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Immediate Action Needed
Rally in Tally -
No to Mid-Cycle Redistricting
Thursday, December 4, 2025
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Although mid-decade redistricting clearly violates the Florida constitution, the Florida legislature is moving forward to conduct redistricting and has scheduled a meeting of the Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting on Dec. 4.
League of Women Voters members and supporters from across Florida will be there with a goal of showing an irrefutable opposition, pack the committee room in defense of the will of Florida voters. You do not need to be a member to participate.
GET ON THE BUS TO TALLAHASSEE!
You may drive yourself or take a bus. We will have carpools leaving from 2 locations going to the bus(es) leaving from St. Petersburg or Tampa:
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Central/West – Manatee Unitarian Church parking lot, 322 15th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205
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East – Walmart parking lot, 6225 FL-64, Bradenton, FL 34208
For More Information and to Sign Up Click Here
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LWVMC Meet and Greet
Friday, December 5, 2025
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Our next member Meet & Greet will kick off a new series of such events. Our December Meet & Greet will be held at a member’s home in South Central Manatee County. The brief program will highlight the work and chairs of the action teams and committees, followed by plenty of food, drink and time to share good cheer. There is no charge. We encourage you to bring a friend who is interested in learning more about the League. Subsequent Meet & Greet events will be held once a quarter in different sections of Manatee County.
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Coffee and Conversation
Monday, December 15, 9:00 am - 10:30 am
Panera - 8980 US 301, Parrish
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The coffee is casual. We learn more about each other. We could be discussing politics, arts, travel and any number of other topics.
As well as enjoying the company of our League’s bright, interesting and engaged members, we also provide a few hand-outs and discuss what's going on with the League. Join us!
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We Love Our County and Our League Rally
February 14, 2026, University Town Center Mall
The Manatee and Sarasota Leagues are planning a Unite and Rise rally for the 106 year anniversary of the founding of the League of Women Voters. Save the date and have your friends join in a rally for upholding the Constitution and the rule of law!
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Monday, December 1, 12:00 pm - Membership / Events Committee Meeting
Click here to join the Membership Committee Meeting
For more information, email Lyle Landon
Tuesday, December 2, 5:00 pm - Social Issues Action Team Click here to join the Social Issues Meeting
For more information, email Social Issues Co-Chairs Tina Juillerat and Nina Tortelli
Tuesday, December 9, 4:30 pm - The Combined Government Action Team and
the National Popular Vote Action Team
Click here to register for the Government Action Team meeting.
For more information,
email Government Action Team Co- Chairs Holly Kennedy and Alice Newlon.
For information about National Popular Vote, email Deb Mazzaferro.
Wednesday, December 10, 4:00 pm - LWV-Manatee County (LWV-MC) Board Meeting. All are welcome! Click here to join the Board Meeting
Wednesday, December 17, 5:00 pm - Voter Services Action Team Meeting
Click here to register for the Voter Services Meeting
For more information, email Voter Services Chair Terri Kondos
The Following Action Teams Will Not Meet in December:
Education Issues Action Team
For more information, email Education Chair Merrie Lynn Parker
Natural Resources Action Team
For more information, email Natural Resources Chair Randy Miller
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This month we focus on: 2025 Moments That Mattered: The Power of Us!
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Unite and Rise for Democracy Rally:
A Beautiful and Meaningful Day
The weather was perfect, the speakers inspired and the singer energized the crowd, and the 18 community and advocacy groups at booths connected with citizens and other organizations.
The purpose of the Unite and Rise for Democracy Rally was to inform, inspire, and empower participants to uphold the Constitution, protect democratic principles, and take actionable steps toward greater civic participation. It did, for the 350–375 attendees, representing a diverse cross-section of the community.
The event began with upbeat DJ music by Milo Minderbender, creating a welcoming and festive environment. Elaine Silver's dulcet tones joined with her powerful original songs, and closing with "This Land is Your Land", energized and moved us all.
Each featured speaker delivered a message aligned with the rally’s mission to unite, educate, and inspire. Oscar Portillo-Meza’s We Are All Americans, emphasized unity and shared purpose across differences. Michelle Grimsley Shindano ‘s Building Bridges Through Policy and Community Leadership highlighted the power of local leadership and inclusive policymaking and the keynote speaker, Jessica Lowe-Minor, President of LWV Florida’s, Actions We Can Take to Create Change concluded with a strong call to action and practical ways to stay engaged in civic life.
With 18 nonpartisan organizations and community booths, participants had numerous opportunities to engage directly with groups promoting voter education, environmental advocacy, social equity, and civic service.
The League of Women Voters of Manatee County thanks the our regional partners and local advocacy groups and members and supporters for a successful day of celebration and empowerment brought to life through passionate speakers, music, art, and civic engagement opportunities.
| | Staying Involved Matters: Florida Reproductive Rights | | |
The defeat of Florida Amendment 4, which would have restored the right to abortion beyond six weeks, by only 3 percentage points was a setback. However, the initiative sparked statewide awareness. It also demonstrated that most Floridians support reproductive rights (57% yes) and is a powerful reminder of why the League of Women Voters Reproductive Rights Action Team remains essential.
Florida Reproductive Rights Challenges
Florida does not require comprehensive sex education in the schools and has more laws prohibiting than requiring topics from being taught in sex education.
Among the states with the worst access to contraception, Florida has a higher infant mortality rate compared to most other states and is one of 19 that ban abortion before the fetus can live outside the womb. States with abortion restrictions are seeing a decline in practicing ob-gyns. Forty percent of Florida’s counties report poor access to maternity care or birthing centers.
League of Women Voters
We need to ensure women have access to affordable, quality, comprehensive reproductive care. The League of Women Voters of Manatee County Reproductive Rights Action Team is committed to the essential work and 2025 education and advocacy was filled with "moments that mattered".
Education
Advocacy
- Tracked Florida reproductive rights bills and informed members and followers and encouraged active lobbying.
- For Women’s Equality Day, August 26, the LWV of Manatee and Sarasota counties and the Women's Resource Center collaborated on writing columns which appeared in local media. They discussed advocacy issues of the League, including reproductive rights. Conservative Women for Freedom also signed on to the column regarding women's reproductive rights.
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During Florida Lobby Days, on March 11 and 12 in Tallahassee, League of Women Voters representatives met with elected officials. Reproductive health and justice was a core issue.
- Sent Action Alerts to league members to oppose SB 1288 which would restrict young people from access to birth control and treatment for STIs. Another Action Alert opposed state tax dollar funding of anti-abortion groups.
- Letter writing coffee to support HB 6001, to end Florida taxpayer funding of “faux medical clinics” that are anti-abortion centers.
Being part of the Reproductive Rights Action Team means standing up for bodily autonomy, informed choice, and the dignity of every Floridian. Join us!
| | Young Adult Program Success! | |
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The LWV of Manatee County continues to prioritize the growth of our Young Adult Program with encouraging progress in in 2025. The number of Manatee schools participating in the Big Bank program, where junior and senior students role play the game of life, but also in reality (pre)register to vote if 16 or older, has grown. These connections have opened up new opportunities and relationships with students and teachers.
At Southeast High School, a senior who is currently continuing her studies at Georgetown University, was drawn to the LWV mission and wanted to become a member with her mother. LWV-MC helped her to become involved in our chapter through remote activities while studying in Washington, D.C. Tabling led to an invitation to judge the Braden River High School Senior Projects presentations. An introduction to a junior helped launched “Pirates to the Polls,” a new high school chapter of LWVMC. This teenager proactively filed the paperwork to start the club, recruited a co-president, secured a teacher-sponsor, and worked with LWVMC to draft bylaws. They launched a club Instagram account and are off and running.
Among the first events for “Pirates to the Polls” was a voter registration day (we (pre)registered 125 students) and LWV-MC gave a presentation on the 2024 Constitutional Amendments with mock elections. Six classes with over 230 students participated. Our League gleaned additional voting trend data impacting how we highlight to young voters that their voice is different than general voters. Mock voting data enables us to observe that Florida Constitutional Amendment outcomes might have changed with increased youth votes, defeating Amendment 2 (“Right to Hunt and Fish”) and passing Amendment 4 (“Limit Government Interference in Abortion”). Additionally, students strongly oppose partisan school boards. Opinions on Recreational Marijuana vary between schools and across time and they generally support public campaign financing/limiting money in political campaigns. Contrasting their choices with the general voting population reinforces their understanding that their votes matter on issues that are important to them.
Planting seeds with future voters is critical. Engaging students in schools is one of the League’s best chances to educate and inspire them before they melt into the general population. Many of our investments - on tablets, WiFi hubs, silicone wristbands, patriotic photo/selfie booths, Instagram and TikTok accounts - are intended to capitalize on the time we spend with students in our schools. We feel good about the progress we’ve made in 2025 and hope to build on it in 2026.
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It's That Time of Year: Renew or Join!
Joining or renewing your membership with the League of Women Voters is a great way to get involved in your community and play an active role in our democracy. A new auto-renewal feature is now available. Check this option to painlessly renew!
Click here to Join or Renew Your Membership
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| Consider Serving on the LWV-MC Board | | |
The Nominating Committee is seeking members who are ready to get more involved and have the time and energy needed to assume a League leadership position. We need your expertise, skills, talents and enthusiasm to help guide the League forward.
We will be electing new board members at our April Annual Meeting.
Nominate yourself or someone you know.
Email Linda Long, Nominating Committee Chair
| | Becca Powell, Director of Advocacy and Outreach at Unchained at Last. | | |
Child Marriage in Florida
The November 10th Hot Topics program will change your preconceive notions about marriage before 18. A must see program if you care about young women and their futures.
Learn about the ongoing fight to end child marriage on a state-by-state basis and specifically talk about the situation in Florida.
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Patricia Benson
Kiki Conrath
Katie Cather
John Halstead
Fred L Hammond
Paula Jefferson
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Nancy Moore
Linda Rains
Cynthia Rolewski
Jan Schneider
Jennifer Tonge-Martin
| | Don't let the name fool you. EVERYONE is welcome. | | The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. We empower voters and defend democracy through advocacy, education, and litigation, at the local, state, and national levels. | | | | |
