The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin" Vol. 2025 #41 8-6-25

VOLUME 2025    AUGUST 6    NUMBER 41

President Greg McCune welcomed the membership and guests. Jerry Banaka presented a reflection on optimism and the flag salute followed.

Bruce McMillan introduced Dick Carter Jr., lobbyist/liaison for the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, who spoke on “Legislative Advocacy and Lobbying in Kansas: Working with the Kansas Legislature.”

Dick Carter represents the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, as well as other organizations, as a lobbyist in Topeka. He grew up in Topeka and has been engaged in advocacy since he graduated from college. He had a US Government teacher in high school who inspired him and influenced his interest in politics as he went on to attend KU. He did an internship in Topeka his senior year in college with a lobbying firm, and later started his own firm and has nine different clients, including local governing bodies, community colleges and professional organizations. He also worked early on for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and helped navigate bringing the first Country Stampede to Manhattan, which was an important economic boost to the community. He also later worked for another contract lobbyist and later for the Kansas Board of Regents. In 2003 he started his own contract lobbying firm.

• We have three representatives who represent the Manhattan area: two House members and one Senator.
• There are 165 legislators
• 125 members of the Kansas House of Representatives; 88 are Republicans and 37 are Democrats.
• 40 members of the Kansas Senate; 31 are Republicans and 9 are Democrats.
• The majority to pass legislation is 63 in the House and 21 in the Senate.
• The Constitutional Majority to override Gubernatorial vetoes are 84 in the House and 27 in the Senate.
• Legislature meets January through early May annually for 90 days.

Kansas is heavily Republican and is moving further to the right and the Kansas Legislature can override the governor's veto. Organizations hire lobbyist to building relationships to help secure support for legislation or preventing the passage of legislation and is especially important during proceedings for the override of a governor's veto.

He is also actively meeting with legislators throughout the year to build relationships between them and the organizations he represents. There is more to the job than just the 90 day Kansas legislative session.

https://kslegislature.gov/li/

Information on legislative activities can also be obtained from attending local events or organizational meetings, local events either sponsored by local legislators or where they have been invited to speak, In addition sign up for legislators newsletters and news services such as the Kansas Reflector or subscription services like the Sunflower State Journal and Hawver's Capitol Report.

• Who are your local Representatives and Senators?
• Meet your local Representatives and Senators.
• Know the issues they care about.
• Know their committee assignments.
• Do you know any other Representatives or Senators outside your area through your other networks.

• Research how an issue will impact your community, your business.
• Brief local officials how the issue will impact your community, your business.
• Notify industry officials in Topeka how the issue will effect your community, your business.
• Testify at a legislative hearing on the issue.
• Contact legislators and meet with them about the issue, either in person, by mail, by phone, or by email.

• Have your facts ready to present; if you don't know the answer to a question, get back to them, don't make something up.
• Anticipate how to frame your communication in the legislator's world.
• Anticipate how they might respond to your information, what they might support, common ground.
• Don't waste the opportunity, be ready with your “ask” and why. Legislators are people first.

• Downtown Redevelopment – STAR Bonds
• Regional Jet Service – Guaranty Fund
• National Bio Agro-Defense Facility
• Connections with Governor's Office and Staff
• Relationships with Department of Commerce

Dick Carter thanked the Optimist Club for having him speak.

GUESTS: Our speaker, Dick Carter Jr.

Heather extended a huge thank you to Greg, Greg, Mark, Steve, Larry, and Clyde for helping with the Just Tri it. It was HOT and busy. They did have some left overs which she took to Be Able, courtesy of the Optimist Club.

The Optimist club will park cars at Central National Bank for the August 30th KSU football game that starts at 6:00 pm. Volunteers are needed to help and should arrive at 2:00 pm and maybe have two shifts. Contact Greg McCune to volunteer. Last year we made $1,303 for a few hours work. Also, Greg mentioned he was in his seat well before the game started.

Clyde announced that dues are due October 1st, and that you could pay the current rate now before the possibility of dues being raised at a later Board meeting.

Meeting adjourned with the Optimist Creed.

SAVE THE DATE: Fall Social, September 21st..

AUGUST 13 – NOON MEETING: Program: Jayme Minton, Manhattan City Commissioner: Topic: “Classroom to Careers Program”

AUGUST 20 – MORNING MEETING: Program: Stephanie Johnson, Physical Therapist, Maximum Performance: Topic: “Cancer Rehabilitation”

AUGUST 27 – NOON MEETING: Program: Bronwyn Fees, Assoc. Dean, Academic Affairs, School of Family Studies: Topic: “Child Care Needs”