Manhattan/Riley County
Manhattan/Riley County
Advocate. Educate. Inform. Empower.
In these trying times, it will take us all to have a future based on justice, our Constitution, and the power of an informed electorate. After 100 years of pushing forward, the League is not willing to stop now.
Please Vote! Exercise your most fundamental right as a United States Citizen because:
"Democracy is NOT a spectator sport."
Get Ready to Vote!
Learn about candidates on YOUR ballot and more voting information at Vote411.org (The LWVUS sponsored voting info site)
See your polling place, how to use the voting machines and more at Riley County Elections website, and your local county clerk! Check here.
Thanks For All You Do To Keep Democracy Alive! Interested in serving the League in some way this year? Please reply to lwv.manhattanks [at] gmail.com ! We are looking for members to serve in leadership and board at large positions. We will be electing new roles at our April election and Annual meeting!
What is something you can do right now?
During the legislative session, the League of Women Voters of Kansas (LWVK) holds weekly zoom calls at 4pm on Fridays with their policy observers. The League has offered to open up these calls for any League member. Cille King is the policy coordinator for the League.
You will need to email Cille at advocacy [at] lwvk.org to be added to the notice list. Agendas come out a day or so before the call.
See more information at the League of Women Voters of KANSAS Webpage: https://lwvk.org/
Also: CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS: Download an app for your phone called 5 CALLS to make regular calls with provided scripts! Or go to this website to find out more: 5 Calls
Upcoming Event: Dinner with League: Thursday, April 2, 2026 Presentation of the Good Government Award to the Honorable Sydney Carlin
You and your guests are welcome to join our League of Women Voters of Manhattan-Riley County for good food, an engaging conversation and connection with each other on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
Thank you for dropping in to support and thank Representative Sydney Carlin for her dedication and hard work! The League's Good Government Award includes a gift of $500, which Sydney has designated for the Manhattan Emergency Shelter Inc. We will be honored to have MESI Executive Director Emily Wagner there to accept the check!
WHAT: Presentation of the Edith Stunkel Good Government Award toThe Honorable SYDNEY CARLIN
SPEAKERS: Featuring Remarks by Karen Hummel, Representative Carlin, Linda Morse, and Karen McCulloh.
WHEN: Thursday, April 2, 2026. 6pm Dinner; 6:30pm Program: Presentation and Q & A
WHERE: Prairie Star Restaurant, Meadowlark Hills, 2121 Meadowlark Road, Manhattan, KS 66502
MENU: Chicken Salad Croissant, Fruit Salad, Pub Chips, water, tea or coffee. Please make Reservations by replying to lwv.manhattanks [at] gmail.com by Tuesday, March 31st. $15 at the door by check to LWVMRC or cash. Prairie Star Bar will be open for your convenience. Dinner is optional. Meadowlark residents may sign up at the front desk. Dinner is OPTIONAL.
RSVP: If you wish to have a meal, reply to lwv.manhattanks [at] gmail.com by Tuesday, March 31February 3. No RSVP needed to attend the presentation only.
We hope you can Join us, and bring a friend! We welcome your suggestions for future programs anytime.
Thank You!
Your LWV MRC Leadership Team: Sara Fisher, Barbara Anderson, Tim May, Elke Lorenz, Linda Uthoff
Learn about the LWVUS new initiative, Unite and Rise, A campaign to defend Democracy
We encourage you to sign up with the League of Women Voters for current news releases and blog postings. (Newsroom Link) (Please note: The following statements are non-partisan as candidates are now elected officials. Our resistance is based on our national positions, not political parties.)
- LWV Declares United States in a Constitutional Crisis
- League of Women Voters, Lawyers Committee, NAACP, and Equal Justice Society File Brief Opposing Executive Order Attacking Birthright Citizenship
- How to Support the Immigrant Community
- Reflection on the Election: We Will Speak Up and Speak Out
Monthly Meetings: First Thursday evenings of the Month at Meadowlark.
For Your Calendars: UPCOMING LWVMRC EVENTS:
(FYI) March 28: NO KINGS DAY Protest: Manhattan City Park, 12:30-3 pm; the League will assist people registering to Vote, and hand out materials about the August 4th Special Election on KS Supreme Court Judges selection process. The League advocates for VOTING NO, and keeping our current Merit-based selection system.
April 2nd: Dinner with the League: Meadowlark Hills, 6-8 pm; Honoring Rep. Sydney Carlin with the LWVMRC Good Government Award, and an update on KS Legislative Actions as time permits.
April 18th: LWVMRC Annual Meeting: Meadowlark Hills Community Room 9:30-11:30 am; come get help to renew your membership, and give us feedback on 2026-27 League goals.
April 25th: LWVK State Council: Great Bend Library, 9:30 am-1 pm; all League members welcome in person or virtually. To Register, Click HERE
To sign up to car pool to Great Bend, reply to lwv.manhattanks [at] gmail.com.
Please reply if you have more questions. We are grateful for your commitment to the League!
UNITE & RISE 8.5: An initiative to Defend Democracy with the US League. Check It Out: Unite and Rise 8.5: An Initiative to Defend Democracy | League of Women Voters
Remember a very easy App to use to help communicate with your legislators via Voice messages: 5 Calls
For those of you who could not join us for the June DINNER WITH THE LEAGUE featuring Indivisible MHK! Find out more at their Website: Indivisible MHK
Don't forget to visit the Kansas Statehouse to see the new Suffragist memorial, "Rebel Women." This is first work by a woman artist in the Kansas Statehouse. The artist, Phyllis Garibay-Coon is a Manhattan resident. Congratulations, Ms. Garibay-Coon. More here.
Go to this YouTube link to listen to Phyllis Garibay-Coon reflect on her historic State House Mural "Rebel Women" : Within Reason KMAN
League News
Recording of Candidates Forum, October 4, 2025
Manhattan City Commission and USD 383 School Board Forum Recordings posted on News Radio KMAN
This forum was sponsored by: League of Women Voters of Manhattan-Riley County, NAACP, AAUW of Manhattan, KS, Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, KMAN Radio
In the Spotlight: League of Women Voters Encourages Student Participation Ahead of Voter Registration Deadline
From KKSU Website:
[October 15, 2024]
MANHATTAN, Kan. As the voter registration deadline looms, Donna Shenk Hamlin from the League of Women Voters joined Delaney and Cadence on Wildcat 91.9™s Evening Drive Show to discuss the importance of civic engagement among students. With voter registration closing at noon on Tuesday, Hamlin emphasized the ease of checking registration status and making voting plans through the website ksvotes.org.
Hamlin, a long-standing member of the League of Women Voters of Riley County and a participant in Kansas State University's Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy (ICDD), highlighted the collaborative efforts to promote voter participation....(article continues.)
For a recording, visit here or: https://www.wildcat919.com/post/league-of-women-voters-encourages-studen....
Thank you, Donna, for your excellent advice, to Andrew Smith Multi-Media News Director KKSU-TV for the invitation, and to Delany and Cadence for your support!
In Memory of Bob and Jan Kruh
We are forever grateful to the legacies of Bob and Jan Kruh. Their leadership and generosity for the League of Women Voters of Manhattan-Riley County was unbounded. Our thanks to the Kruh family for designating our organization for memorial contributions.
(Donation information: Click Red Donate button or here. Thank you.)
Please Remember to Pay your Annual Dues online or by mail. Thank you for making all our programs possible, and reaching out to new members. (Use the Join/Renew button above.)
LWVK information is available on our website.
Other Online Links to stay informed:
The Kansas Reflector - you can subscribe to have an email update sent to your inbox daily
Legiscan - a national tracking site for legislative actions both at the national and state levels
The link to the new 2025 Kansas Legislature site will allow you to access and watch in real time or you can also watch later as all committee meetings are recorded.
All League Events are free and open to the public
More Information About Our Area?
Be sure to check out our blog for current observer reports on the USD 383 Board of Education meetings and the Riley County Law Board meetings.
Who we are:
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
The League of Women Voters Manhattan/Riley County believes in: respect for individuals, the value of diversity, the empowerment of the grassroots*, and the power of collective decision making for the common good.
What are current League Priorities?
The League of Women Voters of Manhattan-Riley County Supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion [LWVUS Policy Statement] Definitions
LWVKansas Legislative Priorities
LWVUS Positions and Priorities: At the National Level The LWVMRC is part of the League of Women Voters of the United States. Our positions and policies are informed by careful study and are agreed upon by the League members at local, state, and national levels. A complete description of our national positions, Imact on Issues, is available Here.
