 | | | | What's Next for the League?
As we draw near to June, we will be hosting our members for a virtual annual business meeting (June 4th) where we will vote on our bylaws, budget and slate of officers. Soon after that, we will hold board orientation for our new board members and will also begin the work on developing our Local Program that defines and guides our work for the upcoming year. For those not familiar with the League's calendar, we will be on hiatus from our monthly luncheons at Seasons 52 for June, July and August as many of our members tend to travel or host family during the summer months.
While we will not have monthly luncheons, we will be hosting some postcarding events to reach out to returning citizens to connect then with restoration of rights information, conducting education events on League topics (education, reproductive health, the electoral college, voting rights, the environment) and connecting with other organizations in the area who advocate on issues similar to the League.
During the summer, we hope that you will connect with some of the protests, marches and rallies in the area and take part in the public display of unity for those issues that impact you and your family and/or our community and nation. While the League continues to be a nonpartisan organization, we realize that much of what is taking place at the public events are in opposition to President Trump's executive orders and the impact of the tariffs. The League does not have a position on each and every issue that is being addressed at the rallies and protests but we definitely have a position on free speech and the right to peaceful assembly. If you are able to share with your children and grandchildren what is taking place across the nation and help them understand why people are speaking out together, it may help them understand some of what they may be seeing and hearing on the TV or social media. Keep in mind that our founders stood on milk crates on street corners advocating for the 19th amendment. They rode on trains and on horseback across rough terrain to speak with men and women and elected officials about the value of women having the vote. And, they picketed outside the White House burning the constitution in protest which was met with imprisonment and abuse at the hands of their jailers. Change did not come by wishing it would come and it did not come because our founders waited for someone else to give them the right to vote. They worked together to educate the public and advocated for a change that eventually became the 19th amendment, giving women the right to vote. |  | The ability of many Americans to cast a vote in our federal elections is grossly under attack in the form of the S.A.V.E. Act. Rather than attempting to lay out the entire concerns of the bill here in this brief newsletter, I'll ask you to take a moment to read this recent article by NPR that provides great detail. I encourage you to contact our U.S. Senators to push back against this bill. While the League very much supports election integrity, this bill does not seem to take into consideration financial or other hardships created to citizens and appears to be more about denying U.S. Citizens access to the ballot box than actually preventing non-citizens from voting in elections. We hope our senators will listen to the concerns of constituents and vote this bill down. Additionally, we hope you will take the summer period to meet with your congresspersons and state representatives to build rapport and to educate them on issues of importance to you.
Senator Rick Scott
400 West Bay Street, Suite 289 Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 479-7227
Senator Ashley Moody
300 North Hogan Street, Suite 8-111 Jacksonville, FL 32202
(202) 224-3041
Lanelle Phillmon
President, LWV/JFC | | |
Reproductive Rights in Jacksonville: A Critical Moment for Advocacy and Action
Working alongside more than 50 organizations in the Floridians for Reproductive Freedom (FRF) coalition, the League of Women Voters of Florida has been steadfast in opposing current and proposed restrictions on birth control and abortion. Through collective advocacy and action, we continue to amplify our voices in defense of reproductive rights. Visit the FRF website or FRF Facebook Group.
Our local League is organizing a panel discussion on the current state of reproductive rights and health in Florida. While we initially planned to hold the event this Spring, we've had to reschedule for Fall. To ensure the widest participation, we would like your input on whether you prefer a meeting time on the second Tuesday of the month at 5:00 PM a Saturday morning. Please email your preference to Wesnee2010@gmail.com. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
Florida’s ongoing legislative efforts have introduced new challenges for reproductive healthcare access:
HB 1505 / SB1288 introduce extreme barriers for young people seeking STI treatment, contraception, and mental health resources. Progress Florida has an excellent example letter to send to your representatives asking them to oppose this bill. Tell Florida Legislators: Protect Young People and Oppose HB 1505/ SB1288.
SB 1284 Civil Liability for the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child. We’ve seen the harm of laws like this in other states, where they’ve been used to try to ban abortion entirely, shut down fertility treatments like IVF, harass survivors of abuse and their support systems, and put patients at risk of losing emergency care or cancer treatments solely because they’re pregnant. Tell Florida Legislators: Oppose SB 1284, Criminalizing Health Care.
Advocacy groups are closely monitoring bills that could impact education, contraception access, and healthcare funding. Staying informed and contacting legislators remains crucial.
Upcoming Events & Community Engagement:
Denim Day (April 30th) – A global campaign raising awareness about sexual violence. Wear denim in solidarity and submit photos to amplify the message.
Equality Florida First Coast Gala (May 17th) – A major event supporting LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights advocacy, held at 7601 Centurion Pkwy, Jacksonville.
The fight for reproductive rights is ongoing, but Jacksonville’s community remains resilient. By staying informed and engaged, we can ensure that reproductive healthcare remains accessible and protected. | Education Committee Action Alert
Below is a sample e-mail that members of the Duval Google group were alerted to in late April. We're happpy to report that on April 29th the Florida House voted to pass SB 296 the companion bill to HB 261.
Florida House Leadership,
Please add HB 261 to the House Floor calendar so it can pass the House. The companion bill, SB 296, has passed the Senate. It will allow local school districts to make decisions about school start times. HB 261 passed all its committees without any No votes. If this bill does not pass, it will be a terrible financial hardship for my school district in Duval County. If the district does not stagger start times we would have to spend money on more school buses.
- Join our Duval Google group so you’ll receive summaries of the upcoming agenda for the Duval County Public School board meetings and Action Alerts like the one above.
- 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.
|  | JOIN US for Orientation
Sunday, May 18, 2025
2:00-3:00pm
Highly recommended for New Members, and for all members who have not previously attended.
- Learn about the history of the League, how we operate, and the process of Study and Action.
- Meet local League Leadership, committee chairs, and other new members.
- New Members are encouraged to attend.
- Current members as well as non-members are also invited.
The Zoom link will be emailed to you following Registration.
Questions? Contact:
Karen Parish
Membership Director, LWVJFC
904-477-9538 | One Person, One Vote: The League's Ongoing Mission
Did you know that since 1970 the League of Women Voters has advocated for the abolition of the Electoral College? The League studied the presidential electoral process which culminated in a 1970 position supporting the direct election of the President by popular vote as essential to representative government
Why This Matters Today: The Electoral College system has resulted in five presidents winning office despite losing the popular vote, most recently in 2000 and 2016. This raises important questions about whether our current system truly represents voters' intentions and provides equal weight to every American's vote.
Recent League Action: At the League's convention in 2022, LWVUS began a new push to achieve our goal through education of League members and members of the public on the importance of this issue. This renewed effort comes at a critical time when discussions about democratic representation are at the forefront of national conversation.
Local Efforts: LWVJFC has an active One Person, One Vote Committee dedicated to this mission of education. Our committee members are developing a presentation that explains the history of the Electoral College, analyzes its impact on presidential elections, and discusses common myths about the Electoral College.
Get Involved: Please join us at our monthly committee meeting on Wednesday, May 21st at 6:00pm. We are currently working on a presentation that can be given by our members to interested organizations. Your input and participation are valuable as we work toward this important democratic reform. If you know of any organization that might be interested in such a presentation. If you'd like to join our Committee, please reach out to Rhona DiCamillo at vp.lwvjaxfc@gmail.com. A zoom link will be sent to all Committee members in advance of the monthly committee meeting. | New Members - Welcome aboard!
Judy Czerenda
Jane Lothrop
Judy Addison
Michelle Von Euw
Regan Bartley
Theresa Garbisch
Carole Poindexter
Carolyn Godwin
Bhumi Mehta
| Donations are always appreciated!
We wish to acknowledge and thank those who made donations this month:
Lynn Paul
Catherine Fitzpatrick
Marylou Green, in memory of Laurel L Cooper
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.
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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. | | |
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