|
|
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IS A NONPARTISAN, GRASSROOTS NONPROFIT
DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING EVERYONE TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY.
| |
Florida Supreme Court signs off on abortion rights amendment for November ballot
James CallCapital Bureau | USA TODAY Network – Florida
Published 4:01pm ET April 1, 2024
|  | |
During the petition gathering phase of this citizen’s initiative, members of Florida's 29 local LWVFL affiliates worked in coordination with the Floridians Protecting Freedom campaign to ensure more than a million petitions were signed and collected.
Our chapter, LWVSRQ, worked indefatigably to collect signatures under the leadership of Vilia Johnson, our advocacy VP.
We cannot even begin to thank all of our "petition warriors".
Your hard work and determination has paid off!
Following today’s announcement, LWVFL will begin work to launch a comprehensive campaign to educate voters about the importance of Amendment 4 and to encourage them to vote in favor of reproductive freedom.
"We are dedicated to ensuring that all individuals have the right to make decisions about their own bodies and have access to the reproductive healthcare they need. We are dedicated to ensuring women can fully participate in democracy." said League of Women Voters of Florida co-president Debbie Chandler, Esq. "We will be working tirelessly to ensure that this initiative passes and that reproductive freedom is protected in Florida."
| |
SARASOTA COUNTY
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS SUPPORTERS
Join us in the most fun call to action you’ve ever done!
This is a statewide call to action to make history rallying for
abortion access and reproductive freedom in Florida.
| |
|
Floridians Protecting Freedom is launching the
"Yes on 4"
campaign in Orlando April 13th from 12-2pm.
Let’s show our Sarasota County support and travel to Orlando together to what we hope will be the largest rally for reproductive freedom in Florida history!
If you are interested in going with us as a group, click here to register.
Register by Friday, April 5th! We will respond with more details. Questions?
| |
Don't Let Your LWVSRQ Membership Lapse!
Log in to our website to find out if you need to renew.
Questions: contact membership@lwvsrq.org
| |
The 2024 Elections (August Primary Election and November General Election) are critical to Sarasota, to the State of Florida, and to the Nation. This year, the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County is embarking on our most ambitious and comprehensive educational outreach plan to Empower Voters and Defend Democracy. | |
|
Our campaign, "Register * Educate * Vote!" is designed to maximize our community's electoral voice.
With the financial support of our donors, augmented by The 2024 Giving Challenge, and the efforts of our dedicated volunteers and community partners, we will significantly expand our reach to the broadest, most diverse audience in our history.
Never have we had this level of support and involvement from our media partners and our diverse, nonpartisan network of community organizations.
Articles, social media and public service announcements will direct voters to trusted, fact-based, nonpartisan educational resources such as Vote411.org, and SarasotaVotes.gov. Voters will also be guided to our newly revamped website, lwvsrq.org to learn about candidate forums, and panels on ballot initiatives.
"Register*Educate*Vote!"
will enable voters to make informed decisions and have their voices heard!
This is the year to get involved! So much is at stake!
In League,
Shawn Bartelt, President
| |
|
Your donation to the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County will help us embark on our most ambitious "Get Out The Vote" initiative ever.
The Giving Challenge is an exciting 24-hour online giving event that connects about 700 nonprofit organizations with passionate donors and community members to support diverse causes and create enduring impact in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties.
| |  |
|
The Patterson Foundation continues to uplift the nonprofit sector in our region through the 2024 Giving Challenge. To strengthen giving throughout our community, The Patterson Foundation will contribute a 1:1 match for unique donations, up to $100 per donor, per nonprofit organization. There is no limit on the number of unique individual matches a nonprofit organization can receive.
| | |
Coffee or Lunch and Conversation | |
A way for our members to catch up on latest League news and get to know one another. Please join us! | |
South County
Tuesday, April 30th 12:00 noon
To find out more and/or to register
| | |
North/Central County
Tuesday, April 23rd 9:00am
To find out more and/or to register
| |
Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board August Election
Understanding the Issues
April 8th, 6-7pm
Selby Library Auditorium and Facebook Live
1331 First Street
Sarasota, Florida 34236
| |
|
In a March 29th Sarasota Herald Tribune article Earle Kimel states,
"The recent filings mean the campaign for at least one of the four [hospital board] seats up for election this year will feature a closed Republican primary on Aug. 20, with the winner facing a Democrat in November, while two of the seats may be decided via open primaries in which all voters participate." (Full article available here)
Our distinguished panelists will explain how the SMH board is structured, how it operates and how it can affect our healthcare system. Our speakers include Sandra Stuart, who serves on the board of the SMH Healthcare Foundation and Dr. Kirk G. Voelker, Medical Director of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s Clinical Research Center. Our third speaker, Alan Unell researches healthcare systems and policies and publishes the daily newsletter “Healthcare Advocacy. He will address these important questions:
How has privatization of public and non-profit hospitals worked nationally? Specifically, how has privatization impacted patient outcomes?
To learn more......
| |
2023 Florida Legislative Session Recap
What’s Ahead in 2024?
LWVSRQ Annual Open Meeting
| |
|
Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 11:00 AM until 1:30 PM
The Carlisle Inn and Conference Center
3727 Bahia Vista
Sarasota, FL 34232
| |
|
Dr. Susan A. MacManus
Distinguished USF Professor Emerita, author and political analyst for NBC news.
| |
|
Dr. Susan A. MacManus will cover the major legislation that passed or failed during the 2023 legislative session, and analyze how this could impact the 2024 federal and state elections.
The LWVSRQ Annual Meeting will include annual reports, a leadership election, and voting on our newly revised bylaws. A separate email will be sent to all voting members so they can review these documents before the meeting. However...
Non-members are welcome and encouraged to attend!
| |
|
This event is being organized by our own Education Action Team leader,
Dr. Jill Lewis-Spector. Please make every effort to attend in person.
| |
June 27-June 30 at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC
In-person and virtual delegates will have the opportunity to participate in our Convention Plenary and vote on our 2024 – 2026 Program, 2024 – 2026 budget, 2024 – 2026 LWVUS Board of Directors and Nominating Committee, and submitted bylaws amendments.
| |
Sarasota County's Story of Growth...
A Balancing Act
March 14th, 5:30-6:30
| |
|
Jon Thaxton delved into Sarasota County's development plans over the years, starting from the 1975 future land use plan map. The evolution of plans, including the controversial Sarasota 2050 plan, was discussed. The speaker expressed concerns about how these plans, originally intended to balance population growth with environmental preservation, have not lived up to their promises. Specific issues included the loss of habitat, destruction of wetlands, and compromised environmental protection standards.
Jon presented an alternative perspective for the future. A simplified graphic categorized existing developments, approved but not yet developed areas, and public lands in Sarasota County. Only about 34,000 acres or 10% of the total county area remain for which use has yet to be determined. Jon emphasized the need for a balanced approach in decision-making for the remaining undeveloped lands in Sarasota County. He encouraged the audience to speak out and vote for officials who will listen to their concerns.
| |
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
BECOMING A MEMBER IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP!
VOTER SERVICES IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HAND OUT FLYERS AT FOOD BANKS, REGISTER VOTERS, ADDRESS POSTCARDS AND JOIN OUR SPEAKERS BUREAU.
VOTER SERVICES NOW MEETS MONTHLY VIA ZOOM. YOU CAN CHECK OUT CURRENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ON OUR WEBSITE. CONTACT KATHY McEACHRAN FOR MORE INFORMATION.
| |
March was a busy month for our voter services team.
- We were at Black Family Wellness Expo
- We registered students at Ringling College of Art and Design and at USF Manatee/ Sarasota.
- We distributed voter registration information flyers in English and Spanish at two Second Harvest Food Bank locations.
- We registered staff at Planned Parenthood.
- We partnered with First Congregational United Church of Christ to address postcards to returning citizens
-
We were a sponsor for the Project 180 luncheon.
We need three members to help us address postcards on April 4th from 10-12.
There are several other voter registration events planned as well.
Click here for more information or to sign up!
| |
|
|
|
March New Members:
Joanne Abold
Pam Brown
Sandra Cooke
Janet Emanuel
Catherine Greenough
Maureen Keys
Susan Murray
Shari Thornton
| | | |
|
|
|
Education Action Team
Meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday; 5:30-7:00pm EDT
Currently meeting via Zoom
Team Leader: Jill Lewis-Spector
email: Education@lwvsrq.org
You must be a member of the League to participate.
| | | |
|
|
|
HealthCare and Reproductive Health Action Team
Meets monthly on the 1st Tuesday; 10:30am-11:30am
Currently meeting via Zoom
Team Leader: Ruth Brandwein
email: HealthCare@lwvsrq.org
You must be a member of the League to participate.
| | | |
|
|
Voter Services
Meets monthly on the 1st Thursday; 5:30pm-6:30pm
Currently meeting via Zoom
Team Leader: Kathy McEachran
email: kathmceachran@gmail.com
You must be a member of the League to participate.
| | | |
|
The LWVSRQ Board meets on the second Tuesday of every month.
Locations and times may vary.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, April 9th at 1pm
Location: Fruitville Public Library
100 Apex Road
Sarasota, FL 34240
| |
|
EMPOWERING VOTERS.
DEFENDING DEMOCRACY.
League of Women Voters of Sarasota County (LWVSRQ)
PO Box 18884, Sarasota, FL 34276-1884
email@lwvsrq.org
| | | | |
