Action by Kansas Locals - 2002/03

Local	Action
BPW/Kansas 06/06/02	As BPW/Kansas President and 2002-03 Advisor, Julie Smith, has worked hard for pay equity. As part of the state conference, an interview was arranged with the Topeka Capital-Journal. An article was printed in the newspaper the next day. http://www.cjonline.com/stories/060802/bus_bpw.shtml As President, Julie also initiated the idea for a candidate forum at the June 2002 state conference. With preliminary plans already in place for a gubernatorial candidate forum at fall conference, she and incoming Legislative Chair, Beverly Johnson decided on a forum for Attorney General candidates. The forum received much attention from several newspapers in the state and television stations in Topeka, where the conference was held. Julie also worked with BPW/Missouri, and the Congressional offices of Karen McCarthy (D-MO) and Dennis Moore (D-KS) to arrange a press conference on Pay Equity Day at the downtown headquarters of the Kansas City, Missouri Central Exchange (a prominent metropolitan area women's organization comprised of working and non-working women of all ages). (Text of her comments.) Since that time, Julie has continued to be helpful to the 2002-03 BPW/Kansas Legislative Chair, facilitating communications between the Legislative Chair and Congressman Moore's office. Julie watched with incumbent 3rd District Congressman Dennis Moore (D) and friends as August '02 primary results came in. Following the closing of polls, she attended the celebration for the winning Republican, Adam Taff. Congressman Moore kindly provided a photograph which is currently on the main page of the state legislative chair: http://kswomen.com. Julie also worked diligently to ensure that Moore was included as one of the signers of the BPW/USA Pay Equity Pledge. Julie is herself a past BPW/Kansas Legislative Chair.
Clay Center	The fifteenth annual candidate forum was held with three goals: 1. Educate members about the political process and the people who are running for office. 2. Focus on women's issues by developing in advance questions to ask candidates. 3. Achieve community awareness of the local BPW by inviting the public to the forum. This year's forum featured two gubernatorial candidates in person, and the running mates of two others. Also attending were two candidates for Attorney General, two for Insurance Commissioner, and one candidate for state Treasurer. Two candidates for County Commission took part, as did a State Representative and Sheriff running for office. More than sixty persons from the community attended, and the local and regional newspapers covered the event. The local/regional radio station broadcast the entire two hour forum live. BPW/Clay Center Legislative Committee chair Sharon Brown moderated the forum. Committee member and Past BPW/Kansas President Dr. Lewann Schneider served as the timer, and Donna Long assisted during the planning stage and also in greeting people as they arrived for the event. All local members provided and served refreshments for the gathering. One new member for BPW/Clay Center was gained as a direct consequence of the forum. Each candidate was allowed three minutes for introductory statements, then two minutes were allowed to answer each question. Because there were 16 candidates or representatives, organizers had to hold them very close to the time, and felt they succeeded well. With the radio station broadcasting live, they allowed for only one three minute break, and stuck to that, also. Forum chair was Sharon Brown, Legislative Chair for BPW/Clay Center, President of the Clay County Republican Women, Executive Director of the Clay Center Chamber of Commerce, 5th year member of the Clay Center City Council, and candidate for Mayor.
Dodge City 10/14/02	"Know Your Candidates" was held following a luncheon at the local Senior Center. Featured were candidates representing Ford county. The luncheon and forum were free for the public, and sponsored by American Association of University Women, Business and Professional Women, Ford County Council on Aging, Ford County Republican and Democrat Women's Clubs, and the Dodge City Senior Citizens. Invited candidates included: Kansas House District 119: Ethel Peterson and Andrew Evans; District 116: Leila Kisseck and Melvin Heufeld; District 115: Dennis McKinney and M.T. Liggett; Ford County Commission: Gerald Schmidt and John Swayze; Board of Education, District 6: Connie Morris and I.B. 'Sonny' Rundell. Jerry Reddell served as emcee. The forum stresssed the importance of voting and the need for opportunities to citizens to meet candidates, ask questions and learn about candidates' stands on issues.
East Side-West Side	A recruiting night will be held at Wichita State University Rhatigan Center (Student Union) at 6:00 pm
Liberal	BPW Liberal hosted a candidate forum on Thursday, February 28, in the City of Liberal Commission chambers meeting room at City Hall. The forum was also filmed by Cable TV-15. The forum gave City Commission candidates in the Primary Election a public arena to debate and answer questions from the voting public. The forum ran from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Viewers could telephone their questions in to a number on the bottom of the television screen or fax them in advance to the local newspaper, the South West Daily Times. Charla Tinney, Vice-President for BPW Liberal introduced the forum moderator Darien Leiker from administration at Southwest Medical Center. Darien explained the seven rules under which discussion, detate, and rebuttal would occur: 1. All candidates will have a five-minute opening speech 2. If unable to attend, candidates could have a lettr read by the moderator 3. Questions will have a two-minute response time with a one minute rebuttal 4. All candidates will have a two-minute closing speech 5. All speeches and questions will be timed by an official timekeeper who will display '30-second' and 'time' cards 6. The moderator will voice all questions to the candidates and maintain order 7. The moderator and BPW Liberal have the right to edit lenghy questions and combine duplicate questions Following the forum, Cathie Collins, President, BPW/Liberal, thanked candidates and the candidates for sharing their time and views, and the Southwest Daily Times for their help. Liberal received excellent news coverage with several announcements in the local newspaper, a lengthy article the following day, and details from each candidate's statements the following Monday.
Manhattan 10-20-02	The 2002 Resist Violence Run was a 5K Run/Walk to raise awareness about domestic violence in the Manhattan, Kansas community. The entry fee for the 2:00 pm event was $15 (after 10/15 $18). The logo used was that of the Riley County Domestic Violence Task Force: Resist Violence Period. Participants of all ages received a T-shirt, and special awards were given to the overall men's and women's winners and to the top three finishers in each age group. Ages were 13 and under; 14-19; 20-29; 30-29; 40-49; 50-59, and 60+. Parents signed releases for children under age 18. This was a collaborative event sponsored by Manhattan Business and Professional Women, Flint HIlls Harriers Running Club, Riley County Domestic Violence Task Force (a project of The Crisis Center, Inc.) the Soldier and Family Support Center, Ft. Riley, K-Man radio, B104.7 and K-Rock. Checks were made payable to BPW/Manhattan.
Sabetha	October 29, 2002 was the occasion of a candidate forum sponsored by BPW/Sabetha in collaboration with Berwick Home Benefits Family & Community Education (FCE). Cindy Aldderfer was moderator. Approximately 50 people attended the forum, which included candidates for 62nd District State Representative and Nemaha County First District Commissioner. The candidates answered questions from local media including The Sabetha Herald regarding legislative priorities, enhancing local business and industry, and expanding the marketing of farmers' products. The Larkin-Pyle race generated statewide publicity, because it was the only race in the state where two incumbents faced each other dud to the legislative reapportionment. Both legislators lost their respective districts and now were in a new district. Both agreed the top issue would be the budget. Other important issues would be education, agriculture, and eligibility requirements for seniors. Some suggestions included expanding small business markets by keeping the rural property tax rate down so it doesn't drive away business to other states, promoting the Agriculture Products Development Division and making the Secretary of Agriculture a high profile position instead of a regulatory one, and encouraging ethanol subsidy work, tax credits through cooperative marketing and allowing locker plants to ship across state lines to help open marketing possibilities. BPW/Sabetha also held several events during National Buiness Women's Week October 20-26. They hosted the "Working Women's Breakafast" on October 23 for all working women in Sabetha and the surrounding area. Three club members were interviewed by high school students, and the interview was aired on TV-8. A window display at Sabetha HealthMark of provided information about Sabetha BPW. An evening event honored Cindi Baker who was introduced as Community Woman of the Year; Galen Ackerman representing Triple C Manufacturing received the award for the Large Business of the Year; and Chera Hill was named the BPW Woman of the Year. All of these events were well reported in The Sabetha Herald.
Winfield - 10/12/02	Winfield BPW conducted a Health Fair.