Coffee, Conversation and Defending Democracy

Fri, Feb 2 • 9 AM

Panera, 6351 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton

The coffees are relaxed and we learn more about each other and discuss politics, arts, travel and any number of other topics. Enjoy the company of our League’s bright, interesting and engaged members. Bring your friends!

National Popular Vote

Monday, Feb 12 • 12:00PM • Zoom

Do you think the presidential candidate who wins the most votes should become the president? Learn about the National Popular Vote (NPV), a multi-state agreement that would ensure that the winner of the popular vote also wins in the Electoral College AND becomes President. Hear from Minnesota, the latest state to join the compact. Click Here for more info and to Register

Coffee, Conversation and Defending Democracy

Fri, Feb 16 • 9 AM

Panera, 11505 State Road 70 E, LWR

Taste of the League

Thursday, Feb 22 • 5:30PM

Join us for information, inspiration and a little casual fun, LWV style! Get a "taste" of the work the League is engaged in locally, state and nationally!

This month's Taste spotlights Voter Services. Click Here to Register

Wednesday, 2/7, 2:00 PM - LWVMC Board Meeting

All are welcome! Click here to join the Board Meeting

Friday, 2/9, 8:30AM - Reproductive Rights Action Team Meeting. Click here to join the Reproductive Rights Action Team Meeting.

For more information, email Alice Newlon, Co-President

Thursday, 2/15, 7:00PM Natural Resources Action Team Meeting - Damon Moore, the Executive Director of Oyster River Ecology, Inc. will talk about Oyster River Ecology, Inc. and its mission. He will provide great insights into the Manatee River Oyster Project and he will share some very interesting local history which provides context for this important project. Click here to join the Natural Resources Team Meeting, email Natural Resources Co-Chair, Dawn Hallsten.

Tuesday, 2/20, 4:00PM - Education Action Team Meeting. Click here to join the Education Action Team Meeting.

For more information, email Education Chair, Merrie Lynn Parker.

Wednesday, 2/28, 5:00PM Voter Services Action Team Meeting - Click here to register for the Voter Services Team Meeting, email VS Chair Terri Kondos

Joint Government and Social Issues Action Teams Meeting (includes Gun Safety) Zoom meetings will resume on Monday, 3/11.

For more information, email Government Chair, Ginger McCallum or Social Issues Chair, Helen Andersen

Some of the LWVMC observers (L to R): Felecia Jett, Helen Andersen, Maureen Dardinski, Terri Kondos, Alice Newlon, Ginger McCallum, Coleen Friedman and Ruth Harenchar

LWVMC wins the LWV of Florida Large Size Chapter Award for Notable Achievements in 2023

The League of Women Voters of Manatee County is honored to receive the 2023 award for notable achievement, that is, the publication of notes of the Manatee Board of County Commission (BoCC) and Manatee School Board meetings with good governance observations. These Notes are distributed to the LWVMC distribution list, other organizations forward the notes, and the Bradenton Times publishes both BoCC and School Board Notes as regular feature articles.

In November of 2020, newly sworn in county commissioner Kevin VanOstenbridge called an emergency meeting and made a motion to give the then County Administrator, Cheri Coryea, 15 days notice and terminate her contract. Coryea was the first female county administrator, was well liked and had consistently received excellent reviews. In response, the Government Action Team, with Ginger McCallum leading the effort, developed good governance guidelines, using the county commission's Rules and Procedures and other common resources, and began monitoring the meetings. Since then, the notes have been published after each regular BoCC meeting with the first segment detailing items of interest to the public, and the second segment having the League's observations on governance, whether good or poor behaviors, and why.

The Education Issues Action Team, under the leadership of Chair Merrie Lynn Parker, felt that observations of the school board meetings would be beneficial, but took a slightly different approach. For a good portion of a year, the notes were only distributed to the school board members and the Action Team worked closely with the board to improve the functioning of the meetings. Since opening up to public distribution their notes have been distributed throughout Manatee County in a similar fashion as the BoCC notes.

The Notes have been widely praised for their quality, clarity and accuracy. All different political persuasions love reading them. The circulation has grown and we hope to continue to reach out to even more, because involving the community in government is a core value of the League.

Alice Newlon Receives the Golden Clipboard Award!

When enough valid petitions were collected to qualify "Amendment to Limit Government Interference in Abortion" on the 2024 Florida ballot, Floridians Protecting Freedom, the sponsoring organization for the ballot initiative, requested nominations for those with outstanding dedication. The individuals selected received the "Golden Clipboard Award" and LWVMC Co-President Alice Newlon was one of those honored.

The League supported this initiative and, being as there are no reproductive rights organizations in Manatee County, the League organized the effort with Alice Newlon taking lead. The group managed coverage of events by members and nonmembers, a fund raiser and, near the end of the campaign when our Congressional District 16 became one of 4 "priority districts" to get the amendment on the ballot, coordinated volunteers with their clipboards and petitions from Sarasota, St. Petersburg and even Tallahassee.

On Friday, Jan 26th the supporters all gathered at Glory Days Grill to celebrate what once seemed an impossible feat and Alice thanked all the supporters for their incredible dedication and hard work and flashed her award with a smile.

The Florida Legislature is in Session and the

Action Alerts Come Pouring In.

The Florida legislature meets just 60 days a year (not counting special sessions). Hundreds of bills are submitted by legislators but during those 60 days a fraction actually get enacted. Many, many organizations review the bills submitted. Many have legislative updates just prior and during the the legislative session. And as the bills make their ways to committee hearings, we get the emails with action alerts to support or oppose that particular bill.

A typical League of Women Voters member follows more than the League of Women Voters. We may also follow and/or support

environmental organizations such as the Suncoast Waterkeeper, Audubon Society, Sierra Club, Florida Springs Council,
human and voting rights organizations such as ACLU, Brennan Center for Justice, NAACP,
other organizations which advocate for education, smart growth, gun safety, tax justice, and an amazing proliferation of non-partisan political organizations.

The typical League member not only gets League action alerts, but we get action alerts from other organizations. We want to advocate, but what is the best way to manage these Action Alerts and effectively advocate.

It helps to have a reference to legislative priorities and key bills. I like to bookmark the Florida League legislative priorities and the 1000 Friends of Florida key bills listing to get a quick look at the bill overview information.

If the email from your trusted organizations provides a form to send to the legislator(s) automatically use it, but do some customization, especially in the subject line and first sentence. Legislators tend to discount if all emails look the same, even if it is a flood of emails with all requesting the same action.

Even more effective is a letter or a personalized email on issues of importance to you. Please refer to the 12 pieces of advice on ADVICE ON CONTACTING YOUR LEGISLATOR VIA LETTER OR EMAIL by the League of Women Voters of Manatee County. Remember, Democracy is not a spectator sport.

The Status of Women in Florida

These two excellent speakers cover the current status of women in Florida, what are the issues that most affect women and girls, what are the recent legislative changes, and what are the bills filed for the upcoming legislative session that impact women and how.

The speakers are:

Ashley Brown, CEO/President of Women’s Resource Center
Liv Coleman, PhD, Political Science Professor at the University of Tampa

Click Here to Watch the Video

Visit our Video Archive for Great Videos

Debra W.

Cyndi R.

Joyce G.

Brad S.

Stephanie M.

Tauna D.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of League member Sue Dickie. Dr. Suzanne Dickie held a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Florida State University, was a Professor Emerita at Loyola University in Chicago, a retired Philosophy Professor, and a teacher for more than 40 years.

Sue was active with the League of Women Voters of Manatee County as a committee chair and board member. In 2016 she was one of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce Champions of Healthcare award winners, Manatee Chamber Program June 2016. Her activism was not confined to the League, and she also made significant contributions to Manatee County AAUW. Our condolences go to her family.

Make a Difference - Join the League!

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.