help_outline Skip to main content

Follow Us

Social networking will appear here

Support Us

Donate  |   Volunteer  

Contact Us

League of Women Voters
of Jacksonville First Coast
Email: lwvjaxfc@gmail.com
(904) 355-8683
PO Box 330353
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Copyright © 2020 • All Rights Reserved • Terms of Use Privacy Policy • Powered by ClubExpress
Date: 12/29/2022
Subject: LWVJFC Newsletter January 2023
From: League of Women Voters of Jacksonville/First Coast



 
 The Voter
January 2023

President’s Message

Note of Thanks
 

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank each of our members for your work and support this past year. Throughout the year I speak with members about their reason for joining the League, their desired level of involvement, things that matter to them, and concerns they have regarding issues in our state. Some of our members join to financially support the work of the League, some to address a particular topic, and others just to be in community with others who are doing work that serves to create a more perfect democracy. The League is an all-volunteer organization that simply could not function without each of our members, and I appreciate you, whatever role you play in our work.

 

In the coming year there will be many opportunities to register voters, educate voters about the local elections, attend League Lobby Days in Tallahassee (March 7–8), attend League State Convention (June 1–4), attend local League meetings as well as local government meetings, and continue to grow our League as we do our work.



But for now, I hope that each of you have good health, can share your holiday with friends and family, and will join us in 2023 for the work the creates a more perfect democracy!

 
—Lanelle Phillmon, LWVJFC President 




News & Events

First Wednesday Speaker Series with Adam Rosenblatt, UNF Biology Professor
 
Wednesday, January 4, 12:00 pm

Register Here

 

Adam Rosenblatt, professor of Biology at the University of North Florida, will share the results of heat mapping research in Jacksonville, which was a part of NOAA study of many cities nationwide. We will learn how the data was collected, what it tells us, and how it will be used for improvements.


Dr. Rosenblatt grew up in Philadelphia, went to college in Ohio, got his PhD in Miami, did a postdoc in Connecticut, and worked at the U.S. Department of Energy. He has done ecology research all over the world on an eclectic array of species: tree swallows in Ohio; sharks, turtles, and stingrays in Australia; manatees in Belize; humpback whales in Hawai'i; dolphins in New Zealand; sharks and alligators in Florida; black caiman in Guyana; and spiders and grasshoppers in Connecticut.


 

 

His main research interests are (1) investigating the roles that large predators play in determining the structure and function of ecosystems and (2) investigating the potential effects of climate change and land use change on ecosystem and food web dynamics.

 

2023 Duval County Unitary Election

 

A first Consolidated Government election is held on the twelfth Tuesday of the year in which general Consolidated Government elections are to be held. A general Consolidated Government election is held on the eighth Tuesday after the first Consolidated Government election.

 

Under the unitary election system, the first election is held with a single ballot for all voters within each electoral district, regardless of political party affiliation. Candidates appear on the ballot with party labels and campaign as party candidates.

 

Any candidate winning a majority of votes in the first election is elected; if no candidate for a position wins a majority, then the general election serves as a runoff between the top two winners regardless of party affiliation. All city council seats are up for election at each unitary election year.

 

• First Election: March 21, 2023

• Voter Registration Deadline: February 21, 2023

 

This holiday, give the gift of knowledge:

Make sure those you care about and love in Duval know that there is an election AND help them verify their voter registration at: https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home




Florida voters desiring to vote by mail in 2023 MUST submit a new VBM request

 

To request a vote by mail ballot in your county:

 

In Duval County:

— Online application at https://www.duvalelections.com/Voter-Information/Vote-By-Mail/Electronic-Ballot-Request

— In writing (e.g., by email, fax, mail) to Supervisor of Elections

105 E. Monroe Street

Jacksonville, FL 32202

— In person at Supervisor of Elections

105 E. Monroe Street

Jacksonville, FL 32202

HOURS: M-F 8 AM – 5 PM

— By telephone call to Supervisor of Elections at 904 255-VOTE [8683]

 

In Clay County:

— Online https://www.clayelections.gov/Voter-Information/Request-a-Mail-Ballot

— In person at Supervisor of Elections

500 N. Orange Ave.

Green Cove Springs, FL 32043

Hours: M-F, 8:30am — 4:30pm 

— By Phone at: 904-269-6350

 

In Nassau County:

— Online https://www.votenassaufl.gov/register-to-vote#OnlineVoterRegistration

— In person or via mail at the Supervisor of Elections Office

James S. Page Governmental Complex

96135 Nassau Place, Suite 3

Yulee, FL 32097

Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday

—Email to info@votenassaufl.gov

— By phone at 904-491-7500

 

In St Johns County:

Online https://www.votesjc.gov/vote-by-mail

— In person at the St Johns County Supervisor of Elections office

4455 Avenue A, Suite 101

St. Augustine, Florida 32095

— By phone at (904) 823-2238

— In writing by completing and returning the VBM Form found on the SOE website

 

For those making the request on behalf of themselves for a vote by mail ballot, the following information is required:

 

  • The name of the voter for whom the ballot is being requested
  • The voter's address
  • The voter's date of birth
  • The voter's Driver License or Last 4 of Social Security Number
  • The voter's signature (if the request is written)

 


 

Legislative Session is coming sooner than you think!

 

Below are the dates of the upcoming interim committee meetings for our Florida Legislators.

 

DO NOT WAIT until the first meeting to call, write, or visit your local house or senate representative. Make sure they know what you value, what you care about, what concerns you, and what you would like to see them work on during the upcoming session.

 

Too often we wait until bills have been introduced, and try to push or pull legislators.

Tell your representatives NOW what they need to hear and know. Never assume that because someone is of a certain political party that they know what is going on in their district or with their constituents.

 

January 3 – 6, 2023

January 17 – 20, 2023

January 23 – 27, 2023

February 6 – 10, 2023

February 13 – 17, 2023

February 20 – 24, 2023

March 7, 2023: Regular Session convenes; noon deadline for filing bills for introduction

 

Not sure who your house or senate representative is or how to contact them? You can start here: https://lwvfl.org/floridagovernment/

 



2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Observance

 

Each year, our League has participated in the Jacksonville observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday by attending the community breakfast and participating in the parade. This year, we will be attending observances with the Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration Committee of St Johns County. The sold-out breakfast will take place January 16, 2023, at Flagler College, Virginia Room at 7:30 a.m., where Dr. Diana L. Greene, Superintendent of Duval County Public School will be the guest speaker.

 

Later that morning, our League will also attend a silent march, which will leave 86 MLK Avenue at 10:30 am and will process to Plaza de la Constitución, where we will hear Reverend Dr. Gary Williams of Hopewell Church deliver comments on this year’s theme "This is no time for apathy or complacency, this is a time for vigorous and positive action" MLK, Jr.

 

Parking for the march is available on the northwest section of 86 MLK parking lot (behind the Rectory) and in the Lincolnville Museum parking lot just south on MLK Boulevard.

 

A sign-up email for participation in the march will be sent out separately within the next week. We hope you will join us.

 


 

Riverfront Parks Now Update


The non-profit Build Up Downtown, who RPN has been collaborating with over the past year in our goal to properly fund our riverfront parks downtown, is a terrific resource to follow downtown development progress. They are also very up to date on project status so we can get the latest update of projects downtown.

 

 



RenewJax

 

The RenewJax Campaign website has a new design with more content and features. The landing page includes two Take Action options, one focusing on City of Jacksonville leaders and another focusing on JEA leaders. 

 

 
RenewJax is planning on placing a number of ads in the Florida Times-Union over the coming weeks to elevate the campaign and engage more community members. RenewJax lead, Logan Cross, has asked for our help to increase and diversify the supporting organizations. 

 


Voter Registration
 
2022 has been a busy year for Voter Registration culminating with the new citizens swearing in ceremony at the December 18 Jacksonville Jaguars game. Seventy-four new citizens were sworn in at the event, and we registered almost 50 of them to vote. We also provided information for the other new citizens. 


2023 is already off to a busy start with continued voter registration at University of North Florida, Melanin Market, Farmer’s Markets and (hopefully) back to the USCIS soon. If you are interested in joining the Voter Registration committee, please contact Rhona DiCamillo at Rhona.DiCamillo@gmail.com

In Case You Missed It

Replay of Last Month’s Speaker Event

Replays of many past speaker events are available on our YouTube channel.

Membership Update

We can't do it without you! Please join in recognizing our new and returning members from last month.
New Members—Welcome aboard!  
  • Jocelyn Bailey
  • Laura and Dave Driver
  • Maureen Linden
  • Constance Miller
  • Rachel Paul
Returning Members—Thank you so much for choosing to renew!
  • Jeanne and Leo Czervionke
  • Ann Weisz
  • Greta Lanier
  • Dianne Main
  • Katherine Keller and Douglass Custis
Please email Membership Director Karen Parish at lwvjfc.membership@gmail.com if your name was missed. 


Be sure to check out our  website, lwvjaxfc.org, with an easy way to join or renew online, even if you prefer to pay by check. Click on the blue “Join Today” button at the top of the Homepage. Members who wish to renew must log in. If you are using a Mobile device, you will need to select Desktop at the bottom of your screen to receive the Login prompt.


Donors

We wish to acknowledge and thank those who have made donations this month:
 
• Mae Jones
• Carol Hamilton
• Susan Goldring
• Sandy Martin
• Elizabeth Head
• Deborah Azcuy
• Kay McKenna
• Mary Alice Phelan
 
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.
thank you


Volunteers
Volunteers Always Needed 

Quite often, our League needs volunteers to help with small tasks that are not time consuming but vital to our leadership and membership.

If you are willing to help make phone calls, be trained to send text messages, or assist in other ways, please contact us and let us help you figure out how to invest your time in our League and our democracy.

Contact Lanelle at lwvjaxfc@gmail.com to discuss topics and abilities.  
 
For more specific volunteer tasks, click HERE.

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

We look forward to hearing from you!

Phone: 904-355-8683

EmailLWVJAXFC@gmail.com

Postal Address:
Please use the address below even if a form or document you have received from the League gives a different one.

League of Women Voters 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 © 2021 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.