 | | | | 103 Years Later And The League Is Still Fighting For Voting Rights
I realize the 2023 Florida Legislative Session must be concerning to you. I want you to know that regardless of the legislation that passes and is signed into law by Governor DeSantis, WE WILL CONTINUE OUR WORK.
The League of Women Voters was founded to not only give women access to the ballot box but to make sure they could cast informed votes and not just mimic the votes of their husbands. Today, we work to make sure that eligible citizens are registered to vote, create awareness about vote-by-mail, early voting, election day, and connect voters to issues that impact our local community, state and nation. NONE OF THIS WILL CHANGE.
We may be required to jump over more hurdles. We may have to adhere to more administrative processes. We may have to provide even more information to eligible citizens and voters when we interact with them. Whatever the requirements and mandates, the League of Women Voters is up to the challenge.
You can anticipate more training opportunities for those of us who volunteer as Voter Registration Committee members. The League of Women Voters of Florida has a hard-earned reputation for voter registration integrity and high-quality assurance, and we will continue to provide our volunteer members with all the information needed to support our local communities with voter registration and election information.
|  | Now is the time for each of us to commit to the work of the League! I’m not backing down and I hope you won’t either.
If you are not already connected to League work at the local or state level, please contact me so we can discuss what matters to you and connect you with others doing that work.
Want to leave a great legacy for your children and grandchildren? Leave them with a democracy that allows them full autonomy of their bodies, an opportunity for access to high quality education, access to affordable quality healthcare, the opportunity to live in safe and affordable housing, and the right to elect a candidate of their choice without gerrymandering or voter suppression.
Lanelle Phillmon, LWVJFC President | | |
| | | First Wednesday Speaker Series with Dr. Sally Butzin
Wednesday, May 3, 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm (Zoom only)
The topic will be “Dismantling Public Education - How Did We Get Here?”
Dr. Sally Butzin has demonstrated her devotion to quality education and advocacy throughout her professional life. Her educational credentials include her B.A. from DePauw University, M.S. in Reading and Elementary Education and a Ph. D. in Elementary Education from Florida State University. In 1969 Sally began her professional career in education as a teacher In St. Louis and later at the FSU Developmental Research School. In 1995 she founded the Institute for School Innovation where she served as Executive Director until her retirement in 2011.
Dr. Butzin’s professional accomplishments include the development of Project CHILD (Changing How Instruction for Learning is Delivered), an instructional system for grades K – 5, and was a co-developer for Project TEAMS (Technology Enhancing Achievement in Middle School). Project CHILD has been implemented in classrooms throughout the U.S. and Canada, serving over 200,000 students with this interactive, technology-integrated approach to learning.
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In 2008 Dr. Butzin was named Distinguished Educator by the FSU College of Education. She has published numerous articles and books on education issues. Dr. Butzin is immediate past President of the League of Women Voters of Tallahassee, and serves on the state education task force, as well as a volunteer at the Capitol with the League’s Lobby Corps. Sally writes a guest column on education issues for the Tallahassee newspaper and is a frequent speaker on education issues for the League’s Speaker’s Bureau.
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 | League of Women Voters of Jacksonville/First Coast EDUCATION ACTION TEAM!
Recent state laws threaten the quality of education and safety of students. In DCPS this year, the sex ed curriculum was modified, supports for LGBTQ+ youth removed, diverse books banned, and classroom libraries purged. In addition, the passage of HB1 may reduce public school funding.
We are organizing a team of League volunteers to support DCPS students, and teachers. Members will work to ensure that DCPS schools have the resources to provide a quality education to all students. We will contact members when the DCPS school board is meeting on a hot issue. Members may call or e/mail school board members, attend school board meetings, fill out a speaker’s card, and speak during public comment. While we will not be asking each volunteer to do every action, we will ask that each volunteer commit to at least one action as we establish opportunities.
Join us on May 20th, 2:30-4:00, at the Regency Branch Public Library to find out more about the LWV Jacksonville/FC Education Action Team! | Voter Registration
We are still looking for volunteers for the May Daze Event on May 5. The May Daze Event is an event hosted by the United Way and will be held at Kids Hope Alliance on A. Philip Randolph Blvd. We will be registering voters during a three-day tax preparation event from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Please go to www.lwvjaxfc.org - log in - and then click on "volunteering" under the Members tab to sign up. | What Should We Focus On In The Coming Year?
Our Local Program serves as our compass to guide us in the work we will commit to in the coming year. It is developed by our chapter members and reflects the issues, challenges and opportunities that exist in our four counties. Each year, we update the program to ensure it reflects the current areas of focus for our time and energy.
We will hold an in person Local Program meeting June 10th at 2:00 pm at Regency Square Library in Room A. Please register to attend so we can provide provisions for each attendee.
For those who are not able to attend in person, you are welcome to offer your input via email at lwvjaxfc@gmail.com (put LOCAL PROGRAM INPUT in your subject line) or via the space provided in the registration link below.
We ask that you contribute input that reflects the work YOU are willing to do with committees and not work that you would like to create for others to do.
All suggestions will be considered by the new board members, and a recommended program will be put before the general membership via newsletter within 60 days of the annual meeting and voted on by the general membership within 100 days of the annual meeting. | | Florida Right to Clean and Healthy Waters Petition | | | 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. | | |
Our Local Speakers Bureau Is Looking For Speakers
The League of Women Voters of Florida has a number of prepared presentations that allow us to educate our members as well as the public. In order for us to accommodate the many requests we receive, we are recruiting new members to our local Speakers Bureau. If you are interested, please respond via the link below. We will be scheduling a meeting in July for all interested members so we can review the presentations, discuss League presentation protocol and address concerns or questions.
| LWVJFC Education Fund
League of Women Voters is a multi-faceted organization. While it was originally founded to focus on educating newly enfranchised women about the issues of the day, its scope expanded to also studying those issues and advocating for political action to enact our goals.
As the League became more active in issue advocacy, the need arose for a separate organizational arm specifically to support activities like voter registration and information. The League of Women Voters Education Fund was established for that purpose. In our own League, Education Funds enabled us to conduct our Candidates Meet and Greet this year.
Because of its advocacy activities, League qualifies under the tax code as an organization that, while exempt from federal taxation, cannot receive tax-exempt donations from its supporters. The Education Fund, on the other hand, can receive tax-deductible donations, to the full extent of the law.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the Education Fund that provides this vital support to our League, please send your check, payable to LWVJFC Ed Fund, to LWVJFC, P.O.Box 330353, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233-0353. | | | 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!
Rebekah Freeman
Mary Hackbarth
Jeffrey Levenson
Elisabeth Shorstein
Returning Members—Thank you so much for choosing to renew!
Patricia Lee
Jacqueline Cetnar
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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.
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We wish to acknowledge and thank those who have made donations this month:
- Paige Gottlieb
- Lanelle Phillmon (ED Fund)
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.
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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.
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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. | | |
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