We are the Johnson County Democratic Women, North and South
We are sister organizations, working together to engage women in politics and help get Democrats in Johnson County elected.
North ZOOM Meeting
Thursday January 5, 2023
Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 for the meeting.
This meeting is hybrid. Either join us at the JoCo Dems office or on Zoom.
Special Guest:: County Commissioner Becky Fast on housing and mental health
Becky is our newly re-elected Johnson County Commissioner, ready to serve her second four -year term.
Becky has experience as an elementary school teacher and graduate instructor at Washburn University. She earned master’s degrees in public administration and social work, and continued her career as a public policy analyst regarding services to older adults and persons with disabilities. She has worked with families and veterans as a mental health provider. She was director of constituent services for Congressman Dennis Moore. She has served on the Roeland Park City Council, and as City Council president. She has been involved in the community in many ways, continues now as county commissioner, and will speak about housing and mental health.
South ZOOM Meeting
Thursday January 19, 2023
Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 for the meeting.
“My mother was a civil rights activist turned Lutheran minister, and my father is a Viet Nam veteran and retired law enforcement officer – they taught me that our freedom is worth fighting for. “In Kansas, we believe in the right to make decisions for ourselves. We believe in American Democracy – one person, one vote. Your vote is your voice, and our voice must be heard.”
Annual Board Elections
On January 19, JCDW South will host our annual membership meeting, which includes elections for half of our board positions. This year, we will be holding elections for President, VP of Communications, VP of Fundraising, and Secretary.
Any member in good standing who identifies as female may run for one of these positions. If you want to run, or know someone who does, you have two options:
- E-mail jcdwsouth@gmail.com.
- You may nominate from the floor on the day of the election (this requires a second).
Current nominations are:
- President: Cassie Woolworth
- VP of Fundraising: Juliet Sinclair
- VP of Communication: OPEN SEAT
- Secretary: Tiff White
Congratulations and Fond Farewell
Men and women across Johnson County fought hard to win seats in the Kansas House of Representatives. They didn’t all win, but they all deserve a huge THANK YOU for all their hard work and dedication. These are the people who keep democracy alive now and for future generations.
Among those who won their seats was our very own Allison Hougland, previously the Vice President of Programming for JCDW South and now Representative Hougland of the 15th District (in the heart of Olathe). We will miss her, but we are grateful to know that she will be serving our interests in Topeka beginning in January.
Our new Vice President of Programming will be Laura Wiltanger, who was appointed unanimously by the board.
A Changing of the Guard
by: Christine Morgan
This will be my last newsletter as VP of Communications for JCDW South. For three years, I have produced them faithfully each month, but when my term ends in January, I will step aside.
These past three years have been some of the best of my life. Working alongside dedicated, passionate, intelligent women, I have made a difference for people living here in Kansas. We have helped dozens of Democrats get elected to state and local office, sewing the seeds or progress for generations to come. We turned out volunteers to help elect and re-elect Sharice Davids and Laura Kelly. And when they came for our reproductive freedom, we told them NO!
When I started this role, I had little political experience and no leadership experience. Yet I came in with a passion, a drive to do more than sit at home and watch the world burn. At the very least, I thought to myself, we could each grab a bucket! Or, if you’re with me, if you’re ready to take a leap, you could do more.
At its heart, JCDW South is a PAC, our primary purpose to raise money for candidates running for state and local office. At the same time, we are committed to helping women develop leadership experience, to offer them training and support that could take them anywhere they’d like to go.
This past election season, I had the privilege to work as a paid campaign manager for Allison Hougland, Olathe’s newest representative from the 15th House District — and a fellow member of the JCDW South board.
In 2023, I need a break, a chance to recharge and reset by dedicating myself to my first love, writing under the pseudonym Christine Amsden. It has been a couple of years since I managed to complete a novel, but political work has left me with plenty of inspiration. After that, we’ll see what happens. Seasonal political work has a certain appeal for someone in a creative field; like rotating crops, each endeavor can nourish the other.
Now, it’s your turn. Your story won’t be quite like mine, but as with any changing of the guard, that is entirely the point. JCDW South needs a new VP of Communication, someone with fresh energy and ideas, someone to take the position in directions I never considered. You don’t need political experience to change the world, only the will to take a stand.
Game Night: Save the Date!!!!
November Joint Meeting Recap
About Us
Johnson County Democratic Women North and South are part of the Kansas Federation of Democratic Women, which is part of the National Federation of Democratic Women.
Our mission is to empower women to run for office and to support the election of like-minded Democrats to state and local office. We do this through education and training, but especially through donations to qualified candidates. Your financial donation to either of our organizations will go directly to Democratic candidates running in Johnson County.
Donate Today!
Check out the Johnson County Democratic Party Event Calendar for more ways to get involved this month!