League of Women Voters Manhattan / Riley County, Kansas

Thursday of Thoughtful Thinking

The first Thursday of Thoroughly Thoughtful Thinking and Talking will be Thursday, May 28 beginning at 5:30pm at La Fiesta, in Blue Hills Shopping Center at the corner or Tuttle Creek Blvd. and Kimball Ave. We start with drinks orders, then our wonderful speaker Suesan Harrington from the Area Agency on Aging will talk about the Foster Grandparents Program. Dinner follows for those who want to stay. We have the room until 7:30, but who knows how long our thinking will last. This meeting is the first in a series of informational evening discussion meetings that will replace Brown Bag Lunch.

Edith L. Stunkel Good Government Award

Join the Manhattan/Riley County League of Women Voters for the 2009 Edith L. Stunkel Award presentation event. Our celebration begins at 7 p.m. at the Manhattan Arts Center, 1520 Poyntz Ave., and it will feature guest speaker Janice Norlin. Norlin knew Edith Stunkel when she attended K-State in the late '80s. She was a Truman Scholar in '87 and earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas where she was awarded the Mary Ann Chambers Service Award. Norlin is a member of the Kansas Bar, Kansas Women Attorneys Association and serves on the Governor's Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board, the K-State Political Science Departmental Advisory Council and the American Association of University Women. She is a member of the Salina League of Women Voters. A reception will follow the presentation.

The Edith L. Stunkel Good Government Award honors the efforts of long-time League member and public servant Edith Stunkel, who worked tirelessly to involve citizens in all levels of government. During her service as a city commissioner and throughout her life, Ms. Stunkel championed the value of informed citizenship, actively encouraged public input and citizen participation in public policy decisions and worked for transparency in government.

Previous Award Recipients
Presented in June 2008 -- Stephanie Rolley was recognized for her leadership, courage, and adherence to good government practices during her tenure as Chair of the Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board.

Presented in May 2007 -- James Butler was recognized for his advocacy for civil rights, equal opportunity and and racial equality.

Presented in April 2006 -- Christopher Renner was recognized for his advocacy for civil rights particularly in regard to homosexuals, cultural harmony, and gender equality.

Presented in April 2005 -- James Sherow was recognized for his work in the area of preservation, affordable family housing and neighborhood rezoning.

Presented in January 2004 -- Mary Don Peterson, then President of the Coalition of Neighborhood Associations, was recognized for her efforts toward enacting zoning ordinances such as the Traditional Neighborhood Overlay and Multi-Family Redevelopment Overlay for older, traditional neighborhoods.

Annual Meeting a Big Success!
Glenda Phillips Elected to be President

The LWV MRC has embarked on a new League year following elections and adopting a program and budget at the League's Annual Meeting on April 14. Our guest speaker was Lewis Diuguid.

DOWNLOAD LEWIS DUIGUID'S SPEECH (PDF)

Louis Duiguid
Diuguid is vice president for community resources at The Kansas City Star. He has been with the newspaper since 1977 after graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is a certified diversity facilitator with the Newspaper Association of America and has been involved with The Star’s diversity initiative since it began in 1993.

He has conducted diversity workshops for schools, colleges, businesses and community groups. He is the author of the 2004 book A Teacher’s Cry: Expose the Truth About Education Today and the 2007 book, Discovering the Real America: Toward a More Perfect Union.