 | | | | Lobby Days
This year’s League Lobby Days were held at the beginning of Legislative Session. While it was great to see so many League members from other chapters and members of our state board, it was a bittersweet occasion.
I attended Lobby Days along with a fellow League member, Paige Gottlieb who may be willing to share some of her own experiences with you as it was her first Lobby Days. A couple of weeks prior to Lobby Days, LWVFL board member Jennifer Adams provided a great presentation on Legislative Session which I hope they will continue to do each year going forward.
As League President, I reached out to a number of Representatives and Senators in advance of our visit to Tallahassee in hopes of meeting with them or their staff while in the capitol. I was successful in securing meetings with the Legislative Aides for Senators Davis and Yarborough. Some of those I requested meetings with declined while others did not respond.
During our meetings with our representatives, we were able to make them aware of the League’s positions on Education, Gun Safety and Reproductive Rights. While Senator Davis’s positions on these topics tend to align with those of the League, Senator Yarborough’s do not. The League remains a nonpartisan political organization which neither endorses nor opposes candidates or parties and in that spirit, we will continue to correspond and meet with elected representatives that govern and influence our communities and state.
|  | I strongly encourage each League member to communicate with your elected representatives to ensure they know who you are as a constituent, what issues exists in your community that requires their attention, and where you stand on bills they are voting on that will have impact on us for decades to come.
I would also encourage each League member to commit to one civic action each month whether that involves writing letters, making phone calls, becoming a poll worker, attending a local or state government meeting, reading to a child, volunteering with an organization that contributes to the academic and life skills development of a young person, teaching language or civics to those preparing for their citizenship, and the list goes on. Regardless of what legislation gets passed in Tallahassee or Washington D.C., there is always some big or small thing that each of us can do to make our society better for ourselves and others. But we must be participants and not spectators.
Remember, times are tough but so are YOU!
Lanelle Phillmon, LWVJFC President
| | |
| | First Wednesday Speaker Series with Ellen Leroy-Reed the Executive Director at Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve
Join us in person on Wednesday, April 5 at 12pm!
We are excited to announce that our April Speaker Series will be in person at the Pablo Creek Library on April 5th at noon! We look forward to seeing you at the event. Attendees are welcome to bring a bag lunch; we will provide water and cookies. Please RSVP to indicate your attendance.
Register Here
For those who are not able to join us in person, you may register via Zoom to attend virtually.
This event is open to the public and we welcome your attendance in person or via Zoom.
|  |
Ellen Leroy-Reed is the Executive Director at GTM (Guana Tolomato Matanzas) National Estuarine Research Reserve in Ponte Vedra Beach, a hidden gem on the First Coast. The Reserve's Visitor Center is located in Ponte Vedra Beach, but its boundary of conservation lands spans over 76,000 acres south into Flagler County. The mission of the Reserve is to protect natural biodiversity and cultural resources using a scientific approach to its research, education, and stewardship. The Friends help the Reserve achieve its mission by bridging the gap in funding and resources through donations, volunteerism, and community partnerships.
Before joining the Friends, Ms. Reed served as Gala Director for the American Heart Association and owned a consultancy business specializing in sustainability and development for mission-based organizations. She has volunteered with the US Green Building Council, GlobalJax, Navy League, American Lung Association, HabiJax, and the USO. She served as a mentor with Community Connections and Junior Achievement’s JAGirl$ Program. Ms. Reed and her husband, Fred, have lived in Jacksonville for over ten years, and they have five children.
| | |
|
Mayoral Candidates’ Meet and Greet
Our Meet and Greet, held on Sunday, March 12 at the downtown Public Library, was a great opportunity not only to hear from the candidates, but to let them hear from the voters. Omega Allen, Donna Deegan, Audrey Gibson, Brian Griffin, and Frank Keasler Jr. all participated. The audience took full advantage of their presence to speak with them and to let them know how they wanted to see Jacksonville progress.
**Photos by The Wayfarers Dream, Joshua Kirshner, Owner and Photographer
Planned Mayoral Candidate Forum
Since none of the Mayoral candidates received at least 50% of the votes in the Unitary Election, there will be a run-off election between the top two vote getters on May16. LWVJFC is planning to partner with the Meninak Club of Jacksonville to conduct a candidate forum on the evening of Monday, May 1st, featuring Donna Deegan and Daniel Davis, the top two vote getters. Both candidates have been invited, and we are awaiting their replies. The forum will be held in the Herbert Center at the University of North Florida and will be moderated by Scott Johnson, news anchor at WJXT4. League members will be involved in developing questions and in facilitating the forum. Save the date and watch your emails for additional information as it gets closer.
If you would like to volunteer to help with the forum, please contact Karen Parish lwvjfc.membership@gmail.com or Hattie Kaufman hek14874@gmail.com.
| |
LWVJFC Board Of Directors Nominations
The Nominating Committee is seeking members to fill the following open positions on the Board for the upcoming year:
Director - Communications - Amy Mitchell is completing her term and will be stepping down. The Director is responsible for the newsletter and communicating with members about upcoming events and hot topics. The estimated time commitment is 6 to 8 hours per month including attending the monthly Board meeting.
Director - Education - Linda Mann is completing her term and will be stepping down. The Director is responsible for remaining current of local issues impacting education within the four counties of the League. The estimated time commitment is 8 to 10 hours per month including attending the monthly Board meeting and participating in the LWVFL Education monthly meeting.
Director - Speaker Series - Laura Strickland is completing her term and will be stepping down. This person identifies speakers to educate members and other attendees on topics that support and reflect the League’s priorities and local program. The estimated time commitment is 6 hours per month including attending the monthly Board meeting and the monthly lunch and learn event.
To learn more about these open positions, please contact Rebecca Duffell, Nominating Committee Chair.
|  | | Back at USCIS! |  | | Beachwood Apartments | | |
|
Voter Registration Committee Update
Welcome to the new members of the Voter Registration Committee: Rachel Paul, Susan Rodgers and Elaine Weistock.
The Voter Registration Committee was busy over the last few months. In January we were welcomed back to conduct voter registration for our newest citizens where we registered close to 100 new voters. We also participated in two community events - Real Sense Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day and a Second Chance event with the Florida Justice Center. February saw us out and about at Fleet Landing, University of North Florida, Melanin Market and Community Days at Beachwood Apartments. Thank you to all of our volunteers - we truly couldn't do it without you.
To volunteer for upcoming voter registration events - go to the lwvjaxfc.org and log in. Voter Registration events are only open to League members so you must log in to access. Click on the Members tab and then on Volunteering on the drop down menu. This will take you to the list of upcoming opportunities. You can also click on the Calendar and then click on the event - a volunteer button will be on the right side of the screen. The following events are now open for volunteers: University of North Florida on April 5 and April 12; Cambodian New Year Celebration at Wat Kanteyaram Buddhist Temple on April 15 (FULL); May Daze Tax Event on May 3 and May 5 (May 4 is FULL)
Finally, some exciting news from our partnership with UNF’s Center for Community Based- Learning. UNF has received an award from the All In Campus Democracy Challenge for having a “Highly Established Action Plan” for non-partisan democratic engagement during the 2022 election cycle. The League’s participation with UNF was instrumental in the receipt of this award. If you want to learn more about this organization - check out: allinchallenge.org/highly-established-action-plans/
If you would like to join us at future Voter Registration events, please contact Rhona DiCamillo, Voter Services Director, at lwvjaxfcvote@gmail.com for details on how to get trained to do voter registration.
|
Voter Suppression Training
On behalf of the LWVFL Speakers Bureau, we will provide a presentation on Voter Suppression on April 8, 2023 at 3:15 pm at the Southeast Regional Library at 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd Jacksonville, FL 32256.
In addition to the presentation, there will be adequate time to socialize and get to know fellow League members and to hear about upcoming opportunities at the local and state League.
League of Women Voters of Florida Convention 2023
Our state convention will be held in Orlando June 2 – 4, 2023 (registration link coming soon). State convention is held in odd numbered years and national convention is held in even numbered years. Convention is a time for League members to come together from across the state to network and share ideas. Its also a time when we conduct the League’s business to include voting on changes to bylaws, new board members, and our operational budget.
If you are interested in joining a state committee, convention is a great time to hear directly from the state chairs and learn more about a specific topic. There will also be caucuses that will allow us to learn more about work that can be done in the future that isn't necessarily assigned to a committee. Overall, it’s a great way to learn more about the League and ways to get connected to work that resonates with the members.
I will be attending on behalf of our League and hope you will consider attending. For those who are interested in ride or room share, please submit your information via the link below so we can attempt to match members.
Poll Workers Needed
Duval Supervisor of Elections has posted their training dates for poll workers that will work the May 2023 election. If you are interested in becoming a poll worker this is a great time to do so. These municipal elections tend to have a lower voter turnout which provides a great opportunity to learn in the precinct.
In Duval County, if you are a first time poll worker, you can only be assigned to work on Election Day. After you have worked two elections on Election Day, you are eligible to work during Early Voting.
You can read more about becoming a poll worker and register for a class at:
https://www.duvalelections.com/Poll-Workers
Poll Workers are NOT volunteers but are PAID to help our SOE staff our voting precincts. The rate of pay is:
Precinct Manager $310.00
Assistant Manager $250.00
Inspector Technician $225.00
Deputy $215.00
For members in other counties, check with your Supervisor of Elections office for upcoming training opportunities.
Education Committee
The Education Committee will not meet in April but will continue to send updates by email. As a part of our ongoing effort to educate our members and the public, please note the links to the School Choice Brochure, both in English and Spanish. Please feel free to distribute these to members of our community as an information-wide effort. Please contact Linda Mann at education@lwvjaxfc.org if you have any questions. And watch for Alerts from LWVFL through the end of the month.
|  | | National Votes for Women Trail
The National Votes for Women Trail is sponsored by the National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites. The Trail seeks to recognize and celebrate the enormous diversity of people and groups active in the struggle for women’s suffrage. The historical markers are funded by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.
| | |
On March 29, LWVJFC was honored to take part in the dedication of a National Votes for Women Trail Marker honoring Frances Murphy Cooley and the Florida Equal Franchise League. The marker was erected just to the west of the entrance of the current Jacksonville City Hall. It was in a room in that building, at the time Cohen Brothers Department Store, that the headquarters of the Florida Equal Franchise League was established. Mrs. Cooley was one of the organizers and leaders of this group of suffragists. The League sent delegates to march in the national woman suffrage parade in Washington DC and lobbied the Florida state legislature for women suffrage. | | |
| | |
Right to Clean Healthy Waters
The League of Women Voters of Florida has endorsed the Right to Clean and Healthy Waters petition and we will be gathering petitions in our four counties (Clay, Duval, Nassau and St Johns). We only have until November 2023 to gather the mandatory minimum number of petitions (891,589) across the state.
| | |
| | Replay of Last Month’s Speaker Event
Replays of many past speaker events are available on our YouTube channel. | | |
| | We can't do it without you! Please join in recognizing our new and returning members from last month.
New Members—Welcome aboard!
Victoria & Robert Freeman
Pam Paul
Returning Members—Thank you so much for choosing to renew!
Marcella Washington
Louise Nelson
Larry and Lynn Paul
Lanelle Phillmon and Jeannie Allen
Gale Chisholm
Hattie and Allan Kaufman
Bobbie Nord
|  |
Be sure to check out our new 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.
| | |
| |
We wish to acknowledge and thank those who have made donations this month:
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.
| | |
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.
| | | | 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
We look forward to hearing from you!
Phone: 904-355-8683
Email: LWVJAXFC@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 © 2023 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.
|
| |