The 2025 Biennial State Convention of the League of Women Voters of Florida was held this weekend in Orlando at the Doubletree by Hilton to elect new officers and board members, approve by-laws and set the program for the coming two years. The Orange County League was well represented. LWVOC former Co-President and former LWVFL 2nd VP Barbara Lanning was elected 1st VP of the LWV of FL. (photos by C. Wonsavage)
Shown below top photo, l-r back row; Theo Webster, Dan Helm, Jane Hursh, Lee Rambeau Kemp, Gene Stoddard, Karen Estrin, student, Sandy McAdams; mid row-Carol Wonsavage, Virginia Meany, Cece Gonzalez, Karolyn Campbell, Jean Yglesias, Susan Windmiller, Adrienne Katz Katz; front row-Kathy Schmitz, Eithne Clarke, Linda Coffin
Bottom row: new LWVFL President Jessica Lowe Minor and 1st VP Barbara Lanning; Board members Jean Yglesias, Co-Presidents Rev. Kathy Schmitz and Jane Hursh
|  |  | The League of Women Voters Orange County proudly welcomed panelists and guests to yesterday's Hot Topics, Pride under Attack: Defending LGBTQ+ Rights. Look for a full RECAP of the event soon with "Take Action" ideas talked about at the program. There are many other upcoming local events; the DEIA Committee invites you to review the events and activities listed in the link and show your PRIDE in a vibrant community: Click HERE
Want to learn more about the LGBTQ+ community and how you can show up and support LGBTQ+ rights? Follow this link to a list of 20 new books (fiction and nonfiction) about the LGBTQ+:experience. Click HERE
TODAY, 2025 Pulse Remembrance Ceremony
JUNE 12, 5:30 p.m. - doors open at 5 p.m.
First United Methodist Church of Orlando, 142 East Jackson Street
Shown below l-r: Hot Topics Co-chairs Karen Estrin & Diana Smith; Co-president Jane Hursh and panelists Dr. George Wallace, Gina Duncan-moderator, Gabriella Rodriguez, Nathan Bruemmer; guests Francisco Vasquez, Shawn Hunt, 1st VP Lee Rambeau Kemp, Gary Lambert (photos by Carol. Wonsavage) |  | Check the calendar for all upcoming Committee meetings (most on Zoom) and become an active Leaguer!
JUNE 12, 7:30pm
Women's Rights Committee
"Self-care as an act of resistance
Educ Comm. Mtg.
| | JUNE 17, 7pm
Homeless Study Task Force
JUNE 17, 5pm
Communications Mtg.
JUNE 18, 7pm
DEIA Social Justice Bk Club
JUNE 21, 1:30pm, 4pm VOLUNTEER
Juneteenth Come Out With Pride
| | |  | | For Those Attending June 14th Rallies
LWVUS has chosen not to endorse the national organizing for June 14 and has left it up to local Leagues whether they feel their local events are suitable for League involvement. Although we are not organizing a LWVOC contingent, we believe the local organizing will speak to League values and encourage those members interested in doing so to represent those values at the event. If you choose to wear or carry League identification at the rally, remember to remain non-partisan, neither supporting or opposing any party or candidate. There are certainly plenty of principles which we can represent with enthusiasm.
|  | Special Primary Election for State Senate District 15 and State House District 40
Dates: Early voting June 14 - 22
Times: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Locations:
1. Supervisor of Elections Office - 119 West Kaley Street - Orlando, 32806
2. West Oaks Library - 1821 East Silver Star Rd. Ocoee, 34767
3. Apopka Community Center - 519 South Central Ave. Apopka 32703
4. Eatonville Town Hall - 307 East Kennedy Blvd. Eatonville, 32751
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| Juneteenth: Honoring the African American experience and culture.
Juneteenth is more than a holiday; it's a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for racial equality. It serves as a reminder of the historical legacy of slavery and the long journey towards freedom and justice. The DEIA Committee invites you to commemorate the emancipation of the final enslaved people in the US on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas by participating in a Juneteenth event: https://www.eventbrite.com/d/fl--orlando/juneteenth/
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We welcome back Jennifer and Phil Anderson as returning Visionary Sponsors for 2025. They're ready to challenge you to another WINNING match! Thanks to their generosity, we are pleased to announce that any gift you make this summer by July 31st will be doubled by a matching grant up to $25,000.
Your gift can provide twice the resources that will be greatly needed as we face a tumultuous summer of our democracy being tested in ways that most of us have never seen. We seek to EXPAND our fight against the spread of mis- and disinformation, contribute more to voter education, and advocate for our top priorities. Read more about our work here.
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Christie Mitchell
Jessi Van Pelt
Visit JOIN HERE and learn about becoming a Leaguer!
SHARE this newsletter with your social and family circle so they can see the great benefits of becoming a Leaguer! |  |
Ann and Charles Simpson, generous gift to the LWVOC Fund in memory of Terry Gilliam;
Terry loved the League mission and working with members (Terry shown below receiving
an award at the 2023 Annual Meeting)
REMEMBER, if you're joining or renewing on the national site, COME BACK and
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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 and we have a range of sponsorship levels available. To further explore how to become a sponsor, please contact LWVOC Vice President and Fund Development Chair Lee Rambeau Kemp HERE
|  |  | SPECIAL "Take Action" Alerts Now Available from Pres. Kathy Schmitz
“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, Women’s Issues & Health Care, and Defending Democracy
To sign up for any of the lists, fill out this simple form HERE.
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