 | | | | Lobby Days And Beyond
During League Lobby Days this month, there was an opportunity to hear directly from our state co-presidents, our lobbying firm representatives, state committee action chairs, and other League members. These statewide events are always a great time to learn, connect and grow. We also had the opportunity to meet elected representatives to discuss League priorities and the impact bills will have on our community and state if they pass or fail.
While many assume that elected persons are knowledgeable about bills they co-sponsor or vote on, we often find that they have a narrow understanding of a bill's impact. Florida is a very diverse state and depending on location, may or may not have access to public transportation, may not have access to high speed internet, lack public libraries or public agencies, and have different economic challenges. It's important that each of us communicates with our elected representatives so they can make the best decision with their vote. Never assume that your voice doesn't matter or won't be heard!
If you have not contacted your local house or senate representative to convey your position on certain bills or your priorities and concerns for our state, it's not too late to do so. |  | Not sure who your representative is or how to contact them? You can use the links in this recent article that provides guidance on how to find your Florida Representative and Senator:
I'd like to thank Julia Ross for attending Lobby Days with me.
Mark your calendars for next year as session will begin in January 2026 which means subcommittee meetings will be in September/October 2025 and Lobby Days will probably be in late January. Start getting to know your representatives NOW by scheduling meetings with them in local district offices. If you need help making contact or preparing for a meeting, don't hesitate to contact me.
Lanelle Phillmon
President, LWVJFC | | |
 | Thank You To Our Fleet Landing Unit
We want to thank our Fleet Landing Unit Leaders Bernadette Miron, Sandy Martin and Frances Jones for providing the community with an awesome event at the Beach Museum Chapel on March 15th. The chapel was such a wonderful venue and the event itself was not only fun but was educational. In a time when women are at risk of being negatively impacted with bad bills such as the SAVE Act, the reading of "Aunt Susan" and "Her Tennessee Waltz" were very timely. It can be easy to forget the years of struggle and work that led to the 19th Amendment. We must not only continue the work of our founders but push forward together to ensure we maintain the right to vote and remove obstacles between voters and the ballot box.
Their event raised $420 for the League's Education Fund!
Send a message to your congressperson to reject the SAVE Act:
| Upcoming Community Events
Volunteer Fair Expo - We need 2 volunteers to help staff a table at the Volunteer Fair Expo hosted by Volunteer JAX on Wednesday, April 23rd. Click here for more details about volunteering.
Ace Foundation of Florida Community Spring Health Festival - We need 2 volunteers to staff our League table at this Community Event on Saturday, April 26th. First shift is from 9:30am to 12:30pm and second shift is from 12:30pm to 3:00pm. Ideally the volunteers would be trained by the League to do Voter Registration but if you are not trained there will be other items to focus on at the table.
Strides for Pride - We need a volunteer to assist our VP staffing the table at the Strides for Pride 5K Race on Sunday, April 27th. It is an early start with the volunteer needing to be on-site around 6:30 am. It is a wonderful event to support Jasmyn. If you are planning on running or walking - be sure to stop by our table for some goodies.
| LWVUS Democracy Integrity Briefing
The Democracy Integrity Briefings cover growing national and local trends in mis-and-disinformation. The briefing highlights pieces of disinformation that have made headlines and how best to track and address it. At the end of the briefing there is time for Q&A. Sessions occur at 3:30 PM ET on the second Tuesday of each month through June 2025. The next briefing will be held April 8, 2025 at 3:30 pm.
Registration is required:
| One Person, One Vote - Abolition of the Electoral College
Did you know that in 2024 over 6 million Californians voted for President Trump? Or that almost 5 million Texans voted for Vice President Harris? Here in Florida 43% of voters voted for Vice President Harris or almost 4.7 million Floridians. We have come to think of states as "red" states or "blue" states because of the Electoral College but the fact is that there are Republicans and Democrats voting in every state. Please invite a friend and come learn about the League of Women Voters goal of abolishing the Electoral College through the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact and ultimately an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Non-League members are welcome so please share with other groups that you belong to - let's start debunking the myths about the Electoral College.
When: Saturday, April 26 starting at 1:00 PM
Where: Regency Square Library at 9900 Regency Square Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32225
| Education Committee
- Join our Duval google group so you’ll receive summaries of the Duval County Public School board meetings. Once you’ve joined, you can select all emails, daily summary, or access to website but no emails.
- Volunteer to lead an education subcommittee for Nassau, Clay, or St. Johns.
- Volunteer for the LWV-Florida Education Action Team subcommittee focused on higher education.
- Attend LWV-Florida Education Action Team meetings during this legislative session where education bills are discussed.
| Federal Judiciary Study
At the LWVUS 2024 Convention, delegates voted to proceed with a study on the federal judiciary. The study will be completed on a fast-track timeline in time for a position to be announced at the LWVUS 2025 Council in June 2025.
The LWVUS Federal Judiciary Study Committee prepared a series of briefs on particular, specific topics designed to help spark discussion among League members to help develop a position on the federal judiciary. By providing information on these very specific topics, the intention is to help develop a long-lasting position based on the principles of judicial independence, transparency, accountability, and ethics (and possibly others). Our goal is a position that outlines the values – the standards and norms – the League of Women Voters should use in evaluating proposed changes to policies, laws, and regulations about the federal judiciary.
We'd like to thank our Vice President, Rhona DiCamillo, for leading our chapter in the recent consensus meeting and those League members who gave up a portion of a beautiful Saturday afternoon to help us develop our chapter's input for the study.
Next steps: Leagues have until April 14th to submit their final reports to LWVUS which will be presented to the LWVUS Board in May for a vote and final approval. The federal judiciary position will be announced during LWVUS Council June 26 - 28, 2025. |  | New Members - Welcome aboard!
Dorene Baldwin
Sherry Rowe
Georgiana Barry
Alice Bradford
Lin Pomerantz
Susanne Barker
| Donations are always appreciated!
We wish to acknowledge and thank those who made donations this month:
Susan Aertker
Katherine Keller
Suzanne Martin
Bhumi Mehta
Donations to Ed Fund:
Billie Joyce Hayward
Lanelle Phillmon
Sandra Martin
Bernadette Miron
(and many others, who gave cash donations at the wonderful play reading)
Our website lwvjaxfc.org offers an easy way to make donations to LWVJFC, even if you prefer to pay by check. Click on the red "Donate" button at the top of the Homepage. | | | | Local
Stay up-to-date on all local upcoming events on the LWV of Jacksonville / First Coast:
• Website
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
Regional
The Regional Facebook Group, LWV Florida North Region Leagues, includes Alachua, Bay, Jacksonville/First Coast, Okaloosa & Walton, Pensacola Bay Area, and Tallahassee.
| | |
Contact Us!
Phone: 904-355-8683
Email: LWVJAXFC@gmail.com
Postal Address:
League of Women Voters of Jacksonville First Coast
PO Box 330353
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 | | | | The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. We influence public policy through education and advocacy. | | |
|
Copyright © 2025 League of Women Voters Jacksonville/First Coast, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in at one of our events.
Our mailing address:
League of Women Voters Jacksonville/First Coast
PO Box 330353, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
To keep receiving our emails, add us to your contacts / email address book.
You have received this message from the mailing list of LWVJFC. If you would prefer not to receive these emails in the future, go to the opt-out page and modify your privacy settings. You can also request to be removed from our database completely.
|
| |