By Janice Garry
Dear Communications Chair,
Let’s look forward, then backward.
Looking forward, the national League is surging ahead with making joining and renewing memberships more uniform and more modern. While preserving paper forms, most folks will join or renew on their phones or computers. The new system is called ChapterSpot. In the next several weeks you should receive an invitation from the national League to log into ChapterSpot. That doesn’t necessarily mean your membership dues need to be paid, it just means you can connect with the system that will send you a reminder when you need to renew. A team has been learning the new system and how to assist you. We think it will be better for you and will be less administration for our worker bees. Thank you for signing in to ChapterSpot and helping with the transition.
Looking backward, in 2025 we already have more people who have been League members for 50 years! That qualifies them as Lifetime Members. Karen Seabury interviews each person and writes up their story. Watch for it in The Voter each month. Fifty years of working toward a more perfect democracy takes tenacity! Read all about it, starting now. Rosalie Bandyopadhyay’s story is below.
On another note, Lobby Days, when individuals and groups go to Tallahassee to learn about the legislative process and speak with legislators, is on March 11-12. The League helps cover attendees' costs. If you are interested, please contact Janice at janice.garry@gmail.com.
In League,
Janice
janice.garry@gmail.com
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Big changes afoot
The much-talked-about new member portal for all Leagues around the country is practically upon us, as the switch happens on Feb. 1. Later this month, look for an email from the new member portal, called ChapterSpot, to log in for the first time to “claim your membership.” This just means that you will log in and update your membership information. It's important that you log in to ensure we have the most up-to-date information, as well as help the League more broadly understand who we are as an organization.
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Once you have access to the portal, you will be able to update your own information, including contact information. Before Feb. 1, make sure we have your preferred email address. If you would like to update the email address we use, please email us.
- You will not be asked to renew again until a year after your most recent renewal. At that time, you will receive an email reminder and be given the option to sign up to auto-renew annually. Your membership will last a year after your last renewal.
- Dues will no longer be a fixed rate but will be pay-what-you-can. The recommended dues amount for all members across the country will be $75, but members can pay any amount (minimum $20).
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There will still be an option to make an additional contribution directly to LWV of Alachua County during the second step of the membership renewal process. In the past, many members made a $50.00 donation in addition to their dues through a “Susan B. Anthony” membership. With the new system, after joining or renewing, a second screen will offer an opportunity to make a donation that will go exclusively to our local League, if specified. Thank you for considering this donation option.
- There will still be the option to renew by check for members who don't use the internet, but members who can access the portal to renew are encouraged to do so.
We hope these changes will make managing your membership easier. On a League level, the change is is expected to boost our national membership and bolster our ability to empower voters and defend democracy.
Find answers to FAQs here. Learn more from LWVUS here.
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Live theater, Jan. 18 @ 7 p.m. | |
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Who's in the Box
"Who's in the Box," written and produced by Romona Jackson, focuses on youth and gun violence. On Jan. 18 at 7 p.m., it will be performed at a free production open to the public at the P.K. Yonge Performing Arts Theater. It's one of many activities happening as part of the 2025 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Week of Celebration hosted by the MLK, Jr. Commission of Florida, Inc.
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LWVAC officer nominations
The terms for several members of our Board of Directors conclude at the end of June:
President (Janice Garry)
Vice President (Gwendolyn Saffo)
Treasurer (Anne D’Amico, although Anne plans to continue in her role. Thank you, Anne!)
Directors (Marcia Storch, Lisa Holley and one open director position)
Janice’s suggestion is that we have co-presidents, i.e., two people who work together in the president’s role. It would share the workload, be fun and would offer the benefit of two skill sets. Per the bylaws, Janice will remain on the board as Past President and will assist the new president, or co-presidents, as needed.
Donna Waller will again lead the Nominating Committee to solicit people to fill those positions. Elaine Francis and Candy Birch are the non-board member committee members. Diana Boxer is a board member on the committee. We need one more board member to serve on the committee to satisfy our bylaws. Please contact Janice if you would like to serve.
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Vote by Mail renewal reminder | |
P.S., it's time to request to Vote by Mail
Did you know ALL Florida voters who want to vote by mail in 2025 & 2026 need to submit a NEW vote-by-mail ballot request to their county Supervisor of Elections?
You must renew your request every two years! Pursuant to Florida law, the maximum amount of time your request can be honored is "[f]or all elections through the end of the calendar year of the next regularly scheduled general election."
In other words, renew your request for a vote-by-mail ballot at the beginning of each odd-numbered year. Renew your request now: VoteAlachua.gov/Voters/Vote-by-Mail
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Remembering Shirley Bloodworth | |
Hundreds pay tribute to former LWVAC member
Longtime LWVAC member and frequently described "force of nature" Shirley Bloodworth died recently. She was honored Dec. 20 at The Village, where Alachua County Senior Recreation Center officials announced they are creating a civic award in her name.
Winners of The Shirley Bloodworth Award will see their names go on a plaque next to one that pays tribute to Bloodworth, a former nurse who devoted her abundant energy to aging issues. Read about it in the Mainstreet Daily News.
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Lifetime member Rosalie Bandyopadhyay | |
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LWVAC is proud to have several Life Members—those who have been League members for 50 years. We’ve set out to interview all of them.
In this installment, member Karen Seabury writes about Rosalie Bandyopadhyay.
Bandyopadhyay's 2-month-old daughter was in her arms when the Syracuse resident attended her first political rally to support presidential candidate George McGovern in 1972. She soon joined her local League of Women Voters.
Eight years later, she walked into the Alachua County chapter of the League and never looked back. She was elected the chapter president in 2007 and served two terms.
Read more...
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Join the speakers bureau
The LWVAC Speakers Bureau is ready to prepare requested presentations. Popular programs include topics such as:
- various civics lessons
- Building Resilience to Mis/DisInformation
- What Is the League?
- Medicaid Expansion on the 2026 Ballot
- National Popular Vote
Contact Candy Birch to join the Speakers Bureau or to request a speaker for your group or event. We especially need Spanish speakers.
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Santa Fe College group
Linda Mussillo, LWVSF liaison/adviser
Gianna Rivera, LWVSF chapter president
Follow us on Instagram
Recruitment and engagement of new members will be a top focus of the LWVSF group. Members will table at campus events such as Justice Week, Safe Santa Fe, Black History Month and Women's History Month. Several officers expect to participate in March's Lobby Days and two officers will participate on SF College's Model Senate team. Chapter members will join other campus groups to visit The Lynx bookstore and learn more about banned books. Some books may be purchased by the chapter to feature at future tabling events.
University of Florida group
Diana Boxer, LWVUF liaison/adviser
Stefanie Gadalean, LWVUF chapter president
Follow us on Instagram
LWVUF is already active with executive meetings and tabling events on the calendar. All UF students are welcome to join and get involved.
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Gun violence prevention and safety
Contact: Gwendolyn Saffo
The committee will continue building relationships with other local gun safety advocacy groups and supporting legislation that furthers their cause. The committee submitted a proposal on behalf of LWVAC to the Alachua County Commission for grant funding that would help LWVAC buy more gunlocks to give away, co-sponsor awareness events and distribute materials on gun violence and suicide prevention.
The committee meets on Zoom the third Tuesday each month at 6:30 p.m. The next meeting is Jan. 21.
Meeting ID: 874 0958 3526
Passcode: 962879
Did you know? Since 2020, firearms have been the leading cause of death for American children and teens ages 1-17, surpassing car crashes. Guns killed nearly seven children under age 17 every day in 2022.
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Health care
Contacts: Barbara Frentzen and Kim Walsh-Childers
The Health Care Committee met Jan. 13 at Oak Hammock to discuss top issues to address this year. Primary consideration will be given to projects that we can impact at the local level but also, if possible, at the state and/or national level.
The committee also hosted a lecture on Medicare by Ed Weisbart, M.D., from Physicians for a National Health Program in November. His presentation is filled with important and useful information and can be found on the LWVAC Website. Or watch it on YouTube.
Our next meeting will be Feb. 10 at 4 p.m. at Oak Hammock. Everyone is welcome.
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Holiday wrap
The LWVAC's holiday gathering was held Dec. 6 at the home of member Rhonda Victor Sibilia. Old and new members gathered to feast on wonderful food, drinks and to get to know each other better.
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Choosing our focus
Back in December, LWVAC members along with other Leagues around the state were asked to submit their ranked priorities for issue areas LWVFL should focus on in the 2025 state legislative session.
The LWVFL Board of Directors has settled on four top issues to focus on as legislative priorities. They are:
- Voting and election reform (predetermined)
- Education
- Reproductive health and justice
- Gun violence prevention
Based on LWVAC members' feedback and votes, our League submitted these top 10 priorities to state League officials, in order: health care, reproductive health and justice, gun violence prevention, education, home rule/pre-emption, natural resources, clean energy, national popular vote, poverty and affordable housing and juvenile justice. Thanks to everyone who provided feedback.
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LWV of Alachua County Leadership Team
President: Janice Garry
Vice President: Gwendolyn Saffo
Secretary: Diane Dimperio
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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