By Janice Garry
Dear Communications Chair,
As the heat of summer wanes, the excitement of League activities and fellowship warms. Last night some of us took advantage of the Hippodrome’s offer to League members for free tickets to the preview of the guffaw-provoking, VERY adult humor of “POTUS, or Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive”. In October we’ll have a Fall Luncheon and celebrate friendships, food, and the wisdom of Dr. Monica Elliott, a League luminary. We have three new ad hoc committees to focus on specific areas of importance: Health Care, Campus Outreach, and Matheson Voices and Votes exhibit. And we have a superb Hot Topics event in the works on the topic of book banning. There is something for everybody in the months ahead!
We're bringing our new board and leaders together for an in-person Board Orientation in lieu of the Board and Leadership meeting on 9/26/23. We will set the stage for understanding the processes that make us an effective organization and build on our relationships and brainstorm the year ahead. Watch for more news and outcomes from this meeting
The overarching theme for our League is fellowship with a common goal of serving our community and our democracy. There is a place for each pair of helping hands. Please scroll down to see where yours might fit in.
In League,
Janice
[email protected]
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Introducing Your New Health Care Committee | |
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Our new Health Care Committee was formed to:
- Advocate for better access to equitable care in our local community and at the statewide level, and
- Provide information about healthcare-related issues with the goal of helping people make more informed decisions about their healthcare.
We’d love to have members join us! If interested, please contact one of the co-chairs.
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I am a nurse practitioner who retired from UF in 2018. Because I had been so impressed with the quality of voter information provided, I joined the League and Voter Services Committee immediately after retiring. Following the pandemic, however, I wanted to concentrate on health issues. My work background includes caring for women with high-risk pregnancies; conducting clinical research; providing research compliance for UF; and serving as director of the Florida Center for Brain Tumor Research, a statewide brain tumor bank and research group funded by the Florida Legislature and housed in UF’s Department of Neurosurgery.
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I’m a former health reporter and journalism professor. I joined the League this year because I’ve always admired the work it does to educate voters and encourage civic involvement. Making sure citizens have the information they need to understand the issues is a shared goal for journalists and the LWV, so it seemed like a natural fit for me.
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A full list of all LWVAC Board Members and Committee Chairs can be found here. | |
Natural Resources Special Presentation
September 27th @ 5:30 p.m.
via Zoom
At their September meeting, the NR Committee is hosting Nicole Llinas, Executive Director of Current Problems to talk about this 30-year-old organization that removes thousands of pounds of trash each year from our local creeks and rivers. Contact Jay Jay Rosenbek or Roberta Gastmeyer for the Zoom link and join us to learn about Trash Candles and more.
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Hot Topic: Book Banning - Age Appropriateness
October 15th @ 3 p.m.
at Millhopper Branch Library, Meeting Room A
We are very pleased to present Professor Lyrissa Lidsky discussing the very hot topic of book bans at this in-person event. Professor Lidsky is the Raymond & Miriam Ehrlich Chair in U.S. Constitutional Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Mark your calendar and watch your email for a more detailed invitation.
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LWVAC Fall Luncheon
October 26th @ 11:30 a.m.
Best Western Gateway Grand
4200 NW 97th Blvd
Gainesville Florida 32606
LWVAC is happy to be hosting our first in-person Fall Luncheon after a three-year hiatus. Dr. Monica Elliot, LWVFL Secretary and Voter Services Chair and LWV of Broward County Co-President and Voter Services Chair, will speak on what to expect in the 2024 Florida Legislative Session.
For more information and to register, please visit the event page.
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Constitution Week (9/17-23) &
National Voter Registration Day (9/19)
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LWVAC is celebrating National Voter Registration Day on
Saturday, September 16th from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
at the Headquarters Library in Downtown Gainesville
Wednesday, September 20th from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.
at Santa Fe College's Constitution Week Civics Fair
Both events will include voter registration assistance (training required) and education activities as well as petitioning for the Right to Clean Water and Reproductive Freedom ballot initiatives. Contact Voter Services to volunteer!
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In addition, as part of Constitution Week, Santa Fe College is hosting two lectures that are open to the public. Both will be in the Library at Santa Fe College's Northwest Campus.
Monday, September 18th @ 2 p.m.
“Unprecedented: The Constitutional Implications of the Former President’s Indictments.” by Prof. Dustin Fridkin
Tuesday, September 19th @ 2 p.m.
"Voting Rights: the Current Challenges and the Hope for Reform."
by Profs. Donna Waller (a member of LWVAC) and Alan Beck
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Help Wanted
Our Local Issues Committee needs a chair. This group would keep a pulse on salient events or topics in the community and keep the rest of us informed.
Our Education Committee needs a chair. An educated public is the bedrock of democracy. With so much happening in the education system in Florida, it sure would be great to have a team that follows local events and advocates for issues as representatives of the LWVAC.
Our Speakers Bureau needs folks who enjoy public speaking as a public service. The LWVFL has prepared materials for a wide range of topics. Many groups look for speakers at meetings and it is a superb way for our League to be visible in the community. Ideally, we would have a 2-3 person pool of speakers.
Our Communications team can always use help spreading the word about LWVAC and our activities. This ranges from content creation and editing to web updates and graphic design. If you like to remain behind the scenes, this is a great way to help.
Contact Janice if you are interested in lending a hand to help in these areas.
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Petitioning and Tabling
LWV of Alachua County is joining LWVFL in supporting the Florida Right to Clean Water campaign, which is a constitutional amendment to clarify our priorities and a civil action to enforce our right to clean and healthy waters, and the Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion campaign, which is a constitutional amendment to establish an explicit right to abortion and ensure that Floridians’ reproductive freedom is codified into law and no longer subject to the whims of extremist politicians and judges. The mission is to take both of these issues to Florida's voters; to educate them, to collect their petitions, and to ensure their voice is heard.
We are petitioning at local events and farmers markets around town. When we have enough volunteers we are also tabling at community events. Tabling includes voter registration assistance (training required) and education activities.
At present, we are scheduling several tabling events for this fall. Watch our emailed calendars, web calendar, and Facebook page as new events are added all of the time. Please contact Voter Services to volunteer.
If you are interested in being added to the contact list for future events or if there is an event you think we should attend, please contact Janice.
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by Gwendolyn Saffo
I served as the LWVAC representative at the City of Gainesville’s recent Gun Violence Prevention Summit. The summit was titled, “Choose Peace: Gun Violence Must Cease.” This two-day event was held at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center on Sunday, August 6, 2023 (Community Day), and Monday, August 7, 2023 (Policy Day). The event was part of an ongoing effort to confront the rise in gun violence in our community.
I have written a summary of the event and called on LWVAC to take concrete actions to support our local governments' efforts to reduce gun violence in our communities. Please read my report and contact me to get involved in our efforts.
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In this section, we bring you updates from your LWV of Alachua County committees. Committees are the best way to get involved in LWV of Alachua County and your local community. Feel free to reach out to the Committee Chairs to express interest, join their meetings, and get involved. | |
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Contact: Barbara Frentzen or Kim Walsh-Childers
As mentioned above, our new Health Care Committee was recently formed. We don't have a set meeting schedule yet, but we have met twice and are planning actions toward our goals to:
- Advocate for better access to equitable care in our local community and at the statewide level, and
- Provide information about healthcare-related issues with the goal of helping people make more informed decisions about their healthcare.
We’d love to have members join us! Please contact Barbara or Kim to get involved.
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Contact: Roberta Gastmeyer or Jay Rosenbek
As mentioned above, the NR Committee is initiating its Fall activity with a special presentation by Nicole Llinas, Executive Director of Current Problems, via Zoom on Sept 27th from 5:30 to 6:30.
If you have not already, please complete the City of Gainesville's survey to help build a Climate Action Plan. Let the City know that climate change action is important to you!
Despite taking a summer break from NR Committee meetings, the committee’s environmental advocacy continued unabated.
- Committee members actively opposed HB 1645 which created an autonomous authority with power over GRU, our local energy provider.
- Members continued to encourage local leaders to create a Climate Action Plan for the city and accelerate progress on the Race To Zero commitment.
- Committee leadership and the League President were also invited participants in GRU’s Integrated Resource Planning effort and advocated for a swift transition from fossil to renewable energy.
If interested in these or other local environmental issues contact either Jay Rosenbek or Roberta Gastmeyer.
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Contact: Mary White
Oak Hammock met on September 12th. Florida State Senator Keith Perry opened with a few remarks, and Ryan Smart, Director of the Florida Springs Council, spoke on, "How to Successfully Correspond with your Legislator". A recording is available here.
On Thursday, September 14th, representatives from the Alachua County's Supervisor of Elections office gave a presentation on "Supervised Voting" which is an opportunity for residents of skilled nursing and assisted living to request voting on site.
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Contact: Bennett Brummer
The SCJC focuses on improving the criminal justice system. We emphasize deflection and diversion from the criminal justice system through prevention and treatment consistent with accountability and justice. The committee is promoting implementation of a central receiving network, including co-responder units and improved dispatch. We have previously dealt with expanding the right to vote for felons who have completed their sentences, reforming money bail procedures, reducing drivers’ license suspensions, and reducing the transfer of juveniles to adult felony court.
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Contact: Diana Boxer or Gwen Wagner
The Voter Services Committee welcomed many new members over the summer. And we have a lot going on.
- As you saw above, we will be celebrating National Voter Registration Day with VS teams at the library on September 16th and at Santa Fe College on September 20th.
- We will continue petitioning for RTCW and the right to abortion in Florida through the fall.
- In addition, some of our members are assisting with the creation of college chapters of LWV at UF and Santa Fe College. Stefanie Gadalean, a student member, has already formed a leadership team at UF and they are well on their way.
- Be on the lookout for our LWVAC voter assistance flyers at the public libraries thanks to Winnie Perez’ efforts.
- Many VS members have volunteered to help with an exciting upcoming voting exhibit at the Matheson and
- We have more tabling events scheduled in October and November including the Gay Pride Festival (10/21) and the Downtown Art Festival (11/18-19).
Due to changes in Florida law, LWV will no longer act as a 3rd party voter registration organization (3PVRO). Instead, we will be assisting citizens to register to vote and request vote by mail ballots digitally. Paper forms for registration will still be available at our tables for those who need them. All members are required to train and take a quiz to assist with voter registrations. Please contact us for the links to the online training and quiz.
Contact Diana and Gwen to see how your talents can help keep democracy strong. Stop by our table at the Fall Luncheon. We look forward to seeing you and talking in person!
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Re-Request Your Vote by Mail Ballot
Please be aware no voter’s Vote by Mail ballot status rolls over into the 2023 and 2024 Election Cycles. The law has changed, and everyone must re-enroll in Vote by Mail every two years. To vote by mail in an election, the request must be in the Supervisor of Elections office no later than 10 days before the election. You can learn more and re-request your Vote by Mail ballot on the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections website.
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LWV of Alachua County Leadership Team
President: Janice Garry
Vice-President: Gwendolyn Saffo
Secretary: Eileen Roy
Treasurer: Anne D’Amico
A full list of LWV of Alachua County Board Members and Committee Chairs can be found here.
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To avoid missing future LWV of Alachua County email, please add our email address to your Safe Senders List or add the From address ([email protected]) to your Address Book or Contacts. | | | | |
