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A recent article in the Orlando Sentinel highlighted the issues faced by Central Florida Venezuelan immigrants following news that their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will be removed. Cecilia Gonzalez, (shown below at a recent event) who was featured in the article, is a LWVOC member and active in the UCF League. Those of us who had a chance to meet Cecilia at the recent LWVOC Planning Meeting found reading her story particularly poignant.
Cecilia says there are two things everyone who wished to take action can do:
1) Check on your immigrant friends (not limited to Venezuelans but specially Venezuelans). They are feeling extremely overwhelmed at this time and feeling they are not alone means a lot.
2) Sign this petition urging your members of congress to help protect TPS for Venezuelans.
Immigration Alerts
Last week, I mentioned my desire to create a system that allows people to opt-in for timely alerts on important issues. Given the above, we’ll start with immigration. If you would like to participate, email me at president@lwvoc.org with the subject “Immigration Alerts List.” Once you’ve been added, you will receive a confirmation email from “Google Groups” with “Subject: You have been added to LWVOC - Immigration Alerts.” To start, the group will be just LWVOC members. We’ll experiment with it for a bit and then decide whether to expand the circle and which other issues to add. Let me know your questions and concerns.
In League,
LWVOC President Rev. Kathy Schmitz
*BELOW, Correction of misidentified Leaguers attending the Annual Planning Meeting in the last newsletter. Shown L-R: Theo Webster, Cecilia Gonzalez, Kathy Sheerin and Gina Hall | | Feb 12, 11AM
Celebrating Black History Month
Feb 18, 12-1pm
Education Committee Mtg
Feb 19, 7PM
DEIA Social Justice Book Club
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*We will be tabling to provide voter registration and information at the following opportunities. You must have taken and passed the League voter registration test HERE
Feb 22, 10am-5pm
Pine Castle Pioneer Days
Feb 22, 9:45am-1:15pm
ELCOC Diaper Drive
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Honoring the work of African Americans — forced and voluntary, and the long struggle for equality — will be the focus of the Feb. 12 Hot Topics lunch and panel, “Voices of Labor: The African American Journey,” hosted by the League of Women Voters of Orange County. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. at the Winter Park Events Center for a buffet lunch.
SPECIAL GUESTS: Dr. Ethel Wellington-Trawick, (shown lower left) a retired educator, will open the program with the hymn “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Originally written as a poem by Florida native James Weldon Johnson, the song is known as the Black National Anthem.
Feb 12 HOT TOPICS Overtime
An in-depth conversation about the theme and panel discussion will follow at 1:15 p.m. in the second-story meeting room at the events center. The moderator of the Hot Topics Overtime will be Elizabeth Grace, (shown lower right) president and CEO of the Central Florida Urban League. |  | The DEIA Committee has a goal of supporting community needs. We are collecting children's socks and underwear for Hungerford Elementary School in Eatonville.
Please bring new socks and underwear for children ages 4-12 to the Black History Month Hot Topics luncheon.
Look for our collection box in the hallway as you enter the conference center.
All donations including gift cards will be most appreciated.
|  | The LWVOC DEIA Committee has pulled together a PDF of linked resources for local events as well as educational links.Also, READ the latest Op Ed from DEIA Co-Chair Marilyn Baldwin.
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National and Florida LEAGUE UPDATES | | Let's Go to Lobby Days MAR 11-12
To encourage members to attend Lobby Days, the LWVOC Board is offering financial assistance for up to 6 people. Assistance would cover the cost of registration ($195.00) plus $120/night for up to 2 nights. For more information, please email president@lwvoc.org with the subject “Lobby Days Assistance.”
Shown, Leaguers meeting with FL Rep. Tom Leek | | | | From the LWV of Florida: Lobby Days marks a unique opportunity to humanize our legislative priorities with our state lawmakers. The League's membership has continued to grow over the past year and we're excited to show that off in the halls our state capitol.
|  | | Vote-by-mail requests expire after each federal general election cycle. Therefore, all vote-by-mail requests expired on Dec. 31, 2024. To continue to receive vote-by-mail ballots, you must submit a new vote-by-mail request each general election cycle.
UPCOMING Orange County Elections
Feb. 4th, Town of Windermere Mail Ballot Referendum
March 11th, Municipal elections for the Cities of Ocoee, Winter Park, Belle Isle, Maitland, Town of Windermere |  |
TIMELY COMMENTARIES (personal submissions-not on behalf of LWVOC) authored by Leaguers featured recently in the Orlando Sentinel include:
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 | | Maureen Mousseau
Cherlette McCullough
Rachel Chambless
Temika Hampton-Johnson
Jon Ellis
Dylan Lovings
Tracey Choroco
Hope Hayes
Not a member yet? Visit our Join Now page and learn about becoming a Leaguer! |  | Barbara C. Knapp, gave a generous gift to the LWVOC Fund "in memory of my husband Jim Knapp and in gratitude for his two mentors Carol and Charles Davis."
Val Mobley, a generous gift to the LWVOC Fund
Christine Laning, a generous gift through the Giving Society
Visit the Donate page to explore the many ways you can $upport LWVOC.
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Sponsors are vital to our work to empower voters by providing timely information for the benefit of non-partisan civic engagement in our community.
To further explore how becoming a Hot Topics Sponsor can align with your business goals, please contact LWVOC Vice President, Lee Rambeau Kemp HERE
A range of sponsorship levels are available. |  |  | | Statewide call to action: The League of Women Voters supports the Florida Right to Clean Water campaign, a citizens' initiative to amend the Florida Constitution with the right to clean and healthy waters. If our current laws were working, then we wouldn’t have manatees dying in record numbers, 80% of our 1000 springs impaired, and harmful blue-green algae and red tide in greater frequency and duration. A constitutional right takes precedence over legislation that permits pollution, restricts fertilizer bans, and allows radioactive materials to be used in our roads. Create a legacy for the future of our waters!
The Right to Clean Water! In support of establishing our basic right to clean and healthy water, LWVOC has committed to helping get this citizen initiative on the 2026 ballot. Please sign your own petition. Those who signed prior to 2024 will need to sign the new petition.
Learn how YOU can become an active volunteer here: https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org/resources | |