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There's a lot happening in the world, and your League leadership has been especially busy this summer! We're thrilled to see growing activity across many of our traditional advocacy areas. We invite you to explore what's underway and discover how you can get involved. The links will lead you to more information, including who to contact.
Last year, two committees re-emerged, and this year, we're excited to announce three more vibrant committees joining the fold!
- Over the past year, our revived Gun Violence Prevention Committee has been hard at work. They've engaged in traditional lobbying efforts and led important programs promoting safe gun storage, including making gun locks available to owners. They also helped plan our "How Florida Can Reduce Gun Violence" Hot Topics program. View on YouTube
- Meanwhile, our re-energized Education Committee co-planned the upcoming August Hot Topics, "Diverted Dollar$ The Real Cost of School Choice." This committee continues to skillfully navigate the complex issues facing our public schools today.
- The reinvigorated Women's Rights Committee, a joint venture with Seminole County, recently met to set goals and make exciting plans. We'd love for you to check them out!
- The Homelessness Study Task Force is making great progress creating a study guide and resource list. Their work will help all LWOVC members become knowledgeable and up to date on the critical housing issues continuing to affect our Central Florida community. (Contact the Co-Presidents for more information.)
- The latest addition to our growing list is the Immigration Committee. Given current concerns about ICE and the implementation of immigration policies—nationally, statewide, and here in Orange County—this development is crucial. It ensures the League is part of the conversation about due process and just, humane treatment for all. (More information coming soon! In the meantime, contact the Co-Presidents to express your interest.)
These incredible new and re-emerging groups join our amazing Voter Services Committee and its subcommittees, which have been going full-speed all summer, from Senior Checkout to Back to School events and more. Our hardworking Natural Resources Committee also continues to advocate tirelessly for clean water, clean energy, and protecting natural spaces in a changing political landscape.
Next time, we’ll take a look at our sometimes less visible but equally important teams that provide infrastructure and support to these advocacy efforts!
Co-Presidents Rev. Kathy Schmitz and Jane Hursh |  | The LWVOC Board of Directors (click to learn more about them personally), elected and appointed, meets monthly to assess the needs of our League. No board member is a paid staff member of the LWVOC. Visit About Us to see how our organization is...organized.
Shown above, l-r: back row: Lauren Zeleck, Jane Hursh, Sandy McAdams, Dan Helm; mid row: Cece Gonzalez, Gina Hall, Margo Hamel, Saudi Ellis, Rev. Kathy Schmitz, Diana Smith, Barbara Lanning, Janet Ziomek, Lee Rambeau Kemp, Jean Yglesias; front row: Virginia Meany, Marilyn Baldwin | |
CLICK below to request your VBM ballot
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The AUG 13th Hot Topics panel will look at a voucher law that helps parents pay for homeschooling or private schools and also will discuss how public school students and the community are being adversely affected. These programs and how education money is being siphoned from public schools will be the focus of the League of Women Voters of Orange County’s Aug. 13 Hot Topics lunch and panel discussion — “Diverted Dollar$: The Real Cost of School Choice.” Read the full press release here.
Beth Kassab, editor of the Winter Park Voice will be moderator for the AUG 13 Hot Topics. Panelists include:
- Stephanie Vanos, member of the OCPS School Board
- Annie Martin, an investigative reporter for the Orlando Sentinel with extensive work on education stories
- Dr. Norín Dollard, Senior Policy Analyst with Florida Policy Institute
- Dr. Tashanda Brown-Cannon, Chief Academic Officer at OCPS
Special book collection at the August Hot Topics! Details below. And this month, Scott Hottenstein will be hosting a Hot Topics Overtime after the program on the 2nd floor of the WPEC. More details to follow soon.
| WE WANT TO SEE YOU! When you're volunteering or attending a League event, take some pics and share them. Email: lisa.lwvoc@gmail.com
Our goal is to highlight as many of you as possible so send those selfies and quick pics of you and your fellow Leaguers.
Also, TAG us in your social media if you're sharing event pics or updates. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Threads as LWVOC or simply search League of Women Voters of Orange County. | | |
CLICK below to view a short "how-to video" on our YouTube channel and start your volunteering era with the League.
AUG 12, Nat'l Poll Worker Recruitment Day
AUG 13, Hot Topics
Diverted Dollar$: The Real Cost of School Choice
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Check Volunteering Opportunities page often and sign up. For Voter Registration, you must have taken and passed the League voter registration test HERE
AUG 18, 19th Amendment Anniversary
AUG 20, 7pm, Social Justice Book Club
The book is “Autocracy, Inc: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World" by Anne Applebaum.
| | | The regularly featured NEW MEMBERS and DONOR RECOGNITION columns will be back next week...when this newsletter's editor returns from vacation. Thanks for your patience!
| We appreciate ALL supporters of this Summer Matching Campaign,
especially Jennifer and Phil Anderson who made it possible! | 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
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