By Janice Garry
Dear Communications Chair,
It’s an exciting time to be a League member. The stature of the League shows itself at the national, state and local levels. One of my proudest moments, both personally and as League president, was speaking before the city commission on March 21, citing the breach of democracy and home rule when the state imposed the GRU Authority on our city. I stated “We have an opportunity to regain democratic processes and home rule in Gainesville. Let's do this. I'll help, the League will help, a whole team will help." After an hour of listening to other community members and groups, all commissioners present voted to begin the process of a ballot referendum. You can watch the three-minute speech here. It begins at 1:43:31.
Additionally, the League is working across the country to resist the surge of infringement on women’s right to choose their own health care. We're also teaming up with the Matheson Museum for a Voices and Votes exhibit. Contact me if you would like to help.
You can help take action on important issues. During the election season, there will frequently be an update to the Action Alert page on the League website with simple things you can do. Mark your calendar to check the Action Alert each Tuesday. While you’re there, look at the other tabs to see what your League is doing. Also, attend the Annual Meeting on May 23. (Scroll down for details.) Finally, if you are a District 1 city voter, I could use your help. Please email me with “District 1” in the subject line.
Every voice counts. Every action counts. Be a part of what is good in our community and country. It’s exciting, rewarding and fun.
In League,
Janice
janice.garry@gmail.com
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LWVAC Annual Meeting
After a multiyear hiatus, we are excited to announce that our 2024 Annual Meeting will be held in person May 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Trinity Methodist Church in Gainesville. The event will cost $23 per person. Email invitations will be coming soon. Watch your email inbox for an invitation and registration link. If you don't receive the email invitation by the end of April, please contact us.
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Let's talk about gun storage
A panel discussion on "Secure Gun Storage" will be held Sunday, April 21 at 1 p.m. at Santa Fe College's Blount Center, 530 West University Ave., Gainesville, room D8-109. Gwendolyn Saffo, LWVAC's vice president and Gun Violence Prevention and Safety Committee Chair, will serve as a panelist. Please RSVP if you can attend this event in person or via Zoom. The event is presented by MOMs Demand Action Alachua County.
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'Stand with the Banned' gala
The League of Women Voters stands on the pillar of protecting the civil rights of all persons in the United States, including LGBTQI+ persons. On May 11, from 6-10 p.m., at the Gainesville Women's Club, Equality Florida will sponsor a "Stand With the Banned" Greater Gainesville Gala. Attend the gala to support League values and enjoy the camaraderie.
Individual tickets are $75. If you would like to attend, you can purchase your ticket here and notify Diana Boxer and Gwen Wagner: vote@lwv-alachua.org.
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LWVUS National Convention
LWVUS's 2024 convention will take place June 27-30. This is a hybrid event and will be held in Washington, D.C. and online. There may be some funds available to reimburse LWVAC attendees for registration. Learn more about the convention here and contact Janice if you are interested in attending and representing LWVAC.
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Nominees for LWVAC board
The Nominating Committee is offering the membership the following nominations:
- Secretary: Diane Dimperio
- Elected director: Mickie Anderson
- Elected director: Diana Boxer
The membership will vote on these nominations at May's annual meeting. Nominations from the floor will also be welcomed. These positions have two-year terms, which begin in June.
Our committee is still searching for its own replacements. Nominating Committee members also serve two-year terms. Next year, a number of board positions become vacant, so this committee’s work will be key to finding a new leadership team. Please consider volunteering for this important task and volunteering for a leadership position.
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Introducing your new Roster Manager | |
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Roster Manager: Lisa Holley
An extra-hearty "thank you" to Lisa Holley, who has generously volunteered to take on the vacant Roster Manager position. Lisa is a retired teacher and has been affiliated with the LWVAC for many years. She says she's looking forward to diving into the volunteer position.
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What do you want to know about candidates? | |
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Voter Services is urgently working to build the candidate question bank for the upcoming forums and VOTE411. Local races include Sheriff, Supervisor of Elections, County Commission, School Board and City Commission. Please submit questions to Voter Services no later than May 24.
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Voter Services Tabling Coordinator
Spring and summer are peak times for tabling opportunities, especially in this important election season. This is where our League has the chance to keep the League brand front and center in our community. Tabling helps potential voters register and motivates voters to vote. And it's fun!
Our Voter Services team needs a tabling coordinator. In short, the coordinator receives tabling requests, organizes volunteers and the set-up and take-down for events. A lot of folks see tabling as a core activity of our League and are ready to help. We just need an organizer. Might it be you? Contact Voter Services.
Social Media Manager
As the 2024 election season gets underway, LWVAC would love to expand our social media presence. Are you social media savvy and interested in volunteering with LWVAC behind the scenes? If so, contact Connie Nicklin for more information.
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LWVAC is gearing up for an important and busy election year in 2024. We have created an Action Team focusing on Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts. Please contact Janice if you would like to be involved.
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Meet & Mobilize Collaborative Initiative
This initiative was formed from the Meet & Mobilize event in January. The collaborative is made up of nonpartisan community organizations to create meaningful partnerships as we enter the 2024 election season through education, engagement and empowerment. Learn more here and if you would like more information or to join our mailing list, please send your email address to Yvette Carter and Gwendolyn Saffo.
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League at the Library needs helpers
We are taking our voter registration, education, and information tables to Alachua County libraries. League at the Library, a Get Out the Vote initiative, is currently tabling once a month for two hours at 10 library branches. This program is increasing League visibility throughout the county while allowing us to engage with current and future voters in a relaxed atmosphere at their neighborhood library. More volunteers are needed to continue this outreach until the election in November. Can you spare two hours to table at a League at the Library event? Contact Voter Services.
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Spring Equinox party a success | |
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LWVAC members gathered on the evening of Friday, March 22 at Jon Reiskind's home for the first in-person celebration since COVID-19. Bad weather foiled the 2022 annual soiree, but it cooperated for this celebration of Spring. A great time was had by all! Read the full article here.
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Need a speaker? We've got 'em
The Speakers Bureau is ready and eager to speak to interested groups. Contact Candy Birch if you know of a group that needs our speakers. Nonpartisan, educational talks include:
- Voter empowerment in 2024
- Voting in Alachua County
- What Is the League?
- Constitutional amendments on the ballot
- Using VOTE411.org
- Everyone deserves a second chance
- Medicaid expansion
- National popular vote
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Santa Fe College Chapter
Linda Mussillo, LWVSF liaison/adviser
Baylee Van Doran, LWVSF chapter president
As Voter neared deadline, April 13-14 was set to be a huge weekend for the LWVSF chapter, with the Santa Fe Springs Arts Festival weekend at the northwest campus. Chapter plans included highlighting voter registration, ballot initiatives, Medicaid expansion petitions and more. They also were ready to participate in the "Rocking the Campus Vote" event, sponsoring a local indie band to promote Get Out the Vote efforts. They have unveiled a new and improved Instagram League of Women Voters @ Santa Fe (@sfc.lwv) account. Stay tuned for their Get Out the Vote video. Coming soon!
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University of Florida Chapter
Diana Boxer, LWVUF liaison/adviser
Stefanie Gadalean, LWVUF chapter president
Hey there, pals! This is Stefanie Gadalean, president of the League of Women Voters at the University of Florida. We've have had another busy month defending democracy! We joined a coalition of other campus organizations to rally against the Board of Governor's DEI restrictions on college campuses. We held our third General Body Meeting where we played a Kahoot on Women's History Month.Though the UF League will be inactive this summer, many of our executive members will stay busy with the LWVAC. Our League is hosting the "Better Together Film Festival" April 15 with the Brown Center for Leadership and Service to support healthy discourse on political issues. Learn more on the chapter's Instagram, follow @ufleagueofwomenvoters.
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Contact: Gwendolyn Saffo
The Gun Violence Prevention & Safety Committee monthly meeting is set for Tuesday, April 16, at 6:30 p.m. We have moved forward from our "Listen & Learn" series, and are ready to move closer to the action portion of this committee. We will discuss future speakers, upcoming events, and next steps. Come prepared to provide your ideas on how this committee can effectively move forward. Recordings of prior meetings are available for viewing on our website.
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Contact: Barbara Frentzen or Kim Walsh-Childers
The Health Care Committee will meet Monday, May 13 at 4 pm in Conference Room A at Oak Hammock. Barbara will report on her conversation with the chairwoman of the board of the Vermont Accountable Care Organization. Additional topics will include support of Yes on 4, tabling for Medicaid Expansion, an update on Medicare Advantage issues, and a discussion of partnering with Elder Affairs/SHINE. All are welcome!
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Jay Rosenbeck and Roberta Gastmeyer have extended their term of NR Committee leadership until May 2025. With the support and participation of Janice Garry, LWVAC president, and the experience, skill, and Roberta's dedication, our League has emerged as a community leader on environment-related issues in Gainesville and Alachua County. Maintaining this will depend on new committee leadership beginning in June 2025, and both Jay and Roberta will happily mentor the League member or members willing to replace them. Just let us know of your willingness to learn and lead.
Starting next month, the NR committee's monthly meetings will be replaced by meetings in response to emerging threats to the environment or as special opportunities for education and advocacy occur.
The last regularly scheduled meeting on April 24 promises to be an excellent one. Committee intern Hannah Wing has spent the semester studying the economic implications of Climate Action Plans such as the ones currently being written for both Gainesville and Alachua County. Hannah will present the results of her study. She has worked hard and creatively and her presentation will be interesting and educational. Please attend if you possibly can.
Contact: Roberta or Jay if you would consider being the next leader(s) of the NR committee, want more information or have suggestions, questions or comments.
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The April meeting with April Hines from the UF College of Journalism and Communications library presented a program on Avoiding Misinformation: Evaluating and Finding Quality News. A recording is now available.
Gwendolyn Saffo, the Alachua County League of Women Voters vice president, will present a brief overview of our League's work on gun violence issues at the 7 p.m. meeting at the Oak Hammock on May 14. Rebecca Darnell, legislative lead for Moms Demand Action, will provide an update on that group's efforts.
All are invited. Contact Mary White for details.
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Contact: Diana Boxer or Gwen Wagner
Below are upcoming tabling events. If you'd like to help, email us.
- May 4-5: 5th Avenue Arts Festival (stop by and say hi!)
- May date TBA: The Atrium
- Also date TBA: Sweetwater Square Apts., 3501 NE 15th St., Rally to End Gun Violence
Elaine Francis has procured the children’s book, "I Can’t Wait to Vote" for the school and public libraries to feature. Stefanie Gadaleon, UFLWV president, is coordinating a reading of the book at Girls’ Place, April 24 at 3:30 p.m. Contact Stefanie to volunteer.
Planning ahead: LWVAC is again partnering with the Bob Graham Center for Public Service for a primary candidate forum on June 23 and a general election candidate forum on Sept. 22. Contact Diana Boxer if you would like to help.
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LWVAC T-Shirts Available
As part of our GOTV efforts, we are creating LWVAC-branded products for you to purchase and show your support of LWVAC while encouraging those around you to Get Out The Vote. The first products to launch are t-shirts. See the full selection of t-shirts here. Watch for more products in the future.
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Changes ahead for dues-paying process
Nothing is constant but change and that holds true for how LWVAC members pay their member dues, too. The LWVUS will launch a new nationwide member portal in January 2025. We'll link to the new portal from the LWVAC website and you may still join or renew by mail, if that's your preference. Your dues expiration date won't change, but dues amounts and donation methods are expected to change. More to come!
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Re-request your Vote by Mail ballot
Please be aware that ALL Vote by Mail applications expired in December 2022. Now everyone must re-enroll in Vote by Mail every two years. The new state Vote by Mail form goes into effect April 17. You can still sign up for Vote by Mail online. You can check your Registration and Vote by Mail status here.
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Important Election Dates
Municipal Elections
Aug. 20: Gainesville
Nov. 5: High Springs
Dec. 3: Waldo
Primary Election
Election Day: Aug. 20
Deadline to register or update party affiliation: July 22
Early Voting: Aug. 5-17, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
General Election
Election Day: Nov. 5
Deadline to Register: Oct. 7
Early Voting: Oct. 21-Nov. 2
Learn more at the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections website.
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LWV of Alachua County Leadership Team
President: Janice Garry
Vice-President: Gwendolyn Saffo
Secretary: Eileen Roy
Treasurer: Anne D’Amico
A full list of LWV of Alachua County Board Members and Committee Chairs can be found here.
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To avoid missing future LWV of Alachua County email, please add our email address to your Safe Senders List or add the From address (lwv@lwv-alachua.org) to your Address Book or Contacts. | | | | |
