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 March 3, 2022
Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 to hear from our speaker.
Special Guests: Ethan Corson, Stephanie Clayton, and Jerry Stogsdill
Ethan Corson represents Senate District 7 in the Kansas Senate. First elected in 2020, he serves on the Assessment and Taxation; Utilities; Redistricting; Judiciary; Joint Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight committees.
Stephanie Clayton represents House District 19 in the Kansas State. First elected in 2012, she serves on the Redistricting; Taxation; and Federal and State Affairs committees.
Jerry Stogsdill represents House District 21 in the Kansas State House. First elected in 2016, he serves on the Taxation; Education; and Federal and State Affairs committees.
South ZOOM Meeting
Thursday March 17, 2022
This meeting is hybrid. Either join us at the JoCo Dems office at 8971 W 75th St, Overland Park, KS 66204 or on ZOOM.
Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 to hear from our speaker.
Special Guest: Former Representative Nancy Lusk on Reconciling Faith and Politics in the Reproductive Choice Debate
The Pro-Choice argument of “my body, my choice” always fell short for me against the counter argument that after a fetus becomes viable, there are two bodies to consider, not just one. At the same time, I believe that there are philosophical and intellectual arguments that challenge and discredit the moral high ground claim by supporters of the Pro-Life position. Given the unknowns and many complications that can arise in pregnancies, I believe the best choice is to trust women.
Nancy Lusk served in the Kansas House of Representatives for eight years representing an area that included downtown Overland Park and the Central Resource Library. In that role, she stood against unfair attacks on public education, and actively pushed for improved social services for children and the disabled. She is proud of having been a part of turning around the state’s failed tax policy that bankrupted the state budget, and of the successful struggle in the legislature to increase K-12 public education funding.
Never Again: The Fight for Women’s Rights
By: Dawn Olney, JCDW North Programs Chair
Bill took ahold of the priest’s coat lapel and slammed him against the wall. “If my wife dies, I’ll kill you!”
His wife, Alice, had developed toxemia, and her doctor recommended ending the pregnancy to save her life. It was the early 1960s, before Roe v Wade. At that time, an abortion was only allowed to save the life of the mother, and it required the permission of two doctors, a pastor, and a priest. The two doctors concurred, as did the pastor. But the priest would not agree, so the abortion would not proceed. The government had forbidden Bill to make a medical decision on behalf of his wife, and had denied him the right to use his own faith and ethics in his own life.
Alice told me her story in the 1980s. She survived the pregnancy, as did her child. She said that, since they survived, people often told her that the priest had made the correct call. But I remember her face as she said, “They had no right! They had no right to interfere into our lives! We weren’t even Catholic! Who cared what that priest thought?”
At the time, I was secure in the belief that those days were over, and women would have control over their health and very life with the help of their doctor and family. Never did I dream that forty years later, women would again face death from a pregnancy they cannot end.
Thanks to Kansas Republican legislators, there will be a question on the ballot on August 2, 2022 that will take away women’s right to decide what is best for their own health and family. The question is to amend the Kansas Constitution to state there is no right to abortion in Kansas. Democrats tried to at least make exceptions for rape, incest, and to save the health and life of the mother. All were voted down by Republicans. Many other religions and denominations do not share the same attitudes towards abortion, and this amendment would infringe on their right to practice their religion. A simple majority of Kansas voters will amend the constitution.
Republicans want to control women, take away our autonomy; we are nothing but a vessel to them, our lives completely subordinate to any unborn fetus. This amendment is the first step to ban all abortion in Kansas with no exceptions. And our husbands and families will only be able to look on helplessly as the State prevents us from getting life-saving care.
We need all hands on deck to get out the vote and defeat this amendment. What can you do?
- Donate to the Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood, and Kansans for Constitutional Freedom, which is a coalition of organizations mobilizing to defeat the amendment.
- Volunteer with the Democratic Party to write letters, call, or canvass voters to get out the vote.
Volunteer with Planned Parenthood and call voters every Tuesday. - Display yard signs, bumper stickers, bags, and buttons.
- Learn about the amendment and talk to your friends and family.
Share your story.
Banned Book Brunch Starts March 5!
Save the Date!
Flip It Blue, JCDW South’s annual summer fundraiser, will be on Saturday, July 9, from 4-8 PM at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park in Lenexa. Last year’s event was an unparalleled success, with $6,000 raised to help fund local elections. This year, that’s the number to beat! And with every House District up for grabs, we’ll need every dollar we can get.
Thank You
THANK YOU to everyone who helped make JCDW South’s Game Night a success. We had a lot of fun, a lot of laughs, AND we raised $1610.00 to donate to candidates running for office in 2022!
North January Meeting Recap
On February 3, Leslie Mark joined us to talk about messaging. It is very clear we need good strong messaging to defeat the abortion amendment and reelect Governor Kelly and Sharice Davids. If you buy one of the books she recommended, consider going to Rainy Day Books in Fairway or Bliss Books and Wine, which is Black-owned.
Here are two slides from her presentation.
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!