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Date: 2/16/2023
Subject: LWVOC Newsletter & Events
From: Lisa K Adkins



This week, the LWV celebrated 103 years of empowering voters.  Happy Birthday to us!  As Leaguers know, it takes education to bring about change. In honor of Black History Month 2023-Black Resistance, the LWVOC DEIA Committee invites you to continue to deepen your knowledge and understanding of an inclusive and comprehensive US history. We recommend these resources to support your learning about the many contributions to US History by African Americans.  Learn how you can VISIT, LEARN, LISTEN, and READ more.  CLICK TO READ their full list of resources and links to fully experience Black History Month 2023-Black Resistance.


Epitomizing the success of local Black Resistance, find out more about Father Nelson Pinder from this article "Father Nelson Pinder and the Jones HS Class of '62 written by Leaguer Tana Mosier Porter.
Father Pinder led the fight to integrate Orlando’s restaurants and lunch counters, stores, playgrounds, parks, and schools. He helped to persuade the Orlando Sentinel to eliminate its “Negro Section” and to cover African Americans in the main edition of the paper. Three grocery stores that refused to hire blacks closed after he led boycotts against them. The Parramore community knew Father Pinder as the “Street Priest of Orlando,” for his tireless efforts to help street people and troubled youths.
Upcoming Events
FEB 22, Harvard Civics Case Study
Deadline to register: FEB 20
Topic: James Madison and The Federal Negative and the Making of the Constitution
Location: Lake Nona High School
Time: 6-7:30PM
Open to all
MAR 7-8, LWVFL Lobby Days
Location: Tallahassee
Haven't been to one of our Lobby Days before? Don’t fret! We provide attendees with onsite training to be an effective advocate.
A limited amount of Lobby Day scholarships (event registration only) will be made available, to inquire about receiving a scholarship please write to info@lwvfl.org or call (407) 377-5777.
Today's politics may motivate you to learn more about The Federal Negative:  "As Madison stated in a letter to Thomas Jefferson, “the effects [of the federal negative] would be not only to guard the national rights and interests against invasion, but also to restrain the States from thwarting and molesting each other.”
The Education Committee and Orange County Public Schools will host a special Harvard Civics Case Study on February 22.  Learn more about the event HERE and share this opportunity with your circle of friends and colleagues.  It's open to all who are interested but will require a bit of "homework" before the class.  Upon registering, you'll receive a link to prepare you for the upcoming class.
LWVOC Volunteer Icon LWVOC Donate Icon LWVOC Vote Icon 

What's Happening?
Orange County
2023 Municipal Elections take place on MAR 14 for the City of Maitland and the City of Ocoee.  LWVOC will be moderating a City of Maitland Candidate Forum at 4 PM for COUNCIL SEAT #4 - 2/26/2023
 
Visit OCF Elections/2023municipals for ALL answers pertaining to these upcoming elections.
  
Florida
Florida’s voting laws now require voters who wish to request a vote-by-mail ballot to do so after every election cycle. The new law requires that every voter who requested a vote-by-mail ballot before November 8, 2022 must do so again if they wish to receive their mail ballots for 2023 municipal elections, primaries and the 2024 general election.  Visit OCF Elections/vote-by-mail to find out more or visit FLEPC (Florida Election Protection Coalition.)
 LWVFL has endorsed the Right to Clean Water! Calling All Do Bees! Worker Bees! and Activist Wanna Bees!
In support of establishing our basic right to clean and healthy water, our League has committed to helping get this citizen initiative on the 2024 ballot. The goal is to collect 90,000 signed petitions in Orange County. (Why does it have to be such a mountain to climb?) Will you help?
Please visit our Volunteer Page and make a plan to spend some time outside this weekend or later this month collecting signatures. Petitions, clipboards & literature will be provided for this popular cause at event sites. 
Remember that Orange County’s similar Charter Amendment received 89% of voter approval. This will be joyful outreach to our community!
MetroPlan Orlando ATP Public Survey
 
Tell us what you think! Click for SURVEY
Click HERE En Español

MetroPlan Orlando is developing a regional Active Transportation Plan to identify critical gaps in the biking and walking network and increase the portion of trips accomplished by active modes. You can help by sharing your experiences with biking and walking by completing this brief survey.

We expect that this survey will take less than 10 minutes.

LAST CHANCE at AMAZON  We recently received news that AmazonSmile will be winding down on February 20, 2023. Until the official closing date, we hope you will donate to the LWVOC while you shop at Smile.Amazon.com.

 To do so, simply visit this LINK and add or chose the League of Women Voters or Orange County as your charitable organization recipient before you start shopping.  (Remember, only purchases made at smile.amazon.com, (not www.amazon.com) or with AmazonSmile turned ON in the Amazon Shopping app on your mobile phone will generate AmazonSmile donations.)

Need League guidance or have a request for our Communications crew?
 
Make note that League leaders will be "Out of the Office" the week of FEB 20-28.
 
Get your calendar, social media, website, and administrative requests to us ASAP so that we can assist you before leaving the office for a week
Samuel Alexander
Julie Alexander
Susan Harwood
Stephanie Steedley
Ana Cruz Pena
Carolyn Sawyer
Kismet Kohn
Anna Beck
Robert Beck
Norzilia Mezinord
Sarah Ulrich
Alexys Veloz
Lauren Bobeck
Dustin Bowersett
Emma Peters
Natasha Lias
Deeys Bhatt
 
Share this newsletter and encourage your circle of friends and family to
We want to send our sincere appreciation to this week's donors:
 
Anh Volmer in gratitude of Mary Dipboye and her 75th birthday!
 
Terry Gillam in recognition of Leaguer Mary Dipboye's birthday "Happy Big Birthday, Mary!"
 
Debra Reinhart in honor of Mary Dipboye's birthday
 
Ann Patton in honor of Mary Dipboye's birthday
 
Support the League by becoming a donor and as you see, donations can be made "in honor, recognition, etc." of recipients.
 

Register for MAR 9 Breakfast

MARCH is Women's History Month

On March 9, the History Center presents its fourth annual Women’s History Month Breakfast, honoring pathbreaking Orlando architects Ida Annah Ryan and Isabel Roberts.

The program will feature the short 2022 documentary film, “Pavilion on the Water,” highlighting especially Roberts’ role in Ryan and Roberts’ design for the 1924 bandstand at Orlando’s Lake Eola Park.

HOT TOPICS Volunteers Needed
If you regularly attend Hot Topics, please volunteer to help.  We are looking for alternates for the following roles:
  • Timekeeper
  • AV slides
  • Member Questions
Contact Pat Grierson, lwvpat.grierson@gmail.com

Talk about a timely subject! The March 9 (note that it is on a THURS, only for March) Hot Topics lunch and program, “A Thousand Disrespectful Cuts: The State of Public Schools in Florida,” is as topical as it gets. Spectrum News 13 anchor Tammie Fields will moderate the panel discussion.
Visit the Hot Topics page for complete details and registration as well as biographies of our esteemed panel shown below.
Introducing our first Platinum Level Sponsor: Climate First Bank The bank will be supporting LWVOC Hot Topics events for the next year. Climate First Bank is World’s first FDIC-insured community bank founded to combat the climate crisis. Climate First Bank offers a complete, full-service portfolio of simple and easy-to-use traditional banking products designed to do good for people and the planet. Please follow this link to learn more: climatefirstbank.com
Wondering about your next step in the League?
 
Consider a leadership role!
 
Questions?  Email our Nomination Committee Chair below:
 
 
 
Visit the Board of Directors page to learn more about our current leadership.
 
Envision yourself making a difference by sharing your talents with LWVOC.
SALE SALE SALE
LWVOC is cleaning out the storage unit!  We have the following Audio equipment for sale.  Click HERE to read all the details and make us an offer!