 | New Opt-In Email Lists for Community Opportunities
To say there is a lot to keep track of these days would be a bit of an understatement – especially for an organization with a mission to Empower Voters and Defend Democracy. Fortunately, we are not alone.
There are lots of good organizations and individuals doing great work in our community and beyond. As we seek to expand and strengthen our connections with those invested in similar work, I am going to add a few more “alert” email lists as well as companion “sharing” lists. All of these will be opt-in, so that no one gets extra emails they don’t want.
“Alert lists” are open to both LWVOC members and non-members. They are a way to share timely opportunities, for example, upcoming rallies, volunteer needs, or urgent legislative actions. To keep email volume down, only I, or someone I specify, will be posting to this list.
“Sharing lists” are an additional option for LWVOC members. Within guidelines that will be posted, anyone who joins one of these lists will be able to post. Guidelines will focus on posting actionable information, avoiding debate, and maintaining a respectful tone.
Current topics are Immigration, Housing & Poverty, and Women’s Issues & Health Care.
To sign up for any of the lists, fill out this simple form.
We understand your inbox is busy, and we are committed to keeping these lists focused and relevant. There are probably better technologies – but this is quick and easy for now. We can always add more as we go. The important thing for now is to enable information sharing. I have had many conversations with members about the role of the League at this time. My hope is that we can best build strength by focusing on what we do best and supporting other organizations in what they do best.
Keep those ideas coming!
Yours in Service,
Kathy
president@lwvoc.org
| | MAR 1, 9am
GVP & Nat'l Resources
Community Clean up with our Gun Violence Prevention Team, YaYa‘s Dream Foundation, Moms Demand Action and Our own Environmental Resource Committee. All LWV Orange County Members are invited to join. Cleaning neighborhoods has shown to reduce Gun Violence and is good for our environment.
MAR 12, doors open 10:30
HOT TOPICS, Unsheltered: Criminalized and Cast Aside
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VOLUNTEER OPS
*We table and sometimes provide power points to provide voter registration and civic information at the following opportunities. You must have taken and passed the League voter registration test HERE
MAR 1, 12-3pm
Vintage Vibes/Fresh Finds Market Event; Voting Table
Elks Lodge Orlando, 12 N Primrose Ln
MAR 25, 12:15-1pm
Lake Highland Prep
Presentation to the Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society
| | | As more residents of Central Florida are forced from their homes by rising rents and other factors, they also now are threatened with arrest if they camp on public property. The League of Women Voters of Orange County hosts a HOT TOPICS March 12 panel discussion of this double squeeze on the homeless population — “Unsheltered: Criminalized and Cast Aside” — and a new collaboration of news media formed to cover recent developments.
| Registration is now open for our March 12th Hot Topics. Read all the details HERE. PANELISTS include:
- Martha Are, CEO of the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness and the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida
- Lilly Hernandez Caraballo, Journalist with Central Florida Public Media as a reporter for America corps member covering housing and homelessness
- Zeynep Portway, Executive Director for the Samaritan Resource Center
- Moderator: Mark Brewer, President and CEO of the Central Florida Foundation
|  | | To register for the EDUC Committee Zoom meeting, email Christine Bramuchi
|  | To register for the NPV Zoom meeting, click the link below:
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 | Natural Resources Committee members Jeanette Lambert, Kay Hudson, and Beth Becht volunteered at Pine Castle Pioneer Days to promote voter re-registrations for mail-in ballots and petitions for the Right To Clean Water. (petition info at bottom of newsletter)
If you're part of a group that's interested in having the LWVOC provide voter information, click:
|  | Read Gina Hall's "commentary" in the Orlando Sentinel about the importance of requesting your Vote-by-Mail ballot. Longtime Leaguer Nancy Albright and League President Rev. Kathy Schmitz are quoted as well.
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Our DEIA Committee stays busy keeping us informed about the ongoing challenges and triumphs of advocating for a diverse, equitable, and inclusive society for all. Listen to Co-chairs Virginia Meany and Marilyn Baldwin explain the committee's purpose and how they feel about moving DEIA issues to the forefront.
Click here to view their story on YouTube:
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The House and Senate introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require citizenship documentation to register to vote even though voters in every state are already required to affirm or verify their citizenship status when registering.
TELL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO OPPOSE THIS ACT
It is already illegal for noncitizens to register and vote in federal or state elections. The bill’s requirement of a document to prove American citizenship to register to vote in federal elections is unnecessary and seeks to divide us. It also creates another barrier to voting.
To SEND a message, click link HERE.
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Let's Go to Lobby Days MAR 11-12 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. L Bracy Davis
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.
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Jennifer Sims
Elizabeth Becht
Katie Lehr
Diane Darnall
Jennifer Crandall
Laurin MacLeish
Not a member yet? Visit JOIN HERE and learn about becoming a Leaguer! |  |
Virginia M. Meany
Harold S. Rhoads, 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 | |