Members of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce have traditionally stayed informed about important issues at all levels of politics and government.

Helping them do so is the job of the chamber’s Government Communications Committee. Each year about 50 chamber members sign up to be on the committee.

“There is a lot of interest in Lawrence in government affairs,” said Phil Struble, the committee chairman and chief executive of Landplan Engineering, 1310 Wakarusa Drive.

The committee organizes a variety of programs throughout the year designed to provide information about the Kansas Legislature, elections and political candidates, as well as general government issues.

The committee meets monthly, and about half the members usually attend, Struble said. Usually there is a guest speaker, and it could be the school superintendent, the mayor or some other government official.

“We meet for business for about 10 or 15 minutes and then turn it over to somebody to talk to us,” Struble said. “It’s pretty informal and open. One of the things we do is keep an eye on local issues that the Chamber Board of Directors might want to react to.”

One of the committee’s long-running and popular programs has been Capitol Connections, an event that takes place while the Legislature is in session. Area legislators are invited to meet with chamber members to discuss and answer questions about what is going on in the Statehouse. The meetings take place three times during the session.

Phil Struble, chief executive of Landplan Engineering, is chairman of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce's Government Communications Committee. Perhaps best-known among the committee's activities are the Capitol Connections programs set up each spring. Area legislators are invited to talk with chamber members about Statehouse issues. The first meeting will run from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt.

During most of the past few years Capitol Connections events were held during Saturday breakfasts at a local restaurant. Last year the format changed, and the meetings were held at a different time and location during each of the three events. That helped reach more members, Struble said.

“It gave more people the opportunity to participate,” he said. “Some people are busy on Saturday mornings, but Friday afternoon might be a good time for them.”

Struble also noted that Capitol Connections events are well-publicized in advance and they are open to the public as well as chamber members. Legislators are quick to cooperate, said Beth Johnson, the chamber’s vice president of economic development, who works with the committee.

“We’ve got a good group of Douglas County legislators who like to keep us informed,” she said.

State Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence, said she looks forward to the Capitol Connections and sees them as a way for her to find out what constituents are thinking about legislative activities.

“They also have a chance to visit with us afterward, so I consider it to be very valuable,” Ballard said.

One of three 2007 Capitol Connections events has been scheduled. It will be from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 9 in the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt.

At least once a year the area’s congressional representatives are invited to speak to the chamber and public. In the past that had usually been Democratic Rep. Dennis Moore and his Republican colleague, Jim Ryun, both of whose districts included Lawrence. Ryun was defeated in the November general election by Democrat Nancy Boyda.

“This year could be pretty interesting, because we are looking forward to having Nancy back to talk to us,” Struble said.

At various times during the year the committee organizes public events designed to provide information about upcoming elections and political candidates. The events have been called Talk of the Town, but they also have had a variety of other titles, Struble said.

There are plans to schedule such informative sessions this spring as city and school board elections draw near, Johnson said.

“As the election gets closer, we’ll encourage people to get out to vote, and we’ll probably have candidates in to talk to us about the issues,” Johnson said.

One thing the chamber committee doesn’t do is make endorsements.

“We try to stay away from trying to influence anything,” Struble said. “We just see it as providing a level of different avenues for the people of Lawrence to learn more about what’s going on. Our job is information delivery.”