By Janice Garry
Dear Alachua County,
Democracy prevailed. This morning after the nation-wide elections, although many of the results won’t be known for days, headlines are full of results. Absent are substantial reports of interference at precincts, as some had feared. Voters turned out. Election workers steadfastly did the work of making voting accessible and counting ballot choices. Here in Alachua County, Voter Services co-chair, Gwen Wagner, participated in monitoring the canvassing board, and left impressed with the diligence of those who are responsible for scrutinizing ballots and reassured that every ballot in our county was counted per the wishes of the voter. Democracy remained intact.
You helped. Perhaps, like me, people told you how much they rely on the LWV to learn about candidates and issues. Perhaps you heard that the LWV gives voters hope that we can find a way forward as a community and nation. Perhaps you spoke with a candidate who participated in our forums who said it was by far the best run event in which they had participated.
As we gather around tables to give thanks this month, create a space of gratitude for our democracy. Create a space for living by the words of Jack Kornfield:
"As we move through this beautiful and troubled world, may we vow to be a beacon of peace, a fearless carrier of respect and lovingkindness for all life, a teller of truth, a voice for justice, a protector of those who are vulnerable or targeted. May the power of wisdom, integrity and compassion be our guide."
In League,
Janice
[email protected]
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After a busy election season, we thank all of our volunteers for your help at voter registration, voter education, and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) events; making phone calls and writing postcards; distributing Voter Guides; and answering questions these past two years. But our work doesn't stop here. Get involved today! | |
Membership Chair
LWV of Alachua County is looking for a new Membership Chair. This position hosts the new member orientations monthly or as needed. Currently, they are hosted via Zoom but in-person meetings could be resumed in the future. There is a video to feature and time for Q&A afterward. You meet new members, learn about what motivated them to join and guide them to committees and/or LWV activities they may want to join. It takes approximately two to four hours each month. Please contact Janice if you're interested in volunteering. Thank you!
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Electric Vehicle Expo @ Gainesville's Downtown Festival & Art Show on 11/19 & 11/20
The LWV of Alachua County will have a community booth at the Downtown Festival where you can learn all about electric vehicles - what it takes to own, charge and maintain one. In addition, on November 19th from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, we will also have an electric vehicle demonstration event with an assortment of electric vehicles - from e-bikes to an e-bus - on display with EV owners, local car dealers, and municipal fleet managers on hand to show off their vehicles and answer questions alike.
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LWV of Alachua County Member Holiday Party
The LWV of Alachua County Holiday Party is returning after a two-year COVID interruption. The Board invites vaccinated members to join us on December 9th from 5:30-7:30 PM at the home of Wes & Brenda Wheeler. Weather permitting, we will gather on the back porch and yard to celebrate the 2022 holidays. Members are invited to bring a dish to pass, if so inclined. Please RSVP. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Please note: The Board meeting originally scheduled for December 27th is canceled. The next board meetings are: November 29th and January 24th. | |
Life Member: Deanye Overman | |
LWV of Alachua County is proud to have several Life Members—those who have been League members for 50 consecutive years! We’ve set out to interview them. Here we talk with Deanye Overman, as reported by Karen Seabury. LWV does not have the records to tell us who has become a Life Member, so please tell us who you are. We want to thank you for your contributions and share your story! Also, Life Members do not pay annual dues. | |
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Deanye Overman grew up in eastern North Carolina. She earned her teaching degree at East Carolina University. After teaching for one year, she married Allen Overman who also grew up in eastern North Carolina. He was a student at NC State in agricultural engineering. When Allen was accepted into a post-doctoral program at the University of Illinois, the couple moved to Urbana, Illinois. There they had their two children. The family moved to Gainesville when Allen was offered a position in the UF/IFAS Agricultural Engineering department in 1969.
When did you join the League?
I was ready for more interests outside the home and was intrigued by the League of Women Voters brochure in the University Women’s Club welcome package. When my neighbor (and friend to this day) Jean Martin joined in 1970, I joined in 1971. I liked the League because it was a place you could discuss issues--and work on them with interesting people.
What issues have moved you the most?
I began by working on voter registration and natural resources, which was then called “environmental quality.”
In 1972, the state League adopted a new study, “Justice in Florida,” aimed at reorganizing the court system and later also included other issues such as juvenile justice and sentencing guidelines. Lucille Fristoe, who was then LWVAC president, asked me to chair the local study committee. We did a rigorous League study to formulate our position. We worked with other groups in the state to get it on the ballot. It passed, the constitution was amended, and the court system in Florida was changed. Later I served on the state LWV board and continued to work on justice issues.
At one point, our local jail in Gainesville was having problems. LWVAC initiated a study, formulated a position, and was instrumental in getting a jail bond passed.
In 1975, I became interim president of LWVAC and served for one year. Much of the work of the League was then being done by stay-at-home mothers. The women all had college degrees, had small children to take care of, and found in the League an outlet for civic work and a place to meet interesting people. I remember committee meetings where we’d all bring our kids and hire a babysitter to look after them while we met. Getting the Equal Rights Amendment passed was a focus of the League in those days.
In later years I was chair of Natural Resources, Treasurer, and served as president once more, in 2004.
What big changes have you seen in the landscape—political, the League, Gainesville?
The League has many more professional women than it once had. At the state level, the League has continued to be very strong and effective and more likely to engage in lawsuits.
What advice or lessons learned would you pass on to our members?
- Enjoy the interesting people you meet in the League.
- Stay on top of local, state, and national issues.
- Use the proven League method for defining a position.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I’ll never forget my work in the League—not only the study of the issues but also the interesting people and generous mentors I’ve met along the way.
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We have lost another strong supporter of LWV of Alachua County. If you know of a member who has passed, please let us know. | |
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Nancy Rogers Siever, 90, passed away on October 7, 2022, after a short illness. Nancy had a life-long interest in politics and good government and joined the League of Women Voters when she was 21, serving as president of LWVAC from 1998-2000. She voted in every election. She worked for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, was an early supporter of women seeking political office, and was active with Planned Parenthood, Friends of the Library, and the arts. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Planned Parenthood or the League of Women Voters.
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The Latest From Your Committees | |
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: Karen McCann
The Education Committee meets regularly via Zoom typically on the second Wednesday of the month from 12-1:30 p.m. However, the December meeting will be on December 7th. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Contact: Jeff Shapiro
We meet regularly at 5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month. Our next meeting is November 17th. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Contact: Jay Rosenbek or Roberta Gastmeyer
Next Meeting: November 16th @ 5:30 PM
Our next big event is the National Drive Electric Week Electric Vehicle Expo at the Gainesville Downtown Festival and Art Show on November 19th and 20th. We will have a community booth where you can learn all about electric vehicles - what it takes to own, charge and maintain one, and on November 19th from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, we will also have an electric vehicle demonstration event with an assortment of electric vehicles - from e-bikes to an e-bus - on display just south of the festival. EV owners, local car dealers, and municipal fleet managers will be on hand to show off their vehicles and answer questions alike. Sign up to help at the booth Saturday or Sunday and/or share your EV +/- EV knowledge on Saturday.
GRU gas rebates are expected to come up at the December 1st Gainesville City Commission meeting, where GRU, against eliminating the current gas rebate, will present their side of the argument. Now is the time to get a letter to the commission asking them to stop providing fossil fuel rebates. Even if you sent one in previously, send another! And, if you can, please come to the December 1st meeting to make public comments.
In addition, we continue to watch for updates on the Hickory Sink/Lee Property.
Please contact Roberta or Jay if you want more information or to join our meetings.
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Contact: Bennett Brummer
The focus of SCJC is on improving the adult and juvenile criminal justice system. We emphasize deflection and diversion from the criminal justice system through prevention and treatment consistent with accountability and justice.
While the SCJC does not meet regularly, any LWV of Alachua County member who would like a committee orientation or would like to initiate a new committee project (and who is willing to do the work to carry that project forward) is also welcome to consult the chair to screen and plan for that project.
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Contact: Gwen Wagner and Diana Boxer
Following the election, Voter Services is slowing down a bit. We will begin reviewing our efforts and events from the fall as well as starting to plan for the future. We appreciate everyone who made calls, posted on social media, distributed posters, tabled, registered voters, attended meetings, produced & delivered voter guides, and helped with the forum and Vote411. We welcome input and ideas as we review and plan. Contact us to get involved.
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Cybersecurity: Recognizing Scams with FRAUD | |
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Does it Feel Like FRAUD?
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Fishy Scammers have many tools at their disposal to create messages, phone numbers, links, and sites that mimic legitimate ones. But something about these experiences may feel a bit “off” or out of the ordinary. Always trust your instincts! Immediately end the call or delete the text if something seems suspicious to you. Be especially cautious about clicking on any links that you did not request.
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Risky Think twice if you’re asked to provide sensitive information that would give someone broad access to your accounts and/or visibility into your activity. If you think you may have been targeted by a scammer, change your username and password and call your financial institution immediately.
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Anonymous These scams generally operate by someone you don’t know or who won’t identify themselves unexpectedly reaching out to you. Remember that legitimate financial institutions will never call you to ask for your personal identifying information or account credentials.
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Urgent Scammers often employ a sense of alarm as a method of persuasion. Ironically, this can take the form of claiming that your account has been compromised in some way, such as an alleged fraudulent transaction or other security breach.
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Demanding Someone with malicious intentions may rely on pressure tactics ranging from pushy to threatening. The tone may even be friendly but insistent, always designed to keep you from having the time to assess the fishiness or riskiness of the situation.
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LWV of Alachua County Leadership Team
President: Janice Garry
Vice-President: Deb Shimon
Secretary: Eileen Roy
Treasurer: Fran Towk
Past President: Lynn Frazier
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. | | | | |
