Emailing - League of Women Voters Jacksonville First Coast

The Voter

October 2025

President’s Message

Memorial Service for Dr. Joan Carver

Dr. Joan Carver was a lifetime member of League of Women Voters and in 2020 had just been recognized for her lifelong contributions to the League, her community and to the advancement of working government. In preparation for her League recognition, I had the opportunity to join her for a few meals and speak with her about her life's work. I was humbled by the many ways she showed up in and for our community. She spoke of her many accomplishments and contributions with humility and with the heart of someone who genuinely loved people. She set such a great example of what one person can do and the lesson of working with others towards a common goal. I hope that I can accomplish even a tenth of what she did in her lifetime.

I did not learn of her passing until after her burial service but recently learned that Jacksonville University will hold a Memorial Service for her in the Terry Concert Hall at 3:30 pm on October 16th and that it will be open to the public. If you are able to attend to honor Dr. Carver, I hope you will join me there.

You can read her full obituary here: https://www.quinn-shalz.com/obituaries/joan-carver

Joan served as an example of what is possible when civically engaged and open minded people can accomplish when they work together to create programs, policies and institutions that allow people to engage while also learning and growing. I think she embodies the best of what the League of Women Voters can be when we all work together to create a more perfect democracy.

She will be missed.

Lanelle Phillmon

President, LWVJFC

News & Events

Voter Registration News

We still need some volunteers for events on Saturday 10/4 and 10/11. Voter Registration members should log in at www.lwvjaxfc.org and go to the calendar to see the upcoming events and click on the volunteer button.

As many of you already know, the League of Women Voters is no longer allowed to register new citizens at USCIS naturalization ceremonies. This policy change was made by Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, and applies to all nongovernmental organizations. On September 2, 2025, Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters US issued a press release which stated:

“For decades, the League of Women Voters has been a trusted partner of both USCIS and federal courts to register new voters at naturalization ceremonies. This work has resulted in hundreds of thousands of new citizens registering to vote with League volunteers across the country. The USCIS decision to bar nonpartisan organizations from providing voter registration services at naturalization ceremonies is an attempt to keep new citizens from accessing their full rights.”

Read the full press release on www.lwv.org.

We anticipate voter registration opportunities to start heating up as we approach the 2026 midterm elections. Please consider becoming a member of the Voter Registration team!

Redistricting Day of Action October 4th

The Florida state legislature is contemplating an unprecedented effort to redraw the state's Congressional maps in the middle of the decade with no new Census numbers to justify the effort as part of a larger, national effort to secure a partisan advantage in Congress. Let’s do all we can to stop this unconstitutional power grab.

Join us for one or all of these activities to pressure our legislators to say no to mid-term redistricting.

We will offer a LWVFL presentation on Midterm Redistricting.

Write messages to state legislators that will be hand delivered by the League.

All you need to do is show up!

Please register to attend one of the below listed events. Registration allows us to ensure we have sufficient materials for attendees. If you are not able to attend but would like information on communicating with your elected representative, please indicate via the registration link so we can follow up with you.

10:30 am - Noon

Bradham and Brooks Library

1755 Edgewood Ave W Jacksonville, FL 32208

1:00 - 3:00 pm

Orange Park Library

2054 Plainfield Ave Orange Park, FL 32073

Registration: https://forms.gle/zikW4dnQmq342YS29

Phone Banking Opportunity!

Do you like to talk? Is your local League not doing phone banking for Day of Action? The state League has you covered!

On Oct. 4, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., volunteers will have the chance to make calls to Floridians about the mid-decade redistricting efforts happening in Florida.

If you or someone you know would like to participate in Day of Action and make calls to fellow Floridians, click here for the sign-up sheet. You will be contacted with next steps after you register.

NO Kings Events October 18th

While we do not have an official role in any local event at this time, you are encouraged to seek out an event in your local community and attend or support if you are able. As of today, there appears to be events in Fernandina Beach, Downtown Jacksonville, St Augustine, and caravans traveling to downtown Jacksonville from Jacksonville Beach and Mandarin. You can find and register for an event here: https://www.nokings.org/?SQF_SOURCE=50501#map

LWVUS has offered some guidance about public events for our League members to consider in advance: https://www.lwvmd.org/protestsafetyguidance. They also recommend we familiarize ourselves with "Know Your Rights" in advance of rallies and protests: https://www.nlg.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Know-Your-Rights-Booklet-2022.pdf

St. Johns County Town Hall on Attainable Workforce Housing

Our League is a co-sponsor of a Community Town Hall to be held at the Center for Spiritual Living in St. Augustine on October 22nd at 6:00pm. Rhona DiCamillo, Vice President of our League, is moderating this important event in St. Johns County. Please join her to learn from a panel of experts about the need for workforce housing in St. Johns County.

The panel will include representatives from Habitat for Humanity, St. Johns Housing Partnership and the St. Johns Chamber of Commerce. According to a recent publication by the St. Johns Chamber of Commerce, "Attainable Housing refers to housing that is affordable for middle-income workers who often earn too much to qualify for traditional affordable housing but still struggle to find market-rate homes." This is a critical issue in St. Johns County. Essential workers such as teachers, nurses, hospitality workers, first responders and manufacturing workers are unable to afford to live in the county where they work due to a severe lack of housing within an attainable price range.

The event is free but registration is required. Click here for registration and more details about the event.

Reproductive Health Panel

LWVJFC will be hosting a Reproductive Health panel via ZOOM on October 23 at 6:30 p.m.

The speakers will be Cheyenne Drews from Floridians Protecting Freedom, Lin Pomeranzt speaking on reproductive health and legislation and Stacy Kroto from LWVFL Reproductive Health and Justice Committee speaking on league status and work initiatives moving forward.

Registration is required at https://lwvjaxfc.org/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=782872&item_id=2726943

Consider Serving on County Boards, Panels and Committees

We encourage our members to review the list of vacancies on your county's government website of boards, committees and panels and apply to serve in those roles that are open to the public. There are many opportunities to help provide oversight, input and public engagement that League members would be ideal for.

Below are the government weblinks for each of our four counties so members can seek out roles and submit appropriate applications for consideration of service:

Clay County: https://www.claycountygov.com/government/boards-and-committees/committee-vacancies

Duval County: https://www.jacksonville.gov/departments/boards-and-commissions/appointment-opportunities

Nassau County: https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/217/Boards-Commissions-Committees

St Johns County: https://webapp.sjcfl.us/brdscommittees/Boards.aspx?Sort=Curr

If service on a committee is not of immediate interest, you might want to review your county or city council meeting schedule and observe (in person or virtually) meetings to keep up on agenda items that impact you or your community. These meetings are also recorded and available for viewing within days of the actual meeting.

First Hybrid Orientation a Success!

We held our first hybrid orientation Saturday, September 27th and appreciate those members who joined us in person and via zoom. We were fortunate to have our President, Vice President, four board members and several committee chairs join us and invite new members into the work being done. We will be fine tuning our program and presentation and look forward to offering another hybrid session later this year.

Forbidden Florida Reads

Izzy Miletic is a junior Economics and Literature student at Florida State University. She is a board member of the League of Women Voters of Tallahassee, where she began publishing Forbidden Florida Reads. Forbidden Florida Reads is Izzy’s original monthly column that highlights a book banned in at least one Florida school district. Izzy is passionate about books and educational policy making. She hopes to attend law school and earn her Masters in Library and Information Science.

Read Izzy's column about "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas.

Membership Update

New Members - Welcome aboard!

Milton (Randy) Bundschu

Susan Bundschu

Ellen Gage

Robin Castle

Laurie Chobanian

Chloe Clay

Wendy Jones

Martha Shelnutt

Nancy Sticht

Deborah K. Thompson

Susan Trudeau

Desirea Tyler

Interested in being part of the League? JOIN TODAY!

Donors

Donations are always appreciated!

We wish to acknowledge and thank those who made donations this month:

Elizabeth Head

Hanna Vanover

Billie Hayward

David and Bernadette Miron

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.

Stay Connected

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.

State
For statewide news and action items, visit the LWV of Florida.

National

The League of Women Voters of the United States

Contact Us!

Phone: 904-355-8683

Email: LWVJAXFC@gmail.com

Postal Address:
League of Women Voters of Jacksonville First Coast
PO Box 350210
Jacksonville, FL 32235-9998

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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