Upcoming Events Highlights | |
Many of these events are explained in further detail throughout this newsletter. Check out our full calendar here.
Cocktails and Conversations: Thursday, July 9, 5:30 p.m at Casa Grande Midtown (Joann Fabrics plaza across from Whole Foods). Join us for food, fun, and casual conversation about League issues and more.
Environmental Postcard Project: Wednesday, July 15, 12:00–2:00 p.m. at the Eastside Branch Library. Help write postcards to Florida citizens who are members of environmental orgs but are inactive voters.
July 20: Last day to register or change party for the Aug. 18 primary. Check your registration status here. Please share this info with your friends and networks!
Positive Posse: Thursday, July 23, 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Miccosukee Rd. & Capital Cir.
Big Bend Environmental Forum: Tuesday, Aug. 4, 5:15-8:00 at the LeRoy Collins Main Library. Candidates will answer questions about energy, the environment, and sustainable growth and development. Visit the BBEF website.
Voting Rights Act National Day of Action: Saturday, Aug. 8, 4:30–7:00 p.m. at Jack McLean Community Center.
Member Orientation: Sunday, Aug. 9, 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the LeRoy Collins Main Library.
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There is so much going on in this important election year—even in these muggy summer days. Your league is actively participating in voter education events, targeting young voters, returning voters, retirees, and voters in precincts with low turnout.
We are working with the Supervisor of Elections office to encourage voters to participate in the Aug. 18 primary and remind everyone that Vote-by-Mail requests do not carry over from the past election. We will soon be providing information on the League’s VOTE411 which helps inform voters by asking local candidates to respond to key questions about our community.
We had six successful forums for local candidates on the primary ballot, co-sponsored with the Capital Region News Collaborative, the Tallahassee Democrat and WFSU-TV. There will be additional forums before the November general election.
There are lots of opportunities for LWVT member engagement over the next few months including helping to staff LWVT tables at local events throughout Tallahassee. If you are interested in participating, please contact Laurie Marshall at lbmarshall55@gmail.com. We need everyone’s help in preparing for the November election.
Two other opportunities are also available. The League of Women Voters of Florida is part of a multi-group nonpartisan coalition on Florida election protection. LWVT members will be trained to help monitor polling places, especially in communities with a history of voting problems to ensure that there is no intimidation or other obstructions to voters during elections. Also, the LWVT will be attending canvassing board meetings in the Leon County Supervisor of Elections office to monitor decisions related to voting machine testing, early voting, and certifying election results. Any Leaguer interested in participating in either poll monitoring or attending canvassing board meetings should contact me at cweissert@fsu.edu.
Finally, the League will inform voters through our speakers bureau where we provide nonpartisan, accurate information on elections, ballot measures, and voting processes. If you are part of a group or organization that might be interested in having the League come to present at a meeting, please contact Trish Neely at info@lwvtallahassee.org.
In League,
| | Carol Weissert, LWVT Co-President | | August 8 National Day of Action | |
As part of LWVUS's Unite and Rise campaign, Leagues across the nation are partnering with community organizations for a day of civic action in honor of the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The LWVT has chosen to hold our event in a low voter turnout neighborhood in the hopes of boosting interest in voting.
Join the League of Women Voters of Tallahassee, Legal Defense Fund, and Big Bend Voting Rights Project for an empowering and inspiring Freedom Summer Teach-in and back-to-school drive!
When: Saturday, Aug. 8, 4:30-7:00 p.m.
Where: Jack McLean Community Center 700 Paul Russell Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Free admission; dinner provided.
Learn about the history of voting rights in Florida and how you can advocate for important issues such as affordability, education, and housing! Support your local teachers by bringing much-needed school supplies. To register or commit to donating supplies, click here.
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Seventy years ago five women stood on the steps of the Florida Capitol and announced the formation of the Tallahassee League of Women Voters–one would become our first president. We've been educators and activists in our community ever since! What do we do, how do we do it, and where do you fit? Come to orientation and find out.
Member Orientation
Sunday, Aug. 9
2:00–4:00 p.m.
LeRoy Collins Main Library
Meeting Room C, 2nd floor
This event is not just for new members! Anyone who would like to learn how to be more involved in the League is welcome and encouraged to attend. Register here for this free event.
Today we call this building the Old Capitol, and the red and white striped awnings add southern charm!
| Trish Neely, LWVT Membership Chair | Partnering with People Power for Florida | |
The LWVT has begun a collaboration with People Power for Florida (PPFF), a youth-led organization that focuses on registering and educating young voters. It is also an official FSU student organization, which allows them to easily work on campus.
Izzy Miletic, a LWVT Board member, and Barb Licht, a Voter Services Committee member, recently volunteered with PPFF and highly encourage other Leaguers to do so as well.
On Saturday, June 20, Izzy and Barb tabled at FSU for PPFF’s “Dorm Storm” event by the Student Union, which is FSU’s polling place. They mainly registered and updated incoming freshman. Izzy and Barb are both certified to register voters for the League, but PPFF provides their own training on voter registration applications, Vote-by-Mail ballot request forms, and best practices for engaging with students. PPFF set everything up and provided all
necessary materials. Though it was hot outside, they were able to stay comfortable in the shade and under the provided tent. Some volunteers dispersed in small groups to popular campus locations to find students, while others sat at the table to catch folks walking by.
As students completed their forms, volunteers answered voting-related questions and shared information about the upcoming election and early voting. Support from PPFF was always close at hand, whether by phone or at the table. Pizza and water were readily available, too!
Dorm Storm was rewarding for both volunteers and students. Many incoming freshmen were eager to learn about the voting process and appreciated having someone available to answer questions and help them complete their forms correctly. Be on the lookout for messages about upcoming tabling events with PPFF. This is a fantastic way to connect with young voters at an important milestone in their lives!
On Tuesday, June 23, Barb volunteered to canvass door-to-door in an area near FAMU. She was paired with a PPFF staff member. The location, specific doors to knock on, and materials were all organized by PPFF, and the staff member made it clear that if volunteers get tired, they can stop at any point. When no one answered the door, which was common, they left a flyer with info about registering and the election. Once the weather cools down a bit, canvassing with PPFF can be an enjoyable way to interact with voters in the community for those who like walking.
For those who want to volunteer but prefer to stay in the comfort of their own home, there also are opportunities for phone banking with PPFF. Be on the lookout for a message
about what is involved with phone banking and how to participate.
| Izzy Miletic, LWVT Board Member, and Barb Licht, LWVT Voter Services Committee member | | |
Volunteers are needed for Senior Outreach lunches in October.
Wanted: 1-2 volunteers to staff a table at each of six Senior Center Outreach Lunch & Learns prior to the General Election. LWVT volunteers must have completed the online Voter Services training and "earned 100%" on the completion quiz.
The dates/locations are listed below. Volunteers arrive at the location by 10:15 a.m. and work until 12:30 p.m. This is a good opportunity for "new" Voter Services volunteers to be partnered with a seasoned Leaguer for training.
Please reply to gale_workman@hotmail.com (850-228-1867) to volunteer for the particular date(s). Thank you for including your cellphone number with your reply.
Thursday, October 1, Miccosukee Community Center, 15011 Cromartie Road
Thursday, October 8, Woodville Community Center, 8000 Old Woodville Road
Tuesday, October 20, Fort Braden location TBA (because of Early Voting)
| | Campaign Contribution Refund Program | | |
The Campaign Contribution Refund Program (CCRP) is administered by the Independent Ethics Board (IEB). It allows up to a $25 refund of campaign contributions to the City Commission candidate(s) of your choice. It was initiated in 2014 as part of the Tallahassee Charter Amendment that created the IEB. The amendment was part of a general ethics reform package initiated by a consortium of groups, including the League of Women Voters of Tallahassee.
The intent of the CCRP, as part of this package, was to lessen the impact of “big money” influence on city elections. The need for this was shown by the federal investigation ten years ago that resulted in the removal and imprisonment of one former Tallahassee mayor, a fine collected against another, as well as a fine and resignation of a City Manager.
The first few years of the IEB were focused on strengthening the Ethics Code, and very few people were made aware of the CCRP. In recent years, the Ethics Board has increased its promotion efforts with the assistance of the Supervisor of Elections and many of the candidates, who promote the program through their campaign literature and websites. The IEB has reported that use of the program has been increasing for the past few election cycles as a result of this effort. More information is available at https://www.talgov.com/ethics.
To help promote this program, brochures are available for distribution during your voter registration efforts and other activities. Please contact the Ethics Office at 850-891-6551, or contact LWVT member Ernie Paine at 850-509-4863 to have them delivered to you.
| Ernie Paine, Local Government Committee | Watch the 2026 Primary Candidate Forums | The League of Women Voters of Tallahassee and the newly formed Capital Region News Collaborative (CRNC) produced six candidate forums last month. Watch the forums and learn more about the CRNC here. | | City Commission Seat 5 candidates Tifany Hill, Dot Inman-Johnson, and incumbent Diane Williams Cox. Photo credit: Tallahassee Democrat. | | |
Need a little positivity? Don’t we all!
Come to receive and spread some love and light by joining the Positive Posse! We gather on a street corner and spend a couple of hours holding uplifting, encouraging signs—because a little kindness can go a long way, and we could all use a boost.
With summer heat in full swing, we’ve moved to an evening shift. It’s still hot, but much more manageable—and we get the added bonus of sharing positivity with people as they head home from their workday.
Thursday, July 23
5:30–7:30 p.m.
Miccosukee Rd. & Capital Circle (in front of CVS)
Weather note: If it’s raining, we’ll reschedule—neither we nor the signs are waterproof!
No need to bring anything—we’ve got plenty of positive signs ready. Just show up, smile, and be part of something uplifting.
✨ Come for the joy you give… stay for the joy you feel. ✨
| Sabrina Hartley, LWVT Board Member | | Isabella J. Miletic, LWVT Board Member | | |
The LWV educates and advocates for our constitutional democracy primarily through membership dues and donations. In other words, we could not do this work without you!
A sincere thank you to the following renewing members for donations to the general fund:
Betty Serow
Edward Denham
Becky Parsons
Nijole Wellendorf
Susan McLeod
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If you are interested in donating to either our education or general fund, please visit our website and select the large DONATE button in the banner for more information about the funds and how to donate.
And if you are not yet a member, join us!
| Trish Neely, Membership Chair | | Welcome New Members! You make our work possible. | | | Jada Hunter
John Donaldson
Elizabeth Halvorson
Cheryl Gratt
Tina Hollie
Max Herrle | Angela Robinson
Katie Dufford
Dorothea Favors
Rachel Favors
Cheryl Rowland
Chicarla Pye | | | Local government calendars | | | | |
