth are completely non-
go home, Juvenile Intake must find a place- compliant and “age out” of the youth sys-
ment facility immediately. If the youth is a Community Corrections: Community Cor- tem. Violations of the law at that point put
juvenile offender and must be detained, rections is a county agency that serves the young adult into the adult system.
placement in Salina’s Juvenile Detention both juveniles and adults in the court sys-
Center can be made. tem. A large part of its juvenile services is Juvenile offenders: “Juvenile offenders”
funded by JJA. Community Corrections are youth who have been convicted of fel-
County Attorney: Juvenile Intake sends a works with juvenile offenders in both Saline ony or misdemeanor crimes. According to
summary and recommendations to the and Ottawa counties. JJA sets guidelines, Community Corrections personnel, around
County Attorney. The County Attorney de- and, to receive JJA funding, Community 90% of the youth served have used drugs
termines whether to file charges against Corrections must present a budget to carry and more than one-third of juveniles in the
the youth and, if so, what charges. If the out its juvenile program in keeping with system have drug problems.
youth is in custody, a hearing must be held those guidelines.
within 48 working hours; if not, the hearing After a juvenile offender’s very first
Page 6
SALINA HOSTS
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF KANSAS
STATE CONVENTION
APRIL 23, 2005
April 23 is a BIG DAY for • Develop a convention
the Salina League of Women budget.
Voters. On that day, our or- • Recommend a convention
ganization hosts the one-day TIME FOR fee to cover expenses.
state convention of the League • Arrange for mayor or digni-
of Women Voters of Kansas. ACTION tary to welcome delegates
Held at Kansas Wesleyan Uni- and attendees.
versity, the theme is “Time for & • Plan for overhead projec-
Action and Change!” tors, screen and other tech-
As host, our Salina League
CHANGE! nology needed.
has a full plate of interesting • Troubleshoot throughout
jobs and responsibilities to convention.
pass among our members. The con- see all local League’s activities and Consider what you do best, then
vention committee will be contacting to establish committees covering all DON’T WAIT TO BE CALLED. Con-
local League members and hoping for convention needs (our Chair is Mary tact Mary Anne Powell, Convention
help from as many members as possi- Ann Powell).
ble. • Arrange for convention meeting WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE
If you have not been able to partici- rooms, meals, menus and overnight IN THE MOVIES
pate in many League activities, this is a accommodations.
great one-day chance for you to pitch • Prepare for and handle Registration: Women’s struggle to win the right to vote
in and get to know fellow members develop registration forms (mail and is the focus of an award-winning and mov-
from across the state. email) to include information on ho- ing new film, ”Iron Jawed Angels,” star-
tel/motel accommodations, and map. ring Hillary Swank and Angelica Houston.
Here is a list of our responsibilities, • Design convention kit cover. Members of the League of Women Voters
many of which are well underway or • Prepare convention kits (to be given of Salina can proudly trace their political
even completed: to each attendee). history back to those early activists.
The first Kansas legislature (1861) gave
• Appoint a Convention Chair to over- • Manage the convention finances.
women voting rights in school elections,
and six years later Kansas was the first
state in the Union to consider women’s full
2-YEAR JJA STUDY, cont. suffrage—it did not pass. In 1868, the fed-
eral women’s suffrage amendment was first
(Continued from page 4) mittee members will consider the consen- introduced in Congress by a senator from
act wording to be presented to the mem- sus questions, deciding whether the ques- Kansas. In 1887, women won municipal
bership for a vote at the state convention. tions are as well-worded as possible and suffrage in Kansas, allowing them to run for
The convention takes place at Kansas drafting their recommended answers to office in all city elections. On April 4, 1887,
Wesleyan University, Salina, April 23, the questions. The local recommenda- Susannah Medora Salter was elected
2005. (See article on Page 6.) tions will then be sent to the chairperson mayor of Argonia in Sumner County, the
of the committee by February 19. first woman mayor in the nation. In 1912,
Group Meetings to Clarify Questions If you are interested in being a part of the year the movie, “Iron Jawed Angels”
This month there will be two meetings the local committee’s activities, please begins, Kansas adopted a constitutional
of the Juvenile Justice Study Group – the call Ted or Marge at 823-9405. amendment granting women full suffrage,
first with Annie Grevas of Community Cor- years ahead of the federal government.
rections during which we will ask her to (Some information for this article came from the
address the issues in the consensus website of the LWV of Kansas, www.lwvk.org.)
questions. At the second meeting, com-
MORE HISTORY OF POLITICS AND
VOLUME 47, IS SUE 3 Page 7
NEW SALINA LWV MEMBERS
LWV Salina welcomes the following new ing English, World Literature, Introduction Marlene and Allan White:
members! to Literature, Creative Writing, etc. For 15 Marlene, a registered nurse, has taught
years, he ran the broadcasting station at diabetes education at Salina Regional
David and Janice Norlin: CCCC, and has been a Public Information Health Center for 25 years, as long as she
Having recently moved to Salina, 608 E. Officer. He previously taught at Garden has been in Salina. Before that she taught
Republic, David and Janice are thrilled to City nursing at KU Medical Center, as well as in
begin establishing roots here and becom- Com- Hays (Kansas) and in Iowa.
ing active in the community.
Allan has been an audiologist with USD
Janice is no stranger to League of Women
305 Cooperative in Education for 25 years.
Voters. In the late 1980’s, she established
His family has long been involved in poli-
a League in Concordia which prospered
tics. His great grandfather served in the
under her guidance until she left Concordia
Kansas Legislature from 1892-1896 (with
to attend Law School at University of Kan- Welcome! the Populist party), and almost 100 years
sas in 1994. She began working for Kan-
munity College. Now he is “seeking and later, in 1990, Allan served one term in the
sas Legal Services in Salina in 1999 com-
supplying his own direction.” David has an Kansas Legislature. He has an uncle and
muting from Concordia. Since 2003 she
active interest in social issues and public an aunt who also ran for the legislature. His
has been associated with Marietta, Kellogg
welfare and has published several articles. aunt won in Franklin County.
and Price. Before law school Janice was a
In 1988, “Z” magazine published his article
dental assistant, owned a fabric store, and
about the intrusion of private business and Marlene and Allan have a son who just
studied political science at Kansas State
corporations into public education. In graduated from Kansas State University in
University, with a minor in women’s stud-
1992, he received the KNEA Human and Manhattan with a degree in political sci-
ies. Her essay, “The Feminization of Pov-
Civil Rights Award. ence. Thy expect him to continue the fam-
erty” earned her the prestigious Truman
ily tradition. Allan and Marlene live at 112
Scholarship. David and Janice were married in 1986. Neal Court.
They have a son, three daughters and six
David has just retired from 25½ years at
grandchildren.
Cloud County Community College, teach-
“LUNCH & LEARN” WAS JANUARY 11
THE NEWEST ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES FROM OCCK
[NOTE: If you missed this Lunch & improve their lives. They used power ity of life. Their services are available to
Learn, you may still be able to watch it point, discussion and handouts to demon- Saline County residents and 21 surround-
on Community Access Television in strate how assistive technology can in- ing counties.
Salina. Check the schedule at the crease independence for individuals.
website, www.salnet.org, by clicking LUNCH & LEARN with the LEAGUE is
These sometimes amazing technologi- always held from 12:15-1:30pm, down-
on “Channel Guide” for Channel 21.
cal advances can: assist with sight, hear- stairs at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 302
Look for “LOWV Lunch & Learn.”] ing or mobility loss; simplify everyday S. 7th, Salina. Bring your lunch and learn
Panel of Presenters tasks; increase mobility; increase access with us.
Janice Fouard to community; allow individuals to re-
Shellie Eddings turn to work after an accident, even
Assistive Technology Practitioner on a farm environment; and increase
Nancy Stork computer skills.
Assistive Technology Practitioner
On January 11, the Assistive Technol- OCCK’s Assistive Technology Spe-
ogy staff of the Occupational Center of cialsts can help people overcome
Central Kansas (OCCK) presented a wide their problems and improve their qual-
variety of devices available to help people
Next LUNCH & LEARN: Tuesday, February 8
League of Women Voters of Salina
PO Box 502
Salina, KS 67402-0502
JOIN US
MAKE HISTORY by joining the League of Women Voters of Salina or renewing
your League Membership. It is a perfect time to join the League to ensure you
do not miss the action. Please take a moment now to become a member of
The League of Women Voters of Salina.
_____ Yes, I want to add my voice to yours by joining the League at the following level:
______ Single Membership (circle one)
Contributing Level $50.00
Sustaining Level $40.00
______ Family Membership (circle one)
Contributing Level $75.00
Sustaining Level $60.00
______ Student/supported or other $20.00
_____ I am unable to join the League at this time, but enclosed is my contribution of $__________.
For more information, please contact: Mary Anne Powell, Membership Chairperson
1022 Funston, Salina, Kansas 67401
Telephone: 823-8041
Make checks payable to: The League of Women Voters of Salina, and mail to PO Box 502, Salina, KS 67402-0502.