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Ready for 100% Renewable Energy:
Solar and Energy Efficiency is Superior
Pathway

Gloria Pickar, Co-President, is urging
Orlando's Mayor Dyer and OUC management
to take a serious look at a recently released
report that includes comparisons of three
pathways for achieving 100% renewable
energy by 2050. Report authors concluded
that solar and energy efficiency provide superior
economic and health results over options that rely
on coal and natural gas. See Gloria's My Word
column that appeared in the Orlando Sentinel
on Aug 8, 2020.

Schedule

Tell us what type of transportation you would like to see in Orlando by 2045

“These women were arrested, they were beaten, tortured and force-fed. They marched and worked for 70 some years to get the right to vote. And we have to keep honoring that,” Pickar said. “Today, we still see evidence of voter suppression and voter oppression. It’s not all gone. It’s not all fixed. We have to fight harder every day to be sure that every single American citizen can vote.”

In case you're not on social media, these are our "history posts" celebrating 100 years of women fighting for and gaining the vote...100 days out from the NOV 3 General Election.

Information to obtain your VBM yard sign

Campaign of Recognition of the 100th Anniversary of Women's Right to Vote

The League's position on open primaries as well as Amendment 3 on NOV ballot

Urge support for voters whose disabilities make the voting process more challenging

Don't miss another newsletter in your email.

LWVOC urges online registration and Vote-By-Mail

LWVOC Co-Presidents highlight a course of action and resources for engagement in the #BlackLivesMatter movement

Posthumously, our beloved former Co-President Carol Davis, must be heard from again in these troubled times. As she eloquently wrote, "When I wake up, I'm black. Then I navigate between two worlds throughout the day.

Alliance for Truth and Justice (ATJ) member, Valada Flewellyn's poem highlights the individual responsibility we all share to curb racial bias.

#BlackLivesMatter Statement

Passing of former League President

Super Women ~ Each year the magazine recognizes 15 women helping to make Orlando a better place.

Carol Davis obituary announcement

COVID-19 and LWVOC schedule/policies

We made a difference!

Quick summary of LWVOC accomplishments and vision for 2020 celebrations

A commentary about the importance of embracing our history as we prepare for our future

Postponement

Help a student attend Hot Topics

Orlando Sentinel commentary

Making a Difference, Year end report of League activities

Easy to follow steps for voter registration certification

LWVOC Co-President special commentary in Orlando Sentinel

Videos featuring LWV and LWVFL

Year end report of committee activity

Sign up today and join fellow Leaguers in Tallahassee

Community Center

Harvard Civics Project

Orange County high schools start at 7:20 a.m. — that’s earlier than 90% of the high schools in America. As a pediatric neuropsychologist, member of the Orange County League of Women Voters Education Committee, and parent of two children who attend Orange County Public Schools, I can say, with confidence, this is an issue that affects our children’s brain health.

Volunteers are a power house at registering voters. JOIN them!

League update on continuing efforts to implement Amendment 4

Theo Webster and League members continue the conversation from our August Hot Topics on the affordable housing crisis in central Florida.

More than 160 women, plus a few men, came from 26 local chapters to meet in Naples, Florida, June 7-8 for their 37th Biennial Convention of the Florida League of Women Voters.

EJI marker commemorating the life of July Perry

Another great turn out to learn about our 80 years of success

Remembrance of League icon, Phoebe Carpenter

Facts and figures to consider for the upcoming MAY 8 HOT TOPICS

Message from Your Co-Presidents
As your Co-Presidents for 2019-2020, we are honored to serve you. Thank you for the confidence you have invested in us and your new Board of Directors. We pledge to keep us focused on the grassroots foundation of this League to support the fine work of all of our committees as they strive tirelessly to make Orange County and Central Florida a livable, safe, healthy, educated, and sustainable community with peace and justice for all of our citizens and visitors.

On April 20, 1999, two Columbine High School students walked into their school and murdered 12 students and one teacher, while injuring 21 others before turning the guns on themselves. As I was just a handful of years out of high school myself, the horror of that day is seared into my memory.

Brechner Series Finale puts spotlight on women as "Warriors for Democracy"

History book launch Mar 31 at the home of Sue and Steve Foreman

3rd lecture in Brechner Series

Tampa Bay Times Opinion Piece

Radio Interview with Beth Perrell

Guest Columnist/State LWV of FL Gun Safety Comm. Chair

It was a full house at our inaugural lecture series with the Orange County Regional History Center and all were duly impressed with the presentation.

Tally of prioritized program from membership votes at Annual Planning Session.

Observing the first registrations after Amendment 4 passage

Matthew Peddie interviews past and present Co-Presidents

Dean summarizes the judicial candidate forum/via Zoom for July Hot Topics

Bill Cowles, first elected in 1996, was the speaker Wednesday at the LWVOC’s first Hot Topics on the Zoom platform – the subject was “Election Security & Accessibility 2020" moderated by Prof. Aubrey Jewett.

Dean reviews "ACEs - The Biggest Health Crisis You've Never Heard Of"

Black Women's Triumphant Path to Voting

"You probably have no idea how much is riding on the 2020 census."

We’re talking about Central Florida transportation needs – discussed in Wednesday’s LWVOC Hot Topics meeting by Mayors Buddy Dyer (Orlando) and Jerry Demings (Orange County) – and the considerable moola we would need to expand Lynx bus service and the SunRail commuter train

October Hot Topics luncheon review of Gun Control

Summary of luncheon program

HT discussion about the affordable housing crisis in central Florida

Summary of luncheon held June 12

Last week’s Hot Topics gathering brought LWVOC members and guests up to speed on the consequences of Florida’s decision to reject the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion.

While the ACA’s Medicaid expansion was set to take effect in 2014, a 2012 Supreme Court ruling allowed states to opt out. Former Gov. Rick Scott declined Florida’s $5 billion annually in federal funding, which would have covered 800,000 Floridians (initially, the federal government covered 100 percent of the cost to states, leveling-out to 90 percent in 2020). Gov. Ron DeSantis is continuing that policy.

LWVOC members at Wednesday’s Hot Topics got an education about the state of education in the state of Florida.

Summary of March Hot Topics

Judge Emerson Thompson Jr., moderator, told us there were 4,000 lynchings in the U.S. between 1877 and 1950. In a ranking of counties where lynchings took place, Orange County was sixth in the country. Black men were in more danger in Florida than in any other state, Judge Thompson said.

Our Hot Topics writer, Dean Johnson, comments about the recent Carol Davis presentation.

Luncheon guests hear Mayor Buddy Dyer and guests discuss Orange County's present and future transportation challenges.

Links to additional information
Provided by panelist, Jenifer Rupert - Regional Disaster Resilience Coordinator, East Central Florida Regional Planning Council :
www.fema.gov/media-library/resources-documents/collections/344 - collection of templates for emergency response plans for families, businesses etc.
www.floridadisaster.org another resource for templates, emergency alerts etc
www.disastersafety.org Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety - free templates and what to do if...
www.columbiaclimatelaw.com Sabin Center for Climate Change Law- tracks cases in court systems in US

Four women who served our country in Iraq, Korea, Turkey and beyond shared their stories on Veterans Day at the monthly Hot Topics luncheon of the League of Women Voters of Orange County.

Putting together the upcoming year's program

Register quickly for remaining spaces!

Details on being in the parade and how to dress for it

Organizational meeting set for NOV 13

Scott Maxwell moderates as 2 cartoonists discuss current work

Overview of problems and solutions

Calling all members to GET OUT THE VOTE!

Long-time League member speaks up for voting.

View the volunteer opportunities on the Voter Services page.

My Word Editorial

Orlando Sentinel

For Immediate Release

Orlando Sentinel, Letters to Editor

Presentation of new 2018-2019 Board, Program, etc.

Opinion Piece

Your Roof Can Print Cash

At a glance summary of our committees

Power point presentation available for Speakers Bureau

New Partnership

Official press release

Billy Hattaway Presentation

...joining a movement of more than three dozen cities across the nation.

Retired former Gila County Presiding Judge and Presiding Juvenile Court Judge, Peter Cahill, and his former Law Clerk, Lisa Queen, will present a multimedia presentation, Gault-Looking Back in Time, that includes vintage photographs of juvenile court, photos of handwritten documents that began the habeas challenge, exhibits and transcripts from the August 1964 habeas hearings, and audio from the Supreme Court arguments

"I am responding to Michelle Ertel’s CF100 comment in Sunday’s Sentinel that none of the members of the state board of the League of Women Voters of Florida are Republican.

When the League appoints board members, their voter registration is never asked or considered. The League of Women Voters goes back to the Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, N.Y., in 1848. These original suffragists were all Republicans. When Susan B. Anthony voted for the first time, she voted a straight Republican ticket.

LWF USA president shares her thoughts about the upcoming year and voters' rights.

Official statement and press release concerning recent questions about stance on immigration.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday evening at the University Club in Winter Park for our Annual Meeting, the centerpiece of the year for your League!

An evening of sharing and progress

Leaders Launch Campaign Opposing Utility-Backed Amendment 1
Opposition to utility-backed solar proposal spans political spectrum

Opinion piece, Orlando Sentinel

Coalition perseveres despite silence from state leaders.

Press Release from LWVFL June 23

PDF for social media download. I VOTE BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT...

Finding ways that LYNX can better serve Central Floridians as they travel between home and work was the focus of a meeting between the head of the transit service and members of the Orange County League of Women Voters.

In keeping with League's core mission of promoting informed voting, the Spanish-language Vamos a Votar website will post the results of candidates' answers to hot-topic questions, such as Medicaid expansion and full funding of mental and physical health resources, ahead of the elections. This event is publicize the availability of Vamos a Votar as well as registering voters.

Marking the 100th anniversary of the parks service, three leading environmentalists warned Monday of the need to elect state and federal representatives who will work together to preserve the nation’s parks for future generations.
“The next generation -- and us -- have to elect the kind of people who understand,” said Nathaniel Reed, Assistant Secretary of the Interior under Presidents Reagan and Ford and helped write the Endangered Species Act. “We have to persuade good candidates to come forward to join the battle.”
Reed together with Fran Mainella, the first female Director of the National Park Service (2001-2006) and a former director of the Florida Park Service, and Jim Stevenson, former chief naturalist for Florida’s state parks, spoke at the standing-room only Rollins College event, supported by the League of Women Voters of Orange County. It marked the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and Florida’s First State Park.

Capitol Report, Final week of Legislative Session

Last week summation of bills brought before committee.

Rocky week in the Legislative Session.

Drug manufacturers have been pushing legislators in other states to enact a cap on prescription copays. Florida may be next. You might think limits on copays would be great. That could mean lower costs for you and me at the pharmacy counter, but we all pay for it in the ever-rising cost of health care and in our insurance premiums.

What are the ramifications of being a CLOSED PRIMARY state?

As the 2016 Legislative session reaches its midpoint, gun bills appear to have been silenced, fracking is under scrutiny, and a massive water bill has been passed and signed into law by the Governor. The Senate and House approved separated budgets and will begin budget negotiations by next week, which contain some significant differences.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Citizens Advisory Committee was urged by the League of Women Voters to support the use of civil citations for young offenders, “allowing them to proceed with their futures without a record.”

Chosen from January Blogs

Read the results of the recent survey regarding public transportation by Metroplan

At a press conference in Tampa, The League of Women Voters' Patricia Brigham said the average holder of a concealed-weapons permit does not have the kind of training that law enforcement officers get, and there's been no public outcry for an open-carry law