| Leaguers have been busy this week with marching in the 49th Annual Eatonville Martin Luther King Jr. parade and "marching" up to Tallahassee for Lobby Days. If you've been wondering how to get involved, we encourage you to attend this Saturday's Annual Program Planning Meeting. You'll learn about the committees' 2025-26 accomplishments as well as their goals for the upcoming year. It's a perfect time to meet the chairpersons and ask questions.
Play a part in planning the LWVOC program for 2026-27, sharing your ideas and helping us prioritize how we can defend democracy in the community.
Breakfast will be provided and there's plentiful free parking!
Winter Park Community Center, 721 W New England Ave, Winter Park
|  | Leaguers love a parade and this year, we even had a "float" carrying some of our most special members at the MLK Jr. parade. Enjoy these photos of your LWVOC honoring Dr. King in the historic community of Eatonville. View full photo album HERE. Shown below, the marching team and lower left- Nancy Nix and Mary Montanus posed with Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, also a candidate for FL Governor! Right- Anne Mooney waving to the welcoming crowd that appreciated our encouragement for voter registration. FOLLOW us on social media and see a fun video from the day--links are at the top right of this newsletter.
Also, we SALUTE our stalwart parade organizers who devote endless hours to making sure we show up at the right place, the right time, and wearing our #VotesForAll gear! Joan Erwin, her son James, and shuttle driver Mitch Sullen literally moved us!
| | | This is what democracy looks like...at least at the 2026 Lobby Days!
You've heard us chant this at protests, marches, and celebrations but really, this is what it looks like when the League goes to the capitol. LWVOC had a ten-member delegation including: Kathy Sheerin, Saudi Ellis, Virginia Meany, Sandy McAdams, Karolyn Campbell, Jane Hursh, Charlene Thompson, Linda Coffin, Barbara Lanning, and Kathy Schmitz. View their snapshots in full photo album HERE. | | JAN 24, Annual Planning Mtg.
9AM-noon, WP Community Ctr.
All members welcome
JAN 27, Membership Comm. Mtg
2PM via Zoom
Help Leaguers get the most out of
their membership
| | JAN 27, EDUC Comm. reboot
12-1pm
Great opportunity to make a difference
Several opportunities available that you can do from home!
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Please join us for a conversation about next steps for the Education Committee
As some of you know, there is a need for new leadership of our Education Committee as both Christine and Scott have needed to step away for different reasons. Jane and I know what a great group of people have been on the committee as well as the deep concern our league members have on issues of education at this time. Let's figure out how to meet the current moment.--Kathy Schmitz
|  | | Our Nominating Committee is in the process of interviewing prospective members of the 2026-2027 Board of Directors. Our board guides our priorities, encourages members in their activism and supports League efforts to defend democracy. If you feel called to serve the League in this capacity, please contact Kay Hudson lwvkay@gmail.com or any member of the Nominating Committee: Sandi Vidal, Gina Hall, Kathy Sheeran and Joan Erwin. | | |
 | | Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Black History Month with us at the FEB 11 Hot Topics. We're hosting a special conversation between two authors, Dr. Marvin Dunn and Dr. Rebekah McCloud. Dr. McCloud will be interviewing Dr. Dunn about his book:
A History of Florida: Through Black Eyes (2016)
|  | Join Us for an Evening of Vision & Action: Protecting Our Water Future, FEB 17
You’re invited to an inspiring evening with two remarkable environmental leaders who are transforming how we safeguard America’s most precious resource—our freshwater.
Click HERE to register.
Over wine and artisanal bites, discover the innovative strategies emerging from Florida and Colorado, where citizens are pioneering new approaches to ensure clean, abundant water for drinking and thriving ecosystems. As demand intensifies and threats multiply, these trailblazers are proving that smart advocacy and strategic collaboration can protect our rivers, aquifers, and taps from contamination.
Special Guests:
Former LWVOC president and American Rivers lobbyist, Deirdre Macnab, will join us to recap the various water controversies and victories she has encountered since moving west. And Dr. Leslie Poole, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies st Rollins College and award-winning writer and historian, who has been studying Florida’s environmental movements and helping to bring attention to and save the state’s important natural resources, will catch us up our local water battles. |  | |
Share this newsletter and encourage your friends and family to JOIN HERE
*Current members, don't forget that you'll be renewing through our national LWVUS site! Watch your email for reminders!
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Peg Cornwell
Harold S. Rhoades, Giving Society
Cathy Miller Kennedy
LWVOC offers multiple ways to $upport our non-profit with giving preferences such as "planned giving" as well as our "Giving Society". Explore these and more on our Giving page HERE Contact Lee Rambeau Kemp. if you have questions. | | |
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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