| Early voting is OPEN 9am-7pm until Aug 16 at 18 different locations; you can also deliver your signed/sealed VBM ballot to a staffed box at any of these early voting locations or the Supervisor of Elections office. We recommend that everyone check their voter info/status at the link below.
|  | | We're taking to the streets next Monday!
Above: “Sojourner Truth” (Dr. Mary Graham-Lawrence), “suffragist” (Martha Haynie), and “Susan B. Anthony” will be among the participants at the Aug. 17 (Monday) Centennial Event at 10:00 AM on LWVOC Facebook LIVE Socially distanced-masked and costumed Leaguers will carry signs and champion voting on Orlando's Orange Avenue near Wall Street in tribute to the suffragists of a century ago. The actual 100th anniversary of the day the 19th Amendment was ratified is Tuesday, August 18 which coincides with Florida's primary election. Read more about this special day at One Vote Makes all the Difference.
Orlando's Mayor Buddy Dyer will present a proclamation declaring August 26 "Women's Equality Day" at the event.
|  | We've launched our “100 Days to The Vote” campaign, with daily social-media posts, (also on our site for our non-social media users) featuring fascinating nuggets about the suffragists and the achievements of women in the century since 1920, both nationally and in Central Florida, FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/LWVOC and on Instagram @LWVOC Our 100 Days celebration continues until November 3, the Election Day that marks 100 years since the first time women across the nation could participate in our democracy.
Shown above: Drive-in theaters are in style again, and so is drive-in voting. It’s easy — simply complete your vote-by-mail ballot and, instead of mailing it, drop it off in person. Before the elections on Aug. 18 and Nov. 3, 2020, Orange County voters can deposit their mail-in ballots at staffed drop-off boxes at the Supervisor of Elections headquarters, 119 W. Kaley St., Orlando, or any early voting site. More info: ocfelections.com/vote-by-mail. Photo: sfdshop.com, Brooklyn, N.Y. | | 100% Renewable Energy by 2050 Promised
Dr. Gloria Pickar, LWVOC 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 HERE or view it on our website HERE
| | | | "It started out as if it was going to be one of those HR workshops where you have a facilitator, small groups, an easel with huge sheets of paper & suggestions to pass along to management. Snoozer stuff.
But Tuesday evening’s LWVOC Hot Topics-ish program actually turned out to be interesting – as well as informative, historical & depressing.
Presented by the Bread for the World Institute, “The Racial Wealth Gap Learning Simulation” is an interactive program that tells us why there is the continuing gap in the U.S. between median net worth of white households ($141,900) & Black households ($11,000.) " Continue reading this fascinating review HERE
| | |  | | VICTORY for voters! Recently, we celebrated "Disability Voter Registration" week and the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Secretary of State, the Supervisors of Elections throughout the State of Florida and the Florida Council of the Blind have reached a settlement in the ADA voting rights case, Williams v. DeSantis and Nielsen v. DeSantis, and ensured that the blind and print impaired will be permitted to complete a vote by mail secretly and independently using their computer. After years of advocacy, the Florida Council of the Blind and their members Jim Kracht, Debbie Grubb, Doug Hall, Carl McCoy and Dolor Ginchereau have fought for the right to independently cast a secret ballot through the vote-by-mail process in Florida. On Sunday, the very day of the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, after resolving a lawsuit with the Florida Secretary of State and all 67 counties, they have achieved their goals and a path to accessible voting by mail throughout Florida. Continue READING here about this historic ruling.
| | | | The following are VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES in line with our virtual League participation policy. | | From the Florida Election Protection Coalition
LWVFL Weekly Training Schedule
Interested in helping monitor the election process? Members can find out more about their non-partisan mission HERE: "...mobilizing thousands of volunteers to help our fellow Americans navigate the voting process and cast their votes..." and the training schedules HERE
| | | | Our Statewide Census Committee is in need of volunteers to assist in a special Census outreach program for undercounted communities in Florida. It’s easy, virtual work: texting people in undercounted communities and encouraging them to answer the 2020 Census.
This project requires a commitment of 3-5 hours over the course of a 5-7 day window. The texting is done through a computer or tablet with a number provided by the program. An accurate and complete 2020 Census count is critical to ensuring Florida receives its fair share of funding and representation.
To participate:
Sign up for a Texter Training. (Trainings take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays).Lastly, complete this form to let us know you are signed up and ask any questions you might have. | | | Volunteer your front lawn - VBM Education Signs Available
We've taken "grassroots voter education" to the grass roots...literally! (Shown left, member Tamaira Rivera and her future voter and right, Sara Rich and her future voter) The LWVOC is dedicated to empowering voters with knowledge and providing information for Vote-By-Mail
Help us fund ALL our voter education goals and DONATE to our efforts. Without our regular programming, budgets are tight but getting out the vote and empowering voters through knowledge is how we will DEFEND DEMOCRACY. Be sure to keep scrolling to see our APPRECIATION to the many donors who have stepped up to help us, just as Barbara Granade did.
| | Be a social media League volunteer and SHARE the information and graphics below on the platforms where you post! | | COVID-19 has created challenges for the League’s voter registration efforts. Nationally and locally, Leaguers are busy working on a Vote-by-Mail campaign. Social media is one of the strategies we’ll utilize. We’re asking members, who are Facebook and Instagram users, to help increase our social media presence by interacting with the League's posts. Interacting with our posts is where the magic happens. Every time you do, our voice is amplified. The more interactions we have, the more people will see our message and the greater our impact. A “like” is good, a “comment” is better and a “share” is best of all. ~ R. Pando
GET CLICKING and SHARE! Hover over one of our graphics, right click to save, and then follow your normal routine to upload the image to your social media accounts. | | | | Volunteer your smile and the reason you vote. We want to feature YOU on our social media and here on our website!
- Submit a picture of yourself with the "Vote From Home" yard sign.
- Submit a snapshot of you along with a short answer to the question "Why is voting important to me?" We'll add the caption to the photo
- Submit a short video clip (30-seconds or less) answering the question "Why is voting important to me?"
Send your submissions to
John Klapchuk [Shown right, Tim Pham in a #throwbackthursday pic participating in our 2016 social media campaign]
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These observers will "attend/watch during webinar" a local municipal meeting of their local government. Opportunities vary by county/city/town and of course, schedule. An example might be tuning into the city commission meeting of Orlando and taking notes, reporting back to the Government Committee.
| | |  | As mentioned above, Susan is the new chair of the Communications Committee. She is focusing on the following (no particular order) and seeking other members who are interested in helping her rebuild the committee.
1) Pulling together passionate folks who want to help tell the story of LWVOC. It takes many people with various talents to effectively communicate the mission and vision of this organization.
2) Gather information from all of the advocacy groups to tell their stories, what they are doing, the differences they are making in our community, etc.
3) Grow the visibility and brand awareness of LWVOC in the community – including letting folks know it’s not just for women.
4) Increasing our social media footprint, educating all LWVOC members on how they can help share our messages such as information about voting, Hot Topics, etc.
5) Spread the visibility of Hot Topics to a larger Central Florida audience.
6) Work with all areas of LWVOC to use various communication tools in an effective manner. | | Nyala Shuler
Ellen Rendle
John Rendle
Mary Moser
Sarah McClane
Pamela Saffran
Shannon St. John
Judith Oakes
George Oakes
Valerie Powers
Mike Powers
*Remember, students join for free!
Invite your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues to JOIN US | | | | Your contributions help us continue the powerful work of the League, especially during these pandemic times when our normal operations have been curtailed. THANK YOU to the following generous contributors:
Mary L. Basham, a generous donation to the LWVOC Educ Fund in recognition of VBM yard signs
Judith Sanborn, a generous donation to the LWVOC Educ Fund
Hillary Brook, a generous donation to the LWVOC Educ Fund in honor of and with thanks to Joan Erwin
For those of you who would like to donate "to honor" or "in memory of" someone or to support our voter education efforts,
| | | Newsletter Checklist
- Did you join the League for volunteer opportunities? We've listed several opportunities above to start your activist journey.
- VBM signs are available on a first come/first served basis. Volunteer your front lawn!
- Follow our social media platforms to see our 100 Days to The Vote history trivia. Look at the TOP of all our newsletters and simply click on an icon to go directly to Facebook, Instagram, etc.
- Read Dean's review about this week's HT and consider how you might approach the topic of racial inequity.
- John is looking forward to receiving your photos/videos about "why you vote."
| | MEMBERS ONLY
We're excited to announce this week's edition of our "Lunch & Learn" series. These webinars are continuing weekly as we practice social distancing to keep our communities safe.
This week we will welcome Scott Darius, Executive Director of Florida Voices for Health to discuss medicaid expansion and just how important health care advocacy will be as we continue to face the challenge of COVID-19 and its effects on our state and nation. We will also hear from LWVFL's Health Care State Action Chair Diane Dimperio, who hails from LWV of Alachua County.
Members ONLY: Register Here | | | Groundwork is being set for a NEW sub-committee for DEI...Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Perhaps you've seen our recent diversity collages recognizing the many faces that make up the League and its supporters. Our diversity policy can be found HERE Contact our members, Virginia Meany or Alisha Taylor if you're interested. Start-up conversations begin this month! (Shown below l. to r. : Andrea Kobrin, Ann Hellmuth, Voter Services @LakeClaire, Victor Collazo, Pat Grierson, Tricia Huder) | |